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Which Documents Should You Shred, and When?
As the spring cleaning bug hits, many of us will finally be tackling those stacks of paperwork that have been piling up throughout the year. It’s tempting to chuck it all in the recycle bin and be done with it. However, did you know that it’s actually legal for someone to dig through your trash/recycling once it hits the curb? What’s more, seemingly innocuous documents—like junk mail—can actually contain sensitive info to help someone steal your identity. Scroll down for our list of what you should shred and when (pssst…you can bring it all to our free shredding event happening on Saturday, April 20th, 2024 from 9am-2pm!).
Shred Immediately
- Expired IDs & records: passports, driver’s licenses, old insurance cards, identification cards/badges, etc.
- Utility and credit card bills that have been paid
- Receipts not needed for tax deductions or warranties
- ATM receipts
- Resumes that are no longer needed
- Junk mail credit card offers
- Address labels from junk mail and magazines
- Any unneeded documents containing your address, signature, social security number, PIN, passwords, account numbers, medical records, or other sensitive/private information you wouldn’t want publicly shared
Shred Within a Year
- Paycheck stubs, once you’ve confirmed the info matches your W-2
- Bank statements
- Monthly/quarterly retirement statements (keep annual summaries until you retire or close the account)
- Medical bills that have been paid
Shred After 6 Years
- Records from home or condo sales
Shred After 7 Years
- Tax returns
- W-2 and 1099 forms
- Mortgage interest statements
- Property tax records
- Statements, cancelled checks, and receipts used as documentation for tax deductions
Do NOT Shred – But Do Store Securely
Keep these items indefinitely in a locked filing cabinet/room, safe, or safe deposit box:
- Social Security cards
- Birth certificates
- Adoption papers
- Current passports or citizenship documentation
- Marriage and divorce records
- Death certificates of family members
- Deeds & titles for property/automobiles for as long as you own them
While these tips are helpful, they can’t replace the advice of a tax professional. Consult an expert if you have questions.
We earn the trust and loyalty of our brokers and clients by doing real estate exceptionally well. The leader in our market, we deliver client-focused service in an authentic, collaborative, and transparent manner and with the unmatched knowledge and expertise that comes from decades of experience.
© Copyright 2023-2024, Windermere Real Estate/Mercer Island.
Favorite Summer Festivals
The sun is here and the whole PNW is celebrating! Whether it’s a fair close to home or an excuse to pack up the fam for a destination festival, I hope you get out and make the most of these fun events…
JUNE
JULY
- Seafair Summer 4th (7/4)
- Redmond Derby Days (7/14-7/15)
- Ballard Seafood Fest (7/14-7/16)
- Kirkland Uncorked (7/14-7/16)
- West Seattle Summer Fest (7/14-7/16)
- Mercer Island Summer Celebration (7/15)
- Renton River Days (7/21-7/23)
- Bite of Seattle (7/21-7/23)
- Sequim Lavender Weekend (7/21-7/23)
- Timber! Outdoor Music Festival (7/27-7/29)
- Bellevue Arts & Crafts Fair (7/28-7/30)
AUGUST
- Seafair Weekend (8/4-8/6)
- Watershed at the Gorge (8/4-8/6)
- Festival at Mount Si (8/12-8/13)
- Chief Seattle Days (8/18-8/20)
- CHOMP Redmond Food Festival (8/19)
- Evergreen State Fair (8/24-9/4)
- Port Townsend THING Music/Art Festival (8/25-8/27)
SEPTEMBER
- Washington State (Puyallup) Fair (9/1-9/24)
- Bumbershoot (9/2-9/3)
- Mercer Island Art UnCorked (9/8)
- Fremont Oktoberfest (9/22-9/24)
JUNE
Fremont Fair
One of Seattle’s biggest events, this bohemian-inspired festival features 300+ craft vendors, food, beer garden, dog parade, music, and the Solstice Parade (including the unofficial but famous naked bide ride).
Saturday, June 17 & Sunday, June 18, 2023
West of Fremont Ave N, on N 35th St. and N 34th St.
Photo courtesy of fremontfair.com
Seattle PrideFest
Held in two locations (Capitol Hill & Seattle Center) this year with beer gardens, food, performances, and dancing in the Seattle Center fountain.
