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Creating an organized Bill Pay Binder

BillPaybinder

How do you keep your bills organized and paid on time? For years, I would just pay them as I would get them in the mail. Which would mean that I drug out my checkbook every few days. This worked just fine, but I felt like I was constantly paying bills, which isn’t my favorite chore.

In the last couple years, I have created a bill pay binder that has worked really well for me, so I am going to share a few of my tips with you.

First, you need a binder, I use a simple white 1 inch binder. Next, I added a pencil bag to hold all the “tools” that I need for paying bills.

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I have a hole punch, calculator, pencils, pens, and a Sharpie in my pouch.

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I printed out a calendar for each month over at THIS site. I went through and added all recurring events on the calendar with the dates that I already knew. Things like payday, car payment, we have rental properties and I keep track of when those payments are due on this calendar as well.

When I receive a bill in the mail, I add the due date on this calendar right away.

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I have three sections on my binder. One section for bills I pay on the 15th and one for the 30th. When I receive a bill in the mail, I mark the due date on my calendar, punch holes in the bill and file it in the correct area.

I also have a section to file bills from the previous month. I find this very handy because if I have a question on a bill or what I had paid the previous month, I still have them handy.

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In the front inside pocket of the binder is where I keep my address labels and envelopes.

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I use different colors of markers for my bill calendar. I found a great way to hold all of my pens and colored markers in this really cute Thirty-one Fold and Go bag.

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I am a paper and pen person. I like to keep track of bills, lists, etc. on paper instead of on the computer. This bill pay system has been working really well for me and I feel much more organized. I spend less time paying bills and don’t have to go digging for everything when it’s time to sit down and write out checks. I hope you can use a few of my tips or even create your own binder!

BillPaybinder

If you have any suggestions on how to improve this or just comments on your own ideas, I would love to hear them!

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Mission: Master Bathroom Organization Part 1

Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and do it! I am talking about those projects that I keep putting off. In my case it is the things that are the most personal to me. Isn’t that sad! The two rooms that I spend the least time cleaning, organizing and decorating are my master bath and master bedroom. I keep the rooms that people can see when they stop by in nice working order but neglect to do the same to the spaces I spend the most time in. That brings me to my next project:

Mission Master Bathroom Organization

Step 1: Assess your space: your problems and your favorite things.

Oh My! I have teamed up with Apartment Guide for this project. They are great for home and apartment owners! Whether you’re living, looking or moving, Apartment Guide offers tips on how to organize your apartment and make the most of your space on the Apartment Guide blog. They will be my source for ideas for this project. My bathroom seemed large when we moved in but has quickly filled up to seem quite small. I want to make the most of every area and eliminate what is not working.
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Step 2: Get a clean slate!

Take it all out! Seriously remove everything and clean every area. Apartment Guide provides a handy apartment cleaning checklist to help revamp your space.That was a huge help in figuring out where to start! My bathroom may be a good size but I think starting with the simple steps helps the most. 17 Cleaning Essentials for Your Apartment was also a huge help! That is where I got the awesome idea to use vinegar and water as a glass cleaner! Who knew?

Step 3: Starting over:

Get trash bags and start filling. I found great tips that suggested after taking everything out of the bathroom throw out what you don’t use! How to Organize Your Bathroom has some great tips for cleaning out and organizing what is left. I love the idea of adding shelves and a lazy susan in the cabinets to maximize the space! I think I will head to the dollar store for containers.

Step 4: Find inspiration:

Inspiration is everywhere! You can find inspiration by talking to your friends, search magazines and look around on Pinterest. Here are my favorite inspirations that I would love to see in the end of this makeover.

Baskets on the walls:

Source: spruceyournest.blogspot.com via Heather on Pinterest

Drawer organization:

Source: theletter4.com via Apartment Guide on Pinterest

Mirrors everywhere:

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Beadboard walls:

Ladder shelves:

Source: hometalk.com via Heather on Pinterest

Painted cabinets:

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Step 5: Redecorate:

This is where I am now. I will need at least a week for this huge task. I will give a full report in a week. Can’t wait to show you my new space!

AND A HINT: There will be a super awesome giveaway posted with my master bathroom part 2.

While you wait here are some very helpful sites that I use for inspiration:

For real-time tips and updates on how to make the most of your small space:

Disclosure:
Apartment Guide and owner Consumer Source, Inc. partner with bloggers such as me to participate in blogger programs. As part of that program, I received compensation. They did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about any products and believe that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. Consumer Source’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.

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