Four Mistakes You are Making with Receipts

At any given time you can pretty much find a receipt in the bottom of any womans purse but, you wont find any in mine because I dont like disorganization and not being able to something when I need it.  I have developed an easy way to keep up with your receipts, keep them organized and be able to find them when you need them.  Here are mistakes you may be making with your current receipt process and an easy way to improve the process

Immediately throwing them away

Keep your receipts for at least for 2 weeks or until you actually use the item you have purchased.  Receipts are the easiest and definite way to prove that you purchased something.  You may need to make an unexpected return, most of which will happen within the first two weeks of purchase.  Most stores wont do returns without a receipt.  

Clothing/shoe tags- in addition to keeping the receipt also keep clothing/shoe tags they could also serve as a proof of purchase and you can at least get a store credit in the event that your receipt is lost.  

**the exception would be receipts for things that you will immediately use and know for sure there will be no need for return, these will include food items or items you purchase regularly

Having receipts in different places

Your purse, your dashboard, dresser drawer just a few of the many places where your receipts may be.  How do you know which receipts are where?  Leave the guess work out by keeping all of your receipts in ONE place.  I would suggest an envelope sized accordion file in which you can keep receipts together and separate accordingly.  *See example in pictures below

Not making Receipt Notes

You may be asking.  What are receipt notes?  This is one of my favorite receipt practices.  It surely has taken the hassle and stress out of trying to figure out what Ive purchased and if I need to return something I am able to easily find the correct receipt.  

With the exception of grocery store receipts,  when you get home after shopping gather all of your receipts and on the back of each receipt write each item that you purchased as you take them out of the bag.  Doing this on the same day helps you remember what you purchased and be able to easily write it on the back of the receipt.  This takes the guess work out of wondering what it is if you look at the receipt later and makes returning simple.  *See example in pictures below

Not taking advantage of e-receipt options

We are living in the age where many things are available now via email/web including receipts.  Many stores offer an email receipt with your purchase.  When given this option, take it.  I know you may feel that you already have too many emails coming into your inbox and thats ok.  You can put all of your email receipts in a separate folder and access them when you need them. With e-receipts you dont need to worry about losing them, stains, fading, etc and you will always have them with you.