receipts

Now that tax day is drawing near, you may be hunting down your receipts and berating yourself for not doing a better job of organizing them. Don't put it off again. Get yourself and your receipts in order with these tips:

• Just say no. Don't fall into the habit of accepting every receipt that comes your way. Say no at the checkout when you know you don't need it for later.
• Store in the right place. Designate a place for receipts. A folder that's divided up into different categories will help you sort receipts better than if you were to dump them all into one big envelope.
• Scan them. Invest in a scanner and scan the receipts that you don't need physical copies of. Receipts tend to fade with time, so saving a digital copy of them not only adds less clutter, but also help you keep a permanent record.
• Snap a photo. Another convenient option for digital copies of receipts is to take photos with your phone or camera.
• Use sites and apps. Use tech tools to help you with this chore. The Lemon smartphone app lets you quickly scan the receipt, then keep track of it on your phone or an account online. Shoeboxed is a great service in which you send in paper documents like receipts and business cards for staffers to scan and digitize so you don't have to do it yourself.
• Know what to keep. Read our guide to educate yourself on what paperwork you actually need to keep and what's fine to throw away.
• Clear it regularly. Take a look at your receipts you stash in your wallet, and try your best to clear it out regularly — either toss them or store them in your folder. Remember to also monitor that folder regularly as well, and go through it to trash receipts you no longer need.
• Request email receipts. If you can, always opt for an email receipt when given the choice. Many businesses and services, even doctors, give you that option now instead of paper receipts.

There are plenty of ways (and apps) to help you track your finances, but for those who aren't exactly tech-savvy — or who simply can't sit still long enough to manually enter each and every purchase — collecting receipts can be a great, hassle-free money management technique.

Here's how it works: When you receive a receipt, place it in a small coin purse that you can transfer into whichever bag you choose to carry that day. Every time you add a receipt to the coin purse, you'll have a visual reminder of how many purchases you've made recently — and a better idea of whether or not you need to cut back on those afternoon lattes.

Empty the coin purse weekly and stash the stack of receipts in a special drawer or folder. Then, at the end of the month, paperclip all the receipts together and add a label that marks the month plus your total dollars spent. That way, next time you need to analyze your budget or reassess your finances, everything is in its place.

I'm always finding great tips in our community groups, and my latest favorite comes from Colbie in the How Do You Save group:

So I know it sounds like such a simple tip but really it does make a difference! I recently moved and had hired a moving company. After a long day, I signed and paid for an invoice that seemed reasonable enough for me. Well, later I went back and realized that moving company had actually charged me for the movers' breaks and their lunch! I called up the company the next morning to explain what happened and they refunded me the difference! Guess it pays to double check!

I'm glad it all worked out for Colbie. This rule applies to all kinds of receipts — I always double check my grocery, restaurant, and other types of bills just in case there's some sort of miscalculation. You'd be surprised how many times you'll catch a careless mistake! Share your savvy tips in the How Do You Save group.

Like most SavvySugar readers, I take a receipt when it's offered to me. I figure if the cashier has already printed it, I might as well keep it. They stack up quick and for all my years of spending, I still haven't come up with an organized archiving system.

Logging receipts by category is an effective tool for better managing your budget, but it requires careful spreadsheet or envelope work. Help those of us who are drowning in paper by sharing how you organize your little spending records.