For the first couple of months I wrote everything down on one piece of paper. I included who needed to be paid, the due date and how much I owed. When the first of the year hit I started a new plan. I bought a cheap calendar and now this is how I do it.
On the calendar section I write the name for each bill on the date it is due. When it's paid I write the date I paid it and either a confirmation number if it's paid online or a check number if I pay by check. Down the side of the page where there's a notes section I list each bill that I have with the amount due. This has been the easiest system I have ever used and so far it's kept me on track and on time.
26 comments:
Genius!!
Yes, that's a great idea --- we're all for simplicity too.
We mostly use our calendar to keep track of our appointments, but there are one or two upcoming bills on it. We use automatic payment for most of them.
You working outside the home as a baker, I must say this: You're a smart cookie!! You make bookkeeping look like a piece of cake!
yes, Ginny is right about 'genius'... I am not a book keeper but I could do this. all mine are online, and iget emails when they are due. of course if the power is off, or internet down that doesn't work
Being a pro...crastinator I understand. I ended up having most of my bills taken out of my checking account. I failed to write checks a couple of times and this was the easiest to me. I however use a calendar from Dollar General just like this one for my odd jobs I do. Helps keep my crap together. Good for you, I am all about finding what works best for ourselves.
I make all kinds of lists and have recently started exploring BUllet journallyng...so far it is working for me as it is a catch all for all kinsd of to do lists
Cheers
Dr Sonia
I think I would have to do something like this. I am hopeless and although I know all about bills etc, Tom makes sure they are paid on time.
Briony
x
I have always been the one to pay bills, and have never needed to be reminded to pay them. BUT, I still use a system, not to remind me, but I used to have these wild thoughts of 'Did I pay this?' Even though I always paid...usually when the bill came in. But I would have a wild hunt through my checkbook to reassure myself.
Now I have a ledger and I have my bills listed by month...and like you I write down the check number or confirmation number...and try to write the date down. Just till I can look and see and know i have paid it. Then I also at the bottom of the page, I write down when I pay property taxes or insurances on the month I pay them. Just because.
I pay when I get them if I have the cash, I only get paid monthly
I have been using a system that I came up with years ago. It's very similar to yours only it's a list that I print out each month with all of your regular bills and room to list any extras. I fold it in half and put my bills and paper trail into the fold and at the end of the month I fold it all together and file it. It's nice to have everything easy to get to and it will certainly help if there is ever a dispute, because you will be able to pull everything up and prove your payment. You have a great plan here . . . it's always a comfort to be organized :)
Yup, that works well. I have a list on my bulletin board of all the income and when it comes in and all the bills and when they come in, with 2 exceptions all my bills are paperless so I get an email when the statement is ready. My condo fee payment I write on my desk calendar because I don't get any notice for that I just know I will forget it one of these days if I don't write it down. Thankfully the mortgage is automatically deducted...(and haven't just made your last mortgage payment??? Yay!)
That's a good idea. I pay most things electronically now, so it is good to have a reminder.
There are some big bills that come up--like insurance or the mortgage--so I add the yearly amount up, divide by # of paychecks and set aside the money so that when they come due, I'm not scrambling...or totally out of money for that pay period. I taught my kids to do that too so that they are not living paycheck to paycheck.
I'm glad you found a system that works for you. I get anxiety just thinking about having to pay the bills.
Using this calendar surely makes life easier!
well I don't know about that but it works for me
I only have one bill that is auto pay. I'm always afraid that they'll take the money out before my checks deposited.
Well that's how the cookie crumbles
I'm afraid to do autopay in case I don't have the money in the bank on time
It was nice having Wade take care of everything although when he passed away I was a bit clueless as to where everything was.
I suppose if I only got paid once a month that's how I would do it too. For now I go week to week
Still one more to go. The last mortgage payment is May 1st.
I've done the living paycheck to paycheck and I suppose in a way that's what I'm doing right now. It's always good to have a plan
it sure does
cheques (checks) are almost obsolete here (New Zealand)- I think something like end of this year, you can't even get a cheque book...
I get a reminder regularly on when payments are going out of my account...I know then to make sure there is surplus in my account to pay them. I remember once seeing that if the date wasn't convenient, I could reset due dates...
It's always a good idea to have a plan for those mundane things like paying bills. We have system here where regular payments simply get deducted from the bank account. We get a statement about it. We just have to make sure there's enough in the account to cover the bills.
Very organized and easy to see the whole month at a glance! This CPA approves! :)
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