want to save 30 bucks a year? online bill paying

[Darster]

I've been working on the habit of paying bills on Friday, and it has really been helping!

I paid five bills today online. If you don't pay any bills online yet, consider trying it. There are services where you can pay to pay your bills online, but I don't do that. All I did was look up each creditor as I attempted to pay bills one day, realizing that every 37 cents saved on postage was going to help pay for internet service! Every little bit helps. So just today by paying 5 bills online, there was $1.85 that didn't go for postage.

I just figured out that I have 7 companies that I pay online each month (7x12 Months = 84 online payments)
If I paid 84 online payments x .37 postage, that would be $31.08 a year.

It's not big money, but I have found that I actually save time
paying online. I fixed up a 3 ring binder and bought the really
cheap dividers for each company. Then, on the inside of the divider for each company, I put my username and password for that account, plus anything else I need to know to pay them online.

I created a Favorites List item just called BILLS and then I save the payment page for each company there. This makes it really easy to just run down the line and pay the bills, without paying someone else for the service. Some banks provide bill paying services forfree, but mine doesn't have it.

A lot of times, I'm checking out my bills before I have even
received the paper statement. I often even pay before I receive the statement!

An easy way I found to find out if I could pay bills online was to type something like 'pay bill bellsouth' and that would give me the page to go to. Also companies will usually put the website on the bill somewhere. Companies that don't offer it, I email and express interest that they start offering it.

I pay my credit card bills online too, and being able to check the statement before you even receive it in the US Mail is great, I've found charges I've been able to reverse or dispute and stop it head-on(like magazine subscriptions renewed without my approval).

I have been paying this way for over a year, and haven't had any problems at all. Just note the payment confirmation number on the invoice that you keep in the binder. I'm not very organized, but this has really helped keep me on track and being on top of things reduces stress.

Hope this helps someone!

Darla


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[doglover22]

I also pay most of my bills online. I will never go back to the old snail-mail metod!!

[cata5]

You have inspired me! I do pay lots of bills online, but your post has inspired me to do better! I love having my cc online although it took me a couple of months to get used to it. Now, before I go shopping I take a quick look at my statement online to check my recent activity...to curb my spending! LOL

I rarely write a check anymore and if I do, it is usually for a school expense like lunch! At this rate, my check supply will last for several years! (another great savings!)

[NaomiMarie]

We pay just about all of our bills online (right thru our bank's website)
Will all of the bills we pay we're saving a LOT more than $30 a year
Naomi