If you're having a hard time every month finding all your bills and receipts, paying late and then having to pay the late fees, it's time to make a New Year's resolution to organize your finances. The idea of organizing your bills when you're super busy may seem overwhelming. The good news, however, is that you don't need to spend much time to get yourself organized. Luckily, there's an easy way to reach your 2010 financial goal. Simply put these strategies to work.
Step 1
Figure out how much your monthly bills are. Make a list of every single bill you owe, what the payments are and their due dates. Organize the list in a logical manner--utility bills, rent, car insurance bills, credit cards, health insurance bills, gym membership dues. This will help you avoid late fees and worrying about services being shut off if you forget to pay a utility bill.
Step 2
Set aside a time every day to sit down and go through your mail. Separate bills from your other mail. Open them right away and look to make sure there are no errors. Write down the due date on the envelope that came with each bill. Keep all the bills together in a folder marked "Bills To Be Paid." Even if you pay bills online, be sure to jot down the date they are due and place them in the envelope with your bills to be paid.
Step 3
Pick a regular day every month to pay all your bills. When you pay each bill, record the payment right away in your checking account register or computer software program. This is really important to make sure you don't forget, and find yourself having to pay your bank's high overdraft charges. Include the date paid, amount paid and check number on your copy of the bill. Keep all your receipts together so you are able to find one if you need it.
Step 4
Always keep supplies on hand. Be sure to have plenty of stamps, envelopes, a stapler with extra staples and any other essentials. You can also save a lot of time by preparing envelopes for regular bills ahead of time. This way, all you'll have to do is write out the check and place it in the envelope.
Step 5
Stick to a system. This is essential to help you get in the habit of being organized with your bills. When your bills are organized, you will feel less stressed, more in control of your life and much more energized.
