I toss manuals I don't think I need figuring that if I ever do need them, I can find them on the company's website.
I keep bills for probably a little too long, but I file them by month paid. I use a mini manilla (sp?) envelope for each month and have them going back 2-3 years mostly because I have failed to keep it cleaned out. This system really works for me because I can find what I want pretty easily.
I have a box for insurance info and another for bank statements. I get our statements on line and then our quarterly statements come on paper by post. Taxes is in a separate file. FWIW, all these "files" are really baskets shoved in my Expidit.
Mommy to my One & Only 05.07