Dr. File Good’s

What to Keep & How Long to Keep It

A Simple, Confident Reference for Managing Home Records

Stop guessing. Stop keeping everything “just in case.”

Know exactly what to keep, what to digitize, and what to shred.

The Problem

Paper clutter isn’t caused by too many documents.

It’s caused by hesitation.

Most people keep papers because they’re afraid of throwing away the wrong thing. That hesitation leads to piles, drawers full of “important stuff,” and a constant low-level stress you never fully resolve.

This guide removes that hesitation.

What This Guide Does

Dr. File Good’s What to Keep & How Long to Keep It is a clear, practical document retention reference designed for real homes and real life.

It gives you immediate certainty about:

• which documents must be kept forever
• which ones only need short-term retention
• which papers can be safely shredded
• how long to keep bills, medical records, tax documents, and legal papers
• how to organize both paper and digital records simply

No legal jargon. No overthinking. Just clean decisions.

What’s Inside

This guide includes:

✔ The 60-Second Rule (Quick Start)

A fast decision framework that tells you, at a glance, whether to keep, digitize, or shred

✔ Clear Retention Tables for Every Category

• Bills & household records
• Medical records
• Legal & identity documents
• Taxes & financial documents
• Family & school records
• Each table clearly shows:
• whether to keep the paper
• whether to digitize
• how long to retain
• practical notes for real situations

✔ A Safe-to-Shred List

Explicit permission to let go of what you don’t need anymore, without fear

✔ Digital Organization Guidance

• simple folder structure
• clear naming conventions
• a practical backup rule that keeps your records safe

✔ One-Page Quick Summary

A printable reference page you can keep near your files or shredder

Who This Is For

This guide is for you if:

• you manage household, medical, or family records
• you keep papers “just in case” because you’re unsure
• you want confidence, not perfection
• you want a system that feels calm and sustainable
• you don’t want to Google document retention rules ever again

Who This Is Not For

This is not for:

• people looking for legal loopholes or extreme edge cases
• complex corporate retention policies
• anyone who wants to keep everything forever

This is about clarity, not clutter.

Why This Works

Most retention advice is either too vague or overly legalistic.

This guide works because:

• it uses plain language
• it’s organized by real-life categories
• it focuses on decision-making, not storage
• it respects your time and attention

When decisions are clear, clutter disappears.

What You’ll Gain

By using this guide, you’ll have:

• fewer paper piles
• faster sorting decisions
• confidence when shredding
• a cleaner home records system
• peace of mind knowing you kept what matters