On 3/9/2011 3:07 AM, Invisible wrote:
>>> So, what, you literally sit down and check all of the thousands of
>>> transactions you make, one at a time, to make sure every single one
>>> matches the printed recipt?
>>
>> Yes, I thought everyone does that.
>
> Well, this is the first time I've heard of it. I don't think even my
> sister does this - and she's a qualified accountant!
>
> (Heck, my mum doesn't even bother opening her bank statements when they
> arrive. Then again, I'm pretty sure that's unique to her. Strange
> person...)
>
>> So realistically, no, I don't check every single item. But if I'm out
>> shopping, I have a vague idea of how much the items I've bought come to,
>> and if the receipt shows a different value than I expect, then I do get
>> an adjustment.
>
> Yeah, sure. I get that. But usually by the time you get the receipt,
> you've already paid. So I'm still not sure what use the actual piece of
> paper is. (Unless you're really going to check that the number on your
> bank statement actually matches the number on the receipt and the card
> reader...)
>

Well, you check the sum against the bank statement. If they don't match 
then, you start going through all the line items to find the mistake. It 
can happen occasionally, and can be tedious, but worth it if it means 
not overdrawing your account.

>> I've also had occasions where a clerk has double-entered an item and not
>> realized it, and I use the receipt to get that corrected as well.
>
> That doesn't happen very often. (Fortunately!) About the only time I've
> seen this is in a busy restaurant. (This also just happens to be about
> the only place where you get an itemised list *before* you hand over the
> money.)
>
>> It's called "money management". If I don't have at least an awareness of
>> how much I'm spending, I might end up overdrawn, and that incurs more
>> fees. People make mistakes, and a receipt is a good tool for catching
>> those mistakes.
>
> Oh hell, I have literally *no idea* how much money is in my account. My
> technique is to just avoid spending money as much as possible.

I'm at a loss for words ...

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