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sooooo not happy with DH right now
I'm going through a pile of paperwork that needs to be filed or tossed, and I just found the notices for our car insurance and car registration renewals. Which come to about $650. Due this Friday. Ben has had them since the New Year and didn't bother mentioning them to me (I'm the one who looks after the finances).
Now I'm pissed because this week we also have to pay our quarterly property tax and our quarterly power bill, which are each about $400. It's like the perfect storm of major bills. We have the money to cover all of this so that part of things is OK, but I'm NOT HAPPY that he just left the car bills lying around without saying anything - if I hadn't just happened to find them today, our insurance and registration probably would have lapsed. 
GRRRRRR!!!
Re: sooooo not happy with DH right now
Boo! I hate when stuff like that happens...SO lame. J and I have devised a system...
1) all bills go into a file basket in our kitchen so we know where everything is...we get SO much paper in/out of the house that this basket is sacred...if something goes in it, it will not be removed until both of us say, "yes, we can throw this away." We have a second file folder in it for tax stuff...check stubs, receipts, and now W2's from 2009.
2) we schedule payments online as the bills come in...even if the due date is weeks away...
3) We log everything on a Excel Spreadsheet each month...since 90% of it is the same stuff every month we just set up the months in tabs, copy and paste items into each month, adjust the amounts and due dates, if need be, and add in one time or items that aren't monthly, we also track our income here (since DH is a waiter, it fluxuates). The Excel File is a Shared Document on our computer, so we both have access to updating it. It's expected that we both will take responsibility for keeping our finances on track...it has worked really well for us to have it all down in one place that we can review as time goes on, etc. Helps during tax time too!
Seems with two babies on the way Ben might need to take over the finances if you both aren't going to do it together...I can only imagine with momnesia how stressful managing the household bills will be.
TTC/PG Blog | Mommy Blog
We have a similar system, or rather, we're *supposed* to - a magnetic board where all bills etc. go. After they're paid, they all go in a tray to be filed, and like you, nothing in that tray gets chucked until it's 100% certain that it can go.
I usually schedule payments as well, but of course can only do it if I actually know there's a bill...grrr......
I don't know about Ben taking over finances...it seems like a good idea on the surface, but the man is just NOT good with money. It's why I'm in charge of all bill paying, I'm the one who gives him the yes/no on buying something, etc. He's not dumb or anything lol, but he's just not good at managing finances at all. He's gotten a bit better in the years we've been together, but he's simply not good at it.
About the money tracking, have you tried using mint.com instead of or in addition to Excel? A lot of people swear by it...I wish it was available in Australia!
Mint.com...will have to check it out...
Sounds like you've got the system but even that is too much for Ben...boo! He's just going to have to do better. From the sound of it, him being in charge of bills is not an option...guess that means EXTRA diaper duty then!
TTC/PG Blog | Mommy Blog
Jaime & Brent
Oahu, Hawaii | Sept. 9, 2005
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