Mortgage, Credit Card and Car: Managing Your Monthly Bills

Like everyone who has bills to pay each month, I am frustrated. My reason for frustration is not because I don't have enough money to pay my mortgage, credit card, or car bills each month (although it feels that way sometimes). It's not because I am late on payments due to forgetfulness (I'm forgetful, but not when it pertains to money). It's not even because a little part of me dies inside every time money leaves my bank account to pay a credit card company.

No, I'm frustrated because there doesn't seem to be one perfect, easy, stress-free method for tracking and paying all of my bills. Instead, there are three decent, imperfect methods I have to use each and every month.

The ol' Envelope and Stamp Method for Bills

This is my (and possibly your) parents' preferred method for paying bills. Until a few years ago, it was my primary method as well. Paper bills come to your mailbox each month. The dates you receive them and their due dates vary from bill to bill. Depending on how organized you are you either pay all of the bills for the month in one or two sittings, or you sit down and pay your bills randomly throughout the month (hoping none of them are late).

If you're lucky, there is an envelope included with your billing statement you can use to mail your payment. In that pristine scenario, all you have to do to make a payment is get your checkbook, a pen, a stamp, and some saliva.

This method, clearly, is riddled with holes the size of Alec Baldwin's head.

Online Payment for Bills

The modern method for paying bills. It is the method I primarily use. You log into your banking institution's website, choose who you want to make payments to, fill in the payment amount and date for payment, and submit. No envelopes, no checkbooks, no stamps, and no saliva. It's pretty easy. It's a pretty straightforward and easy method for paying bills.