Ideal Bite

I have not gotten a receipt from the ATM for years. Its just clutter and they tend to get lost. While it doesn't have my account number on it, it has more information than I want to lose on it. So I just forego them. Actually, I pretty much forego cash these days unless I know I am going somewhere that won't take credit cards like a festival. Other than that I only shop at stores that take debit cards. Anyway I bank at Bank of America and everything is done online. I can see any transaction within 2 minutes of it occuring, including any deposits via ATM. For years they told you not to include deposit slips with ATM deposits, they just printed it on the envelope. Now they don't even want you to include the envelope. The ATM machine, scans the cash and checks and adds the money to your account. With online banking, I can see the scan of the check in my account in the same two minutes. Electronic Banking is a great way to cut down on paper. I don't get paper statements, don't use checks anymore. Just my online banking account, electronic billpay and my debit card. I keep a small cash reserve at home for emergencies but really try to stay away from green bills and coins that can get lost.

I do like getting my receipts to check against my e-post statements, but I have recently found a way to re-use them. I simply turn them over and use the back for my grocery list!

too bad the IRS isn't on board with this tip. you still need hard copies of the receipts (can't even use your statement) if you get audited. i know this because i was audited.

It is almost as annoying as those people that look at you like you have 3 eyes when you say, "No, I don't need a bag." Grrr... This Green Life http://thisgreenlife.wordpress.com

I know this is a good tip but I will never do it. I was at a grocery store once and used an atm. If not for my receipt I would have had to pay 10x the amount I deducted. The machine was malfunctioning and the receipt showed the correct amount. The withdrawal at my bank showed 10x the amount to withdraw. It was a 3rd party atm but still my bank said as long as I had my printed receipt they could research I was covered. Those receipts are important until your account has posted. Then shred them.

Well, I DO BELIEVE IN SAVING TREES, but for reasons being, I like my recieipts to make sure I wasn't charged something differant and I have had it happen to me 3 x"s including today for a pack of cigerrettes and soda, he charged me 14:63 twice, and when he credited it, he didnt he actually credit it, he charged me 14.63 2 x's + 12.17 +6.75. So I would be careful with this one ok. Believe me there are a lot of ways to save trees, and I can give you a lot of ideas how to. sherry

I agree with all the folks about getting receipts for financial transaction confirmation. We well-meaning folks recycle them, right? Look at the receipt trash often posted near an ATM - guess what happens to it when it's full? You can bet gas stations and other similar places with ATMs will just put them in the dumpster. If people would just take their receipts home and, when done, put them in for curb-side recyling. Otherwise, just select the No Receipt option (if available). Perhaps ATM owners should include the statement "(Saves Paper)" at the No Receipt question to get people who don't care for receipts more interested in making the wiser choice.

Yes, your right, I wouldn't give my recieipts up. But to save paper, and trees you can also do e-bills which I never would, but now I am , and reason being our trees are dying because we haven't had any rain. and you can create a rule for your e-bills when you recieve them to go to a seperate folder from the junk mail and also flag them after you have paid them. sherry

Although I appreciate every tidbit of useful information Ideal Bite offers, I disagree with the receipt idea. Why not suggest people use their receipts for lists and other notes after the amounts have been reconciled? I always get a receipt because mistakes have been made and have been the error of the vendor or of my bank. Better safe than sorry. Just last week I was charged the wrong amounts twice and had to approach store owners once the wrong amount posted to my bank account. Ask for receipts but use them later!!!

I haven't requested an ATM receipt in well over 10 years... and the world didn't collapse around my ears yet! I reckon that's about a THOUSAND receipts saved. Shame it's so difficult to achieve the same in shops though.