If you have a good budget and are consistently prepared with the funds to handle some of your bills, you may want to simply allow the company in question to make automated withdrawals on a monthly basis. This option removes you from the picture entirely, avoids any risk of late bills and takes no effort whatsoever. If you maintain an appropriate balance in your bank account, consider setting stable regular bills, including monthly insurance premiums, cable and internet bills and other consistent expenses to automated withdrawal.

Online bill pay is another popular option offered by many utility companies, billing agencies and your bank; however, how the options work may vary. If you wish to pay your bill online, most companies will simply allow you to provide credit card, debit card or checking account information and authorize an automated withdrawal. In most cases, this is credited by the next business day. Your bank probably also offers an online bill pay service; however, this likely allows you to set up accounts, complete with mailing information. Per the date you have scheduled payment; your bank will mail a paper check to the payee, allowing you to avoid the process of writing and mailing the check. You should, however, keep in mind that this option does require somewhat more time than paying directly to the payee. You may wish to schedule the payments as soon as bills arrive, making it easier to manage your bill payments. In many cases, you can also make payments over the phone, often via an easy to use automated system. This is another convenient choice; however, many of us are less fond of these systems.

Modern technology has made bill paying easier than ever. Take advantage of automated payments and online bill pay to speed and simplify bill paying. You may also find it helpful to use your online calendar or cell phone to remind you to pay that bill, and in some cases, may even be able to use your cell phone to handle bill payments if away from home and your computer.