Get Control of Your Finances: How to Create a Financial Binder

With just a handful of easy-to-use tools you can finally get a grip on your financial affairs.

What you’ll need:

• Binder
• Index tabs
• Binder pockets
• Sheet protectors
• Transfer clips

Here’s how to get started

Use index tabs to create your categories. Common categories include:

• Account information – list all bank and credit card information here, including account numbers, payment due dates, credit limits and contact information. Having this information handy will save lots of trouble if your cards are lost or stolen.
• Bills due – instead of throwing bills in the junk drawer put them in your binder right away so you don’t lose them or forget to make payment. Consistently on time payments help you maintain or build good credit.
• Bills paid – easily provide proof of payment in the event of a dispute with the vendor. Keeping a file of bills paid will also help you pick out trends in spending so you are better able to accurately predict expenses and cash flow.
• Budget – have all the information you need to project your budget as well as review actual vs. budgeted expenses.
• Receipts – store receipts in binder pockets to match against monthly statements. Billing mistakes can cost you money when you don’t monitor statements.

Create cover sheets to place after each index tab

• Account information – the cover sheet should include accessibility information to be used in the event of an emergency. A trusted loved one will need personal identification numbers and passcodes as well as online login credentials.
• Bills due – print a monthly checklist including amounts and dates due for each account. Alternatively you can print a monthly calendar and record payment due dates.
• Bills paid – print a monthly checklist including amounts and dates paid for each account
• Budget – record actual versus budgeted expenses. How you use extra funds will depend on your financial goals. For example, are you saving for vacation or a down payment? It may be wise to put funds budgeted but not spent into a savings account dedicated to this expense.
• Receipts – you may want to log receipts. If so, your cover sheet should include the account used, date and purpose of purchase. Your receipt log is the perfect foundation for building a daily spending diary. When you know where your money goes you have better information about the wisdom of your spending and can make changes as needed.

At the end of the year use transfer clips to take everything out of the binder without losing any papers or disturbing their order. Tax time will be a breeze. You can set up your financial binder in an hour or less. That is a small investment for the time and money you will save over the long term. Finally get a handle on your finances with Bindertek. We have everything you need to get started today.