YouOMe,

Actually some companies are willing to work with you on your billing dates...others are more cast in concrete, but all you do is call the company & explain that you have a bi-weekly pay check & need to make a change in your billing date.

I also put together a calendar with folders & as my mail comes in, I open it & stick the bill in the folder for the week that I need to mail it, or take it in to be paid. At the beginning of the week, I dedicate a time to take care of all the bills for that week & schedule the ones that I have to take in. That way I know that everything is taken care of, current, & those dang late charges don't hit me.

Hope this suggestion helps some....I have actually gone to companies & asked for a change in billing date & most are very glad to help you out because they don't like the possibility of bounced checks.

I so understand your frustrations. I have my degree in accounting, but let my husband do the finances at the beginning of the marriage. He messed things up so badly, I had to go in & rescue us from doom. I have also had the horror (not honor) of being treasurer of the home owners association I lived in at out first house. Another horrid mess I had to clean up added to that homeowners that were screaming because their dues had been so messed up by the billing company that had been doing the billing. I also had the challenge of being treasurer of the management club at the company I worked at. Another complete mess that had to be cleaned up.

The key is getting a system that tells you when you have to take care of the bills & all you have to do is check it over, making sure the money is in the account when you write the bills & don't spend the money before the checks are cashed for something else....(oh yes, that detail is the most important part of paying the bills....& I have oopsed on that a few times also).

Hope things get better for you soon,
Debbie