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Planning for Success: Purchase Batteries – Day 14

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Planning for success - Day 14

Photograph Credit: iStockphoto

Knowing that a successful year will not materialize on its own, we must plan and prepare for a prosperous 2013.

Throughout the 31 days of January, I will choose one topic each day to prepare or schedule for this year.

Without preparation, I know I will forget, miss, or overlook certain items. If you desire an organized year, then join me in this adventure of Planning for Success for a prosperous 2013.

To receive a daily e-mail around 11:00 a.m. with the new posts of each day, subscribe to my free daily newsletter. In case you miss a post in this series, I will provide the link to each day as the month progresses. 🙂

Day 14: Purchase Batteries

If I had known how many batteries we would need once we had children, Paul and I would have purchased stock in Duracell. Besides coming with wires, plastic cases, and complicated packaging, most toys require batteries. Though we keep a stash of the basic types – AA, AAA, C, and D, we rarely have 9-volt batteries in our stockpile.

Since our smoke and carbon monoxide detectors take 9-volt batteries and we change these batteries on Daylight Savings Time weekend, I add a reminder on my calendar to buy batteries.

If the weekend arrives and I don’t have the batteries, then no change is made. By the time the weekend is over, changing the batteries has slipped my mind and will go untouched until the next Daylight Savings weekend.

With Daylight Savings Time occurring this year on March 10 and November 3, I have added to my calendar at the beginning of February and October a notation to purchase batteries. The reason for the early notice is to watch the sales during the month. As most sales run on 6-week cycles, I should find a battery deal within that time frame.

In planning for success, purchase batteries prior to Daylight Savings Time. Having this reminder in my calendar alerts me to the upcoming time change and this important household maintenance. Though our detectors work on electricity with a battery backup, I want all systems in top condition should an emergency occur.

Continue adding your household alerts to your planning tool. With the reminders, you can address these maintenance items in the desired season. Keep using time wisely as you add tasks to your calendar while planning for success. Happy scheduling!

Question: How often do you change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors?

Planning for Success: Secure Doctor’s Appointments – Day 13

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Planning for success - Day 13

Photograph Credit: iStockphoto

Knowing that a successful year will not materialize on its own, we must plan and prepare for a prosperous 2013.

Throughout the 31 days of January, I will choose one topic each day to prepare or schedule for this year.

Without preparation, I know I will forget, miss, or overlook certain items. If you desire an organized year, then join me in this adventure of Planning for Success for a prosperous 2013.

To receive a daily e-mail around 11:00 a.m. with the new posts of each day, subscribe to my free daily newsletter. In case you miss a post in this series, I will provide the link to each day as the month progresses. 🙂

Day 13: Secure Doctor Appointments

I realize that most of us do not like doctor’s appointments. Other than a sick visit here and there, our family mostly sees the doctor for yearly annual exams. By getting preventative care, we address any concerns and track our health from year to year.

Knowing how blessed I am to have a healthy family, I have limited appointments to make. However, many of you could quickly fill an entire calendar with just your family’s doctor’s appointments. From routine visits to surgery, secure doctor appointments and stay organized by adding them to your calendar.

Though your list will differ, here are the doctor appointments I will make and add to our 2013 calendar:

    • Dental appointments – biannual cleanings
    • Internal Medicine – annual visits
    • OB/GYN visit – annual check
    • Pediatrician visits – annual well-checks
    • Periodontist – dental specialist, implant check
    • Vision appointments – annual visit

In planning for success, secure doctor appointments and add to your planning tool. As some of these visits have been set at the prior visit, I just transferred those dates to my calendar. For the other visits, I schedule a day to call for an appointment, and then I will add the appointment when set.

As you continue using time wisely, schedule doctor visits. I know they are not fun and that you are not sick. But preventative care can save you money, energy, and time. I know it helps our family save $500 per year. Happy scheduling!

Question: How often does your family visit doctor’s offices?

Planning for Success: Setup Bill Pay – Day 12

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Planning for success - Day 12

Photograph Credit: iStockphoto

Knowing that a successful year will not materialize on its own, we must plan and prepare for a prosperous 2013.

Throughout the 31 days of January, I will choose one topic each day to prepare or schedule for this year.

Without preparation, I know I will forget, miss, or overlook certain items. If you desire an organized year, then join me in this adventure of Planning for Success for a prosperous 2013.

