Paying Bills on Time

Pay Bills Online Immediately

When I get the mail each day, I immediately sort it and discard what I can. I do not hold bills to be paid later. I immediately "pay" them using the internet. I go to the website of the company and choose the option to pay my bill. Then, I change the date from the current day's date to the one I want the money to come from my checking account. This is almost always the due date!

This method reduces paper clutter, postponement, late charges, etc. I am a Senior citizen and have used many different methods, but to date this is the best one yet! I am able to shred the bill and not have it laying around the house.

By Carol from Wyoming, PA

Paying Your Bills On Time

There are two different methods I use because I pay some bills with a check and others using my credit card. If paying with a check, when the bill comes in the mail, immediately upon opening it I write a check and get the envelope ready. On the inside of the envelope flap, I write the date it is to be mailed (allowing about 3-4 days mailing time) and put the stamp on the envelope. I place this envelope a plastic mail holder that has 31 different slots; one day for each day of the month (example: #25 for the 25th of the month).

When that day arrives, I know to mail that envelope, so seal it and mail it. I don't mail until then because I don't want the funds drawn out of my account until necessary, allowing me to draw interest on that money, not the company collecting my check.

If it is a credit card I am paying the bill with, I simply put that bill in the slot on the day I am to call and pay that bill. When the call is completed, I make a note on the bill of the day it was paid, the amount, and confirmation number along with the persons name that took payment. I then file the paperwork knowing it has been paid and it's out of my way! Works for me!

Source: Learned from lady I used to work for.

By kk22kk22 from Ft. Collins, CO

Paying Your Bills on Time and Saving on Postage

I have been paying many of my bills over the phone with my debit card. It is a win-win situation. Not only do I save writing a check and saving a stamp (which is now 39 cents---ouch!) but my payment gets credited much faster. Just check your creditors to see if they offer this option.
My utilities and insurance companies for the most part all do.

If they don't, they may take automatic payments out of your account each month which would be another option. Still another is to make your payments online.

By Diane from PARADISE PA

Place Bills Right On Your Calendar

This is my tip for paying bills on time. As soon as I receive a bill in the mail, or an email saying my bill is due soon, I write the due date and the amount on the calendar. Then every week when I write out my weekly spending plan and pay bills, I know when it needs paid and for how much. I'm never late making a payment.

Source: Been doing this for several years now.

By wendiesioux from Indiana

Paying Bills On Time

Tips and ideas to help you pay your bills on time.

Write The Date and Time Due on the Envelope

When I receive bills or any correspondence that has to be mailed at a certain time, I save time and aggravation by writing the date due to be mailed where the stamp goes. Only takes a second to let me know it is time to mail something.

By Linda

Online Bill Paying

Use an online bill paying service. As soon as your bill comes in the mail, schedule the payment. If it is a recurring bill, many services will let you schedule it to be paid automatically each month so that you don't have to enter it each time.

By QueenBeeCrafts

Paying Bills Right Away

I pay each bill the day after it comes in the mail. Then there's no forgetting a bill payment.

By rabbithorns

Credit Counseling

We really got into hot water by not paying our bills on time. We were close to losing our house. We went to a certified nonprofit credit counselor and we are doing much better. We have been with them for a year. They charge a fee for their service, but we save that much money in interest fees. They negotiated lower interest rates with some of our creditors. We will be out of debt in less than two years.

I mention this only because some of the people who visit this site are coming because they are in the same situation.

If you go to a credit counselor, make sure they are certified and non-profit. Also make sure that they are not trying to get you to sign another loan on your house. Some outfits are simply mortgage companies. The people we work with (GreenPath) are certified, nonprofit and they are also certified HUD counselors. All of this makes it easier to deal with the creditors. The phone calls have stopped. We shop at Aldi's for food and we shop at Thrift stores for over half of our clothing (I rarely find clothes for my tall son at thrift shops, the best I can do is clearance at landsend.com and oldnavy.com. I can never find his size at brick and mortar stores.)

By odeal59

My Three Rules

Rule #1:

Keep all your bills in one place. Take them there straight from the mailbox to avoid misplacing one.

Rule #2:

Select one day of the week (or every other week) for paying bills. Sometimes time gets away from me and I realize I haven't paid bills in a while and there is something due tomorrow. If I pay bills every Thursday, I am unlikely to miss it. Then on that day I pay everything that is due within the next 10 days so I don't have to worry about them again until the next week. That gives enough time for them to get through the mail. This goes for online bill pay services as well because sometimes it takes up to 5 days for them to process it and mail it to the company being paid.

Rule #3:

Keep a list of the bills that don't have a reminder coming every month, like rent or bills with a payment book. Better yet, keep a list of all bills you have due every month with the approximate date of the month they are due. Example:

1st of month House payment
10th of the month insurance payment

This really helps keep track of auto debits because it is easy to screw up your balance if you forget that an auto debit posted. Also, when you pay regularly and get into a rhythm like this it becomes easier to know how much money you are going to need later in the month so you know when to quit spending.

By TabbyCat

Pocket Calendar

Purchase cheap yearly pocket calendar or better yet, get one from a vendor with advertising on it for free. Each month has a margin, write mortgage or rent, car payment, water, phone, electric, standard monthly bills. As soon as bill comes in, record the amount. When paid, check it off list. List credit cards and balances, add insurance payments to list on months due. I keep one in my desk at work.

By Sandy