Are you continually shuffling through your receipts in your purse, or do you 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 start managing them appropriately? These are all questions you should answer when it comes to managing your paper clutter.
Keeping track of your expenses can be challenging, whether you are 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 that 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 a little research, we will discuss a few tips and ideas on ending the clutter and being more organized with your receipts.
Mobile Apps and 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 of your information to online services to save you from the hassle. If you are a tech-savvy person, this might be the best option for you. Even for those who are not as technically inclined, many apps are made to be user-friendly for every level of knowledge.
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 have to be very accurate with the information, such as how many employees were there, their job title, the date, and place of the dinner.
You can write this information on the bill or receipt or get a journal to write the information down in and attach the bill with it. The process does not matter. What matters is that you have a sound organizational system in place.
Maintain Records
It’s an old-school style, but if you plan to claim your expenses from the IRS, 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. If you cannot read your bills or receipts for any other reason, what is your alternative?
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. The most important thing to remember is that you have the originals and copies so your records are accurate and can withstand an audit.
Categorize Your Receipts
Categorizing your receipts is another good way to organize them. Let us say that you have a credit card that is 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, you purchase office supplies three times a month, buy furniture twice a month, and 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 maintain 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, categorize it using tabs such as grocery, utilities, and every time you make a purchase, keep your bills, invoices, and receipts in it. There are many different options for organizing your receipts; it is up to you to decide which one works best.
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.