Don't — Leave Home

: Keep birth/death certificates, marriage licenses, divorce decrees, Social Security cards, and passports in a secure fire-safe bag or safe.

: Keep 7 years of tax returns. For most regular filers, this doesn't need to include every single receipt. Don't Leave Home

: Official ownership documents like titles, deeds, and wills. : Keep birth/death certificates

A lot of paper enters our homes only to become "delayed decisions". To stop the piles from growing, immediately toss or shred: Social Security cards

You really don't need as much as you think. Most experts, including those from Reddit's decluttering community , agree that your essential paper footprint for a standard household should be less than an inch thick.