SIXTH COMMANDMENT :
Thou Shalt Always Keep Your Receipts

We know keeping your receipts sounds like a hassle, but it is really a big time money-saver. Did you ever buy something at the grocery store only to find it's not edible? Maybe it was the bread you bought on Friday that by Saturday morning was covered in mold. Or the ice cream that was a block of crystals from having been thawed and then refrozen. Even little items like these can drain your wallet and cause dissatisfaction, if you let them.

Receipts are incredibly powerful little slips of paper. Take a look at how keeping a receipt makes your life better:

• Returning items is much easier.
• Proving an overcharge is a snap.
• Documenting your cost if an item is damaged is a breeze.
• Getting a refund for the full amount you paid, even if the item is now on sale, is guaranteed.
• Having the receipt proves the item isn't two years old if you need to return or exchange it.

In addition, many stores now reimburse the difference between the price you paid and the sales price of an item if it goes on sale within 30 days of the date you made your purchase. But you can't get the extra dough if you don't have your receipt!

Computerized registers have made saving receipts a lot easier by listing a brief description of the item you purchased. However, not everyone uses a computerized register. So when you first get your receipt, write what you purchased directly on the paper (and make sure the date is listed). But where do you store all these receipts that you accumulate? Buy yourself an 8-1/2" x 11" notebook and a roll of tape. As you get receipts, tape them onto a page in the notebook. You would be amazed at how many receipts you can fit on a single notebook page!

SEVENTH COMMANDMENT :
Thou Shalt Always "Get It in Writing"

When you buy big ticket items, or any kind of service, get everything in writing. Get a description of what you're purchasing (and get a detailed written estimate of any service work to be done). Get a written copy of any manufacturer's warranty (if the product carries a warranty) and get a written warranty for any labor performed.

Don't get an extended warranty or special "service warranty" (like they sell for protecting tires from road damage–the odds are heavily stacked against you ever needing to collect on the warranty). In short, we think they're a waste of money. Most products are built to last throughout their warranty period–and beyond. The standard warranty should give you all the protection you need.

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