If you prefer typing at your computer to writing out checks by hand, online bill paying may work for you. Here are two approaches.

Your Bank

Most major banks offer on-line services. Bills still arrive in the mail, but you authorize payment on the bank's site. If your bank has this service, make sure it is free, the site is easy to use, and no special software is required. If the service is not up to par, go to www.gomez.com, a research and consulting firm, for a rundown of online banking sites.
Pros: No check writing, no mailing.
Cons: Still have to open bills and keep track of due dates.

A Bill-Paying Service

Your bills are routed directly to the service, which will notify you by e-mail when they are received and when they are due. You can either arrange for automatic payments or authorize payments month by month. It's still up to you to review all your bills for accuracy. If you travel or have lots of bills, this service is for you.
Pros: No paper, no worrying about due dates, no mailing.
Cons: $3.50 to $30 per month, depending on the number of bills.

Consider these two bill-management services:
www.paytrust.com Cost: $5 a month, plus $1 per bill paid, $13 a month for 15 bills; $18 a month for 25 bills, plus $1 for each additional bill paid.

www.statusfactory.com Cost: $3.50 a month for up to five bills paid; $9 a month includes 30 bills paid, plus 75 cents for each additional bill; $30 for unlimited bills.