Gransnet forums

Chat

Do you ask for a receipt?

(112 Posts)
Poppyred Thu 13-Aug-20 15:56:41

Surprised as to how many people don’t ask or take their receipt after shopping. How do they balance their monthly /weekly outgoings? What if they needed to take something back?

esgt1967 Mon 17-Aug-20 08:16:18

I always take receipts, I record every single item of expenditure and have a monthly budget spreadsheet. Probably harks back to when we had severe debt problems and had to account for every penny but I think it's a good habit to have as I know exactly how much we have available to save and spend.

narrowboatnan Sun 16-Aug-20 14:51:06

DH always takes the receipt for the grocery shopping and checks it thoroughly before he leaves the store. It pays off, because he will often find that things like ‘buy two get one free’ have not been checked out correctly or ‘two for £3’ (when the price individually is more) wrongly checked out or discounted items charged at full price. He then goes to the Customer Service desk and gets it put right.

hereshoping Sun 16-Aug-20 06:38:34

Always ask for a receipt, check supermarket receipt before I leave the store, check and balance bank statement.
Thank goodness that we're more affluent these days and checking the bank balance isn't the ordeal that it used to be.

grant1 Sun 16-Aug-20 01:27:57

I just got home from shopping and have a little stack of receipts waiting to be logged into my datebook and then the computer database to tally up at the end of the month. My early days working in accounting have stuck with me and my early years of little money earned and three kids to support have ingrained the habit of keeping track of spending down to the last penny. Old habits die hard. lol

Albangirl14 Sat 15-Aug-20 20:41:26

I always ask for a receipt as there are often errors in the price charged . At Waitrose I have had a different error in the last three shops such as being charged for 3 multipacks of crisps instead of two and the special offer on the shelf not being given . I always go back for a refund.

MJS7 Sat 15-Aug-20 20:22:32

We are on a tight budget so I always get a receipt. Its surprising how much those little purchases mount up.

adnil1949 Sat 15-Aug-20 20:09:36

I take all receipts for small amounts to large. I have apps on my phone that I record the receipts and get paid for doing so. Also I like to know how much I spend each month

Speldnan Sat 15-Aug-20 19:32:45

I always do if it’s a card payment. I then check everything off on my accounts.

Grandmama Sat 15-Aug-20 18:41:58

I always ask for a receipt unless it's for the daily paper. They are filed in date order and at the end of each month put into a used A5 envelope with the month and year written on. There are bags of them all over the house!

I used to write up a cash book on Sunday evenings and note any offers/discounts to show how much I'd saved that week. Decided it was getting a bit obessional so don't do that now.

One of my sils always checks his receipt and fairly regularly finds there are mistakes,

joysutty Sat 15-Aug-20 17:58:28

I always take a receipt as I check that I have not been over charged as that can happen especially at Aldi where they are so fast on the tills, sometimes the same item goes through twice. And also to keep up to speed on the banking so we don't go into our overdraft + get any charges. Seen lots of older ladies in front of me in a queue at the till who when asked say, No.

nipsmum Sat 15-Aug-20 17:13:13

I do take receipts, but I have neither the time or inclination to keep them to balance anything. I buy what is required and rarely overspend on my budget.

Maggiemaybe Sat 15-Aug-20 16:47:49

At the risk of repeating myself (again) Esspee, I spotted fraudulent activity on my account and my bank said that the scammers were growing rich from the many people who never check their accounts.

It takes me five to ten minutes a week.

Chewbacca Sat 15-Aug-20 16:46:38

I do not do rotting up in my head! I do totting up in my head!

Chewbacca Sat 15-Aug-20 16:45:48

I just do a rough rotting up in my head as I'm doing my shopping Esspee; not to the penny obviously, but by the time I've reached the checkout, I have a rough idea of how much I expect the bill to be. Then, if it's more than I'd anticipated, I check the receipt more carefully when I get back to the car. But I work in finance and it comes naturally to me! smile

Kim19 Sat 15-Aug-20 16:44:46

Don't tally up my outgoings at all but do check every transaction on cc. Reckon 20 minutes every month when the statement comes in. Don't find it any kind of chore whatsoever and I do have total peace of mind. Horses for courses I guess.

Esspee Sat 15-Aug-20 16:39:38

Those of you who tally up all your outgoings, may I ask how much time you spend doing this and what the benefit is to you.
I am careful with money, always have been, but have never calculated my outgoings or checked my receipts. I do keep receipts, until the next time I clear out my handbag and also if a guarantee is involved.

B9exchange Sat 15-Aug-20 16:31:29

Usually take a receipt in case I get stopped on the way out, but only do checking of CC balances when the statement comes in. Most stuff bought on Amazon or supermarket online deliveries, so only small stuff like cards or something forgotten bought in shops - and petrol of course.

Chardy Sat 15-Aug-20 16:24:29

Ever since shops stopped putting things in bags, I always take my receipt

NannyC2 Sat 15-Aug-20 15:46:33

Yes, always get receipts, and like others , check them off monthly against statements. Something I was brought up to do.
Shops do make mistakes and the receipts come in useful so I can get them to correct any errors. I have done this quite often.

patcaf Sat 15-Aug-20 15:44:55

Use contactless most of the time and do not bother with a receipt. Only get a receipt for large purchases or clothing. We shop once a week so do get a receipt just to make sure we got the special offers etc. Check bank statement monthly online but never had a problem. We tend to use the same shops and petrol stations all the time. Do get receipts when we are on holiday or abroad.

Rose56 Sat 15-Aug-20 15:30:54

Sorry, Saggi

Rose56 Sat 15-Aug-20 15:30:16

Agreed with Sagging, Chechen all accounts online daily, have moved to online only account that tells me as soon as I have spent any money. Pay with credit card for anything over £100, debit card for smaller amounts no matter how small.

Kim19 Sat 15-Aug-20 15:24:07

Oh yes, errors on different cc over the years. Happily, they were all sorted out to my satisfaction eventually but the rigmarole on each occasion inspired me to move on. Also, a family member had one of his family drip feed on his card. His own fault, I agree, for sharing his pin but we are talking close family here and also this trusting relative never checked his transactions every month. Just paid up and cleared it. We live and learn indeed.

GreenGran78 Sat 15-Aug-20 15:00:43

If a security guard sees you paying for just a magazine, then heading out with a load of shopping he is only doing his job by checking that you have paid for it. I don’t see any reason to be angry, though I, too, would be mortified at being taken for a possible shoplifter. After all, we are all having to pay extra to cover the huge amount of stealing that goes on.
I tot up my total amount as I put things into my trolley, so have an almost exact figure in my head when I reach the till. If it turns out to be different I will scan my receipt to see what is wrong. I only keep receipts until I have balanced the monthly figures in my account book with those in my internet bank. I also used to work in accounts, and have kept the habit.
Far from being a chore, I enjoy seeing it balance to the last penny (almost always) and the bit of detective work needed if the figures don’t match.

Antigogo Sat 15-Aug-20 14:36:14

If you use Wallet pay on iPhone your receipts are stored and some stores now send you an electronic receipts. Saves on all those little bits of paper !