oped
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Post by oped on Aug 24, 2019 6:20:32 GMT -5
It’s the essential piece however. When you have a cushion you can sit down with bills 1-2 times a month because you never have to think about automatic payments. The money is always there to cover them, so it happens without your input.
Personally, I also have very very few automatic payments that go to my bank account. Most go to my credit card. Limits number of payments and active involvement.
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Rukh O'Rorke
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Post by Rukh O'Rorke on Aug 24, 2019 6:38:08 GMT -5
still absolutely nothing to do with the quoted question.
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oped
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Post by oped on Aug 24, 2019 6:57:32 GMT -5
Yeah that. Getting a month ahead was a game changer for me. Unless it's something that doesn't bill until later, I pay everything on the first of the month and am done.
Interesting! How do you do that? All my bills are on autopay, and they go through whenever they do. Keep telling yourself that. |
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Rukh O'Rorke
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Post by Rukh O'Rorke on Aug 24, 2019 7:28:48 GMT -5
Interesting! How do you do that? All my bills are on autopay, and they go through whenever they do. Keep telling yourself that.  I'm asking how she gets all her payments going through on the same day - what question do you honestly think you're answering? I think you are trying hard to be condescending here, but quoting me and making disjointed statements that have nothing to do with arranging payment dates isn't really working out on that score..... |
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Rukh O'Rorke
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Post by Rukh O'Rorke on Aug 24, 2019 7:30:18 GMT -5
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NoNamePerson
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Post by NoNamePerson on Aug 24, 2019 7:38:36 GMT -5
Keep telling yourself that. I'm asking how she gets all her payments going through on the same day - what question do you honestly think you're answering? I think you are trying hard to be condescending here, but quoting me and making disjointed statements that have nothing to do with arranging payment dates isn't really working out on that score..... Why don't you just get on phone or online and contact all the people you owe and see if they will change the due date to meet your needs. I'm a simple minded person when it comes to stuff like this. Just do it. What's the worse that can happen? They say NO then you will have to figure out why you can't pay bills when due?
How many bills are we talking about? I speed read some post and didn't see this so if over looked it never mind  Also couldn't get a handle on if not having enough money to pay bills or just having a problem when due. Two different animals so to speak. Good luck with whatever you figure out. I have no solution whatsoever since I have my own way of doing things 
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oped
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Post by oped on Aug 24, 2019 7:39:16 GMT -5
Keep telling yourself that. I'm asking how she gets all her payments going through on the same day - what question do you honestly think you're answering? I think you are trying hard to be condescending here, but quoting me and making disjointed statements that have nothing to do with arranging payment dates isn't really working out on that score..... Maybe you are projecting?  She didn't say her bills go in on the first. She said she paid them. Maybe she does send them all out, maybe she just schedules them... The reality is being a month ahead in bills means due dates don’t really matter anymore. You pay when bills come in, not when they are due. And if it’s recurring, you log them on the first because you know it needs paid that month... when they withdraw it is meaningless. The essential, independent, variable is being one month ahead. That IS the how... ignoring that piece invalidates the rest. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2019 7:49:49 GMT -5
Yeah that. Getting a month ahead was a game changer for me. Unless it's something that doesn't bill until later, I pay everything on the first of the month and am done.
Interesting! How do you do that? All my bills are on autopay, and they go through whenever they do. They go through to my credit card which I pay on the 1st of the month (to be honest, I tend to go in and pay my credit card off more than just the first of the month because I hate to see the red, but I don't really have to). The only auto pay that goes to my checking is my mortgage and it comes out on the 1st. |
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Rukh O'Rorke
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Post by Rukh O'Rorke on Aug 24, 2019 7:52:29 GMT -5
I'm asking how she gets all her payments going through on the same day - what question do you honestly think you're answering? I think you are trying hard to be condescending here, but quoting me and making disjointed statements that have nothing to do with arranging payment dates isn't really working out on that score..... Why don't you just get on phone or online and contact all the people you owe and see if they will change the due date to meet your needs. I'm a simple minded person when it comes to stuff like this. Just do it. What's the worse that can happen? They say NO then you will have to figure out why you can't pay bills when due?
