I need help staying organized with mail and finances. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Question

I need help staying organized with mail and finances. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Answer 1

to reduce clutter here is what i do == most of my bills i have taken directly out of my checking account -- others on the day i receive it -= if it checks out i wright a check and mail it off!! than i discard the paper work!!!

Answer 2

Are you a nerd and love numbers and spreadsheets? If so, then I suggest you get a copy of Quicken to keep track of your money.  If you are a free spirit (nothing wrong with this) and could care less, but don't want things to get out of hand, then hire someone to do it for you, because free spirits just don't want to be bothered by these details, but they know it's important to do.

Answer 3

1. Go paperless as much as you can.

2. Get electronic statements, pay online.

3. If possible, make payments automatic.

4. Use MS Money, Quicken, or something similar.

5. Opt out of junk mail./  

Answer 4

I have a few suggestions.  

As for banking, contact your bank and set up online services if you haven't already.  This will save time, stamps, and paper (less need to reorder checks).  Find out what types of services they provide. Most offer online bill pay, online statements, and many similar services.

Some of the payment services can take up to a week to process so you need to keep a register.  If you do not want to keep a paper register, you need to find out if the bank's data can be downloaded into software to manage your records and which kinds specifically.  I use Quicken to track our finances and to balance bank statements from downloads from our bank.  

When your mail comes in immediately open each envelope and sort into 4 piles.  

1. The first pile is anything that can be considered junk mail to be recycled.  (Calling 1-888-5-OPTOUT or visiting https://www.optoutprescreen.com/?rf=t to opt out of mailing lists will reduce your junk mail.)

2. Any items that need to be entered into your calendar and/or address book. After making the notations they can be added to the junk mail pile.

3. Bills - either pay immediately or find a specific place to keep the bills until time to pay. If you have set up online bill pay with your bank, all you need to keep is the bill statement.  You can add unneeded envelopes and any marketing inserts in with the junk mail.  

4. Reading material i.e. magazines and newsletters, and long letters.

Then just toss the junk mail pile into the recycle bin.

Hope this helps.