I thought that I would share with you today my Happy Planner turned Bill Planner. I bought last years Happy Planner on sale at my local craft store. It has 18 months, and included 2016. Perfect for what I wanted. I just made a few adjustments...and here they are.
On the back of the right side of the monthly calendar is the start of the weekly pages. I don't need them for my bill planner, so I thought about what to do with this page. I decided to make a notes page.
I took a note page and adhered it to the back of the calendar.
And taa daa, a note page and the weekly page covered up. This gives me space to write any notes about the bills that I need to write. I also might use them in the future to keep track of expenses, and maybe eventually write up an official budget.
The first thing I do is circle our paydays in red on the calendar. It helps me with keeping track of which bills get paid on which paydays. When I get the bills in the mail, I write who I owe, and the amount owed on the date that it's due. Then as I do my weekly bills, I know who to pay, and when. Once I pay the bill, I cross it off, write the date paid, and how I paid it (bill pay, check written, etc.). It's a super simple system, but it really works for me.
I still keep track of my expenses, checks, debit card purchases, etc., on paper. I quit using a check book register, and use a ledger book instead. It gives me a quick visual of stuff, and also allows me to double check things to make sure I get all my finances right. I know, I probably don't need to do this, with all of the online help with our banks these days, but I can't seem to break this habit. Do any of you still keep paper logs of your finances?
My ledger and my bill planner.
I put a pocket in my bill planner. I the first pocket I put the bills that I have received and written on the calendar, all clipped in my giant red paper clip. I love it when I have NOTHING in the clip. It's a good feeling to not have bills hanging out, waiting to be paid. Unfortunately I don't have an empty clip too often...haha!
In the second pocket I put another things I need to save for the time being. I keep some notes here, and a couple of the tabbed skinny pages in case I need to make special notes during the month.
That's about it for the bill planner. Next week I'll show you yet another way I use Happy Planners for keeping my life straight.
Until then, stay crafty and organized, my friends!
A ledger instead of a check register! Why did I not think of that! I could keep the months separate. And since I never carry my checkbook with me, a ledger would work out so much better and easier. Thanks for this great idea. I've had a budget/bill paying system for years that still works for me today. But I'm off to find me the perfect check register ledger!
ReplyDeleteI am on my second ledger. I have been doing it for years. I started doing it because when we were using a lot of checks still, and the debit card purchases, I was running through the checkbook ledgers like crazy. Something had to give. I had the ledger in my stash and decided to use it. I have never looked back. I hope you find one and love using it like I do. Thanks for stopping by!!
ReplyDeleteMichelle