more specifically… Financial Clutter
According to Harris Interactive, 23% of adults say they pay bills late (& thus incur unnecessary fees) because they loose them. The systems you use (or don’t use) can make or break your financial situation. Here are some tips to begin the organizing process in the new year.
- Receipt Box – get in the habit of asking for a receipt for all your purchases.
When you arrive home, empty those receipts into this box.
Every two weeks, categorize and enter these receipts in a simple Excel program according to type (or use an actual accounting program like Quicken or Quick Books).
You’ll soon see exactly how you are spending your money and, if necessary, where you can make changes.
- Simple Bill Paying – if you use Quicken or Quick Books, easy.
Just go to the bill pay feature once a month, click on the bills you want to pay – done (of course, a little set up is required!).
Otherwise, when bills arrive, remove them from their envelope, write out the check for payment (dating it several days before its due), place it in an envelope for mailing and where the stamp goes, write the date to mail it – on mailing day, the stamp covers up your note. Keep these in a ‘hot file’ on your desk in date order. Mail when due. Voila! done.
- Filing – since we all have different ways to retrieve things, set up a filing system that fits you.
Whether it is alphabetical, by month, or by category – use what works for you.
Just remember, at the end of every year and taxes are done, file bills paid alphabetically in a storage box AWAY from your desk/office since you will rarely need to reference these items again.
Purge periodically based on your tax professionals’ advice.
January is National GET ORGANIZED month – decluttering your finances can be your first step toward a more organized home.
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PHA – Affordable, Sophisticated Home Decorating & Staging, Moving & Relocation and Organizing Services.
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