♦Shred original papers that you scanned
onto your computer hard drive and no longer need to keep hard copies of in
your paper files. This could be personal stuff like financials, receipts, even
letters from friends and family.
♦Shred
incoming mail with personal information and financial offers, such as credit
card offers pre-filled with your name. You even may want to shred offers from
book clubs, music clubs and more that you're not planning to join (so someone
else doesn't join it with your discarded mail and name and credit by changing
the forwarding address to them)
♦Shred old
credit cards and bank cards. Shred CDs and DVDs with personal information and
personal items on them that you don't want others reading.
♦Shredders
are not expensive. Some start as low as $25 at major discount retail stores. But
you really want a shredder with a few more features than one that cheap will
usually have.
  ♦
I own the
Royal 15-Sheet Crosscut Paper Shredder - 15MX. Since this shredder is more than
a year or two old, manufacturers and retailers have probably moved on to newer
models of this Royal paper shredder product. But to give you an idea of what
features and benefits to shop for when choosing a paper shredder for your home
needs, I'll tell you what's great about this particular Royal paper shredder:
1)
In addition to paper, it shreds CDs and
credit cards. You can also put stapled items through it without removing the
staples.
2)
It thoroughly shreds your paper (and
not into strips that can be put back together but rather into crosscut confetti).
A crosscut paper shredder or confetti paper shredder is better than one that
cuts strips. Why have a paper shredder at all if dumpster divers can put your
paper back together.
3)
It has a removable waste basket.
Some cheap models of paper shredders you find at general discount retailers do
not come with their own trash cans. You definitely want this convenience.
Otherwise you'll be shredding onto the floor or trying to balance your cheap
shredder over an impromptu trash can at home (that's usually the wrong size).
4)
This Royal paper shredder
is on casters, or wheels. This helps a little with pushing it or pulling it (but
overall I don't find these wheels on this model that helpful but perhaps that is because I roll
them on carpeting).
5)
This is a shredder for moderate users; if you're a lightweight shredder, you can
probably go with something less expensive. But if you operate a home office (or you
get loads of mail weekly), this is the shredder for you.
6) You want a durable
shredder, for instance one with steel blades for shredding.
7)
You want a paper shredder that can accept several pieces of paper simultaneously without jamming (and without having to fold the paper--not all
shredders have
wide slots for letter-size or larger paper).
8)
The Royal cross cut shredder above also has an on/off switch (some shredders stay on as
long as they're plugged in which could be dangerous if you have small children
and curious pets--or like to dangle your necklace or tie over them).
9)
Also, shredders can overheat from continuous usage during one period so check
that feature too so you know, for instance, not to operate it more than 20
minutes during a shredding period. Also, if you use it a lot, buy some shredder
lubricant to maintain it. You can get it from the local office supply store.
10)
Cost varies. The shredder
pictured above cost about $100 and was purchased at Sears. That was a couple
years ago. It still works fine. Models and prices change and vary by features
and of course, as new technology evolves, models often decrease in retail
price.
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