Saturday, June 24th – Capitol Hill
310 Broadway E | Seattle
Sunday, June 25th – Seattle Center
305 Harrison St | Seattle
Photo courtesy of seattlepridefest.org
JULY
SeaFair Summer Fourth
Seattle’s biggest fireworks show plus live music, family activities & beer gardens. Watch the show from free open seating or reserve a front row seat.
Tuesday, July 4th, 2023
Gates Open at 3pm, Fireworks at 10:15pm
Photo courtesy of seafair.org/summerfourth
Redmond Derby Days
Redmond’s bike-themed summer event including bicycle races, kids bike parade, carnival rides, drone light show, craft fair, arts festival, food, cornhole tourney, and live music.
Friday, July 14th & Saturday, July 15th, 2023
Photo courtesy of redmond.gov
Ballard Seafood Fest
Live music, salmon BBQ, kids entertainment, vendors, and excellent craft beer. Don’t miss the Festi-Bowl skateboard events at Ballard Commons Park on Saturday, the 15th.
Friday, July 14th – Sunday, July 16th, 2023
2208 NW Market St | Seattle (on Market St from Leary to 24th Ave NW, and on Ballard Ave from Market St to 22nd Ave NW)
Photo courtesy of Andrew Jacob Media and seafoodfest.org
Kirkland Uncorked
Sip local wine, beer or cocktails and listen to live music in beautiful Marina Park on the water. There’s also a street fair with crafts, art, food, dog modeling contest (!), and more. Buy tickets here (proceeds benefit the Homeward Pet Adoption Center).
Friday, July 14th – Sunday, July 16th, 2023
Photo courtesy of kirklanduncorked.com
West Seattle Summer Fest
Live bands, arts & crafts booths, outdoor cafes, beer garden, and fun Kids Zone with inflatables.
Friday, July 14th – Sunday, July 16th, 2023
The Junction, 4210 SW Oregon St | Seattle
Photo courtesy of westseattlesummerfest.com
Mercer Island Summer Celebration
Parade and lively street fair at Mercerdale Park followed by a waterfront fireworks show at Luther Burbank Park.
Saturday, July 15th, 2023
Fireworks at 10pm
Mercerdale Park Fair: 3009 77th Ave SE | Mercer Island
Luther Burbank Park (Fireworks): 2040 84th Ave SE | Mercer Island
mercerisland.gov/summercelebration
Photo courtesy of Mercer Island Parks & Recreation
Renton River Days
Summer bazaar, parade, rubber duck derby, live music, food trucks, beer/wine gardens, activity zone, drone show, volleyball & basketball tourneys, and 5k/10k Fun Walks on the Cedar River Trail.
Friday, July 21st – Sunday, July 23rd, 2023
Photo courtesy of patch.com
Bite of Seattle
200 vendors, 50+ music performances (including Sir Mix-a-Lot!), 3 beer gardens, wine garden, & more.
Friday, July 21st – Sunday, July 23rd, 2023
Seattle Center, 305 Harrison St | Seattle
Photo courtesy of biteofseattle.com
Sequim Lavender Weekend
Celebrate all things lavender with tours of local farms, live music, and 150 street fair booths highlighting NW crafts & food.
Friday, July 21st – Sunday, July 23rd, 2023
Carrie Blake Park, 500 N Blake Ave | Sequim
Photo courtesy of seattleandsound.com
Timber! Outdoor Music Festival
In addition to a wide range of local musicians, discover adventures like bat/bird finding expeditions, hiking, biking, tree climbing, nature painting/photography, yoga, 5K run, coffee walk, obstacle course, stargazing, fika (a Swedish morning tradition), shibori shirt dyeing, and lots of kids activities. Enjoy great food & local brews, too.
Thursday, July 27 – Saturday, July 29, 2023
Tolt-MacDonald Park, 31020 NE 40th St | Carnation
Video courtesy of Timber! Outdoor Music Festival
Bellevue Arts Fair
Shop from over 300 artists showcasing their handmade arts & crafts. Kids Fair, food trucks, stage performances, and free Bellevue Art Museum exhibitions, too!
