How can I Make my Offline Life Easier?
Keep a back up fund of cash hidden in your car, wallet, or at home. The trick to this is that you have to learn to consider it backup money, and is therefore not for spending except in a real pinch. Keeping this money in your wallet will make it harder not to spend, but will also be very useful when you have an unanticipated need for a taxi or a meal. Keeping the money at home or in your car will often save you from spending it, but will save you from having to visit the ATM when you're rushed.
Subscribe to online delivery of bills and account statements. This will benefit your actual life when you find your mailbox is no longer clogged with dead trees. Plus, you won't have to file them.
Use direct deposit whenever possible. This is such a great service. If your employer offers it, they will often allow you to break the deposit up into a few different accounts which can help you budget your savings or other investments just by filling out a single form.
Use autopay. Autopay can be arranged through your bank or directly with the vendor. Agressive use of this technique can virtually put your finances on autopilot. You just need to ensure that there's enough money in the account when the payments are scheduled, and then don't worry about tracking down your checkbook, a stamp, or the invoice.
Change the billing cycles on your monthly bills so that they're all due at the same time. Usually this can be accomplished with a quick phone call if it can't be done online. This can prevent forgotten or lost bills, since you'll have to go through your entire list of liabilities at the same time. If one of your accounts won't allow you to change the billing cycle, then change all the others to match that one. The other useful thing about this practice is that it makes it easier to calculate your monthly expenses and make good decisions about your budget.
These are just the money tips. Read the whole thing!
Keep a back up fund of cash hidden in your car, wallet, or at home. The trick to this is that you have to learn to consider it backup money, and is therefore not for spending except in a real pinch. Keeping this money in your wallet will make it harder not to spend, but will also be very useful when you have an unanticipated need for a taxi or a meal. Keeping the money at home or in your car will often save you from spending it, but will save you from having to visit the ATM when you're rushed.
Subscribe to online delivery of bills and account statements. This will benefit your actual life when you find your mailbox is no longer clogged with dead trees. Plus, you won't have to file them.
Use direct deposit whenever possible. This is such a great service. If your employer offers it, they will often allow you to break the deposit up into a few different accounts which can help you budget your savings or other investments just by filling out a single form.
Use autopay. Autopay can be arranged through your bank or directly with the vendor. Agressive use of this technique can virtually put your finances on autopilot. You just need to ensure that there's enough money in the account when the payments are scheduled, and then don't worry about tracking down your checkbook, a stamp, or the invoice.
Change the billing cycles on your monthly bills so that they're all due at the same time. Usually this can be accomplished with a quick phone call if it can't be done online. This can prevent forgotten or lost bills, since you'll have to go through your entire list of liabilities at the same time. If one of your accounts won't allow you to change the billing cycle, then change all the others to match that one. The other useful thing about this practice is that it makes it easier to calculate your monthly expenses and make good decisions about your budget.
These are just the money tips. Read the whole thing!
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