Paying Bills...

**Natalie** · 01-02-2009, 10:21 PM

I use to be strictly a pay bills by mailing in a check person. But I'm finding I like to, occasionally at least, pay bills online. --especially when I can pick the date I want it to be paid. (Close to when it's due/next pay day, that kind of thing.) If they happen to pull the money out of my account before I get the paycheck deposited, I'm okay. That's 'cause I've gotten into the frugal mode. (And telling myself NO! more often!

)

Are you finding being frugal to be profitable? That is, finding that money doesn't seem so tight?

**Wendy99** · 01-02-2009, 10:52 PM

Originally Posted by Natalie

Are you finding being frugal to be profitable? That is, finding that money doesn't seem so tight?

I would have to answer yes, as our income had dropped significantly and we were sinking fast .. we became frugal to survive - we still need to be frugal to survive; however its just became our way of life. If we had more money would I go back to being a spender - NO WAY!! I regret not being frugal earlier (I had no idea being frugal even existed!). I like the challenge of being frugal & I feel guilty when I slip up - before slipping up was just the way of life. Our debt was just "normal", "everyone" had it. Now we have debt and I cant wait to get rid of it!! So because of our case (drastic loss of income), being frugal is keeping us from sinking.

**Gibs** · 01-02-2009, 10:52 PM

Deffinately, financially I am doing tons better, got a better hold of the finances and trying so much harder to do well. Being more frugal has helped that tons.

**annertak** · 01-02-2009, 10:56 PM

Yes, and I love being able to pay bills online & schedule when I want them to be taken out of the account, rather than waiting for my checks to clear. It's much more empowering when you 'see' it come out of the account & know you are in control of when they receive the payments.

**Drgnfly423** · 01-02-2009, 11:02 PM

I love paying my bills online, or automatically. I don't have to worry about forgetting to pay and like you said, you can schedule it to come out right before it's due. Online bill bay is one of the greatest payoffs of being financially organized.

**MomToTwoBoys** · 01-03-2009, 01:15 AM

It has done wonders for our marriage and our family, plus our overall stress levels have gone way down. I remember being so stressed out and about ready to blow before we got to being frugal. Afterwards, it's quite the change!

Not only are we not worried about how we're going to pay bills, but we have a lot more flexibility with the money we do have when it comes to paying those bills. This month, we were able to pay all of the bills at one time instead of dividing them up via pay period. On January 8th, we're starting a bi-weekly bill payment rotation. We'll pay half of the bill amount on the 8th and then the rest on the 22nd. This will go for all of our bills. The bills that we get that are due on the 30th will be paid in full on the 22nd. The bills that are due after the 22nd will be paid in full by the 5th. It's confusing and all, but it helps us get our finances in order a lot easier than the way that we were doing it before.

We're able to keep better track of what we're spending our money on, which areas to cut back in, and where to put that extra cash. The sooner we're out of debt, the better!

**Wendy Mack** · 01-03-2009, 06:25 AM

I tell you before dave ramsey and this group here.. I had exactly 12 dollars in savings and was living paycheck to paycheck .. if something came up the CC had to be used cause we didn't have it else where ughhh .. but like this week I had a bill come up I hadn't planned on .. what did i do??? Went to my savings account and withdrew the money ... yessss!!! No interest and bill was paid.. now just have to build my savings back up(savings = emergency fund). I wasn't stressed about it other than mad that i forgot that bill and had to dip in the savings lol. I can handle that better than the bill not getting paid and mad because we didn't have the money. Thank God for the emergency fund~!!!!

**Momto2Boyz** · 01-03-2009, 08:59 AM

I pay bills online, but I still don't like to set up auto drafts. I don't keep money in my checking account and I think that is why. As soon as bills are paid, I move whatever is left into savings to earn interest. I usually only keep between $25 and $50 in my checking. So I am afraid that I will forget a bill is coming out before the next pay day, and not have the money in there!

DH and I are surviving this economy pretty well (knock on wood). We tightened our belts last year when he got laid off, then he found a better job with better pay and benefits, and I guess we are just still too afriad to loosen those belts! So, anything extra goes into savings for our "just in case" fund!

**Natalie** · 01-03-2009, 09:16 AM

I don't like auto drafts much either. I've got one, it's a small amount (less than $31 -- unless the economy makes 'em up it...), but it was the best deal. I like to keep a couple hundred in checking, minimally. I'd like a couple thousand, incase something unexpected comes up. I've got a bit of an EF, but that's for, say, something like my car getting totaled. (Although, that'd only cover a down payment on another car at the moment, but I gotta have my car so I can work.)

Originally Posted by Momto2Boyz

I pay bills online, but I still don't like to set up auto drafts. I don't keep money in my checking account and I think that is why. As soon as bills are paid, I move whatever is left into savings to earn interest. I usually only keep between $25 and $50 in my checking. So I am afraid that I will forget a bill is coming out before the next pay day, and not have the money in there!

DH and I are surviving this economy pretty well (knock on wood). We tightened our belts last year when he got laid off, then he found a better job with better pay and benefits, and I guess we are just still too afriad to loosen those belts! So, anything extra goes into savings for our "just in case" fund!

**mhope** · 01-03-2009, 01:36 PM

I don't like auto drafts. I must be only one who doesn't like paying bills online. I guess not my thing.

**shoiji** · 01-03-2009, 03:33 PM

I can't believe how much money I am saving. Or atleast spending wisely. The stockpiling through out the year has really paid off. Now I know when to buy something and how much to stockpile on an item.

Yes, I do pay some of my bills by automatic payment.

There are so many different ways that I am spending my money more wisely. I no longer feel as if I am in panic mode over paying bills, having enough food, or feeling deprived.

Personally I am really greatful I found this website.

**geckoace** · 01-03-2009, 06:24 PM

we pay our bills online. a few through EFT car insurance, house alarm, home equity loan and the one credit card. we finally got to where have a buffer in the checking account so i am going to setup some auto pay from my bank that way it is easy to go in and change it. likely for the mortgage, phone and gas/electric.

for me it makes life easier but i know my dh is a little leary

so i do it one step at a time.

i do feel like frugality has made things easier on us, i feel like we live pretty well on nothing