The problem

Our receipts exist in a balkanized state: printed receipts lie in piles, folders, or drawers, while electronic receipts hide in emails, text messages, or behind store web portals. Most receipts are inconsequential. We don't think about them until we need them most when the fridge stops working, the TV gets bricked by a bad update, or that new pair of jeans turns out to have a hole in the back. (How embarrassing.)

How can we bring receipts into the 21st century?

User research

Through user interviews, I learned that users have unique organizational methods for dealing with receipts.

People develop their own unique ways of organizing receipts.
Consequently, people have their own unique ways of finding receipts.
People aren't uniformly organized or disorganized.
People remember few details or features about their receipts.
Receipts can hold sentimental value when they're associated with a significant memory.

I started by interviewing a dozen individuals. From these interviews, I learned several key insights that I have summarized below.

People develop their own unique ways of organizing receipts. Several interviewees reported that they would tape receipts to the original boxes of appliances, electronics, and other significant purchases. Some would file away important receipts and discard unimportant ones. Others did not take a disciplined approach, indiscriminately stashing receipts in kitchen drawers or letting receipts pile up in their wallets or purses.

Consequently, people have their own unique ways of finding receipts. Interviewees reported difficulty finding receipts when they mix receipt storage strategies. "Did I put the receipt in the kitchen drawer? In the box? In my bag upstairs? I can't remember exactly."

People aren't uniformly organized or disorganized. Their best efforts to organize can succumb to shortage of time or energy, resulting in mixed receipt ad hoc storage strategies.

People remember few details or features about their receipts. Human memory is fragile, fallible, and suggestible. The more distant a memory, the more muddled it becomes. "Where did I put that receipt for the ladder from Home Depot? Or was it Lowe's?"

Receipts can hold sentimental value when they're associated with a significant memory. Several interviewees reported having kept old receipts from a memorable date night or trip. A few reported having shared funny, outrageous, or otherwise interesting receipts on social media.

My takeaways:

Because people develop their own unique ways of organizing receipts, the design solution should provide organizational flexibility to users.
Because people have their own unique ways of finding receipts, the design solution should support multiple and diverse search methods.