Cheap Paper Shredder Alternatives

We've gone through more commercial and office paper shredders than I'd like to admit. The costs began to add up as the machines gave out - and they gave out far too soon, no matter what type of shredder we bought, no matter the price.

It was also a pain to deal with the shredded paper. I'd try to carefully dispose of the chopped up bits of paper but some pieces would drift to the floor, adding to the annoyance factor. We needed a cheap paper shredder alternative but I had no idea where to find one.

Eventually, I was able to find some options. Some worked great and others were far worse than the electric paper shredders. Here's a rundown of my experience with inexpensive paper shredder options:

First, I tried paper shredding scissors.

Made by a company known as Accoutrements, these scissors have a catchy name, Shredsors, presumably a combination of shredder and scissors. They cost all of $20.39, a bargain price. I hoped they'd do the job, but I should have known better. How on earth could I expect a pair of scissors to save me time or energy when it came to shredding? Yes, the price was right but I found myself spending extra time cutting through all the papers needed to protect us from identity theft.

At first I tried to make the best of it, being deeply in denial about this item being fairly useless. I'd sit in front of the television, with our old papers and the shredding scissors poised over a waste basket. During the commercials, I'd snip away at the papers. The Shredsors did produce tiny bits of paper but it barely cut through two or three pages at a time. If I tried to get through a thicker stack, I'd have to exert so much force that my hand ached. It was tedious and time-consuming work.

Bottom line: Shredsors paper shredding scissors were indeed a cheap paper shredder alternative - but not worth the bother.

Unless you are desperate to burn every extra calorie possible while cutting through paper, avoid the scissors.

Next, I went with a Kespon Plus ID Guard Stamp (large size)

For those unfamiliar with this product, it can be found at Amazon and other sites. Photos shown are for Plus ID Guard Stamps but mine had the brand name Kespon on it. It came with an ink pad already in place and was ready to use. The price was a very budget-friendly $19.99. All I had do do was place the stamp over a credit card statement or other paper containing private info and push down. Ink would completely cover my name, credit card number and anything else I wanted erased from public view.

It worked great but had a couple of minor issues. It wouldn't dry quickly on glossy paper, the kind used for magazines and some types of mail. However, I didn't find that a major issue. As long as I opened mail regularly and didn't let it pile up, I could quickly cover anything that posed an identity risk. Another asset? The Kespon Plus ID Guard Stamp was easy to keep in a cabinet, out of sight. Unlike electric shredders, this was a space saving option.

The ink pad is supposed to last for 1000 stamp attempts but I found it went much further than that. However, the ink pads do eventually have to be replaced, although they can be bought in a 10 pack. Prices vary for the 10 pack and they can often be found on sale.

Bottom line: TheKespon Plus Id Guard Stamp was a super and cheap paper shredder alternative for my needs

For those who gets tons of mail which poses an identity risk, this might not be a great choice. But I like the convenience and also how little space this product requires, especially when compared to a regular electric paper shredder. In the time it will (eventually) take me to go through 11,000 pieces of paper, I'll still be less annoyed than I would cleaning out a regular shredder, plus disposing of all those tiny bits of paper.

Finally, I tried a 3 in 1 Hand Cranked Paper Shredder

Does such a product actually exist? Yes, it does, not requiring one bit of electricity. It costs $27.00, can be found at Amazon and also through special home shopping television channels. I bought it because I was curious and also because it not only chops up paper but also shreds CDs and old credit cards. To get it to run, the user simply cranks the handle.

I felt ambivalent about this product. Because it doesn't use electricity, it saves power and it is certainly quieter than the average electric paper shredder. But it didn't work well on CDs or credit cards, so it was really limited to one use. When I tried to shred CDs or credit cards, the handle was so hard to crank that I worried I'd break the shredder if I tried to get it to cut through those items. It did fine with paper, however, and could be perfect for a small home office where users were committed to products that are eco-friendly. This one is definitely off the power grid!

Bottom line: As a cheap paper shredder alternative, The 3 in 1 Hand Manual Paper Shredder is eco-friendly but not great at disposing of CDs or credit cards.

My favorite product was the Kespon Plus ID Guard Stamp, (but only by a slight margin over the 3 in 1 Paper Shredder). I didn't include the favorite method used by an anonymous relative, someone who actually takes the time to tear paper into tiny pieces and soak it in a container of water. Being very thrifty, she then takes the pulpy paper and turns it into paper mache products. I may try that technique some time when I'm inclined to get arts and crafty. But for now I'll stick with the stamp option and if that gets old or unappealing, I'll start looking for other choices. I'm definitely open to suggestions!