SAVE THE TREES: 2 Simple & Quick Ways to save online payment receipts WITHOUT THE PAPER MONSTER FILE

SAVE the TREES!

 Store Receipts on Computer Instead.

Paper, Paper, Everywhere!  We shop online and we pay bills online---still more receipts to add to the pile. Think about it:  Ever had a serious case of the paper-monster growing in the corner of your home office, and in your bedroom rather---right where your closet entrance should be?  *Smile*.  Yes, I know it too well. As a matter of fact, I have fought and lost, and fought and won this battle several times. 

I am currently winning, and thought I could share a very simple and PAPERLESS way of retaining
reference payment data without harboring the miscellaneous papers to attract that all too bullying paper monster.

Wwwwrrrrraaaaaa!!!!!

So, look-e-here.
My quick tip for saving everything paid online is by saving the data in electronic format, right on your computer. That way, you never need to print a thing; and every time you need it, it is there.  By creating a folder to save these payment confirmations in, and creating a file naming convention that works for you, you will never be without a receipt again. Also, if you ever needed a hard copy in the future, for any reason, you can just print one.  And guess what: for tax season, you are golden.  You can even send your tax guy an electronic file.  Booo Yaahhhh!

Okay, so how do I do this you say?  I have 2 main ways of doing this---by saving in a Word (.doc) or by saving in PDF.  Please see below for more precise details.  I know that is what you are waiting for, right?  Uh huh.

2 SIMPLE and QUICK WAYS TO SAVE ONLINE PAYMENT RECEIPTS IN ELECTRONIC FORMAT:

1. WORD (.doc):  Paste a screen copy of the receipt into Word and save.  

     a. To do so, while you are in your payment screen (*), capture the data to be pasted in Word:

         hold down Alt + Print Screen, release both keys;

         then, hold down Control + C (to copy), release both keys.  

     b. Go to Word file and in a New page, hold down Control + V (to paste), release both keys.  

     c. If you have another screen section to save, repeat a and b again. 

     d. Finally, save Word Document. (Don't forget, or you have bubpkis.)

(*) While in payment screen, make sure to position the page to capture all of the data you want, in view.  (It must be in View.)  If you need to re-size the screen, go ahead and do so.  If your information does not fit with one screen capture, you will need to continue with capturing additional pages, until you get all the information you need.

2. PDF (.pdf):  Save file in pdf format.  The simplest way of them both, if your PC has this capability.

     a. While in the payment screen, simply print to .pdf (**)  (do not use Save As), and the entire page

         will be captured---even the parts you have to scroll down to view.  (Therefore, everything does

         not have to be in view when using this option.)

(**) While in your payment screen, you can access the Print feature as you normally would (from your browser, or from the payment screen "Print" Button, or from right clicking your mouse and selecting "Print".) Once "Print" is selected, change your destination from Printer to your PC's pdf program to save to.    My destination pdf options are "Save as PDF" and "Nitro PDF Creator 2"; but I am perpetually set to just "Save as PDF".  This should tell my commitment to scaring off the paper monster, right?

I work on a Windows 7 machine, and have this feature.  However, if you do not have this feature, this option will not work for you.  :( .  But I hope you do.  :)

Just thinking about it now, if I had to print every confirmation I now have, gaaawwwllllliiii, I would have one big 'ole mess.  Either that or no documentation at all.  Not very good options, eh?

I really hope this helps, because it sure has kept me out of trouble for quite a number of years.  I would love to hear how this tip has helped you.  Look out for the instructions for Mac Users in a future post, as well as Document on Naming Conventions for your files.

Rock On, budget Divas!