I file a great deal of material for writing projects. The length of time I keep the material depends on how long the writing project takes. It can range from weeks to years. These particular folders are an ideal compromise between cost and durability over the long term. If I handle a particular folder a great deal in the course of a project the tabs sometimes get bent making it hard to use. The inexpensive cost of these folders however allows me to discard the bent folder and use a new one. I prefer this approach rather than buying more expensive folders with reinforced tabs.