Are you constantly shuffling through your receipts in your purse, or have a drawer full of invoices and papers? Are you trying to get rid of them? How about just ending the clutter once and for all and starting to manage them appropriately?
Keeping track of your expenses can be challenging as a business owner or managing your household budget. Generally, businesses hire an outside source for bookkeeping. However, if you are running a household, hiring a professional might not be an option for you, which is perfectly fine. Some may think these small pieces of paper are nothing more than trash. However, when it’s time to do your taxes, these pieces of paper can help you tremendously.
After doing some research, we will discuss a few tips and ideas on ending the clutter and being more organized with your receipts.
Mobile Apps/Online Services
We all know that technology has taken over the world. Our life has become so dependent on phones and computers that we cannot fathom living without them. To your benefit, you can download apps that will help you organize your receipts and invoices. Online services like the Cloud are also beneficial. Some apps allow you to migrate all your information to online services that save you from the hassle. If you are a tech-savvy person, this might be your best option.
Organizational System
Tracking your business expenses can be difficult, especially when you have to report specific information. For example, you planned a dinner for your employees and spent $200. When sharing this information for bookkeeping purposes, you must be very accurate with the information, such as how many employees were there, their job title, date, and place of the dinner. You can write this information on the bill/receipt or get a journal to write the information down and attach it.
Maintain Records
It’s an old-school style, but if you plan to claim your IRS expenses, you need receipts for the record. You can make a separate folder and place your receipts in them. Receipts that are months old may fade away with time. What is your alternative if you cannot read your bills/receipts for any other reason? Always make sure to keep a hard and soft copy of your invoices. Take a picture from your phone or scan your receipts. Make a backup folder in case your system crashes.
Categorize Your Receipts
Categorizing your receipts is another good way to organize them. Let us say you have a credit card used solely for business purposes. Whatever transactions you make on that card, keep the bills according to the specific items; credit card statements give you the numbers in a lump sum. For example, if you purchased office supplies three times a month and bought furniture twice a month, keep the bills separate. It will make your life easier if you categorize your purchases because, if you plan to show it to the IRS, they will want to see the details rather than just a credit card statement.
Conclusion
As mentioned above, managing your expenses is not an easy task. Even if you manage a monthly budget for your home, start organizing your receipts. Please do not throw them in your wallet or drawers, as they will end up cluttered and untidy. You do not have to be perfect. Just get yourself a folder and categorize it using tabs such as grocery, utilities, etc. Every time you make a purchase, keep your bills/invoices/receipts in it. There are many different options for organizing your receipts; it is up to you to decide which one works best for you.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
