Catholic Exchange

Streamlining Bill Paying

Written by

Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur

in

I don't know anyone who enjoys paying bills, but it is possible to make it less time-consuming. For the longest time I have had a bill-paying folder. Every day when I open the mail, I take out the bills and stick them in this folder. On bill-paying day, generally Friday because that is the day my husband gets paid, I just have to take out the folder, figure out what is due the soonest and what I need to pay that week.

So far, so good. Here is where the process got messy. I would then write the day I paid the bill on the invoice and shove the paid bill back into that same bill-paying folder. I would continue stuffing items into this folder until it was about ready to hemorrhage paper. At this time, I would then go through the folder, remove the paid bills, shred those I didn't need anymore and place the others into a "paid bills" folder which I kept up in my bedroom for safe-keeping.

Why, you ask, didn't I just put the paid bills into that folder in the first place? Good question. And the reason is somewhat embarrassing. I was simply too lazy to take the time to walk upstairs and file them away. It was easier to just stick them into the same folder while I was working on the bills downstairs.

So, in the spirit of "CE on Time" I am attempting to rectify this problem. I sorted through my bills folder. I actually even got a new folder for the bills since the one I had looked like it had been through the mill. I also got a new "paid bills" folder, which I am keeping downstairs right next to the original bills folder. There, problem solved. I can file the bills right after I pay them. I don't need to walk upstairs to put them away.

Sometimes the simplest solutions to make life easier are right in front of our noses. We just need to make the decision to do something about the problem.

Comments

  1. Guest Avatar
    Guest

    Thanks for bringing up this topic, Patrice. It is a good one.

    My question would be, why do you need a "paid bills" folder at all? Here are some other ways to handle it:

    Keep those "paid bills" in a folder marked "bank," so that when you get your statement, you can see if the check has cleared. (I check my bank account balance online now and don't even get a paper statement anymore, but the same principle applies.) You would want to write your check number on the bill for easy reference. (And of course write the account number on the check.) Your cancelled check serves as a receipt and is legal proof you have paid, whereas the fact you stuck your portion of the bill in a "paid" folder is not.

    Alternatively, you could just keep the "paid bill" until the next statement came from that utility, or credit card company, or whatever, showing your previous payment and then it could be shredded.

    If for some reason you want a summary or running record of your payment history, you can request that all on one sheet of paper from the company you are paying or better yet, access it online.

    Most of us keep way too much paper. I try now to pay as many bills online as I can.  Saves on stamps too.

    It will be interesting to see what other people have to say about this not-too-pleasant fact of life, bill paying.

  2. Guest Avatar
    Guest

    I'm with Mary in the "pay them online" camp.  I love my free online bill pay service through my bank – it's so fast and easy.  I have to admit though to saving paid bills in individual company folders – I haven't taken the step yet of doing away with those like Mary suggests.  I definitely do keep too much paper.  Thanks for bringing up the topic Patrice!

  3. Guest Avatar
    Guest

    After my last child was born, I became horribly lax on paying bills on time.  I finally set up budget accounts for our gas and electric bills, switched to a one price phone, cable, internet company – and nearly all of our other monthly bills were consistent in amounts.  Then I set up all of our bills to be paid automatically each month directly from our credit union account. 

    Life is good now.  😉

  4. Guest Avatar
    Guest

    This helps me…I checked with each of the major bill "people," as to when each bill is usually due (i.e., the 1st or 10th or 15th of the month). Then I went through my yearly calendar–you know, the Catholic one from the funeral home that you get from the back of church at the end of the year, and that is held up with magnets on the front of the fridge, and I WROTE DOWN when each bill is due. This way, when I look to see what is scheduled for that day, I know to go online to pay my utility bill or to call the water dept. to pay that bill. It keeps me from getting late fees, but also helps me juggle funds by not paying my bills so far in advance.

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