To receive a daily e-mail around 11:00 a.m. with the new posts of each day, subscribe to my free daily newsletter. In case you miss a post in this series, I will provide the link to each day as the month progresses. 🙂

Day 12: Setup Bill Pay

If your calendar looks anything like mine, then it is getting full. 😉 For me, seeing a full schedule is a good thing. This means that I have jotted down what needs to occur, and I just need to follow the plan. The nice part is I don’t have to get it all done today. By assigning each task a day, I can accomplish the items scheduled for today and leave the rest for their appointed day.

In stretching our dollars, we have already marked the due dates for monthly bills on our calendar. By doing so, we can follow the schedule and pay prior to or on the due date while preventing late fees.

Bill Pay Option

To assist with recurring payments, your financial institution probably offers a free bill pay service. Think of it as writing an electronic check each month.  Instead of using paper, an envelope, and a stamp to deliver your payment, your bank electronically sends the payment per your request.

Bill Pay Setup

For me, the initial setup took some time, but then scheduling only takes seconds. If you have never used bill pay before, but are interested, here are some basic steps – though each financial institution has a slightly different system:

1. Sign up for on-line banking. Start at your financial institution’s website. If you have a login, then you are setup.

2. Login to your account.

3. Select the Bill Pay option. You might need to access your checking account to find this tab, button, or link.

4. Setup new account. For each bill you want to pay, you will need to setup a separate account, i.e., electricity, cell phone, cable, mortgage, credit card, etc.

5. Choose date to pay. I suggest paying a few days prior to the due date as the process may take a day or two to post.

Tracy’s Tip: If your budget is tight and you need to wait for a deposit before paying a bill, then don’t use the bill pay option as your payment might arrive late. Instead, choose to make the payment through the provider’s website, i.e., Verizon Wireless. The payment will post quicker.

Just be aware of your provider’s policies regarding time frames, holidays, and weekend. Some providers post immediately, like Verizon Wireless; whereas, others will not post until the next business day.

6. Indicate recurring or one-time payment. For payments that are consistently the same, like your mortgage, you can choose recurring. Then your payment is made every month per your request on the same day. You will not need to adjust the amount or timing each month. I like knowing that our mortgage gets paid because bill pay automatically transfer the money from our checking to our mortgage provider.

If the payment changes each month, e.g., your utility bill, then schedule a one-time payment entering the amount. You will need to schedule this payment once a month, but it only requires you to login to your account, choose the provider, enter the amount, select the payment date, and update.

7. Confirm your choices. This verification might be listed as set, pay, confirm, update, or something similar.

8. Adjust your payment. Once you use bill pay, check your accounts to verify payment. If you have problems, then access your bill pay setup to move the payment date, change the amount, or stop using this option.

9. Logout of your account. At the end of each session, you need to logout and close the tab or window. I always closeout the tab to verify that the Internet link between by computer and our financial institution closes. If left open, a hacker could gain access.

Though not the answer for everyone, bill pay is a great service to make payments electronically. Besides saving  paper and stamps, you can schedule your payments in advance and your financial institution will do the rest.

In using time wisely and planning for success, setup bill pay through your financial institution. I love bill pay for our recurring monthly bills that have consistent payments. This service saves me money, energy, and time.

As you consider your options for using time wisely and stretching your dollars, bill pay might be an answer. Remember, it is not all or nothing. You can setup some accounts through bill pay while paying other accounts via check, in person, or on-line through your provider. Whatever your choice, pay on time to prevent late fees. Happy savings!

Question: Do you use bill pay through your financial institution?

Planning for Success: Note Daily Deal Vouchers Expiration Dates – Day 11

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Planning for success - Day 11

Photograph Credit: iStockphoto

Knowing that a successful year will not materialize on its own, we must plan and prepare for a prosperous 2013.

Throughout the 31 days of January, I will choose one topic each day to prepare or schedule for this year.

Without preparation, I know I will forget, miss, or overlook certain items. If you desire an organized year, then join me in this adventure of Planning for Success for a prosperous 2013.

