Checking receipts is crucial to saving money. We know that scanners are often wrong but what about additional charges that are added to your bill without your knowledge?

At an electronics store, my mother bought a small television set to replace an old non-digital set. The cashier asked if my mother wanted the extended warranty and then proceeded to just add it to the bill without waiting for an answer. When the price was about $70 more than the price of the television with tax she questioned the young lady and she said Oh I just added the extended warranty. You didn’t want it? No.

This isn’t the only type of upselling that happens. If you are in a restaurant and are asked if you want tap or bottled water, if you say tap you will pay an exorbitant amount for the tap water. Many places no longer just give you water without asking in order to save water and not having to wash the glass.

Watch what you are being charged for and if you don’t recognize a charge, ask.