Friday, July 28th – Sunday, July 30th, 2023
Bellevue Square, 510 Bellevue Way NE | Bellevue
Photo courtesy of bellevuearts.org/artsfair
AUGUST
Seafair Weekend
Seattle’s iconic festival featuring a spectacular airshow, hydroplane races, classic car show, live music, local food/beverages, and log boom party for boaters.
Friday, August 4th – Sunday, August 6th, 2023
Genesee Park, 4316 S Genesee St | Seattle
Photo courtesy of seafair.org
Watershed
If you’re a country music fan, then this destination festival at the Gorge is for you. Three days of live bands plus carnival rides, food, drinks, and camping.
Friday, August 4th – Sunday, August 6th, 2023
The Gorge Ampitheatre, 754 Silica Rd NW | Quincy
Photo courtesy of watershedfest.com
Festival at Mount Si
This street fair in scenic North Bend offers music, a parade, 5K fun run, cherry pie eating contest, and even a live chili cookoff (not to mention food and craft vendors!). Make it a day and visit the outlet mall or go hiking while you’re at it.
Saturday, August 12th & Sunday, August 13th, 2023
Si View Park, 400 SE Orchard Dr | North Bend
Photo courtesy of festivalatmtsi.org
Chief Seattle Days
A celebration of the Suquamish people honoring Chief Seattle since 1911, this festival is now open to the public and includes canoe races, a salmon bake, 5k fun run, market, games, traditional songs & dances, and a gravesite honoring for Chief Seattle.
Friday, August 18th – Sunday, August 20th, 2023
Gravesite Honoring of Chief Seattle: 7076 NE South St | Suquamish
Photo courtesy of chiefseattledays.org
CHOMP Local Food Festival
A King County celebration of all that is local, sustainable, fresh…and delicious. Spend the day at beautiful Willowmoor Farm in Marymoor Park and support area farms. Live music, local food vendors, all-ages activities, and zucchini races, too!
Saturday, August 19th, 2023 from 10am to 6pm
Marymoor Park, 6046 West Lake Sammamish Pkwy NE | Redmond
Photo courtesy of chomplocal.org
Evergreen State Fair
Held each year during the 11 days leading up to Labor Day (for the past 114 years!), this fair offers a little of everything—a fun carnival with rides/games, food, shopping, contests, live events, and more.
August 24th – September 4th, 2023
(Closed Wednesday, August 30th)
Photo courtesy of Evergreen State Fair
THING: Music, Arts & Other Things
The ultimate destination festival, this 3-day event takes place amongst scenic sound views at Port Townsend’s historic Fort Worden (it’s even got a lighthouse!). In addition to an epic music lineup, you’ll also find art installations, workshops, and activities for all ages.
Friday, August 25th – Sunday, August 27th, 2023
200 Battery Way | Port Townsend
Photo courtesy of THING
SEPTEMBER
Washington State (Puyallup) Fair
A September tradition, peeps all around the Sound flock to “Do the Puyallup.” You’ll find your favorite carnival rides, a concert series, rodeo, petting farm, and a plethora of exhibits & vendors.
September 1st – 24th, 2023
Photo courtesy of thefair.com
Bumbershoot
Seattle’s biggest music festival and a 50-year tradition. This year you’ll find a great music lineup along with everything art, dance, performances, roller skating, and…a cat circus.
Saturday, September 2nd – Sunday, September 3rd, 2023
Seattle Center, 305 Harrison St | Seattle
Photo courtesy of seattlecenter.com
Mercer Island Art UnCorked
Discover Washington wine, beer & cider while you browse local artists at this outdoor event in Mercer Island’s Greta Hackett Outdoor Sculpture Gallery. Tasting garden, artist booths, live music, food trucks, and more.
Friday, September 8th, 2023 | 5-8 pm
78th Ave SE & Sunset Hwy | Mercer Island
Photo courtesy of mi-reporter.com
Fremont Oktoberfest
Celebrate 100+ beers and ciders along with games, Texas Chainsaw Pumpkin Carving, and Dogtoberfest. Strictly 21+…unless you’re a dog.
Friday, September 22nd – Sunday, September 24th, 2023
Photo courtesy of fremontoktoberfest.com
© Copyright 2023, Windermere Real Estate/Mercer Island.
