How to Buy a Shredder for Home Use

Identity theft is as close as the weekly trash. No important papers, mail, bills or canceled checks are safe when tossed out intact. Even hand tearing these items is not a good policy because they can be pieced together like a puzzle by any thief. Protecting against identity theft is easy and inexpensive if you use a home shredder.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Go to your local office supply store or a department store that sells shredders for home use.
2. Look at the display models. Prices vary according to size of the shredder, performance, type of cutting and special features.
3. Consider the size of the shredder. For home use light to medium duty is adequate and the cost will be under a hundred dollars. Make sure the opening, known as the throat, is wide enough to hold a standard sheet of paper, or you will have to fold it before shredding.
4. Notice the items that the machine shreds. Paper, staples, paper clips, CDs and DVDs are not available on all home shredders. Choosing the right machine for personal use will depend on the type of shredding you plan to do.
5. Choose a model based on your security needs. Remember, the smaller the cut the better the security against identity theft. Common names for these are strip-cut (least secure), cross-cut (more secure) and micro-cut (most-secure).
6. Determine if you want a home shredder with a bin to hold the shredded items or one where you must supply the basket.
7. Find a shredder with the right options for your use. Most common are automatic "Start," "Stop" and "Reverse" buttons. Reverse is very handy if there is a paper jam.

Tips & Warnings

• Double check what you're shredding to avoid destroying documents you want to keep.
• Always refer to your model's directions, as each shredded has slightly different instructions and features.
• Don’t bend close to the shredder and dangle long hair, a neck-tie or anything else that might get caught during operation.
• Keep children away from the shredder.

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