Even though we have been married almost 38 years, I still have a small 5" X 7" written journal of our monthly bills. DH gets paid once a month and his check is direct deposit. Mine is paid by check on the 1st and 15th. All 3 checks go into our joint account. When I get paid each payday, I keep out gas and grocery money for both of us and whatever else we need until the next payday and the rest goes into our checking account.
In the journal there is a page for each month and year. The top half of the page is titled - Bills automatically deducted from checking- showing
1) "Bank - mortgage amount and due date to come out of account".
I list each one and number them.
The second half of the page is titled "checks written":
1) Water, amount, date paid and check number,
2) phone, amount, date paid and check number etc.
Some things I have to write a check for because they are different amount each month and are not offered as auto deducted from our checking account. I ALWAYS count the number of checks/deducted amounts from the check register to make sure I show the same number in the journal and vice versa. It is easy to make a mistake. I usually know what our total monthly expenses should be and how many items are to be paid, so if I have more left over in the check register, I forgot to list something. I use Quicken to help me balance the checkbook each month in the computer and it is a godsend! You can use it to track your expenses, too.
We each get paid the same amount on each payday, so it is easy to budget and see what is left for savings. In fact I just set up May yesterday, so my journal entries correspond with checks written and ones deducted. I go ahead and deduct from the checking account everything on the 1st and just leave it untouched in the account. That way when the mortgage comes out on the 26th, it is already there from the 1st. When I have to write a check, I just look back and put the number written beside the (over) estimated amount I listed in the check register and show the actual amount. Then I add back in the small difference to my balance. Note- I do NOT spend any of that money deducted at all because it HAS to go to those items. Less worries for me.
This month we pay the annual premium for DH's bike insurance, so it is paid by check and listed in the journal. I have the house insurance due in several months, so I make sure that money is in savings between now and then. When it is due Aug. 1, I can just write a check for it and note in the journal 2008-09 house ins. paid in full.
For our family it is easy to budget, but for others that get paid every two weeks or other, you almost have to have a nice cushion in checking, so that your bills are really paid two weeks in advance to keep your excellent rating. Remember to save something each pay day, even if it is a few dollars squirreled away in a coffee can because things DO happen- usually when we least expect it. My bank was bought out and now not open on Saturdays (grr), so now I have to make sure we have enough funds for each weekend since I don't use an ATM card, but could cash a check at the local grocery store. No more Sat. bank deposits either.
Hope this helps. I have our first journal and how we lived on $512 a month in 1971 is unbelievable. LOL. Much luck!