How many bills are we talking about? I speed read some post and didn't see this so if over looked it never mind Also couldn't get a handle on if not having enough money to pay bills or just having a problem when due. Two different animals so to speak. Good luck with whatever you figure out. I have no solution whatsoever since I have my own way of doing things
I was thinking about this for the student loans, but was wondering if I could just arrange this online by specifying an earlier date, or doing it via the checking account, etc. Basically - just trying to gather some info on approaches. But calling everyone isn't likely to be on my todo list any time soon. No one is ever available via phone easily, and that's a lot of phone calls. I think the utilities would be particularly resistant to bill on my timeline. Credit cards likely pretty amenable. Insurance, I don't know. |
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Rukh O'Rorke
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Post by Rukh O'Rorke on Aug 24, 2019 7:55:52 GMT -5
Interesting! How do you do that? All my bills are on autopay, and they go through whenever they do. They go through to my credit card which I pay on the 1st of the month (to be honest, I tend to go in and pay my credit card off more than just the first of the month because I hate to see the red, but I don't really have to). The only auto pay that goes to my checking is my mortgage and it comes out on the 1st. Ah! that makes sense, and as expected, not what i was originally thinking. Do the utilities charge extra for going via a cc? They used to. I do have the subscriptions, internet, netflix, etc. on cc. Might be a way to score more points. I wonder about the insurances.....hmmm. A project to look into! Thanks  |
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Rukh O'Rorke
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Post by Rukh O'Rorke on Aug 24, 2019 8:01:13 GMT -5
I'm asking how she gets all her payments going through on the same day - what question do you honestly think you're answering? I think you are trying hard to be condescending here, but quoting me and making disjointed statements that have nothing to do with arranging payment dates isn't really working out on that score..... Maybe you are projecting? She didn't say her bills go in on the first. She said she paid them. Maybe she does send them all out, maybe she just schedules them... The reality is being a month ahead in bills means due dates don’t really matter anymore. You pay when bills come in, not when they are due. And if it’s recurring, you log them on the first because you know it needs paid that month... when they withdraw it is meaningless. The essential, independent, variable is being one month ahead. That IS the how... ignoring that piece invalidates the rest. You really need to recycle all your plastic and compost all food waste. It is very important for the future of the planet. That is also an essential and independent variable. |
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Knee Deep in Water Chloe
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Post by Knee Deep in Water Chloe on Aug 24, 2019 8:03:08 GMT -5
You have a period of extra work, sell unwanted shit, don’t buy anything... and all that money goes to cushion.  That has absolutely nothing to do with my question? It actually does solve your problem. Promise. MPL isn’t necessarily saying she literally pays each bill on the first. Here’s how another way to explain it. It doesn’t matter for us what day of the month we get paid. It doesn’t matter when the bills are actually due. On the first of the month we have all of the money we need for the month. Any money we receive during the month goes to fund the upcoming month. Because we have a fully funded month on the first, everything that needs to be paid is covered. I can physically pay it on the first, or I can set everything to automatically deduct and not worry about it. How we were able set that up was to use a tax refund and scrimp for at least six weeks. We did that in 2012. It’s a massive stress reliever yo be fully funded on the first day of each month. Some people get a side job and set that money aside simply to create their one-month buffer. Some people sell stuff and designate the money for the buffet. |
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NoNamePerson
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Post by NoNamePerson on Aug 24, 2019 8:04:14 GMT -5
Why don't you just get on phone or online and contact all the people you owe and see if they will change the due date to meet your needs. I'm a simple minded person when it comes to stuff like this. Just do it. What's the worse that can happen? They say NO then you will have to figure out why you can't pay bills when due?
How many bills are we talking about? I speed read some post and didn't see this so if over looked it never mind Also couldn't get a handle on if not having enough money to pay bills or just having a problem when due. Two different animals so to speak. Good luck with whatever you figure out. I have no solution whatsoever since I have my own way of doing things
I was thinking about this for the student loans, but was wondering if I could just arrange this online by specifying an earlier date, or doing it via the checking account, etc. Basically - just trying to gather some info on approaches. But calling everyone isn't likely to be on my todo list any time soon. No one is ever available via phone easily, and that's a lot of phone calls. I think the utilities would be particularly resistant to bill on my timeline. Credit cards likely pretty amenable. Insurance, I don't know. I think you answered your own question. When you decide to take the time to address the problem then it will get done. I've done most of any changing of stuff online. Takes very little time. Don't' know what you mean by doing it via checking account? I would think only the people you owe money to would have that authority. Would think you could change auto pay dates (not to confuse with due dates) if using online banking.
