According to the Identity Theft Resource Center, a non-profit organization primarily funded by the Department of Justice, over 10 million people had their identities stolen last year.

In other words, you have about a 1 in 10 chance EVERY year of getting your identity stolen. What does it take to fix an identity theft problem? It will cost you an average of $550.39 in out-of-pocket expenses, it will take you an average of 116 hours and up to 12 months to repair the damage.

Preventing identity theft from happening is much easier than fixing an identity theft problem after it happens. There are some simple things you can do to protect yourself and your family.

Start by investing in a reliable cross cut personal paper shredder for your home. Be sure that it is “Cross Cut” and preferably one that has jam-free rollers or auto reverse and a safety guard if you have children in your home. Shred every paper document that has your personal information on it (except the documents that you want to keep of course), including all of the credit card applications you get in the mail. 68% of identity theft happens as a result of documents being stolen from recycle and trash bins.

If you have a child away at college, get them a personal paper shredder as well. Currently a growing number of college students getting their identities stolen. Students tend to rarely shred documents containing their personal information and typically they receive a substantial amount of credit card applications and loan applications in the mail. The damage is often greater because it takes them longer realize that their identity has been stolen.

If you are cleaning out your files and have a significant amount of papers in your home that need to be shredded, take them to a drop off site in your area. At most drop-off sites they will shred your papers as you watch. They use commercial grade shredders that accept staples, credit cards, paper clips and sometimes even full binders. On average you can have a bankers box of papers shredded for between $5-$15. There are several companies across the US that offer this service. Sometimes banks will offer the service free of charge to their customers once or twice a year.

You could also have a 50-100 gallon locked bin delivered to your home. You fill it with all of your documents to be shredded and the company picks it up and gives you a certificate of destruction. This service varies by company and usually costs between $60-$100. Be sure you choose a company that is certified.

Some ideas on what to do with the shredded paper in your home – Bring it to your local Humane Society! They use it to make soft animal beds. Or use it to pack and ship items, compost it or put it out with your recycling.

The best way to protect yourself is to keep your personal information safe.