If you are anything like me, each year’s tax preparation results in my making one vow: this year I will do a better job at keeping track of my receipts. I always mean to do a job at this, but somehow, I always lose my drive as the year passes. This year, however, I’ve developed a new system to make it easier than ever to stay organized.
Designate a holding place for the receipts. In our home, I’ve simply dedicated one drawer of my filing cabinet to receipt storage. The cabinet is a little lonely-looking now, but I’m sure that it will fill up in no time.
Create file folders for each category of receipt. I hate sorting those receipts when it’s time to do our taxes, so I like using lots of folders. Now, I can sort as I file. I’ve made folders for things like medical expenses, charitable donations, business expenses, and tax receipts. In addition, I’ve also made folders for furniture purchases, appliances and their user manuals, and insurance. I know these aren’t related to preparing my taxes, but they’re worth organizing, anyway.
Drop receipts into their folders as they are accumulated. This is going to be the key to a successful system. When I take the receipt out of my purse, I am going to drop it straight into the appropriate folder. If I need the receipt later, I will know exactly where it is.
I am convinced that this year I am going to be able to stay on top of my receipts. My hope is that by doing a little bit of the filing each time I bring something new into the house, I will be able to avoid getting overwhelmed. In previous years, my filing has mounded up on top of my desk. Eventually, I just gave up and dumped all of them into a big envelope.
Hopefully by making filing easier with pre-prepared folders I will find it easier to keep my filing and my receipts in check. I can’t wait until the next time I need the owner’s manual for my new microwave. I’ll be able to walk into the office and find it in an instant. How cool is that?
For more great content, remember to subscribe to my RSS feed. Subscribe
You’ve probably already noticed that I’m a fan of using coupons to get a good deal. You might wonder, though, if it’s possible to get a good deal and save money without using coupons. What if you don’t have a coupon for the store you’re shopping in? Does that mean that you can’t save money on your purchase?
Heck, no! Of course you can still save money. You just may have to shop a little harder and be a little more persistent. If you’re not a coupon person, try one (or all) of these tips to get more for your money while you shop.
Shop the clearance section. My favorite section of almost every store is the clearance aisle. I can find great toys for the kids, new clothes for me, and even cool tools for my husband. I’ve even found appliance in the clearance section at Lowe’s.
Price match like crazy. Some stores will put up signs that tell you that they will match their competitors’ prices. Others will match prices, but only if you ask them to. Don’t be bashful about telling the salesperson that’s helping you that you saw that item at another store for a better price and asking if their store can match their price. The worst he can say is, “no.”
Buy used or refurbished items. Some things are just cheaper after they’ve been sold the first time. For instance, I’m writing this on a laptop that I purchased from Dell’s outlet center. My computer was refurbished, meaning that someone had returned it for a problem and it had been repaired. I saved several hundred dollars and my computer functions perfectly. The only ones who know that the laptop wasn’t new when I bought it are me and Dell.
Shop off-season. I love scoring a good deal on products that are off-season. You can buy fans in the fall as the weather starts to turn cold. Winter coats get ridiculously cheap in the spring. By planning my purchases in advance and shopping out of season, you can get many of the items you know your family is going to need with discounts up to 70%.
For more great content, remember to subscribe to my RSS feed. Subscribe
Price comparison book are very helpful when you’re shopping for your family’s groceries. I’ve long advocated stocking up on your favorite products when they are available at discounted prices, but keeping track of the prices at different stores can be tough. My husband often jokes that I have an elephant’s memory, and I still struggle with remembering which grocery store has the best price on milk.
Making a price comparison notebook will make this an easy task for everyone. In this notebook, you can record the different prices you find at different stores. You can also record container sizes to help you make a good comparison. Follow these easy steps to build your own price comparison notebook:
Decide how big you want your notebook to be. If you carry a small purse or you are already carrying the world in your bag, you may want a small, pocketbook-sized notebook. On the other hand, I carry a purse big enough to hold a library book, so I don’t have any problem fitting a full-sized binder into my bag. After you’ve decided what size works for you, a quick stop at an office supply store will make it easy to pick out a binder that matches your needs.
Insert pages into your notebook. If you opted for a full-sized notebook, you can just use standard paper that has been hole-punched. Smaller notebooks, however, may be the perfect size for notecards. While you’re selecting your binder, you should be on the lookout for the perfect filler, too.
Create sections in your notebook. You’ll want sections in your notebook to make it easy for you to quickly find the page you’re looking for. I have sections for lunchmeat, snacks, dairy items, and baking goods (to name a few). Think of your visits to the grocery store to help you decide what sections your binder will need.
Start recording prices. When you pay your next visit to the grocery store, you’re ready to start filling in information about your favorite products. You may want to wait until you get home and transfer the prices from your receipt to your notebook. Sometimes you get a few weird looks as you write prices down in the store.
Enjoy the fruits of your labor. The next time you are browsing through a grocery store’s sales ad and you aren’t sure if the items listed are really being offered at a bargain price, you can pull out your handy-dandy notebook. You’ll be able to quickly see for yourself if the sales is as good as the ad says it is.
For more great content, remember to subscribe to my RSS feed. Subscribe
