I used to print each receipt, but the amount of paper was taking up too much space, so now I just make a ledger sheet in a looseleaf binder for each company/bill I pay, and handwrite the date, amount, and confirmation # of the payment on it. This way, one sheet of paper holds a year or more information.
I also write every payment in my checkbook, even if it's made on a credit card, and I note that. I put a line through the money amount so I know it's not to come out of the checking. It's sort of like a double record. May sound like a lot of work, but it really isn't for me, I'm used to it, and I have the record of all my transactions, however made, with me at all times. Having it recorded in the checkbook, even if it has gone onto a credit card and not through the checking acct, makes it easy for me to see every bill I've paid no matter which form of payment was used, and helps me easily get things together at tax time.
I guess this sounds more confusing than it really is if taken step by step. This works for me, I'm sure as you take responsibility for your bills you will develop your own system.
Whenever I go into my bank website and look at the checking account online, I see almost immediately what has been written on that account, what has cleared, and what has not, and what my balance is. I used to balance my checkbook very successfully, but now I don't even bother. The daily/every couple of days perusing the checking account online shows me easily where I am. We can check just a couple of days at a time, when there aren't that many charges at once. We don't need to wait a full month to get a statement like we used to.
Some of my bills are automatically deducted from the checking account. That shows up too. But by being able to check daily, or every couple of days, it's easier to keep track and to see what you've got than wait a month for a statement where you'd have to work with a whole month at a time.
The bank will help you, too if you need them, but I'll bet once you're comfortable with a bill-paying and record keeping system, you won't need them too much.
It's very important that you take the steps to learn. Don't be afraid to try.....and I think you need to start now.
Message Thread | This response ↓
« Back to index