My friend, Leslie, seems to think I have good ideas for staying organized. Since she is also our office manager, I think a lot of the credit goes to her. Regardless, together we make a good team. Here are a few habits we use to save time, money and effort.
1. Have trouble paying bills on time? We know your intentions are good, but life has a habit of getting in the way. I mean, you NEEDED to go out with the guys last night, right? Here’s how to avoid ever being late on your bills
again.
As soon as a statement or bill arrives, write its due date on your calendar! If you don’t use paper, record it on your phone calendar with a reminder to pay it on the date you get paid PRIOR to the due date. Don’t forget your rent! If you are renting from Decade Properties, you are rewarded with a discount each and every month when you pay before noon on the first!
2. Pay bills ONLY on the first and the 15th of every month. (If you get paid monthly, pay everything on the first.) For example, on the first of February, you’ll pay all the bills coming due up to and including the 15th.
On February 15, you’ll pay all the bills coming due up to and including the first of March. This method gives you peace of mind, knowing all your commitments are met, plus you save a TON of money on late fees and build your credit. Prompt payment is the #1 factor in a credit score!
3. Loaned something to a friend but can’t remember who? Used to happen to me regularly. The solution? Put a Reminder in your phone, noting who borrowed what and when they should bring it back.
I‘ll have some more organization tips in the next post.