Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Wishful Wednesday ....Regret


I am soooo excited to read everyone's posts because I have a feeling they are going to be some of the most random responses in Wishful Wednesday history!

Now, I will prepare you, mine is odd!

'I wish' .... I hadn't thrown 
away my collection of receipts!!

When it comes to money, my family is meticulous to detail, and it's expected for us to be fully aware of our financial situation.  I have never been charged an overdraft fee nor paid interest on a credit card, and I have to thank my parents for instilling this at an early age.  

Growing up with a dad as a financial planner, my family was beyond skilled at keeping receipts, and it isn't surprising that they still are to this day.  With that being said, it was ritual and ingrained in me the day I got my first credit card to compare each and every receipt at the end of the month with the credit card bill to make sure the charges were accurate.  

I had a file folder of receipts matching their statement separated by the month and year, and I knew exactly where to go when I needed a receipt.  Well, once I got married, Gabe vetoed this and made fun of my piles of paper that I would spread out all over my bed and review.  Just like a receipt ninja!!!!

He encouraged me with the technology of online banking, this wasn't necessary.  I have to admit, I am really proud of myself for being able to "let go" after being so organized.  Let me tell you, it was a BIG deal leaving the receipt in the check holder at the restaurant, and for the first month I would show Gabe I that I would leave it for the server to dispose of.  

WELL, on the flip side, it is SO SO SO  fun to look back on old credit card receipts and see what the heck you spent your income on or treated yourself to.  I found an old credit card bill from my freshman year of college, and I spent an hour flipping through to see what the heck I bought.  I apparently was keeping BeBe in business.  

So, I somewhat wish I didn't dispose of all my past receipts because it's part of my history that helped shape who I am today.  Another funny quirk about me is that I put EVERY expense, if possible, on my credit card and pay it off each month so I can accurately budget!  You will never find this lady paying with cash because it just disappears, and it's not traceable.

What do you wish 
you didn't throw away??




***NOTE:
Link up and add your link below.  Please, please, click on the title of your post on your blog and make sure it is the link to that specific post instead of your main blog url.  Then, go visit a few others who participated as well :)


 32 entries so far... you're next!

  1. A Day in the Life. . . NY NY
  2. What I wouldnt give to get you back. . .
  3. Love from Texas
  4. Neelys WW
  5. Macon A Mess
  6. Jen @ Nifer Musings
  7. Stars WW Regret
  8. Dance and Dream. . . Letters
  9. Angela @ ShortSouthernMomma
  10. Simply Smithwick
  11. The Mathis
  12. Ashley @ Life Is Beautiful
  13. Krystals Kitsch
  14. Just Simply Live
  15. ImTheLuckyOneMP!
  16. Crazy Little World Of Mine
  1. Nashville to Memphis: Its all Southern Sweetness
  2. Im new to wishful wednesday : )
  3. Lawton Lane
  4. Throwing away memories!
  5. life @ the stickles house
  6. THe Perfect Pair. . . Europe
  7. Calton Corner~Tosser Extraordinaire!
  8. Clothing
  9. Life in the Fulmer Lane: Wishful Wednesday!
  10. study abroad
  11. My Life (More Than Just A Paragraph)
  12. Handprints of the Heart: Accidental Garbage
  13. alliecakes "Wishful Wed. "
  14. Nicole @ Hey There, Cinderella
  15. Bethany
  16. Katies first time Wishful Wednesday!
  17. You are next...
    Click here to enter


19 comments:

Jules AF said...

I wish I hadn't throw away some of my friends. (Deep, I know. haha)

Neely said...

Im the same way. Im uber organized about receipts. I use my debit card mostly and I get on the Bank of America website and it gives you a pie chart of your expenses....its usually about half starbucks.

Chad does everything on the credit card and pays it off at the end of the month.

Anonymous said...

Ohhh good one!! When can you come get me all set up? {haha}

Jen said...

