One of the easiest ways to avoid late fees on household bills is to make sure you pay them on time. Many bills that aren't paid on time incur late payment fees or start to charge you interest on the overdue amount from the day that your payment was missed. To help you ensure that your bills are paid on time here are a few tips:

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1) Where possible try to have your bills arranged to be paid on a scheduled basis. So ask the payee if you can automate your payments, so even when the bill lands in your letterbox, you know that it's already taken care of.
2) Ensure that your bills are budgeted for as part of your overall household budget; this way there are no nasty surprises.
3) If your bill is one that you aren't able to do as a scheduled monthly or fortnightly payment, then pay it as soon as it arrives, or if you're waiting for your next pay check, then jump onto online banking and schedule a payment to come out of your next pay; all you need to do is add a future payment date when you go to make a payment.
4) If you can't, for any reason, make your bill payment, don't just ignore it. Phone up the company to whom you owe money, and explain your circumstances. They'll typically be a system for a payment plan so that your overdue bill can get split up to make for easier budgeting.
5) If you aren't a friend of technology and prefer to keep a paper based system for budgeting and paying bills, then as soon as a bill comes into your letterbox, make sure you add a note to your calendar regarding when the bill needs to be paid. Remember that if you're paying a bill through a bank, that it may take a few days for a transfer to happen, so allow adequate time for money to leave your account and hit whoever you are paying.
What tips do you have for ensuring your bills are paid on time?
#Quick Tips
#Bills
#Budgeting
#Household
#Frugal living