I keep a financial notebook. I use a master list of payments due each month and check it off as I pay the bills online. My financial notebook is divided into these sections: Payment Plans, Cash Flow, Loan Amortization, and Expenditure/Repair log. Payment Plans is a sheet for each payday for the year showing payments due from that check. I do a cash flow plan about 3 months out showing all income, payments and projected balances. I periodically check my real balance against my projection and adjust it. I print out loan amortizations for all loans and track them with each payment. I verify balances with the creditor every year. Finally, I post repairs and major expenditures in a log for easy reference. I know this sounds complicated but it really isn't after the initial setup. It's so handy to have everything in one binder. ... View related article.
