Some people are going to consider this an ugly hack, so I’ve been hesitant to share it. However, it works very well, so here it is. When I get an email receipt, I simply leave it in my inbox. (As I’ve said before, I don’t worry about trying to delete everything out of my inbox–I just keep everything I might need in there where I can easily search it.) So, all of my email receipts are in my inbox.
When I import my credit card statement into my financial software, I like to add a note on each item saying what it was for. I’ve found that the most efficient way to find the receipt is to do a search in my email program for the price. Most of the time this is a unique number, and I only get one email–the receipt I’m looking for. If there are more than one, I can easily narrow it down by the date.
Um… the inbox? really?
If you can use search anyways, why not stick it in some obscure folder (or just Archive it, if using Gmail)?
If I was using Gmail, I probably would use the Archive function. I’m using Apple Mail and I have several different email addresses. Keeping everything in my inbox makes it very easy for me to search across multiple mailboxes or sort everything by date, size, attachments, etc.
If something comes in that I need to act on and I can’t do it now, I’ll copy it to Omnifocus so it doesn’t get lost.
Thanks for sharing…not everything that is productive has to be pretty. Though this one kinda hurts- but hey, if it works for you keep it up.
Eek- you leave everything in your inbox?!? Does that really work well for you? If you’re using Outlook, I recommend downloading X1 Professional Client (http://www.x1.com) – it’s a desktop search engine on steroids! It helps me use a single processed folder to move all email to once action is completed or task is created.
Actually it does work well for me despite the fact that a lot of people recommend having nothing in your inbox, but new mail. I realize it won’t work for everyone, but it works very well for me on my setup.
I leave most emails in my inbox and just drag a few that I know I’ll need to refer to into special folders. Things for taxes or confirmations. Rest of it is fine just in the inbox.
I do the same but I’ve created a folder in Apple’s Mail program and I just slide ’em in there. I believe that an “Empty Inbox is a happy inbox.” Since I don’t need to refer back to those invoices/receipts all that often, they live comfortably there.
I like to see my emails in inbox (even if I am using Gmail ). Many of gmail users, use the Archive function because they like to see their inbox clean. If i have to make a reference to one of them, I just star it, or put it in a special category. It pretty simple this way.
Hi Mark
As others have said, if it works for you, keep doing it. I do find it strange though because I can search all my mail as easily as I search my inbox in any application, be it Gmail, Apple Mail or in my current case, Outlook 2007 with Instant Search.
The real question I had, though, was what financial software do you use?
I use MYOB for my business finances.
I use Apple Mail and also leave all received messages at Inbox.
However, I created many Smart Mailboxes, where the messages are virtually stored, so for some specific matters, instead of search I got to those boxes.
I do something similar with bills from credit card companies. They show up in their own Smart Folder where I can find them quickly.
IncrediMail 2 is the answer to everyone and anyone’s dream email manager software. It started out as an e-mail client (not Web mail) with multi-media capabilities. This new version is still an e-mail client, continuing to provide those capabilities but has added an interface for email management that I don’t think anyone on the planet can beat. You have to see it to believe it. It actually puts the professional e-mail clients to shame. I use POP to connect it to Gmail as well.
http://www.incredimail.com/english/download/
NOTE: one important caveat – They are working on supporting the Windows Vista 64 bit operating system but it is not *officially* compatible yet. I have the Windows Vista 64 bit operating system on my computer and, although, I had trouble at first, it is working well for me now.
I have a label in Gmail for “data entry” for all the current year expenses, and I archive them all. When I sit down to do the bookkeeping, I know right where everything is, so nothing is left out. And hey, ugly or not, if your system is working, more power to ya! :)
Pesonally, I have a folder for receipts that all receipts go to. Recurring receipts get autorouted – unique ones get moved. I find it best to keep the main inbox area as uncluttered as possible and to keep all your emails sorted nicely like you would with paper and a filing cabinet. Unlike paper, you can easily automate much of this.