subject: How To Organize Your Monthly Bills Without Hating It [print this page] Many people think of paying their bills as one of life's necessary evils. It's no fun, and it takes a lot of time, but it's got to be done to avoid future headaches. But, just because you can't avoid it, doesn't mean you have to dread it. Here are some simple tips that will make the process easier, more efficient and maybe even a little fun.
Schedule-
If you're like most people, you pay your monthly bills as they arrive. That can make it feel like you're paying bills all month long. Instead, pick two days of the month as your scheduled bill-pay days. If you get paid twice a month, then "pay day" can be "bill day" as well. On those days, gather all the bills that have come in and pay them. Bills that come in later can usually be safely put aside until the next scheduled bill day without being overdue.
Organize-
Set up a bill paying station. This is an area where you'll have everything you need like a calculator, pens, the checkbook and even your filing cabinet. This will save you the frustration of having to locate everything every time you need to sit down and pay your bills. Make sure your station is near your computer. Even if you don't pay your bills online, you might need the computer to check account balances or transfer funds. Another thing is to have a clearly defined inbox and out box to make sure you keep the paid bills separate from the bills that haven't been paid yet.
Simplify-
When you bring in the mail, you probably drop it on the kitchen table. After that, it might be moved to the counter and finally to your desk. Every time you handle your mail, you're adding extra work. Instead, when your mail arrives, sort it quickly. Throw away all the junk, set aside magazines and personal mail, and take any bills straight to your bill-pay area. The same goes for bills and statements you receive online. Once you get those, sort them immediately into your "bill pay" file". Then, when it's time to pay your bills, they will all be waiting for you, and you won't have to waste precious time looking through piles of junk mail -- or spam -- to find them.
Reward yourself-
Paying your monthly bills most certainly isn't any fun. So, reward yourself when you're finished. Make your "fun" plans before you sit down to pay bills so you've got something good to anticipate. It can be as simple as a walk in the park, a favorite candy bar or a half hour of surfing through YouTube. Regardless of what you decide to do for fun, make sure you go ahead and do it since you've definitely earned it.
by: Evelyn Oakley
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