I keep my credit card receipts until the end of the billing cycle so I can compare them to my statement. Then, I throw most of them away. The only ones I keep are for items I may have a problem with or need to return down the line. It served me well recently when the strap on a dress I bought just two months ago and have worn only three times broke. Now I can return it since I have the receipt!

I think you're right; there are going to be some good posts this week!

Selma @ Crazy Little World Of Mine said...

i just got my credit card bill back today and it was fun to look at all those places/shops etc that i spent money in...then again, it wasn't fun at all...i have to pay the bill now. :)

Classy Fab Sarah said...

Are you craazy?! If you were me (which you aren't), my collection of receipts from the last two months takes up an entire shoe box. A lifetime of receipts would be.... well, it could definitely fill a small library. CRAZY!

Ashley said...

My mother taught me well too! Except I had a little slip in college and carried a balance on a credit card...I got that taken care of afte college, and when I told my mother, you would have thought I admitted I killed someone!
BUT, the Receipts! I still keep all my receipts in a file folder! At least for 2 years. BIG ticket item receipts even longer. I have 2 huge filing cabinets- so I might keep TOO much paper! I think I still have bills from utilities from my Old apt’s. I guess those can go.
I do online banking too of course... BUT, this past Sunday, 4 of us went to brunch. My mom paid half the pill- she put cash in the server thing, and I put my debit card in to pay the other half.
WELL, Monday I went on my bank account to balance, and THE restaurant charged My debit card for the FULL amount, plus there was another charge for the tip I had added on!
I went to my wallet, and I was SOOO happy, I had the receipt with what I actually paid and signed for.
I actually know the owner of the restaurant so he took my word on the phone, but If I didn’t know him, I would have needed that receipt to prove it. JUST saying, you should keep them until things clear on your card. :)

Carol {Everyday Delights} said...

You sound like me! My parents taught me the same thing! I've never paid a bill late, had an overdraft charge and I always pay my credit card off in full! Do you use mint.com? I love it!

LC said...

That's a great idea, maybe I should START doing that!

Lindsay said...

I am new to wishful weds! I just LOVE your blog! Thank you for giving us such a fun way to get to know each other better! Hope you are having a good week

Caroline said...

This sounds like me ... I wish I hadn't thrown away my old Sunset Magazines!! Sending you a hug! xo

Jenn @ West Sac Honey said...

Can I please have your habits? I keep ALL my recipts! I try doing a spreadsheet but it doesn't work because I just see that I spent too much at Ross and that's why I'm complaining that I need to use my savings for the cell phone bill.

5th Belle Avenue said...

I love this! I'm the same way. Loveee that our parents taught us to handle credit cards well. Those things can be dangerous!

Samantha said...

This SO reminds me of my husband! He's a total finance Nazi. Which is good for someone like me who has no idea what our budget looks like. The only reason I put everything on my credit card is for the rewards points!

Emily said...

I wish my parents instilled that stuff in us! We'll get there one day :)
I do like to keep receipts until it shows up (NOT as pending) on the account so I know all is good.

Kelly and Sara said...

New to your blog! Too cute! Hope you are having a great week. I need to be more organized with my life. I feel like I am getting it together a little more all the time...haha :)

Lindsay said...

YOU are SO sweet! It's so nice to meet you! AND your dogs are ADORABLE! I LOVE them!!

lg2006 said...

That is really cute! I am also a receipt hoarder!

Anonymous said...

I totally identify! I keep each and every receipt and reconcile them with my bank and credit card statements. I do shred them though once they've cleard unless it's for a big purchase and then I keep it to verify for insurance or something like that.

I'm way impressed that you were able to give this up-I'm waaaay to ocd to be able to to that :)

Related Posts with Thumbnails



Harley the Yorkie

Willis the Lhasa Apso mut

Bobbi Brown Cosmetics
Dresses from Shabby Apple

Popular Deals


Search Seattle Smith's