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Inside: Forget about the late fees instead of forgetting to pay the bills. 8 simple tips to help you remember to pay the bills on time with a free bill tracker.
A reader recently wrote in, “Medical Bills Ugh! I try to budget for them and then forget to! Sounds irresponsible but I truly keep forgetting ( even when they don’t forget to send the bill)!”
Girl, I hear you.
At the end of the month, my spiral notebook budget covered with lots of chicken scratching, my phone, and the calculator all laid out on the kitchen table.
Time to count up everything I’ve paid and see if there’s any extra money that I didn’t spend in certain categories to skim off and add to my current money goal.
My favorite part about budgeting!
$57 or $0.86 doesn’t matter the amount, all the little bits add up.
Whoa $963!
I transfered $963 to my savings account and comb over my budget again to see if I can find an extra $27 to make an even thousand. The goal… save as much as I can in my great savings experiment.
On the 1st as I pulled out my checkbook and checked the balance with my phone, ohhhh that $963 I’d put into savings… $871.63 was rent money.
Not extra money from being so diligent to cut expenses or from working long hours last month.
Related: 11 Simple And Easy Ideas To Improve Your Monthly Savings
And that wasn’t the only time I forgot to count rent in my excitement of how much I was able to save.
If you keep forgetting to pay extra bills like medical bills, or forget to account for rent like I have, here are a couple tips.
Add all your bills into the calendar
Most of us have a smartphone that we carry around with us all the time.
Use the technology in your pocket to work for you and help you!
Set up reminders to notify you 4 days prior to the due date so you can make sure that bill is paid.
You can have the reminders repeat until you’ve paid the bill.
Or if you use a paper planner, still writing everything down in my light peach planner, write down the bill on the due date.
Related: Bill tracker {free download}
Pay bills immediately
Any bills you get when you open the mailbox, along with a bunch of junk mail, bring in and pay it immediately.
Or if you’re on paperless billing, pay it as soon as you get the email.
Related: Unlock the Best Money and Budgeting Secrets From the Experts
Automate your regular bills
The days go by so quickly, it can be easy to forget to pay a bill on time.
If this is a big struggle then turn on auto pay and set up a due date that works for you.Look ahead as you create the monthly budget
Are there any extra bills coming due this month? Any additional expenses for a birthday or holiday?
Add them to this free bill tracker printable {download now}
Put a sticky note on your fridge or use a magnetic white board
I’m in and out of the fridge to grab cold water, cherries, or a slice of cheese all the time anyways.
The more visual cues the easier it is to remember.
And I love the satisfaction of erasing it off my list.
Shift the responsibility
I’m much better at remembering dates than my husband is, all the birthdays, anniversaries, get togethers with friends, and it makes sense for me to be the one to remember the due dates.
If your spouse is better at remembering dates or when bills need to be paid, turn this part over to them.
Use each other’s strengths and work together as a team.
Use a bill tracker
Track your bills with an online app. Here’s a list of 20 apps that are all designed to help you pay your bills on time..
Or CLICK HERE for a {free} bill tracker worksheet where you can list all of your bills and when they are due.Related: 7 Simple Steps to Make an Easy Monthly Budget
Remember your money goal
Wait, one more thing to remember?
Saving up your emergency fund, going to Disneyland, or replacing your car - when you keep your money goal front and center.
Your competitiveness comes out and makes you more diligent about paying those bills to see what’s left over, so you can add it to your money goal.
Like all those late fees you were paying.
Create a system that works for you and helps you remember to pay your bills. Use one tip or all of them.
So you don’t have to take $871.63 back out of savings to pay rent. Or continue to get late notices on the medical bills.
Your turn, tell me in the comments how do you remember to pay the bills?
Hi! I’m Charissa. I’m on a mission to help hardworking women overcome money struggles and gain financial peace with a Biblical perspective so they can have the freedom to impact their families and communities. Ready to make some changes that will impact your finances in 2020? Click here to get a free worksheet to help you make it happen!
