Santa Clausets 101: How to Stash Your Presents

It is no secret that children cannot be trusted once holiday gifts are purchased! Instead of worrying that the secret will be spoiled, take the presents and stow them in your Budget Self Storage Santa Clauset. Use these tips to keep your packages safe until the big day:

·        Think about the amount of storage space you need and be sure to rent a unit large enough for your gifts. Santa Clausets offers space up to 5x5.

·        The floor is the coldest part of a storage unit. Keep your items cozy and warm by using wooden pallets or old blankets.

·        Avoid using garbage bags since items may break; plus, it's hard to tell what is inside!

·        Don’t store Susie’s gifts in the same container as Joey’s. Group presents by recipient every time you add to the stash.

·        Tie different colored bows or ribbon for each family member around their gifts for easy identification.

·        Driving during the holidays is already stressful enough! Choose a Budget Self Storage location that is close to your home or work to make your trips more convenient.

 

Five “tidbits of information” for Shredding Confidential Information

Shredding confidential information is a common practice that is used to destroy paper documents, CD’s, DVD’s, X-rays, and hard drives.  Here are four tidbits of information why it is important to shred your non-public records:

1. Identity Theft.  With identity theft considered the fastest growing crime in America, we all live in a time where one person's trash is another person's treasure, literally. 

2. Consumer Trust.  If you’re a business, the feeling that non-public information is safeguarded and data will remain confidential provides a certain level of trust for consumers to do business with your company.

3. Disposing “Stuff”.   By removing stored stacks of paper will help save space and reduce a potential fire hazard at your home or business.

4. Tax Season.  Need we say more?  Okay we will…

Last year, according to the IRS, consumers lost nearly $57 billion to criminals who stole their identities - a scary thought as we discard old documents and fill up our garbage cans prior to April 15th.

How to prepare for the 2012 tax season? The IRS has three years to challenge information in your return and six years to conduct an audit based on unreported income. Keep tax returns and supporting records for at least seven years.  To learn more about record retention, click here.

What else should one do with so many other sensitive documents and/or hardware?  Investment statements for taxable accounts, bank statements, credit card statements, pay stubs, ATM receipts, cancelled checks, retirement plan contributions, insurance policies, and will’s. Moreover, for that old computer containing a hard drive with loads of personal information, don’t just throw it out or make a donation to a charity.

 

Get organized with your records and retain what is important and shred what is left. Having said all that, one should consider scanning all important documents before simply thinking “Ah, we don’t need this anymore!”  If you have any questions about legislative compliance, simply contact the IRS at the numbers below:

Telephone Assistance for Individuals
Toll-Free 1-800-829-1040

Telephone Assistance for Businesses
Toll-Free 1-800-829-4933

For shredding services in the Tampa Bay area provided by PROSHRED, visit a Budget Self Storage store in your community.