I only have one thing that is "drafted" automatically from my checking account and that is power bill. Been that way since the 80's when they offered it. I get online statement about 10 days telling me that "on or about" draft date so no problem.
No clue where student loans are concerned since reading stories about student loans on this board makes me glad I never had any Should add that VA paid for my 2 1/2 yrs of school before I dropped out and got my Mrs. degree a hundred years ago
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NoNamePerson
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Post by NoNamePerson on Aug 24, 2019 8:09:32 GMT -5
They go through to my credit card which I pay on the 1st of the month (to be honest, I tend to go in and pay my credit card off more than just the first of the month because I hate to see the red, but I don't really have to). The only auto pay that goes to my checking is my mortgage and it comes out on the 1st. Ah! that makes sense, and as expected, not what i was originally thinking. Do the utilities charge extra for going via a cc? They used to. I do have the subscriptions, internet, netflix, etc. on cc. Might be a way to score more points. I wonder about the insurances.....hmmm. A project to look into! Thanks Our utility charges a small fee I think if put on card. But not for drafting it from checking account. I put my auto insurance without fee. Xfinity doesn't charge a fee for putting on CC. Drivers license and car tag charge extra fee for putting on CC. I pretty much put everything I can on CC. It's just easy and I get free money for charging is the way I look at it. I do not run a balance and fee for drivers license and tag are minimal and just easier.
But again the only way you will know if fee is added is to do the research. I can tell you my experience but you don't live in the same city, state and all things are different. You utility co may not charge fee - get my drift - need to address you needs specifically.
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alabamagal
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Post by alabamagal on Aug 24, 2019 8:10:35 GMT -5
Some of us actually get paid once a month. It isn't awesome either since it is a long time between paychecks. The trick is to lay out everything that you need to pay that month. That way you know how much is left. However, when I switched to using exclusively CC instead of a debit card, I recognized that with a debit card I was paying for stuff as I used it or whatever. It struck me as really dumb to switch to paying it a month later. August's paycheck is for what I spend in August. So I set up my CCs as uncleared debits in my electronic check register. I paid them off the day I received the bill and sometimes sooner. That isn't a budget, though. That is tracking. So in August I used an old copy of YNAB to set up a budget. It has really given me a clearer perspective on what I am spending. I am retired and want to live on my pension+Social Security. I am enjoying it because I feel in control. Before, I would see a book I would like to read for $2.99 and simply buy it. Now I check to see if I can get it at the library. I postpone some wants. YNAB has a trial period. And I have heard you can usually get that trial extended if you are having trouble figuring it out. Something to think about . . . I've tried several online tools, and none of them really worked well for me. I'm using excel currently, but not sure if I am missing something there as others seemingly get more out of it than I am at the moment! I've got all/almost all of 2019 expenses entered there, and it is great to do pivot tables and I can see that I am within my budget every month. So - surely that is step 1! Also - seeing averages and fluctuations on heating and electric is very helpful. But that still doesn't keep paycheck/bill dates in concordance. Usually - it is just off by one or two days, but puts a big wrinkle into my plans. So I still need to look way ahead before spending "extra" in the account. I use excel to allocate payments for the entire year to a biweekly paycheck. I have a for each month I have a column for each paycheck. Most months have 2 columns some have 3. Then I list my income for that 2 week period. Then I list all my bills in the rows with a column for the day of the month it is due. Then I go across and put the payment amount in the column for the paycheck it will be paid from. So mortgage is due on the 1st, it usually comes out of the last payment of the previous month. It works out that twice a year I get to “skip” paying mortgage and go 2 paychecks without paying mortgage. I do that for all bills, then add in amount for 2 weeks grocery and gas. For bills that are not monthly, (like vacation) I just put entry for expected time I need to pay. Currently my bills are fairly well spaced out since most utilities are due 2nd half of month. I then sum up income and expenses for each 2 week period to see if there are any issues, and same with each month. |
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Rukh O'Rorke
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Post by Rukh O'Rorke on Aug 24, 2019 8:18:48 GMT -5
I was thinking about this for the student loans, but was wondering if I could just arrange this online by specifying an earlier date, or doing it via the checking account, etc. Basically - just trying to gather some info on approaches. But calling everyone isn't likely to be on my todo list any time soon. No one is ever available via phone easily, and that's a lot of phone calls. I think the utilities would be particularly resistant to bill on my timeline. Credit cards likely pretty amenable. Insurance, I don't know. I think you answered your own question. When you decide to take the time to address the problem then it will get done. I've done most of any changing of stuff online. Takes very little time. Don't' know what you mean by doing it via checking account? I would think only the people you owe money to would have that authority. Would think you could change auto pay dates (not to confuse with due dates) if using online banking.
