One way that you can save a little — or a lot — is by checking your receipts.  I posted earlier this week about the coupons on the back of your receipts.  But how much attention do you give to the front?  If you’re not watching the price of your items as they scan or checking them as you leave, you could be missing out on huge savings.

It’s very important to be aware of the price of your items before going to the register.  My husband is notorious for paying ZERO attention to the prices of things.  It drives me crazy!   Therefore when he shops, I make an effort to scan the receipt on the way home.  Once he came home from Ingle’s  grocery store, shell shocked because the final total was $300.  WHAT?!   Looking at the receipt, I realized that he forgot to use his savings card.   That cost us over $200!   Thankfully the store manager was very understanding and was willing to reimburse us for the difference.  Normally I wouldn’t ask for that when it’s my mistake, but in that case it was a huge huge savings that we couldn’t overlook.  Because of that manager and the store’s excellent customer service, I’m always willing to shop at that store.

What about when the store overcharges you?  Definitely pay attention to the price of your items, especially when they’re on sale.  You could be overpaying just a few cents but remember that it adds up!!  Here’s an example:

A few days ago I purchased Tide detergent that was advertised for $11.99 with a $3 reward coming back to me.  I was distracted at the cash register by the man behind me (he lost his savings card and needed to borrow one) and didn’t get to watch as my items were rung up.  The price seemed a bit higher than I expected, but as there was a line behind me, I walked away from the register to be courteous.  When I looked at the receipt, I found the discrepancy—the detergent rang up at regular price ($16.79)  and no rewards printed.  So all things considered, I paid almost TWICE as much for that detergent as I originally planned!

Going back to get the price corrected took just a minute, but it was worth the savings.  It required the cashier to process the first purchase as a return, then checkout separately with the corrected price.  I was courteous and patient; there’s no reason to get all huffy about it.  Still, that savings was enough to pay for my daughter’s camel ride at the zoo yesterday.  Worth it, right?The tax alone on the difference  was about 50 cents.  How many times will you use a 50 cent coupon, but overlook a 50 cent overcharge?

When has it benefited you to pay attention to the receipt?  I’d love to hear your stories.