Put all your statements into washing up bowl pour on hot water and a squirt of washing up liquid , allow to soak for 5 mins , squelch together like papier mache . No one could read it after that lot . Cheaper and easier than a shredder
Edited to add
Tear and RIP paper while soaking
Shred or burn any financial/confidential information. And, tell your bank to stop killing trees and send electronic statements if they haven’t done so already.
Right, I think I’ve got the answer, it’s a variation on SUSAN M’s
I phoned a friend who also lives in a flat without a garden or an open fire
This is what he does -
When you’ve finished the washing up, tear the pages into small pieces and put them into the water
Let them soak for a while and swish them around till they’ve broken up into a thin porridge or slurry
Then pour it down the toilet
If you’ve built up a collection you’ll have to work through the backlog, but once you’re up to date you only need to do it once a month, if that
I’ve just tried it, and it looks like it works fine
You’ll probably block your toilet…:shock:
I don;t see why it should, it’s a very thin slurry, much less substantial then the usual material
Blimey Zulu, I’d be frightened of blocking the sewer pipes. :shock:
That similar to what I do 
but I put them in a bucket and leave the mush for a few days then put it on the compost heap.
And it can be thrown at any passing traffic wardens. 
There are companies that specialise in destroying documents. No idea how much it costs though.
Always burn them ,without fail .
Shredders are not that reliable TBH
Shredder for me, its a cross cut too. A friend used to use the paper for his animals cages, but now they get put in the paper recycle bag after they’re shredded.
I bought a Fellows shredder about 6 months ago. It stopped working just before Christmas so I took it back for a refund. I’m now looking round for a different make/model.
I’ve got this little Swordfish cross cutter one, Percy.
There are more expensive ones that do loads of sheets at a time, but for my personal use, this 6 x sheet one is fine.
It will go through credit cards and staples as well.
I am pleased enough with it.
Well, I’ve got rid of all my old statements, by the method I said I’d use -
I tore them into small pieces
Soaked them in warm water with a squirt of washing up liquid
Left them to soak for about an hour and swished them around
Put them down the toilet
I did that in several small batches spread over about a week
No sign of any blockage or any other problems
Now I’ve caught up with the bagful of statements I’d collected I only need to do that every couple of months or so
Thanks Mups 
That’s exactly the sort I’m looking for.
I use a patio type heater too burn anything personal and a few months ago I had two Tesco bags crammed full of paperwork and statements etc.
I love burning stuff, but after it’s all done, I water it all down and it’s a pain to scrape everything and clean it up.
I’ve never thought of putting paperwork in water and doing it that way. Short of going back to the very beginning to see who posted this way of doing it… thank you! I will definitely start doing it that way.
Brilliant
Glad to help.
I wanted a cross shredder but didnt need a big office type, and found that one suits me just fine. I am pleased with it.
Mmm! that’s what Dennis Neilson thought.
I’ve just ordered one. It should be with me in 2 or 3 days according to the email conformation. 
I hope you’re pleased with it, else I’ll be in trouble.
