Do you ever find yourself frantically searching for a receipt and wondering how you could better organize them? If you are like most people, you probably have receipts everywhere: stuffed in your purse, jammed into a junk drawer, or in a growing pile on a countertop.
Receipt disorganization can cause a lot of stress, and being unorganized can actually cost you money. There is nothing more frustrating than being stuck with a costly, unwanted item because you can’t find the receipt for a return!
Read on for my three tips to tackle receipt organization and decide which one fits your needs and lifestyle best.
1. Go Retro: The Paper Filing System
Organize your receipts the “old fashioned” way by keeping the physical paper!
- The File Cabinet: Store them in a file cabinet that is easily accessible. Label separate folders for each month of the year, plus one for major purchases. They do not have to be neat and fancy but can be if you want to take the time. Stash your receipts in here each time you come home from shopping.
- The Accordion File: For smaller spaces, an accordion file folder is a perfect solution. Use the same monthly labeling system and keep it handy so you can quickly slip in receipts the moment you walk through the door.
2. Go Digital: The Paperless Solution
If you prefer to keep your surfaces clear of paper, go digital.
- Email is King: Whenever possible, have receipts emailed to you at the point of purchase. Create a folder in your email to store all receipt emails, so they don’t get lost!
- Scan on the Go: When you receive a paper receipt, scan it immediately with your phone. If you have an iPhone, you can scan straight from the Notes app and keep them in subfolders.
- Organize Your Drive: Create a “Receipts” folder on your computer. Since emails and scans are dated, you can save them in a file labeled by the year or create sub-folders by month. Be sure to create a separate sub-folder for “Major Purchases” so you can find warranty information quickly.
3. Go for a Combo: The Hybrid Approach
With organization of any kind, there is no one “right” way; the same is true for receipts. A combination of paper and digital might be exactly what you need.
- Retail vs. Records: You could go digital with retail purchases (making returns easy from your phone) and keep paper copies for monthly bills and larger home investments.
- Skip the Scanning: This hybrid method eliminates the need to scan everything while still keeping your most important documents safe.
The key to receipt organization success is creating a system that works for you and sticking to it!
Maintain Your Success
No one wants to spend a lot of time on receipts. The goal is simply to find them quickly when you need them. Remember: organization does not have to be pretty to work; it just has to be a system you can easily maintain.
Since all systems require some upkeep, we recommend scheduling a “throw-away session” 1–2 times a year to purge what you no longer need. Follow these tips and you’ll tame your receipts for good!
Give the Gift of a Clutter-Free Life
If your home office or junk drawer has reached a point where you need more than just a new filing folder, we are here to help. At Getting it Done Organizing, we specialize in creating custom systems that turn “hot messes” into streamlined spaces.
Know someone who is struggling with paper piles or a chaotic home office? Kiss clutter goodbye with a Getting it Done Organizing Gift Card! It’s the perfect way to help a friend or loved one finally “Get it Done.”
Click here to purchase a Custom Gift Card or get in touch today to schedule your own home office reset!
