How to Organize Your Papers: Bills!

One of the best ways to save us time and better manage the cash flow of our personal bank accounts is having a plan for our bill payment. Here are steps you can take to make sure all is paid on time, that you won't be looking for your bills to pay them and to get more done!

1 - A big improvement in organizing your papers will happen when you make the decision to pay your bills online, through your online banking system. So, if you have been avoiding it, maybe it's time to review it and just make your life simpler. Enter on your bank website and set up all the bills you want to pay online.


2 - Change the payment dates to the same week, or if you receive your payments every 2 weeks, at least to the same half of the month. You can call all your service providers - like insurance, credit cards and utilities and request for a new payment date.

3 - Most service providers and specially utility companies have a "paperless" option for their bill delivery, so go online, and make sure you select this option. My banking system allows me to sign up to it directly from my online bill payment page. Before you spend time going through each website, check that option and save yourself time! 


4 - Schedule your bill payment through your online banking. Now that you know that all your bills will be paid on the same date/week and that your bills are available online, all you have to do is schedule the payment to be done automatically. To keep yourself on top of things, a couple of days before the due date, you can check each bill online, making sure you're being charged correctly.

Going through these steps will free up your mind and your time to be more creative, to generate more income, to spend time with loved ones and to never again have to hassle with the pile of bills streaming through your mail box again.


On my last post you'll find easy steps on how to cut the junk mail from your life for good! if you are joining us now, make sure you do that too.

Helena Alkhas is a Professional Organizer located in San Diego, CA and offers hands-on organizing to local clients and Virtual Organizing to world-wide clients. 

I encourage you to leave your comments and if you feel I can help you with your organizing needs I invite you to contact me at helena@apersonalorganizer.com. Talk with you soon!

Organizing Gadgets for your Papers!

Papers, Bills and Junk Mail! How to Organize and Simplify Your Life - 1 of 3

I confess that I love papers and working with them comes easy to me. I love receiving, processing, sorting and filing them in neatly organized and labeled colored files.

I know, I'm a sucker for papers and it has to be the lawyer in me, that enjoys it. However, I recognize that most people dislike it deeply, some aren't good at it and that most homes are flooded by paper, unwanted mail and paying bills is a chore that most dread.


Here are the good news and easy ways to stop mail before it comes into your home, simplify how papers flow and how you pay your bills.


Today let's take care of the worst part of it. Yes, you guessed it right!


Junk Mail

1 - Signing up for "opt-out" services will clear your mail box and your time!


Check the links bellow and sign up for these free services.

• To opt out for five years: Call toll-free 1-888-5-OPT-OUT (1-888-567-8688) or visit www.optoutprescreen.com. The phone number and website are operated by the major consumer reporting companies.
• To opt out permanently: You may begin the permanent Opt-Out process online at www.optoutprescreen.com. To complete your request, you must return the signed Permanent Opt-Out Election form, which will be provided after you initiate your online request.
• Telemarketing:  To register your phone number or to get information about the registry, visit www.donotcall.gov, or call 1-888-382-1222 from the phone number you want to register.
• Mail: To register with DMA's Mail Preference Service, go to www.dmachoice.org, or mail your request with a $1 processing fee to:

       DMAchoice
       Direct Marketing Association
       P.O. Box 643
       Carmel, NY 10512

• However, your registration will not stop mailings from organizations that do not use the DMA's Mail Preference Service.
• Email: The DMA also has an Email Preference Service (eMPS) to help you reduce unsolicited commercial emails. To opt out of receiving unsolicited commercial email from DMA members, visit www.dmachoice.org. Registration is free and good for six years.

Image: The Container Store

Helena Alkhas is a Professional Organizer located in San Diego, CA and offers hands-on organizing to local clients and Virtual Organizing to world-wide clients. 

I encourage you to leave your comments and if you feel I can help you with your organizing needs I invite you to contact me at helena@apersonalorganizer.com. Talk with you soon!

The Container Store Expert Tips & Ideas Lable it!

When organizing your space, make sure you use labels for every category. It makes life easier for everyone using the space, and it's so much fun!

If using The Container Store line, Elfa, here is the link for their downloadable labels! Cute and easy, doesn't get better than that!

The Container Store Expert Tips & Ideas Lable it!