Money Tips: How to Organize Your Bills

Sometimes we don't mean to not pay our bills! We may just be disorganized. Things can get lost in a sea of junk mail. Scattered due dates can easily get mixed up. And, sometimes we may just not have the funds when the bills are due.

For those reasons and more, sometimes bills are paid late, bills aren't paid at all or we just lose track of things. Below are some tips to help get make bill paying easier. But first, a story from this AC reporter.

I lost my garbage pick-up payment book. Because of this, I lost track of when I sent my last payment. On one garbage day, the truck passed my house and left the garbage in our driveway. We were embarrassed, especially because our neighbor was outside with her son waiting for the bus. I immediately sent a payment and requested a new book.

Here are some tips to keep better track of your bills, which can help save on late fees or accidentally missed payments.

Simplify Your Bills
This simply means cut out anything you really don't need or use. Pay off and cut up unused credit cards. Cancel memberships, subscriptions, etc. that you don't really use. This will cut down on the incoming mail! Also, if you are a mail order junkie-- stop getting those 'free' books, DVDs, recipe cards, and more. After the free ones are shipped, bills for future orders come in.

Get a Similar Due Date
In pregnancy, you can't really negotiate your due date. However, when it comes to paying the bills it is possible with most companies to choose a due date. If this is the case, try to set one up on or right after your payday to insure funds are available. Plus, if all bills are due on one of two paydays, it works out and there are less dates to keep track of.

Pay Cash When You Can
Instead of being billed for services, like doctor copays, pay up front. This will eliminate getting a bill in the future. Copays are usually managable to pay cash, so why get a headache over recieving another bill in the mail, having to write another check and having to mail a payment.

Eliminate Paper and Select Auto Pay
Many companies offer a paperless payment plan. Users with an email account and checking account and/or debit card/credit card can request to be billed via email and pay securely online This eliminates paper and clutter. Furthermore, customers could also set up an autopay option. This way, bills will always be on time.

Get Organized!
--Find ONE place to keep your bills-somewhere you can see them every day! Out of sight, out of mind!
--Get rid of all those extra papers! As you open the mail each day, discard the envelopes, inserts and anything you don't need, keeping only the reply envelope and bill. This will cut down big time on clutter.
--DO NOT lay the bills down. Store them vertically! When things are in piles, we may forget about them. (Out of sight, out of mind.) You could get a desk organizer. They even make ones with 31 slots, where you can place the bill on the due date.

Set Aside a Specified Time for Paying
The day you get your paycheck, take some time to sit down and pay what needs to be paid that week.

Only In a Perfect World...
Pay your bills as soon as you get them in the mail!