In a world where people are constantly on the go, there’s not much time to sit down and determine the best organizer for bills. The problem is that without a bill organizer, life is harder. And for the crazed stay-at-home parent, the overly ambitious student and the always-traveling high-level executive, life can’t get harder. It needs to get easier.
To save the day, here is the ultimate financial clutter checklist. This checklist can ease financial chaos and give anyone a productive, helpful bill pay organizer.
– Track, track, track. Track accounts. Some of us only have a few to keep track of but others have several such as credit cards, mortgages, banks, utilities, rewards programs, newspaper and magazine subscriptions and cell phones and keeping track of them is important. One way to do this is to list all of them on a spreadsheet online. That is one way to have all the account information in one place and having a digital version online means you will always have a copy.
– Go as paperless as possible. By going paperless, you’ll reduce the paper clutter on your desk. Everything from bill pay to getting account documents to getting reminders can now be done online, so why even bother with paper? Most companies, especially banks and credit card companies, make it really easy to go paperless. Usually, with a click of the mouse, customers can turn off paper mail right on the provider’s website. They make it too easy not to do it.
– Sit down, set a realistic budget and stick to it. Believe it or not, studies show that more than 60 percent of Americans have trouble setting and following a budget. But, setting a realistic budget is one of the most essential factors in having an organizer for bills that works. One way to budget is to determine which bills are nonnegotiable necessities (e.g., rent and utilities) and add up how much they’re going to cost each month. Then add in other monthly bills (e.g., cell phone, transportation, savings, etc.). After you’ve added up all of these bills, take that total away from the total money coming in each month. The difference is how much money there is to spend on everything else (e.g., food, clothes, etc.). If you have more bills than money, you’ll need to see where you can make cuts such as eliminating magazine and newspaper subscriptions.
– Stick to the budget. Setting a budget is easy, but sticking to it is where the challenge comes in. Many people find they have trouble sticking to one because they don’t pay attention to what they’re spending or they’re too busy to really think about it. For people always on the go, spending $10 on dinner is sometimes easier and more convenient than buying groceries for the same price and getting multiple meals out of them. One way to avoid straying from a budget is to plan, plan and plan. For example, some people buy groceries on Sunday and cook for the week. Try cooking dishes that freeze well, like a casserole, so they’re available to pop in the oven during a busy evening.
Having a great way to maintain your organizer for bills, whether you use a checklist or you find some other system is worth the effort. Not only will it ensure you stay fiscally responsible but you’ll feel a lot safer and more secure with your money which means you’ll be able to live a happier and less stressful life.