To receive a daily e-mail around 11:00 a.m. with the new posts of each day, subscribe to my free daily newsletter. In case you miss a post in this series, I will provide the link to each day as the month progresses. 🙂

Day 1: Select a Planning Tool

Day 2: Add Your Priorities

Day 3: Print and Display Your Menu Planner – with free printable

Day 4: Record Membership Expiration Dates 

Day 5: Mark Due Dates for Monthly Bills

Day 6: Insert Credit Report Schedule

Day 7: Schedule Your Annual Home Maintenance

Day 8: Set Your School and Work Activities

Day 9: Highlight Contract and Subscription Expiration Dates

Day 10: Download a Savings Tracker

Day 11: Note Daily Deal Vouchers Expiration Dates

As I continue planning for 2013 by adding items to my calendar, I find this exercise freeing. With all the dates and information in one place, I save time and energy by consulting one source rather than searching for the answer in multiple places. Hopefully, you are getting a jump start on your year by planning for success.

In updating my calendar, I am noting all our daily deal vouchers expiration dates. As our family enjoys outings together, I keep an eye on the daily deal emails I receive from the daily deal sites to which I subscribe.

When I find a great deal, I purchase it. Using Couptivate, I setup alerts to remind me to use those vouchers. Then I add the expiration dates listed on those vouchers to my calendar.

Since I work so hard to find family activities we will enjoy without paying full price, I do not want to lose the benefits of the voucher. Most daily deal sites will still honor the original amount paid after expiration, but you will lose the promotional value. In using time wisely and enjoying those savings, I schedule to redeem our vouchers prior to the expiration date.

In planning for success, note daily deals expiration dates on your planning tool. Depending on how many reminders you need, you might consider a month prior alert along with a week before expiration e-mail encouraging you to use your vouchers.

For the current list of free to inexpensive family activities, visit Using Time Wisely’s Facebook event’s page which is updated regularly.

Keep using time wisely as you plan for success and enjoy your family and friends. Enjoy your weekend!

Question: How full is your calendar getting?

Planning for Success: Download a Savings Tracker – Day 10

by

Planning for success - Day 10

Photograph Credit: iStockphoto

Knowing that a successful year will not materialize on its own, we must plan and prepare for a prosperous 2013.

Throughout the 31 days of January, I will choose one topic each day to prepare or schedule for this year.

Without preparation, I know I will forget, miss, or overlook certain items. If you desire an organized year, then join me in this adventure of Planning for Success for a prosperous 2013.

To receive a daily e-mail around 11:00 a.m. with the new posts of each day, subscribe to my free daily newsletter. In case you miss a post in this series, I will provide the link to each day as the month progresses. 🙂

Day 1: Select a Planning Tool

Day 2: Add Your Priorities

Day 3: Print and Display Your Menu Planner – with free printable

Day 4: Record Membership Expiration Dates 

Day 5: Mark Due Dates for Monthly Bills

Day 6: Insert Credit Report Schedule

Day 7: Schedule Your Annual Home Maintenance

Day 8: Set Your School and Work Activities

Day 9: Highlight Contract and Subscription Expiration Dates

Day 10: Download a Savings Tracker

In working to save your family money, you have the most flexibility within your food budget. Though everyone would love to save 80-90% on each shopping trip, the reality is a savings between 20-50% overall.

For 2012, I chose to add household items, including cleaning supplies, diapers, toiletries, batteries, etc., to our food budget. With the additional items, I figured I would need to increase our $80 per week food allottment. To adjust, I tracked our savings to evaluate our progress.

In wrapping up 2012, I was thrilled to discover that our family of 5 spent $4,384.51 and saved $2,903.11. With a 39.84% savings for the year, our weekly budget averaged out to $84.32. In planning for 2013, I will raise our weekly food budget by $5 per week or $20 per month while continuing to practice savings strategies.

To help keep track all year, I use a savings tracker. Last year, I used a new-to-me 2012 coupon savings tracker and liked it. Since it is working for me, I plan to use the 2013 version this year. If you need to download a savings tracker, then consider these two options:

In planning for success, download a savings tracker. Though you can create your own, the above-listed spreadsheets include the formulas and come ready to start today.

While using time wisely to see how we are spending our food budget, I insert the information from our receipts into the spreadsheet, downloaded onto my computer, to watch our savings increase.

As you track your spending and savings, you can measure your progress and adjust your budget to reach your goals. Happy tracking!

Question: If you use a savings tracker, which is your favorite?