Anyone Keep Their Receipts for "Semi-Important" Stuff?

  • Thread starter Thread starter kyphysics
  • Start date Start date
AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around the categorization of expenses based on their importance and the management of receipts. Unimportant expenses include fast food and small discretionary purchases, which are often discarded without concern. The semi-important category encompasses medical expenses and significant purchases like electronics and furniture, raising questions about how long to retain receipts for these items. Participants express varying practices regarding receipt retention, particularly for medical expenses, noting that healthcare providers typically maintain records. However, there is a consensus on the necessity of keeping receipts for large purchases to facilitate returns or warranty claims. The conversation highlights the balance between organization and practicality in managing financial documentation.
kyphysics
Messages
684
Reaction score
445
I roughly define the levels of importance as follows:

Unimportant: fast food, gas, hair cuts, small discretionary purchases (like candy, magazine/book, sun screen lotion, etc. at Target/Walmart)
Semi-Important: medical (doctor's visit, lab, imaging, etc.), large/expensive purchase item (computer, flat screen TV, furniture, etc.),
Important: IRS/taxes, court/legal fees, insurance premium payments

The first category, I throw receipts away all the time for. But, what should we do with the "semi-important" category?

Anyone keep receipts for stuff like this and, if so, for how long? For example, if I got an MRI, should I expect the MRI place to keep records for me and to not to have to keep a receipt copy (or even MRI report copy)?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I keep receipts for anything that is tax deductible plus those for things like appliance repair, major car work, etc. I'm really good about the tax deductible stuff but not so organized for the rest and sometimes forget to save them.

Medical stuff I don't worry about at all because the docs' offices all keep detailed records and the medical group I go to puts everything online.
 
Just did my taxes, major medical expenses in 2021, never got to the "minimum" necessary to itemize deductions.
 
I would most definitely keep receipts for TVs, computers etc. What happens if you need to return the item due to being faulty? You'd need the receipt.
 

Thread 'Predictions for the Nobel Prize in Physics 2025'

Similar to the 2024 thread, here I start the 2025 thread. As always it is getting increasingly difficult to predict, so I will make a list based on other article predictions. You can also leave your prediction here. Here are the predictions of 2024 that did not make it: Peter Shor, David Deutsch and all the rest of the quantum computing community (various sources) Pablo Jarrillo Herrero, Allan McDonald and Rafi Bistritzer for magic angle in twisted graphene (various sources) Christoph...
View full post »
Thread 'My experience as a hostage'

Thread 'My experience as a hostage'

I believe it was the summer of 2001 that I made a trip to Peru for my work. I was a private contractor doing automation engineering and programming for various companies, including Frito Lay. Frito had purchased a snack food plant near Lima, Peru, and sent me down to oversee the upgrades to the systems and the startup. Peru was still suffering the ills of a recent civil war and I knew it was dicey, but the money was too good to pass up. It was a long trip to Lima; about 14 hours of airtime...
View full post »

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top