Do You Keep Receipts?

[RicoTubbs]

I don't keep receipts, but I use MS Money and it downloads all of my checking account and credit card transactions automatically and categorizes them for me. Very little effort on my part and (if I wanted to) I could very easily generate some pretty detailed spending analyses.

I can't imagine living without some type of personal finance software, although I might be more anal than the average person.

[meditate89]

I pretty much credit card anything over $5-10, makes it very easy to see what you're spending money on, and you get rewards + purchase protection as well. Very easy to just DL your statements for the past year or past 5 years to analyze.

[NorthernGuy]

I did this years ago, but it does take a little bit of time every few days to enter and track it down. I used Quicken and tracked everything I spent daily by receipts or notes for small cash stuff (no reciept).

If you're wondering where some of your monthly income is disappearing, this is a good exercise. I'm sure many people would be surprised/shocked to see how much their daily coffee (latte, whatever) and lunches adds up to in a month.

[guids]

[ QUOTE ]
I don't keep receipts, but I use MS Money and it downloads all of my checking account and credit card transactions automatically and categorizes them for me. Very little effort on my part and (if I wanted to) I could very easily generate some pretty detailed spending analyses.

I can't imagine living without some type of personal finance software, although I might be more anal than the average person.

[/ QUOTE ]

I do this also, I also put my credit cards, cash etc in there too. At the end of the first month your jaw will drap at how much money you waste, and then it became a game for me to see how low I could keep expenses on stupid stuff, so i have more money to spend on nicer things.