Do you save receipts?

[lessisbest]

I came across this article "Save Your Receipts To Promote Frugality" (http://moneyning.com/money-tips/save...ote-frugality/) and wondered how many of you save your receipts?

I use a shoebox each year, and all receipts go into the box, and at the end of the year the box is stored in the basement. How has it helped? Hubby had a problem with his shaver and we returned it for repairs. Since they took so long to make the repair, they sent us a free travel shaver. In this instance, we placed the original receipt with the user manual for the shaver (stored in a 3-ringed notebook with receipts and warranties/manuals of other appliance/electronics/household items), and a photocopy in the shoebox.

Another time we saved the receipts for house paint from Sherwin Williams, and noticed on the old paint cans the warranty for the paint. We had the store manager check the condition of the paint on our house (after a number of years) and we received free paint for the house to repaint it.

Because we made it a habit to toss the receipts in the box, we've been able to return items, or get back money because they didn't hold up to their warranties.

As with the author of the article, it may just help you get a look at what you spend on needs, and what you spend on wants.

[Kestra]

I save receipts for things that I might possibly return (not groceries) and for business related items. Otherwise I track everything I spend in a spreadsheet, so I don't keep receipts for that purpose alone.

[catherine]

I save receipts until I log the expense in my YNAB. I throw out grocery receipts, gas receipts and any other receipt that I won't need for tax or return purposes.

To the author's point, I have categorized all my expenses in two main categories: Needs and Wants. It really helps to highlight the places I could/should cut down.

[goldensmom]

I save some receipts until I record them in the budget then throw them away. I save other receipt that I need for tax and warranty purposes then others until I'm sure I do not need to return the item. Been doing for 20+ years and would feel funny if I didn't. I was told by our accountant that I should save receipts for any home/farm improvements for the time that we sell but I stopped doing that many, many years ago.

[pinkytoe]

I save receipts in an expandable file by category after entering totals on an expense sheet and then toss every year. Once in a while, I am glad I kept them when something needs to be returned or exchanged. Recently, we took some cabinet doors back to Home Depot to see how to "improve" their finish. The clerk told us they have a lifetime warranty if I had the receipt. Luckily, I had a shoebox full of old home renovation receipts from 15 years ago and found the receipt. The cabinet doors showed up via Fedex the next week.

[lessisbest]

Another reason we keep all our receipts is because we use cash for the majority of our purchases. We had friends who were cash people too, and when they were audited by the IRS were told they needed to keep their day-to-day receipts to prove what they were using their cash for, so that's when we started the shoebox system.

We've always kept a separate file on home improvements. It DOES make a difference when you sell.

[iris lilies]

I saved the receipt for my last big wine buy because I wanted to keep track of the price of each bottle and avoid in the future that I didn't like tha was over $10.

In my fixed income state f retirement, I am watching my wine bill.

[Reyes]

I keep very few receipts. Maybe I have the one for my computer, other than that I can't think of any so maybe "very few" is an overstatement:-)

[bae]

No. It's just clutter, and not worth my time/energy to file/sort through.

For big-ticket items, or items that I may be thinking of returning, yes, but that is the exception.

[freshstart]

No. It's just clutter, and not worth my time/energy to file/sort through.

For big-ticket items, or items that I may be thinking of returning, yes, but that is the exception.

I do exactly this. I can't imagine going through a year of receipts to budget, that seems like it would take forever. I pay everything I possibly can with my Discover bill to get points, always pay balance in full, so no interest or fees. They sort things into categories that are fine with me and I can see where I need to cut back in an area.