Do you ask for a receipt?

I've never done any kind of accounting of my purchases/spending. Life is too short and I never over spend. I do ask for and keep receipts for anything that could possibly be faulty, or that I might want to return.

Always take a supermarket receipt...you will be surprised at how often there’s a mistake......

When getting petrol at Asda the £1 separate charge is something to do with their system. This £1 is not taken out of your account.

Yep! Always! Then I check the bank account each month. There's never been a problem but I still do it.
I've noticed my adult children don't bother ?

I rarely used to ask for a receipt but then one day I received a car parking ticket outside my regular Sainsbury's which said I'd arrived at 12 noon and had overstayed the maximum time permitted. Luckily I'd gone to another shop on the way, bought an item of clothing (which I always get receipts for in case I need to change it), so I was able to prove that I was miles away around that time, and the ticket was dealt with by Sainsbury's. So, I tend to ask for recipts most times now - just in case.

Since the pandemic there are some shops that will not accept cash.
Re receipts, our local Spar only gives the if requested, apparently this saves the hundreds of pounds over a year.

If it’s small purchase and I know I’ll keep it I don’t ever take receipt.
Only take receipt on more expensive items and ones I may need to return. I never balance my outgoings but check my bank accounts online daily.

Going back a few years, I had several small amounts - something like a couple of £6s, a £4.50, a £7 - taken from my credit card account one month, all coming up on the statement in the name of big companies. My bank said these scammers were getting away with a fortune because most people don’t check their accounts and small sums just go unnoticed.

I always take a receipt. You would be surprised at the number of mistakes made on supermarket prices. Sometimes 2 for 1 items are not recognized or you are charged for something you didn't buy as the computer had the wrong code and the item was more expensive than what you actually had. It was only after working in a supermarket for a while that I realized the problem.

I'm afraid I'm a bit OCD about my finances (maybe because I work in accounts, and I don't earn a lot either!). I always take receipts, always check them ( and mistakes are not unknown), and always enter my expenses on a monthly spreadsheet. If I don't, I can't keep track of how much I have in my account in the latter half of the month, as there are also a few direct debits which are not always the same amount, and I do not want to go overdrawn. But it surprised me how far down the thread I got before anyone mentioned shoplifting! Now that we can carry goods out of the shop without a bag, who on earth wants to be in the position of being stopped and not immediately being able to prove you have paid?! Also, regarding emailed receipts, I hate them for two reasons 1) once they have your email address you get bombarded with their ads , in my experience, and 2) I once bought an ipad in an Apple shop and they said they'd email my receipt, but it turned out they'd input a spelling mistake and I never got it. Even if it hadn't been faulty (it was!), I like to keep receipts for large items to prove purchase and being under warranty etc.

I too paid for petrol at a self service pump (no receipt) and when checking my account had been charged £1. A day or two later it had been changed to the correct amount. This was at Sainsbury's. So you will probably find the same thing happens to you.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

I save paper and only take receipts when it is for guarantee or may need to exchange items. The one exception is on the rare occasions when I'm forced to use self serve. I am so ridiculously nervous of these and always think I will be accused of not paying as I faff for so long and have to keep restarting. As for balancing account, I have never had an overdraft, even as a student, as most Bill's on direct debit and check payments on weekly text from bank.

I take receipt if it’s offered for small items, but in general try to save on unnecessary paper. I would always expect a receipt for large items, but if purchased on line you usually have proof of purchase in confirmation email. I never balance my accounts.

Of course, take a receipt for large items that may need or require a refund or exchange.
Otherwise, receipts are a waste of paper.
What do most people do with them?
Stuff them in their purses and then eventually throw them in the bin.
Wasteful.

I always ask for a receipt even on small purchases and check it. It has saved me pounds over the years. Whether because I’ve needed to return something or because something has ‘accidentally’ been run past the bar code reader twice or the reader has not recognised the bogoff offer or price reduction.
I also don’t expect the cashier to remember that it was me who bought a sourdough loaf, a packet of crispy bacon and a packet of Percy Pigs if I was ever to be stopped at the door. That‘s a particular thought since lockdown when our M&S only opens one door -at the opposite end to the tills. About a week ago I saw a couple walking from the till, back through the food section and the clothes section to the exit who were stopped taken aside and asked if they’d paid for what was in their bag. I only stopped because I was behind them at the till.
They had paid, but without a receipt it could have been more than just embarrassing.
I used to keep an account book but now just check my bank account.

£3 and First came up on my bank statement before I had online banking. Took me a week before I noticed First on a bus. Of course, I had locked my carkeys in the boot so had to take a bus home for the spare set ?

Chewbacca

Oopsadaisy3

Always get a receipt, enter all outgoings in a book ( I have books from 1980) and reconcile with CC statements and the bank balance, every week.

Obviously I worked in Accounts, back in the day.

Ditto!

Ditto for me. It must have been all the years working in Accounts.

I always ask for receipts since using my own bag. If you buy an item in one store (e.g. Boots) then go into a Supermarket which stocks the same item how would you prove you had already paid for it?

Somehow I always feel guilty if I’ve forgotten my shopping bag and have to walk out with my arms full of purchases. Even when I have the receipt firmly clutched in my hand!

All my friends ask me why I shop at Sainsburys as they say it is far too expensive.

Ive had this too - usually from mother in law. Shopping occasionally in other stores shows me that it is not true apart from places like Aldi or Lidl - but then I have extra petrol costs on top!

I always ask for receipts since using my own bag. If you buy an item in one store (e.g. Boots) then go into a Supermarket which stocks the same item how would you prove you had already paid for it?

This happened to a friend years ago. She was in a local bakery where she was well known and spotted they had something that she wanted and which the supermarket didn't stock. No receipt. Carried on to the supermarket where the cashier saw the item in her bag and it was something they had started selling. Luckily she managed to persuade them to contact the bakery who were able to verify her purchase, but a very unpleasant experience.

I only get a receipt if it’s a item of clothing that I’m not sure about or something expensive that needs a warranty. I just shove them in my bag if I get one for grocery shopping and end up with a bundle of them to chuck in the bin . I work in a post office and you’d be surprised how many people don’t want one after depositing or taking out money

I always get a receipt for everything. I have been overcharged in the past and that has led to me checking my receipt before I even leave the shop. If it’s more than a few items, I sit in the car and go through my receipt. Sounds crazy but some of my overcharges have not just been pennies and it saves you having to go back to the shop if you’ve already driven home. I shop online for groceries but still check my delivery note.

My background is finance. Yes, I collect every receipt and dispose of them once confirmed on cc statement. I've seen too many 'banking favoured' errors in my lifetime even to contemplate not checking up on them. My cc is a cashback one. The regular bonus vouchers are very pleasant to receive. Any major purchase documents are filed away separately.

I was going to say that I never reconcile my accounts, but I suppose I do in a way. I have online banking and my bank sends me a daily text message whenever there are outgoings and incoming to my account, and twice a week if there aren't any. So I do know what is happening in my account, if I don't recognise an outgoing I will investigate further. I do take receipts for larger shopping, but don't for small, cheap items, all the paper can be a pain and for me only necessary for things that may have to be returned.