I only have one thing that is "drafted" automatically from my checking account and that is power bill. Been that way since the 80's when they offered it. I get online statement about 10 days telling me that "on or about" draft date so no problem.
No clue where student loans are concerned since reading stories about student loans on this board makes me glad I never had any Should add that VA paid for my 2 1/2 yrs of school before I dropped out and got my Mrs. degree a hundred years ago
well - I do know that some people have the payment controlled via the checking, and others via the account. I have mine via the account, but I do know that some people say that is bad, less control, etc. That part hasn't bothered me - I figured if they say I owe, I do unless I successfully dispute. But maybe they were talking about when to have it drafted? That's a different thing than what i was thinking.... I think I will try to get as many bills onto the credit card as I can for more predicable and fewer drafts. I do have 1 CC (newish) that is middle of month payment, so I have been using that one almost exclusively, just because of that. If I could get insurances and utilities to go on that, that would likely help somewhat by reducing the number of drafts/month. |
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Rukh O'Rorke
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Post by Rukh O'Rorke on Aug 24, 2019 8:29:05 GMT -5
I've tried several online tools, and none of them really worked well for me. I'm using excel currently, but not sure if I am missing something there as others seemingly get more out of it than I am at the moment! I've got all/almost all of 2019 expenses entered there, and it is great to do pivot tables and I can see that I am within my budget every month. So - surely that is step 1! Also - seeing averages and fluctuations on heating and electric is very helpful. But that still doesn't keep paycheck/bill dates in concordance. Usually - it is just off by one or two days, but puts a big wrinkle into my plans. So I still need to look way ahead before spending "extra" in the account. I use excel to allocate payments for the entire year to a biweekly paycheck. I have a for each month I have a column for each paycheck. Most months have 2 columns some have 3. Then I list my income for that 2 week period. Then I list all my bills in the rows with a column for the day of the month it is due. Then I go across and put the payment amount in the column for the paycheck it will be paid from. So mortgage is due on the 1st, it usually comes out of the last payment of the previous month. It works out that twice a year I get to “skip” paying mortgage and go 2 paychecks without paying mortgage. I do that for all bills, then add in amount for 2 weeks grocery and gas. For bills that are not monthly, (like vacation) I just put entry for expected time I need to pay. Currently my bills are fairly well spaced out since most utilities are due 2nd half of month. I then sum up income and expenses for each 2 week period to see if there are any issues, and same with each month. I think I am doing it roughly similarly. Maybe I just have great expectations and visions of doing absolutely no thinking about it ever, that are unrealistic (especially with the different schedules!). |
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Rukh O'Rorke
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Post by Rukh O'Rorke on Aug 24, 2019 8:30:19 GMT -5
Ah! that makes sense, and as expected, not what i was originally thinking. Do the utilities charge extra for going via a cc? They used to. I do have the subscriptions, internet, netflix, etc. on cc. Might be a way to score more points. I wonder about the insurances.....hmmm. A project to look into! Thanks Our utility charges a small fee I think if put on card. But not for drafting it from checking account. I put my auto insurance without fee. Xfinity doesn't charge a fee for putting on CC. Drivers license and car tag charge extra fee for putting on CC. I pretty much put everything I can on CC. It's just easy and I get free money for charging is the way I look at it. I do not run a balance and fee for drivers license and tag are minimal and just easier.
