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SOLUTION: You should only
keep store receipts with a clear purpose in mind.
♦For
instance, is there a chance you may return the item you purchased? Sometimes
clothes don't fit or you buy an item that you realize later has a flaw or is
broken. Unless you're planning to exchange the item (and assuming there is one
left in the store's inventory to exchange it for), you best have your receipt on
hand. Without a receipt, some stores may only give you store credit (not return
your actual hard-earned dollars). And without a receipt some stores may not feel
obligated to do even that.
So keep your store receipts for the length of the store's return policy (which
is usually stated on the front or back of the receipt) until you are certain
that you are keeping the item purchased. Keep these receipts in your pending
file or tickler file in your home office area. When you're truly certain that
you'll be keeping the product or it's past the return policy date, you can then
trash the receipt.
♦If
your purchase is a gift item, ask for a gift receipt which you will give to the
recipient. Then you can trash your original receipt. Just stash the gift receipt
down underneath the gift. And give it no more thought. If it's to be returned or
exchanged, that's now a decision to be made by the recipient at his or her
discretion.
♦Also
keep store receipts that may be considered tax deductions (such as for office
supplies for a home business or required work shoes for a job that employs you).
If you claim an item on the receipt as an expense on your filed tax return, save
the receipt. File these receipts away permanently with hard copies of your tax
information each year (as proof in tax audit situations).
The easiest way to save such paper receipts that are to be categorized as
expenses on your taxes is to tape them to a piece of 8 1/2 x 11 piece of paper.
Feel free to use the front and back of the paper to hold multiple receipts.
Categorize. For instance, tape all office supply receipts to the same page. Try
not to cover the receipt ink with the tape because sometimes the tape lifts the
ink after awhile.
♦Also
keep receipts that are necessary as proof for product and service warranties
(but just until the warranty expires). Staple them to the warranty. (You may
want to staple the warranty and receipt to the inside front of the product
manual so everything stays together.).
♦You'd
also want to keep a receipt if it was necessary to get a rebate. Follow the
rebate directions to see if they want the original or a copy of the receipt.
Then you keep the one they don't want (original or copy) until you receive that
rebate. Just staple it to your copy of the rebate form and file it in your
pending file or tickler file in your home office area. When the rebate comes in,
you can then trash the receipt.
♦If
you order online and receive a receipt by email, consider not printing it
(unless it's to be filed with your tax expense records). Put all electronic
receipts (such as that you need to keep for potential product returns) into
their own electronic folder on your computer. Make sure you back that folder up
when you do other computer back-ups. When you no longer have usage for the
receipt (just as with the paper receipts), delete it.
Keeping or tossing store receipts won't clear all your paper clutter. But it's
one step toward organizing paper clutter in your home.
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