Looking for any and every way to cut your bills and save time?

Did you know you can get similar payments year round and you don't have to write checks every month?

I LOVE this! We have our utility services through city water, entergy (electricity), Center Point Energy (natural gas), SuddenLink (internet only), and AT&T. Each service may call it something different but all of these offer at least one if not both services called "Levelized Billing" (or "Average Monthly Billing") and "Automatic Bank Draft" (or "Electronic Withdraw") so yesterday I spent ~1 finding all of our utilities online or calling to them set up.

I hear some of you, "There's no way I want to give out my personal information and allow someone else access to my account" "I like knowing when money is coming out of my account", and so on. I've had all those arguments. After my 3rd blessing came along everything seemed to stared piling up, and the only 'adult time' I had was being spent doing house work, paying bills, balancing the check book or on the computer. I decided I needed to cut out some out...anything that was just unnecessary. No matter my silly qualms. Since I seems to check my online checking register often and already have our home mortgage coming out automatically each month it was just the push I needed to try this with all my bills that made it available. It was so simple. I can try to up date you after my 1st month or so to let you know if I'm still liking it.

Wanna try it? Here is how:

Register for an online account ID:

• utility account information (all found on an old bill)
• personal information (i.e. Name, house #, phone #, email address, usually thing you'll have memorized)
• create a password (I keep a document on my computer with "account reminders" to help me remember what different accounts ask you to use for 'usernames' or passwords)

For Levelized Billing:

• you need to have lived at your residence for at least 1 full year
• have your online account ID already set up

For Auto Draft:

• utility account information (all found on an old bill)
• have your online account ID already set up
• a method you want them to use each month for billing- your credit card (I personally discourage) but debit card might work in the same way or simply your *checking account information (all found on the bottom of a check)
• a few minutes

{it is almost scary how fast you can set this up}

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Do you have these services already set up?
Do you like them?
Are they helpful to you and your family?
If so, how? If not, what are the drawbacks!
Do you have any other helpful hint to share for saving money and time?

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Nope, no one is paying me for my indorsement of this service...but if you know how I CAN get paid for that- LET ME KNOW! ;o)

Photo Credit: Woman Paying Bills