But again the only way you will know if fee is added is to do the research. I can tell you my experience but you don't live in the same city, state and all things are different. You utility co may not charge fee - get my drift - need to address you needs specifically.
yeah - that is what I remember, and why I did that drafting directly from checking...so - seems that is still the same. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2019 8:31:57 GMT -5
They go through to my credit card which I pay on the 1st of the month (to be honest, I tend to go in and pay my credit card off more than just the first of the month because I hate to see the red, but I don't really have to). The only auto pay that goes to my checking is my mortgage and it comes out on the 1st. Ah! that makes sense, and as expected, not what i was originally thinking. Do the utilities charge extra for going via a cc? They used to. I do have the subscriptions, internet, netflix, etc. on cc. Might be a way to score more points. I wonder about the insurances.....hmmm. A project to look into! Thanks The propane company does, but that's not a monthly bill and I usually prebuy all I need for the year in August. That's a "go down to the company and write a check" deal. Electric, garbage, internet, phone and childcare (I think those are the only recurrings), go on the credit card and no fee. Non-recurring, like medical bills that show up I pay immediately with the credit card the day I get them. Otherwise I lose them. I am horrible with paper and am very grateful for software and online banking. In the late 80's, early 90's I struggled a lot keeping things straight. |
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buystoys
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Post by buystoys on Aug 24, 2019 8:33:56 GMT -5
The only bills I can't pay by CC are my mortgage and the water bill. I do an autodraft for the mortgage as it's at the same bank I use for checking. I send a bank check to the water bill every month. None of the other bills charge for using a CC for payment, so it is easier to make one payment a month rather than several. My mortgage and credit card are both due the 1st of the month. I usually pay the mortgage the 20th of the month before it's due and the CC on the day it's due.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2019 8:43:29 GMT -5
I also want to note, that it really wouldn't matter if the bills came out of my checking instead of credit card. The money for them is all there on the 1st. That's the important part. I just funnel through the credit card for the rewards and due to minor paranoia of days long ago when I did overdraw checking accounts.
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Rukh O'Rorke
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Post by Rukh O'Rorke on Aug 24, 2019 8:44:05 GMT -5
Ah! that makes sense, and as expected, not what i was originally thinking. Do the utilities charge extra for going via a cc? They used to. I do have the subscriptions, internet, netflix, etc. on cc. Might be a way to score more points. I wonder about the insurances.....hmmm. A project to look into! Thanks The propane company does, but that's not a monthly bill and I usually prebuy all I need for the year in August. That's a "go down to the company and write a check" deal. Electric, garbage, internet, phone and childcare (I think those are the only recurrings), go on the credit card and no fee. Non-recurring, like medical bills that show up I pay immediately with the credit card the day I get them. Otherwise I lose them. I am horrible with paper and am very grateful for software and online banking. In the late 80's, early 90's I struggled a lot keeping things straight. you are my guru!! I will follow your lead here. I think we have similar tendencies. So I think what works for you might work for me..... big questions is - do I even remember any logins for these accounts? likely set up the autopays years......decade even? ...... ago.... now I'm losing the will to make any changes.....I'm going to make some cookies instead.....  |
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oped
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Post by oped on Aug 24, 2019 8:50:36 GMT -5
It is seriously fucking comical.
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Rukh O'Rorke
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Post by Rukh O'Rorke on Aug 24, 2019 8:54:03 GMT -5
I also want to note, that it really wouldn't matter if the bills came out of my checking instead of credit card. The money for them is all there on the 1st. That's the important part. I just funnel through the credit card for the rewards and due to minor paranoia of days long ago when I did overdraw checking accounts. yeah - and now that I'm thinking about - i guess I'm already doing it? I have 5k in the checking now for all the bills the first week of september - which is almost all the bills. I'm just annoyed that I have to do it! I'm annoyed that the 5k is sitting in checking in august - after all august bills are paid!! - has to sit there for weeks and not be used for other things..... so - I guess another reason to the point of the OP. It everything was billed on the 2 week schedule, everything left over, was really left over and could be immediately disposed of as I see fit. I guess I just want to spend that 5k |
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azucena
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Post by azucena on Aug 24, 2019 9:01:01 GMT -5
I have 3 bank accounts: savings and what I call debit checking and credit card checking.
I get paid every 2 weeks, dh is 15th and last weekday. I've settled into a routine of budgeting every fri. I use excel to project the bills coming due for the following week and the whole month. We draft as many bills as we can from the checking account where I can see them coming all at once. Then I figure out our spending buffer for the week which for us seems to be $200 to 300 for groceries, gas, etc. I leave the bill amount and the spending amount in daily checking.
My spreadsheet also looks forward for the entire month so I can see if the next paycheck will not be enough to cover that week's bills. If there's a deficit, I move that amount to credit card checking for holding where it sits until I pull it back on that fri to act as a surrogate paycheck.
