Organize Your Year: Bill Paying

I hate late fees when paying bills. B.C (Before Children) I had NEVER, EVER received a late fee. It was UNTHINKABLE. Even after having one child it was unthinkable. After two children, I'll admit it happened but rarely. With three children. It's happening and often. Sigh. There is my confession to you. I'm not going to confess how much we spent last year in late fees but let me just say, it was WAY out of my comfort zone! 

When I get the mail it has become habit to immediately sort out the mail. If I don't have time to sort out the mail, I don't GET the mail. It stays in the mailbox. I open all bills, letters, statements and I throw away the opened envelopes and anything else I will not need. I file away the bill portions that I need to keep and I place the bills that need to be paid in this by the back door. This organizer has been a LIFE saver. As you can see, cell phones, cash and keys all rest here so we can grab them on our way out the door! 

That worked perfectly for years, no problem! When it was time to pay the bills, I just wrote them out and sent them. Ahem. Once again that was B.C. Or at least Before THREE Children. I'm still doing that part like clockwork because I formed a habit with it. But those bills were slipping and I was forgetting to get them actually INTO the mailbox or for us, the Post Office. Too many other things (a.k.a. PEOPLE!) to get out the door too! 

So here is my solution! When the bills come into the house and I am sorting through and throwing away the trash, I now will make time to write out and pay for the bills RIGHT AWAY. I just won't send them. right away. Let me elaborate. I'll write out the checks and only pay by checks, no more paying by phone unless I do that right away as I'm opening up the bill. When I'm putting the bill and payment into the envelope, I turn the envelope upside down and write the due date and the amount in small letters. 

By doing this, I can see at a glance when the bill is due and whether or not I have the money in the bank to cover it. So as I'm heading out the door, I scan the dates and grab the ones I need to mail and cross off the amounts. Done! No more late fees! I hope!

For more in the series: 

Organize Your Year: Bible Reading

Organize Your Year: Card Writing


Don't forget to enter the Giveaway for this series! It ends on Friday!

In HIS Grip, 
               

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