The Best Way To Keep Track Of Bills And Payments | Clever Girl Finance

[@nataliemccabe496]

I also started with a very simple excel spreadsheet, and it has improved month by month. I have all the bills listed, but split with a column for the projected amount, and a column for the actual amount. For some bills I know the actual amount every month as there's no variation (e.g. car insurance), but then for my variable expenses such as groceries, gas, etc.. I project an amount and then compare it to the actual amount spent at the end of the month. This ensures I'm not going over budget and avoids unwanted surprises at the end of the month. To track my variable spending throughout the month, I use an incredibly easy spending tracker app (it's a free 🐝) and just record all the variable purchases I make as I make them. Its organized into the same categories as my monthly excel spread sheet and this also ensures I'm on track throughout the month and not overspending in specific categories. At the end of the month I simply input my actual spending in the 'actual' column and Ghent I can evaluate how I did and reflect and make some decisions if there's areas for improvement. Thank you Bola for your channel and all the positive content you provide for women around the world. Your realistic and practical advice has allowed me to take control of my finances and I'm living such a more peaceful and prosperous life because of your teachings. Merry Christmas and God Bless to you and your family.

[@Clevergirlfinance]

Thank you so much for sharing this and for being here! We appreciate you so much! Well done on your planning!

[@Mrs.Bell860]

We use Google calendar. We enter the due dates and set a reminder for 3 days before the due date. Majority are on auto-pay. We also have an account just for bills.

[@Clevergirlfinance]

We like the sound of a google Calendar. You have a great tracking system in place.

[@chanreka]

For me a spreadsheet has been the best. And over the years the document has become more advanced. So now the spreadsheet tells us what our average is for the whole year as well as what we saved and invested for the year. It's a whole picture of how we are doing. But we had to grow into these enhancements

[@Clevergirlfinance]

Thanks for sharing this and for tuning in!

[@phobedavis7014]

I am the old fashioned one here. I have a 3 ring binder with inserts and a budget planner. Once a bill comes in I write down the amount on a sticker and place it on the calendar. Next I put the amount on my budget sheet for the month. When I create my monthly budget I know the numbers.

[@Clevergirlfinance]

Thanks for sharing this and for tuning in!

[@lorettacarroll6015]

I also prefer a binder. For me writing out everything makes it more real for me that I am spending money. Also I use my old budgets to figure out how much I budget. Such as in January 2021 I spent x for electric. That gives me an idea as to what I budgeted for January 2022.

[@marthaosborne9625]

I’m the old fashioned pen to paper woman. I write all my bills in my planner on the dates they are due, and I also put them all in the calendar on my iPhone.

[@Erin-rg3dw]

I have a written budget in a notebook and put the date on it. Every so often I review and update it on the next page to reflect changes: pay changes, bill increases, etc. This also lets me visualize how much money is going to each category. On the opposite end of the notebook, I write out all of my debts vs. my assets. That way I can see the progress of debts going down and accounts going up. To keep track of payments, I have them scheduled in my calendar to remind me when to send them. I don't automate them because I've had bill amounts change unexpectedly (*cough* property tax hike) and I want to see that before the money comes out. Deposits into savings accounts are done by payroll and auto-transfers.

[@sharondube1101]

I created a budget online when I first took a finance class thru work but I have a notebook where I keep track of all my bills and payments. Now that I am debt free and only need to pay my monthly expenses this is much simpler.

[@Clevergirlfinance]

Thanks for sharing this and for tuning in!

[@lekeshahill2477]

I keep track via pen and paper

[@NaturalDrAmanda]

😊 This is great! Thank you! I used a table that I drew out with colorful pens and highlighters for the year listing all my debts. It gave me a visual glimpse of the total amount I owed each month as I aggressively conquer debt. I’m more focused and effective at this now because I used post-it notes symbolically as manageable portions of the debt so as the balances decrease, I can see my progress even better. This can be done in a spreadsheet also, I just created it by hand first. Auto paying bills also helps boost your credit score! The idea about using one email 📧 address is great because there’s so much junk mail now!

[@Clevergirlfinance]

Love this! Well done on creating this and thank you for being here!

[@coupe_dville]

I budget on paper at the moment, I'm old school, I do write some checks and keep my Check Register/Transaction Register to keep track of checks, ATM, and check transacations.💜💛💜💛

[@Clevergirlfinance]

Paper budget is very popular too. It's good to stick to what works best for you. Well done for having a tracking system for expenses 🙌🏽

[@johannafransiskaalupe9178]

Am really a clever girl.... am here first

[@cynthiabotsko2449]

I use a simple list of expenses, monthly & annual plus "extras" (irregular) and I just keep an email folder of digital receipts.

[@Clevergirlfinance]

That's a great idea! The simple you keep it the better. Well done.

[@emeralddavis3038]

YNAB ❤

[@helenayuk4778]

Wow thanks for the info

[@tatiyanaRDH]

New subscriber here 👋🏽 great info . I will implement the paycheck budget as this would work best for me . Thank you !

[@Clevergirlfinance]

Thanks for subbing! That sounds like a great idea. See how it works and amend as needed to make it work for you.

[@brijayeb]

This video was extremely helpful and gave me so many ideas! Thank you so much!

[@Clevergirlfinance]

I'm so glad!

[@tyresseferguson2462]

The calendar in my budget planner with an indicator by the ones that are automatically debited from my account.

[@Clevergirlfinance]

Thanks for sharing this and for tuning in!

[@richardalvarado-ik9br]

Don't forget your car registration (annually especially if needs to pass a state smog check ).

[@soniamerritt5278]

Great tips thanks for sharing!

[@Clevergirlfinance]

You are so welcome! Thanks for tuning in!

[@esthermutua1287]

Thanks alot for this tips looking forward ⏩❤️❤️❤️⏩⏩

[@Clevergirlfinance]

Thanks so much for tunning in Esther, it's always our pleasure.

[@esthermutua1287]

@@Clevergirlfinance your welcome 🤗

[@stephaniegp4106]

Really enjoy your vids ty

[@Clevergirlfinance]

Thanks for watching!

[@marlac7235]

Hey Bola, i jst got ur new book!!! You have a supporter here in Belize 🇧🇿

[@Clevergirlfinance]

Wooo hooo thank you so much!🥰

[@lindajefferson7905]

I had a bill on auto pay... that company got hacked... I had to close out my account because they had All my personal information... This was a headache and time consuming... needless to say I don't do auto pay anymore the savings is not worth it and having a budget keeps me on track with what and when something is due.

[@NaturalDrAmanda]

It’s likely safer to pay your bills directly from your financial institution rather than have them pull money out of your account. Utility companies are probably the only ones that you may have to keep set up pulling from your account. You can also freeze your credit through the credit bureaus for free, which can reduce vulnerability to threats like this in the future. Hope this helps!

[@Clevergirlfinance]

Thanks for sharing this and for tuning in!

[@everlynmuendo9479]

Are there apps that you can recommend that would help track expenditure?

[@Clevergirlfinance]

We have apps we recommend in our free course resources library . Stop by at www.clevergirlfinance.com/

[@kateosmond1090]

i write a budget and keep track by the way of spreadsheet. Do you have an app in mind that i can use to track bills and expenses?

[@Clevergirlfinance]

Thanks for sharing this and for tuning in!

[@traceystilljean7374]

I have a finance journal