How many of you toss your receipts after you`ve purchased something? You`re not going to need it, right?
Let`s take a look at the flip side. How many of you keep your receipts in case you might need them later? Maybe you just file them away, and if you ever need it, you know right where to look.
I used to be a receipt tosser. Then I discovered that I actually needed receipts more often than I thought, and I made the switch.
Here are several reasons why you might want to hang on to that little piece of paper the cashier so graciously hands you.
1. Check to make sure that your items rang up correctly.
Always double check your receipt to make sure everything rang up as it was supposed to. Sometimes things ring up incorrectly, and the cashier may not even notice. You`ve got to pay attention once you get to the register.
For example: I had recently purchased a peacoat at Old Navy, which had been orange ticketed and marked down to $23.97. (Gotta love those after Christmas markdowns!) Anyway, for some reason, the peacoat rang up as $32.97, and I didn`t notice the error until I got home and looked at the receipt. Nine dollars may not seem like a lot to some people, but it was worth a trip back to the store for me, a few days later.
The cashier fixed the problem immediately and credited me back the $9. I`m sure the error was just due to a glitch in their system, and it was easily remedied with a valid receipt and a courteous salesperson. Because I had double checked the receipt after my visit and had not thrown it away, it netted me an extra $9 in my pocket. Receipts = money.
2. Price adjustments.
Don`t you love it when you purchased something last week only to find out it went on sale this week? Well, it`s a good think you hung on to that receipt, so you can go back and get a price adjustment, if the store allows. Most stores will credit you the difference between the price you paid and the current sale price, as long as it falls within the store`s allowable timeframe. Just bring in your receipt, confirm the current sale price, and bam…you`ve got more money in your pocket. Once again, receipts = money.
3. Easy Returns.
We`ve all been there. You bought something and now for some reason or another, you need to return it. Do you still have your receipt? I have been so frustrated with myself on several occasions when I went back to the store without my receipt, and the store could only offer me store credit. And, as most of you know, most stores will only give you the current sales price of the product returned, which might be significantly less than what you paid for it. So in essence, you may be losing money by not having a receipt when doing a return. Receipts = money.
Some stores, like Target, are able to look up your receipt in their computer, if you don`t have it with you. However, you will need to present the exact debit or credit card that you used to make the purchase. This method is very quick and easy to use, if you don`t have your receipt. (Yeay for Target!)
4. Get your reward!
Look at your receipt. Is there a customer survey offered on it? Here`s your chance to share your customer experience with the store management so they can get a birds eye view of your visit. If you received great service from friendly and knowledgeable associates, tell them that. If you had a bad experience in the fitting rooms or at the cash register, let them know so they can improve on their shortcomings. Your feedback is very valuable to these businesses, and they are willing to reward you for it.
I have received a variety of rewards by completing these quick and easy surveys, such as free food, a coupon code for $10 off my next purchase, and more. Some surveys only took me 2 to 3 minutes, and it netted me $10 in savings on my next visit. Not too shabby! So frugal friends, receipts = money.
5. Tracking your expenses AND your savings!
Have you ever wondered how much money you spent during the year? Are you curious to see how much you have saved? Keeping your receipts and organizing them will give you a pretty good picture. There are several different methods of organizing receipts, which I will go into in my next post. So, stay tuned!
Frugal Tip: The next time you get a receipt, think about holding on to that little piece of paper. It might just be more valuable than you think.
