Throw most of them away—yes, even those debit-card receipts, once you’ve verified their accuracy with your bank. The only receipts you should definitely keep are those for purchases that you’re planning to write off on your taxes—for example, job-search expenses, home-business costs, and medical expenses. (Hang on to these for seven years.) You may also want to keep receipts for pricey items, like electronics and appliances, in case you need to return them or make a warranty claim. Everything else is grist for the shredder.
Solutions to 9 Puzzling Financial Frustrations
‘Receipts Are Taking Over My House’
Full List
Financial Fixes
- How to Tackle Everyday Money Annoyances
- ‘A Collection Agency Won’t Stop Robo-Calling My House, Even Though We Pay All Our Bills on Time’
- ‘I Need to Do a Home Repair But Don’t Want to Put Money Into My House, Since Its Value Has Declined’
- ‘I’m Enrolled in a Flexible-Spending Account, But I’m Feeling Overwhelmed by the Paperwork’
- ‘I’m Getting Charged for a Costly Medical Procedure I Never Had’
- ‘Receipts Are Taking Over My House’
- ‘I Sent in a Rebate Offer But Never Received the Money’
- ‘I Can’t Cover My Bills Until I Have My Paycheck in Hand’
- ‘The Purchase I Made With My Debit Card Was Less Than My Bank Seems to Think’
- ‘I’m Being Buried In Credit-Card Solicitations’