Handling your monthly budget planner may seem unmanageable. But if you learn and practice how to organize monthly bills, you can save time, worry and even money. When you pay bills late, you may suffer numerous financial consequences, like late fees and a hit to your credit score. This can quickly stretch even the best-intended monthly budget too thin. Fortunately, several ways exist for you to learn how to organize monthly bills that do not require learning a lot of new skills or spending money:
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1. Write down everything you spend. This should be one of your biggest priorities among personal record-keeping requirements. For example, if you spend $43 on your cable bill, immediately make a note of this in a notebook, spreadsheet or with a free online budget planner.
2. Calculate your monthly expenses using your notes. As you practice how to keep track of your money with pencil and paper – or online, as the case may be – you will begin to see just where you spend your money each month. You may also start to notice places where you can trim the fat and increase your bottom line.
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3. Write down on your preferred calendar and/or planner the due dates of each bill that is part of your monthly budget. Be creative; use lots of colorful pens if this is what it takes for you to execute this method of organizing monthly bills. The point here is to never miss a bill again, thereby saving you money in fees and keeping up your credit score.4. Call or write your creditors if you would like to have specific due dates so you can better practice how to organize monthly bills. Most creditors – especially credit card companies – will allow you to change your due date to one that better fits your monthly budget. For example, you could change your credit card due date from the 22nd to the 1st in many cases if this works better for you. Having a consistent due date that makes sense in your budget – and for when you get paid – will make completing this task a lot easier.
5. Use “envelope budgeting.” Write on the front of each envelope a specific category that applies to your monthly budget, such as “credit card bills.” Place each bill inside the envelope, clearly mark the due date on the front and deposit the amount you’ve budgeted in step #2 (in the form of cash or check). Use the funds in the envelope to pay the bill when it’s due. This is an easy and tactile way to actually live the concept of organizing monthly bills. Using colorful pens and/or markers can be especially helpful in making this work.
Remember: if you run into trouble in your monthly budget, do not to hide from the situation. Call or write your creditors (especially credit card companies and/or loan issuers) and try to work out the matter. Ignoring the problems will not help you in the long run. Also, do not write checks for bills unless you are certain funds will be available in time. Writing bad checks can lead to possible criminal charges (which could include a jail sentence) and could also make it much more difficult for you to open a bank account in the future.
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For more tips and tools to help you get your budget on track, visit Quizzle.com, where you’ll get access to a free budget planner and can sign up for a personalized Debt Payoff Planner to help you rid yourself of pesky debt faster.
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Organize Your Monthly Budget Planner in 5 Simple Steps was originally featured on Quizzle Wire
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