I’m no newbie to using binders to organize the paper clutter at home. Last year I shared with you how I used a Family Organization Binder to keep all my household papers in order. This year as we moved from one home to another, I realized that my finances were not as organized as I would like. Not only that, but my filing system needs a few adjustments (I will share the changes in another post).
Our Finance Binder is a now a tool used often that both my husband and I appreciate. In conjunction with our 2016 Everyday Planner
I have created 10 PDF formatted printables that I use in my finance binder.
I found my binder with matching dividers at Office Depot. It is from a fun line named “See Jane Work” and it matched perfectly with my Everyday Planner cover.
My dividers are labeled as follows:
Bills // In this Section is where you will find my monthly bill checklist. In the first column, you have the day of the month the bill is due, followed by a description or name of the bill. In the next column, you would check off the box if it is an automated payment. Last you have the monthly boxes to check off every month once you have made your payment. I have also included an area below the bills for notes and/or confirmation numbers (I hate these).
Budget // In this section, I have added a monthly budget worksheet. It is very detailed and includes an extra section for additional expenses that might pop up monthly. I figure, If you have all your expenses laid out for the month, you visualize where your money should be going. That way, next time I am at the mall and I see some christian louboutin heels that I am dying to buy, I put myself in check.
Debt // No this section is not a place to turn to and get depressed, it is a place to go to and see how far you have come and how far you are going. I have created a debt payoff printable for this section so you can see how little or big of a contribution you have made monthly in paying off your debt. Even if you don’t do monthly payments to your debt, you can use this sheet to keep track of whom and what you owe.
Savings // I wish this section was full. I know many have the same issue as I do, so why not own it. I haven’t saved, and I have two kids! Actually that is probably the reason why I have not been able to save. So many things come up that have to be taken care of. Soccer uniforms, league payments, school supplies, clothing they grow so quickly out of, and so on. I half blame them, but seriously, I know we are responsible for our savings. Living in San Diego with such high living expenses doesn’t help. I can’t help but live near the beach, though, I tried Las vegas for a few years, that didn’t work.
So this section if for all the saving I am going to start doing this year. Maybe I will print 4 and separate them by family member, that way everyone can help me out.
Accounts // You will find a banking account info worksheet here, as well as a password log for online accounts. I have something to confess, I have not changed my online passwords in years, but when creating this worksheet I promised myself that I would give myself time to do so. You should too!
Expenses // This is a daily expense log. Like a checkbook register, keep in check all your expenses. Because in reality, you have a monthly budget set-up but there is always that rogue bill or purchase that pops up in the middle of the month. For me this month, my son’s glasses broke… bummer.
Receipts // At the end of the binder you will find a clear paper protector sleeve with all the important receipts for the month. You can actually keep all of your receipts for the month here until you input the amount into your expense log, then toss out all of your non-important ones out when you’re done.
Budget Envelope // Cash, ugh I hate carrying it around. This actually doesn’t work for me. My husband can’t do it. He tells me I’m crazy if I think he is going to carry around different envelopes when he go’s out to buy something for me at the grocery store. But here is how it does. I use them like a register. I have them in my purse, when I make a purchase, I place the receipt in the appropriate envelope. When my husband comes home from running out to get milk, all I ask for is the receipt. That way when I am at home I still tally up what has been spent, and know how much I have left over before the next grocery run. Groceries, gas, eating out, kids, label them as you like, whatever works for you.
Here are a few of the printables in a more detailed look. They are fun and fresh, and will make this finance organizing a little less boring. Looking to get your own? Check them out in my Etsy Shop.
This Finance Binder is a little new to us, getting our finances in order is a must though and I am really looking forward to how this binder is going to work for us.
How do you keep your finances in order? Do you use budget envelopes, or does your husband think you are crazy like mine does? Actually I would love to know who takes care of the finances in your house. Is it a couple thing, a wife thing or does the hubby take on the job? What works for you?
This planner has been one of my best sellers by far!
