Organize + Energize: Simple Way to Organize Your Receipts

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Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Kristin MacRae, GoLocalWorcester Organizing Expert

You know who you are. You have receipts exploding out of your wallet or purse. They’re thrown in every drawer in your home or office. They’re lying around on the kitchen table, in the bedroom and hiding under the seats in your cars. This is what happens if you don’t have a system to process your receipts. There is a simple solution to this and you can apply it at home and at work. 

Deal with the back log. 

First, you have to get rid of the back log of receipt clutter. It’s going to be difficult to start a new system if there is clutter in the way. Many of you will continue to function this way and you’ll see no reason to change. You’ll say it’s too overwhelming and it’s just easier to continue this way than to actually develop an organized system. 

Go through everywhere you think there may be receipts and put them all in a big bag and you can decide to either go through them, sort and categorize or you may decide it’s best to just toss them and start fresh. It’s your preference.

The process.

Once all the receipt clutter is gone, you can start fresh with this process. It’s as easy as taking your receipts when you get them home and storing them in a pouch or a labeled hanging folder. Your monthly statements arrive and you grab your pouch or hanging folder, match up the receipts to the statements and attach the receipts or fold them in the statement and then file them in their designated file. The pouch or hanging file is empty and now you start fresh with the new month. That’s it! Easy, right? 

Are your statements electronic?

Continue with the same process and when your statement arrives through email, match the receipts and then staple them and file. You can even write the statement dates on the top receipt. Even though your statements are electronic, you should still be looking them over for errors or fraudulent activity. Purge your receipts on a yearly basis.  

Do the work.

The system is simple, efficient, and it works really well. The system fails if you fail to work with it.  You have to be mindful. When you purchase something, take the receipt, file it and continue with the process.

Wouldn’t it be great to never see receipts floating around your home or office? You’ll never have loose receipts again. If you need to return something, you’ll know right where to grab the receipt with no time or energy wasted. Make the effort and put a plan into motion to get organized with your receipts. 

If you don’t have a system to process your receipts, you aren’t alone. You can get on track and function with this system, but it’s going to take persistence to develop this habit. It will be worth it in the end.

Kristin Carcieri-MacRae, is an organizing & efficiency expert and owner of Organizing in RI. Kristin teaches her clients that living an organized lifestyle will save them time and money, decrease their stress levels and help them become more efficient and productive. Her articles have been published in local and national magazines. Kristin's CD, Organizing Basics, is a 1-hour guide for the person who wants to get organized but doesn't know where to begin. She is also available for organizing workshops.

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