Owning a paper shredder has become a necessity
thanks to the prevalence of identity theft. In fact, these devices
become so popular that you can buy one just about anywhere: in office
supply stores, supermarkets and, of course, the Internet. If you don’t
have one of these important machines yet, you’re probably wondering why
you need one and what you should look for when making your purchase.
This article will fill you in, so keep on reading.

• What
  should you shred? The answer to this question is simple: shred
  everything that contains any personal information. This includes, but is
  not limited to, credit card offers, old correspondence, any and all
  financial documentation, and documents containing your name, address,
  phone number, birth date, and Social Security number. You can even
  purchase a shredder that can destroy CD’s and credit cards if you want.
• Do you want a cross-cut or strip-cut model? There are
  two main types of shredders available: cross-cut and strip-cut.
  Cross-cut machines tend to offer a higher level of security, so they’re
  ideal for businesses and government entities. They also tend to be more
  expensive than their strip-cut counterparts. Strip-cut devices are good
  for personal use. They essentially turn your documents into a bunch of
  strips that resemble spaghetti. Strip-cut devices can be inexpensive –
  there are some good ones available for under $100.00 – so they’re ideal
  for potential users who may be on a budget. Something to keep in mind is
  that shredders have security ratings ranging from Level 1 to Level 6. A
  Level 1 device would be good for shredding mail and so on, but if you
  want the most security, get a machine with the highest security rating
  you can afford.
• What features do you need? As with
  any other machine, paper shredders can come with special features you
  may or may not need or want. Safety features are important. Some units
  have the ability to sense when hands and fingers get too close to the
  feed opening and when they do, the machine shuts down. These devices are
  ideal for households that contain kids and pets. As mentioned above,
  some machines can destroy non-paper items including credit cards, which
  can be a handy feature to have. Some shredders even have anti-jam
  technology so you’ll never have to deal with frustrating paper jams.
  Finally, there are machines that operate almost silently which can be a
  great feature if you dislike loud noises.
• What
  brands should you look for? Since there are so many paper shredders out
  there, knowing which brands to look for can be challenging. Two of the
  best manufacturers of personal-sized machines are Fellowes and GBC. They
  both make high-quality devices that will put your mind at ease while
  also being easy on your bank account. These companies also give their
  machines great warranties so you won’t have to worry about replacing
  yours any time soon.