Aside from all the obvious resolutions I have just made for 2011 - to lose weight, eat more healthily, take more exercise etc., there is one other really important money and stress saving thing I have made up my mind to do.
This is to keep all my receipts, warranties, and guarantees together in one place and organized, so I can find them when I need to. I have learned the importance of this the hard way this year as the PC we have owned for about 18 months sits groaning away in the corner like an old diesel engine. It is clearly unwell in a scary way I do not understand. The annoying thing is it is still under warranty, in fact one of the reasons we bought it was because it came with a FREE 3 year parts and labor warranty.
This is of absolutely no use to us whatsoever as we did not take care of the precious piece of paper, which would enable us to take the machine back to the shop we bought it from and ask them to repair it, or give us a new one. Especially as these days you are more likely to be given a new one because no one seems to repair anything anymore this is even more of a crying shame!
So by not putting these pieces of paper in the same place (and remembering where the place is), we have cost ourselves about $500. When I think how hard things have been for us over the past couple of years financially and how many hours of work $500 actually represents, I could weep.
This is not the only time this kind of thing has happened either, last Autumn we had so many apples that in order to process them more quickly we bought a shiny new metal apple slicer. It was the most expensive one in the shop, the kind that pushes down and cores and slices the apple all in one go. We were as pleased as punch with it, until the blades all fell out of the silly thing. Now I do realize that in the great scheme of things, $25 dollars is not a massive amount of money but, because we didn't keep the receipt, we no longer have the tool or the cash. And these little things do add up - to about $600 dollars last year. It is like stealing your own money!
It is not good for our relationship either, one of the few things we have been grumpy about with each other is this issue, not because we blame each other, just because it is so frustrating and disappointing. You can't help feeling annoyed with yourself about it.
I must dry my eyes though, we only have ourselves to blame and we are the only ones who can fix this problem. I have earmarked a clear plastic candy box recycled from Christmas, and a cork pin board we found leaning against a dumpster when we were out for a walk (we are usually so frugal). We are going to keep all our receipts this year and not throw any more of our hard earned and precious cash away so needlessly. That is the plan from the first of January!
By ayesha christmas from Kranj, EU
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Ouch, that certainly is lesson learned the hard way! Good luck with the resolution!
Do you keep the instruction manuals for all your "gadgets?" If so, try taping or stapling the receipt inside the front cover of the manual. That has made it easy for me to find a receipt when I need it.
I tape the receipts & manual in a plastic zip bag to major appliances: washer, dryer, stove & frig I keep a large box marked boldly: All Receipts & Books (for smaller items), it becomes a habit once you start it! Good Luck!
I keep all such documents in an ordinary three-ring binder notebook. I go through it occasionally, to get rid of documents for gadgets we no longer own. :)
Like others here I have found the easiest way to keep track of any new gadget/appliance is I have a couple of large loose leaf notebooks with those clear plastic pocket pages in them. As soon as something comes in be it bought or gifted, I put the user manual, warrentee cards, and receipt in a pocket in that notebook. That way even if it is years down the road and I need to order a part or return something that has broken I can simply go to the notebook and everything to do with that appliance is there. If I don't have an empty pocket a 1 gal zip lock freezer bag with a couple of holes punched in it works just as well.
Don't give up just yet on the computer. If you registered it at the time you got it then the purchase info and warrentee is available on line at the company's web site. Registering is usually a part of your start up procedures with a new computer so all may not be lost. Even if your warrentee came from a different company, by going to the manufacturers site and printing out the date of purchase etc. you may still be able to go to the dealer and get them to honor it. The initial registeration usually includes date of purchase and where it was purchased.
Do not despair. Your computer is warranted under it's serial number. The manufacturer has that number. If you have your canceled check and the serial number of the computer and can prove you are the person who the check belongs to you might be able to get the computer serviced yet.
Also, many places that sell electronics have a database of sold items that can be researched if you know your approximate date of purchase, take it back and explain the situation and ask what can be done. Please let us all know how this turns out for you!
I am so sorry this happened to you. Receipts are so important in the world of retail. A lot of places will take an item back without the receipt but only if you saved the box or the upc code. They will give you credit or an exchange but no money back. If you haven't tried to return them, it might be worth a shot, especially if it hasn't been too long.
Contact the place you purchased it ASAP. If I am not mistaken that little piece of paper will not void the warranty if not returned. I would call the company, tell them the serial number, model number, etc. I wouldn't give up yet.
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