Getting Those Bills Paid On Time...

Does anyone really enjoy paying bills? Besides the fact that it reduces your bank account, paying bills is just plain tedious. For those with ADHD, it may be an especially frustrating task. Developing a simple system for getting bills paid on time can be a real lifesaver.

Carrie Greene, founder of CarrieThru ADHD Coaching & Organizing Services, provides advice.

“There are some really important tasks (like paying bills & managing your finances) that tend to be very difficult for many people with ADHD,” acknowledges Greene. “Some of the reasons for the difficulty lie in the very nature of the task.”

Greene explains that many of these tasks are time sensitive, detail oriented, quickly and easily become overwhelming, require a lot of decisions, are boring and needs a constant and consistent commitment -- and rely on the executive functioning traits that frequently challenge many people with ADHD.

Luckily, simple strategies can help keep you organized with bill paying.

Greene Provides The Following Tips To Help Get The Bills Paid And Paper Filed

1. Go through your mail daily and throw away all of the junk immediately.

2. Sit down to pay your bills regularly (weekly if possible). By paying your bills regularly, things won’t pile up, there will be fewer surprises and it will take a lot less time.

3. When paying your bills, handle each bill completely. That means, write the check, put the check in an envelope with a stamp, file any necessary information and get the payment into the mail. Do not leave the filing or mailing for another day -- this is how things build up.

4. Keep your bill paying and filing system simple as possible.

5. When creating a filing system, use as few categories as possible. For instance, you may be able to keep ALL of your credit cards bills together; you probably don’t need separate files for each account. This will help you keep track of where to put things as you file and help you find things if you need them later on.

Related Reading:

• De-Clutter and Get Organized
• Tips for Getting Places on Time
• Organizing the ADHD Household
• Practical Strategies at Home for Moms with ADHD
• Advice for Getting Those Tasks Started and Completed
• Taking Care of Ourselves

_Source:

Carrie Greene. Personal interview/correspondence. 01 April, 08.