Bills & Paperless Organizer

Step 1 — Go paperless safely

For each bill (electric, gas, water, internet, phone, insurance, credit cards, banks):

1. Sign in to your account at the company\'s website.
2. Look for "Settings", "Statements", or "Communications".
3. Switch to "Email statements" or "Paperless billing".
4. Many companies give you $5-10 credit just for switching.

Keep paper for: tax-related (statements you\'d need for taxes), legal documents, deeds, original wills.

Step 2 — One inbox folder for bills

Inside Gmail or Outlook, make a folder called "Bills". Set up rules so every bill email auto-files there:

1. Open an email from your electric company.
2. Click "Filter messages like this" or "Create rule".
3. Action: "Move to folder Bills".
4. Now every future bill from that company auto-files. Once a week, open the folder, pay each.

Step 3 — AutoPay for predictable bills

Set autopay for fixed-amount bills:

• Internet, mortgage, insurance — same every month.
• Credit card minimum payment as a safety net (so you never miss a payment).

Don\'t autopay variable bills you want to review (electric, water) — just calendar a "pay bills" hour each month.

Step 4 — Save records you might need

Make a "Tax 2025" folder in iCloud, Google Drive, or OneDrive. Throughout the year, drop in:

• 1099s, W-2s, SSA statements (when they arrive in January).
• Charity donation receipts.
• Property tax bill.
• Mortgage 1098.
• Medical expense receipts (if you might itemize).

Come tax time — open the folder, all there.

Apps that organize bills for you

• Rocket Money / Truebill (free) — finds every subscription, alerts on price changes.
• Prism Bills — pulls bills from 11,000+ companies into one inbox.
• Mint replacement (Monarch, Copilot) — sees all your accounts.
• Your bank\'s "Bill Pay" — schedule payments to anyone, including landlords or contractors who don\'t accept online payments.