Can we talk about being organized?

[Bianca and Bernard]

Since most of my bills are electronic now, I use a spreadsheet to keep track of those. Google calendar for appointments so that's linked to my phone.

Same. I don't do automatic bill pay though; there have been a couple of times where the system failed and it didn't go through, or had gone through a couple of times, causing me to have less money than I planned. So, now, I just pay the bills on my own, but all are online.

I organize my freezer and track it on a whiteboard. Easier to know what I need to shop for. Grocery lists go on the phone, in the memo app, and on the grocery app if they have a shopping list there.

 

[smile145]

https://www.amazon.com/Prosumers-Ch...t=&hvlocphy=9010766&hvtargid=pla-897061803514

Thank you

 

[disney212]

I love a good spreadsheet too. Unfortunately the only thing I know how to do in Excel is make a list and Auto sum lol. Could you share what your spreadsheet looks like? Are there formula's, etc in it?

once you make your first spreadsheet it's easier as you can copy and paste each additional year and make adjustments. Mine sort of look like a check register. They do contain formulas. Each year is broken down by pay period. Each pay period is a different color and each tab across the bottom is a different yesr. Every penny gets recorded. I will tell you I work in finance so it's second nature to me. I feel that knowledge over my finances is power. I started over at 30 as a single mom with 2 kids, $1500, no furnishings and just back to the states with the clothes on ourback. First thing I did was rent an apartment, my parents cosigned, but I paid the rent. Second step was taking a temp job. I've never looked back

 

[slo]

I like to keep our money organized in different accounts - this way there‘s no threat of not having enough for something because my DH spent money on something without knowing I used that money for a bill (or it could be the other way around). So we have...
DH - his own checking
Me - my own checking
DD - has her own checking
(the above 3 each has a debit card)
Another account just to fund DD’s softball
Another account just to fund medical bills
Another account for just every day bills
Another fund just to fund Christmas (gifts for others)
The above 4 checking accounts have direct deposits put into them and they are ONLY used for their designated purpose.
We also have our savings accounts.

Everyone thinks I’m crazy to do this, but it works great
We are not wealthy people, so the little bit in each account for their purpose gives me peace of mind

 

[Imzadi]

Everyone thinks I’m crazy to do this, but it works great
We are not wealthy people, so the little bit in each account for their purpose gives me peace of mind

It's actually called the Jars Money Management technique. It was done more often, decades ago, when people could simply keep their money in different money jars at home and not have to worry about robbers breaking in and stealing all their money.

Financial expert, T. Harv Eker, still teaches that technique. The problem is a lot of banks charge for having different accounts, especially if there isn't a minimum amount kept in an account. And the more accounts one has, the more the charges.

https://www.harveker.com/blog/6-step-money-managing-system/

 

[slo]

It's actually called the Jars Money Management technique. It was done more often, decades ago, when people could simply keep their money in different money jars at home and not have to worry about robbers breaking in and stealing all their money.

Financial expert, T. Harv Eker, still teaches that technique. The problem is a lot of banks charge for having different accounts, especially if there isn't a minimum amount kept in an account. And the more accounts one has, the more the charges.

https://www.harveker.com/blog/6-step-money-managing-system/

Interesting - I did not know this - thanks for sharing this.

I use multiple banks and luckily none of them charge fees - if they did I would close the account and move it to another bank. Because we use multiple banks we keep a list in our safe of where the accounts are located, so if we die unexpectedly my parents and DDs will know where to go.

 

[wenrob]

Everything goes into the calendars on my phone. Every. Single. Thing. Monthly items are set to remind 1 week, 1 day and day of. Weekly things are set to remind 1 day before and 1 hour before day of. 99% of things can be entered right from emails and texts. Everyone has their own personal calendar, school calendar, work calendar and travel/event calendar. It took awhile but it’s become a habit for everyone. If you don’t know what’s happening you’re purposely not paying attention. These days I even have a reminder to start my truck once a week, lol.

DH and I have shared lists for household items and groceries. Bills get paid the day they’re received. I have two auto payments from my checking account and keep a minimum balance in my account always so I don’t accidentally leave myself high and dry. Credit cards get paid weekly. I’m militant about checking all accounts; bank, bills, credit cards etc.

Being organized in this sense is really about creating a habit. Whatever your method, the biggest part is not putting things off. Schedule what needs to be done when as soon as you know about it. Once you establish a pattern it’s not even something you have to thing about anymore. It’s become so ingrained for me that I get suggestions from Siri almost daily to schedule this or pay that.

 

[happily single]

once you make your first spreadsheet it's easier as you can copy and paste each additional year and make adjustments. Mine sort of look like a check register. They do contain formulas. Each year is broken down by pay period. Each pay period is a different color and each tab across the bottom is a different yesr. Every penny gets recorded. I will tell you I work in finance so it's second nature to me. I feel that knowledge over my finances is power. I started over at 30 as a single mom with 2 kids, $1500, no furnishings and just back to the states with the clothes on ourback. First thing I did was rent an apartment, my parents cosigned, but I paid the rent. Second step was taking a temp job. I've never looked back

Wow!!! Everything you said is so impressive.
unfortunately I am not tech savvy enough to make a spreadsheet like this

 

[QueenIsabella]

I like paper planner. I find that the act of writing something down helps me to remember. Mine has places on the sides for to-do lists. I'm not a total planner nut, with tons of stickers and washi tape and what-not, but I do use a different color pen/highlighter for each member of the family. That way, I can see at a glance who needs to go to the orthodontist this week or whatever. I also keep track of dinners, so if I get in a rut, I can look back and see what we haven't had in a while.

We also have a large wall calendar. Everyone in the family knows that, if it's not on the wall calendar, it's not happening. The wall planner is in the kitchen, with a pen attached for easy access. I like to highlight items in each person's color, but I don't require the kids to do that. The wall calendar also has a place on the side for a to-do list--I don't use this one for myself, but if a family member has to do something (for example, they sell discounted beach passes for 2 weeks in Dec.--you have to go in person and bring the car that will have the pass. This is DH's chore, and every year, I mark it for the upcoming December).

 

[disney212]

Wow!!! Everything you said is so impressive.
unfortunately I am not tech savvy enough to make a spreadsheet like this

It's actually very easy. I have 0 formal tech training. Excel will "create" the formulas for you, it's just adding and subtracting. All you need are 2 "auto sums", 1 to add deposits and 1 to deduct payments. Then just keep copying and pasting the 2 formulas.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I still use Microsoft Money for my checkbook. I think my version is about twenty years old and it's on an old computer that is only used for Money and is not connected . But I need a newer checkbook since I worry that computer will someday crash. All bills are paid automatically except for three that I pay electronically. All appointments are on my phone calendar. Regular tasks are on my phone calendar (like the dog's monthly heartworm pill). I have several running lists on an electronic notepad on my phone to keep track of when I change out certain medical equipment and track all my meds (so I have a list if I need it at my various doctor offices). And Santa brought me a Battery Daddy to keep all the good batteries in.

 

[happily single]

It's actually very easy. I have 0 formal tech training. Excel will "create" the formulas for you, it's just adding and subtracting. All you need are 2 "auto sums", 1 to add deposits and 1 to deduct payments. Then just keep copying and pasting the 2 formulas.

Thanks. I’m going to try this tonight