Monthly Bill-Paying Checklist

Money jar

Print out this checklist to stay on top of your finances. Tick off the following tasks―recommended by REAL SIMPLE. REAL LIFE. financial expert Farnoosh Torabi―each month.

  • Make a list of all the bills you pay every month. Hang it next to your computer or wherever you pay bills. As you pay them, check them off so you know what you have yet to tackle.
  • Sign up with the billers’ customer-service departments to have your bills paid by credit card or automatic debit. If you want more control, almost all major banks offer free online bill payment, which lets you schedule payments in advance.
  • Consolidate your bill due dates. Even if your gas bill is due on the 15th of the month, your mortgage on the 20th, and your credit card bill on the 30th, choose a day—say the 12th of every month or the first Sunday of every month—as Bills Day. Set aside an hour to review your bills and pay them at once. Mark the date on your calendar.
  • Track your accounts. Consider using an online budgeting tool such as Mint.com to help you track expenses coming in and going out.
  • Shred bills that are more than one year old. Or scan them onto your hard drive using a scanner. (Check with your tax professional for his or her recommendations about how long to hang onto documents.)

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Did we forget anything on this checklist? What would you add?

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