How to Create a Bill Paying System

Have you ever jumped out of a deep sleep covered in a cold sweat because you forgot to pay an important bill? Do you spend hours sifting through piles of unsorted mail looking for bills you know are coming due? If so, there is a less stressful way to go through life. Follow the steps below to set up an in-home bill paying system that will ease some of the stress that goes with running a household's financial responsibilities.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Calendar, desk or wall (your preference)
• Check register
• Stamps
• Pen or marker
• Small basket (about 8.5-x-11 inches)
• Bill sorter (optional)

How to Create a Bill Paying System

1. Get out a calendar (desk or wall) and begin writing in all of the bills' due dates in the squares.

2. Once completed, sort all current unpaid bills by due date--closest due date on top, next due date underneath, and so on, until the pile is sorted.

3. Get out your checkbook and register. You will need to find out the most up-to-date balance and write it in, if it isn't already there.

4. Look in the sorted pile of bills and remove the bills due in the next 10 days. Write out checks for all of the upcoming bills and put with payment stubs inside the envelopes. If paying online, make a list of each upcoming bill and what day to complete the online transaction.

5. Put on a stamp, seal the envelope and put in a location for outgoing mail. If not mailing immediately, include a note to remind you when to mail it out.

6. 
    
   Photo Credit: amazon.com

   Repeat this process once a week and try to keep all unpaid bills together in one location, preferably a desk organizer, small box or bill sorter (like shown).