The beginning of each year…I buy two Dollar Store plastic accordion folders. Into one goes each month's bank statements and the copies of my duplicate checks. Into the other goes all the receipts for that particular month.

I clean out my wallet weekly as well, but I don't have them in strict chronological order but it's within a week or so and it works for us!

Beth, that's a great idea! As long as it's easy to organise for you and your family, then WONDERFUL!

I use credit cards to pay for almost everything. I collect receipts in my purse like you do, Marcia. Then I transfer them to small sized accordian folders like Beth described. I sort the receipts by credit card. (each card gets its own folder) Then when it's time to reconcile the bill I have all of the receipts together in one place. I staple all of the receipts to the credit card statement. At tax time I shred anything that I don't need.

I keep mine in my checkbook and every few days I enter them in Money. I have Money on my Palm also, so often add them when I am waiting somewhere or on my lunch break.

When I enter them, I write an "M" on the top left corner so I know it is in Money. Then I file the completed receipts in an accordian check holder by main stores, since I use basically 1 credit card. My icategories are restaurants, gas, Target, a few other stores and Bank, for my ATM and deposit receipts.

Since I have accounts set up in Money for each credit card and I put the categories in as I enter them, all I need to do when the statement comes s reconcile it as I do a checking account and pay it. I keep up with them better this way!

[…] has a detailed article about one method of organizing receipts. I admit I find this difficult: you're on the go, you have only your handbag or pocket or […]

Karen
Your system sounds great

Butterfly Gail
I LOVE that idea about writing the M on the receipts

It was so interesting to read all the comments on organizing receipts. I found that I was doing some of what others had remarked on.

I use only one credit card and one debit card. I collect all receipts in a pocket of my wallet. The only cash receipts I save are those where I might possibly want to return an item. Small items paid for by cash need not be saved.

Periodically, (while watching TV), I go through the receipts labeling each with V for Visa or D for debit and I enter the date
at top right so that it is easily found for sorting. After sorting, I staple them. I check my credit card and bank statements when they come and then store the receipts in a plastic sleeve that my newspapers are often covered in.

On the exterior of these plastic sleeves I
mark in indelible pen the date range and then I staple the top. I then toss these in a large plastic bin, in order by month.

The complication I see is that I want to keep my medical receipts and large item purchases and computer items separate. This interferes with having everything in one place by date. If I keep these by date I will have a hard time going through the items to look for a particular receipt if I can't remember just when I purchased something.

Anyone have an idea along this latter point?

I love this site. Thank you.

Emily

In reading what others have done, I really like the idea of storing the receipts
in envelopes and into shoe boxes. Much neater.

Emily, I keep a file binder for those receipts with dividers for medical, (I call it) Large purchases and Annual payments.

Works for me!

I store them in little drawers by store type. I just produced a vidcast on organizing entryways and it included a segment on dealing with receipts.

http://www.perfectlyplaced.org/vidcast_1_0.php

If you have trouble with the link, you can also watch it for free at itunes
http://www.apple.com/search/ipoditunes/?q=Susan+Stewart

Unfortunately, the vast majority of receipts are now printed on thermal fax paper. This means the "ink" will disappear after only a few months. So, if you want to keep your receipts for your records, it's best to photocopy them.

This type of printing also disappears when it gets wet or comes in contact with grease (which is why it's bad to let fast food joints throw the receipt into the bag with your food).

I recently bought a document scanner (Fujitsu ScanSnap S510) that turns receipts and other paper documents into searchable PDF files. This way, you can organize and store all your receipts and statements on your computer and they will always be at your fingertips when needed. Plus, you can archive several years' worth of records on a single CD or DVD disc and put it in a safe deposit box for safekeeping. The records will be there virtually forever while taking up very little space!

Every Saturday is computer de-fragmenting day and wallet cleaning here! Thankfully, using a money clip helps keep the clutter at bay.