Two Shoeboxes

By Ellen Ford, NeatReceipts  
 

A scanner is a great way to help you get organized. You can scan each of your documents, create digital copies and file them away on your computer. But what happens when you have hundreds of documents? What happens when you can't remember where you put something? You need some kind of software solution to help you keep track of everything.

There are plenty of options available for personal and business organizational software. But as good as they are, most don't let you save digital copies of your original documents, so you have to keep paper files anyway.

That's why we recommend a solution that combines a scanner with organizational software. One such solution is the NeatReceipts Scanalizer.

The NeatReceipts Scanalizer lets you scan papers into your computer and utilizes the power of a database to help you organize it all. The software goes even a step further by reading certain pieces of data from receipts and business cards, such as the vendor name, purchase date, payment method and total from receipts, and contact information from business cards. You can create expense reports, track and manage your spending, your mail, your important documents - all on the computer. And if you already use software such as QuickBooks, Quicken, Excel, Outlook or MS Money, you can export the information to those software applications. The Scanalizer also creates PDFs of your scanned documents so you can email your expenses to your accountant, or a recipe clipping for your friend.

Organization is an ongoing challenge. Why make it even more difficult by keeping "two shoeboxes" full of data? We believe that in this digital age, it's time to say goodbye to disorganized clutter and hello to a paper-free life.

We call it the two shoebox problem: half of your data is on the computer, and half of it sits in a shoebox or a filing cabinet somewhere. You need a receipt, or a financial statement, or an insurance policy and you don't know where to find it. Even if you know it's one place or the other, it can be maddening to search through file folder after file folder to remember where you put the thing! It's hard enough to stay organized on the computer, or in your filing cabinet, but both?

It is growing more and more difficult for individuals and businesses to stay organized. Just think about how much paper clutters up your office or home: bills, mail, contracts, invoices, pay stubs, receipts, medical forms, business cards, product warranties, receipts, articles, even recipes - and so much more. Add to that all of the information you keep organized on your computer, and it can be a nightmare keeping it straight.

You have to start by making a choice. Do you keep your "two shoeboxes," or opt for one or the other?


 

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