When my now-husband and I moved in together, I felt as though our monthly bills magically multiplied by thousands!! Dramatic, I know, but I truly felt like bills were arriving everyday and I couldn’t even keep track of them, much less remember what was due when, and if certain bills had been paid. It was madness, and something had to be done to get the madness under control.
So I spent some quality time with my favorite software program… good ol’ Excel. I made a fantastic spreadsheet that I consult each and every time I pay bills – and I mark off what is paid! That way if we overlook a monthly bill, or it never arrives in the mail, I can nip it in the bud before it becomes past-due.
Very simple instructions for creating the spreadsheet: Down the left side in column A (starting with row 2), type the name of each bill in order of it’s due day. Next, type in column B the approximate amount of the monthly bill (some bills are more predictable - like cell phone, cable, water… other bills vary - like credit cards). Type in column C the due day each month. Then on row 1, starting in column D through column O, write each month, January through December. Print it and store it at your desk or wherever you typically pay bills. Ta-da! Now you have a beautiful spreadsheet on which you can proudly and confidently mark a “X” each month as you pay each bill.
Say “goodbye” to past-due bills forever!!
