A gift is not an obligation

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I think I'll write more about letting go of gifts after the holidays but I wanted to share this little story.

I was riding the bus home today and sitting next to me was a very weathered-looking man with thick, long dreads. He was reading a small book on self-care which made my heart melt a little. I didn't catch the name of the book but I was able to sneak a peek at one page as I got up to leave. It said:

"When somebody gives you a gift, say "thank you". That is all you need to do. A gift is not an obligation."

I love the simplicity of this. It's a reminder of the grace in gift-giving and receiving. Something to keep in mind over the holidays! 

Paperless Home: Receipts: 4./5. Keep

I’m working on a series to chronicle how I achieve a Paperless Home and the first project is Receipts, woot!

Okay, so I’ve refused most receipts and have digital versions of some. What if I have a paper receipt that I want to hold onto for a few weeks in case of return or issues with the purchase?

4. For the receipts I want to save temporarily, I have a physical inbox: One of my grocery stores often makes price mistakes so I take those receipts and look them over. I also keep the few shopping receipts I get until I know I’m keeping the item or the return date has passed. These receipts go into a physical inbox that is empty except for the few paper items that come into our home each week. I try to empty it every Sunday.

+ And since it’s holiday time, to simplify Christmas receipts, I put all gift receipts in one envelope and toss it at the end of January.

My physical inbox... really just a drawer that stays mostly empty

5. For the paper receipt(s) I want to save permanently, I have a folder, one folder: This is really just relevant to my engagement ring. I keep the original receipt with the other few pieces of important paperwork in the house like the deed to the house, title to the car, etc. They are all in one folder and will probably go to a safe deposit box soon.

My pile of monthly receipts as I go through my simple system—mostly refusing them!

+ Remember, this is what works best for me and has helped our home stay paperless. You might need a different system, especially for taxes or business receipts, so please ask your accountant if you're unsure!