Every fri I also payoff the credit card. This means I never pay interest and I also really don't care about credit card due date. We aren't putting many charges there these days and I'm trying to get to less because it essentially means we are over budget. The points we earn don't offset the savings mentality I'd like us to have.
After these steps, I take whatever is left over from daily checking and siphon it off into savings. This keeps us from spending it. My husband says it makes us feel artificially poor and not in a bad way. As our income has grown substantially, this method has been key in limiting our spending. I've been able to save thousands.
This method also means that I'm not having to look so far ahead for annual bills like hoa, life insurance, etc. I just focus on maximizing savings which is such a positive goal. If we hit hoa month and I can't quite swing it from those paychecks, then I pull from savings without feeling guilty. If I'm pulling from savings on a week we over spent, then I get a reality check and we try to do better.
We are to the phase where we have hit our savings account goal of $50k. I will be fully funding my roth and then we have a couple of house projects maybe $5k that we will begin to fund.
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alabamagal
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Post by alabamagal on Aug 24, 2019 9:03:17 GMT -5
I don’t do autopay on my mortgage because I am a bit paranoid about it. I pay online no charge. I worry about payroll issues (happened a few times at one employer) and cash flow issues which may result in mortgage payment a few days late - has happened a few times never recently. I have been up to 2 days late, but doesn’t count as late.
Only autopsy’s to cc are smaller bills that don’t charge for using cc
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Rukh O'Rorke
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Post by Rukh O'Rorke on Aug 24, 2019 9:39:15 GMT -5
I have 3 bank accounts: savings and what I call debit checking and credit card checking. I get paid every 2 weeks, dh is 15th and last weekday. I've settled into a routine of budgeting every fri. I use excel to project the bills coming due for the following week and the whole month. We draft as many bills as we can from the checking account where I can see them coming all at once. Then I figure out our spending buffer for the week which for us seems to be $200 to 300 for groceries, gas, etc. I leave the bill amount and the spending amount in daily checking. My spreadsheet also looks forward for the entire month so I can see if the next paycheck will not be enough to cover that week's bills. If there's a deficit, I move that amount to credit card checking for holding where it sits until I pull it back on that fri to act as a surrogate paycheck. Every fri I also payoff the credit card. This means I never pay interest and I also really don't care about credit card due date. We aren't putting many charges there these days and I'm trying to get to less because it essentially means we are over budget. The points we earn don't offset the savings mentality I'd like us to have. After these steps, I take whatever is left over from daily checking and siphon it off into savings. This keeps us from spending it. My husband says it makes us feel artificially poor and not in a bad way. As our income has grown substantially, this method has been key in limiting our spending. I've been able to save thousands. This method also means that I'm not having to look so far ahead for annual bills like hoa, life insurance, etc. I just focus on maximizing savings which is such a positive goal. If we hit hoa month and I can't quite swing it from those paychecks, then I pull from savings without feeling guilty. If I'm pulling from savings on a week we over spent, then I get a reality check and we try to do better. We are to the phase where we have hit our savings account goal of $50k. I will be fully funding my roth and then we have a couple of house projects maybe $5k that we will begin to fund. oooo thanks! Some good tips here! I did used to pay cc off more frequently, think I will incorporate that again. |
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Rukh O'Rorke
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Joined: Jul 4, 2016 13:31:15 GMT -5
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Post by Rukh O'Rorke on Aug 24, 2019 9:40:26 GMT -5
I don’t do autopay on my mortgage because I am a bit paranoid about it. I pay online no charge. I worry about payroll issues (happened a few times at one employer) and cash flow issues which may result in mortgage payment a few days late - has happened a few times never recently. I have been up to 2 days late, but doesn’t count as late. Only autopsy’s to cc are smaller bills that don’t charge for using cc I've never had an issue with that, but it is good to consider that something could happen. |
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TheOtherMe
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Post by TheOtherMe on Aug 24, 2019 10:38:44 GMT -5
I can change the due date on my credit cards online, if that's what you are wanting to do.
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raeoflyte
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Joined: Feb 3, 2011 15:43:53 GMT -5
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Post by raeoflyte on Aug 24, 2019 10:54:53 GMT -5
When I was on commission I really had to project forward on payments due. I just got in the habit of actually paying bills early so if sales fell through I had a cushion.
I didn't trust myself with credit cards at that point and we havent shown a great amount of responsibility with a sinking funds account. I still do that for several bills. My utility bills come with credit balances on them. I think
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