What is bill pay?
Bill pay is the fastest growing Internet tool since email. Bill pay (or billpay) is an online service that allows you to setup online and offline payments. These payments can be setup to run automatically on a certain day of the month or you can login and enter a manual bill to be paid. Online bill pay providers will have a set of partners they can pay electronically by simply transferring money to pay the bill. These are large companies like phone companies, cell-phone providers, cable and satellite TV services and other banks and financial institutions. If the bill can’t be paid electronically, your billpay provider will actually print a check and mail it for you. This means you can pay any bill or debt to anyone. You could even have them send a check to your babysitter or the neighbor boy who mows your lawn.

Where does the money come from?
When you signup with bill pay you will need to provide them with the information to deduct your bills directly from your checking account. This can be a bit of a process and may include faxing in your bank information. They will then do a small deposit and deduction from your account to confirm that they have the correct information.

How much does it cost?
Most billpay services charge a monthly fee to use the service or they bundle the bill pay service with other services that you are paying for. Many banks and credit unions offer their customers a bill payment service for free or for less than $10 per month.Online Bill Payment will simplify your LIFE!
You can really make your life easier if you pay your bills online. Those bills that are the same amount every month will simply be paid automatically. This saves you time and eliminates any possibility of being late. Your other bills can then be paid by simply logging in and entering the amounts to be paid. You set each payee up only once. Then the next time you can pay the bill with just a few clicks of the mouse. The system then tracks everything and you never have to remember who was paid and when. The billpay system will track it all.

Do you often reflect on ever increasing debt and wonder “How will I ever get rid of debt?” You may find yourself screaming “Help, get me out of debt!” If this sounds like you, you may have what I call debtor’s disease. You’ve been injected with the financially devastating virus by credit card companies, sneaky marketing campaigns, societies expectations ,and, yes, even our own self justification. Do you have debtor’s disease? Self justification is a major factor in fueling the affliction and encouraging us to throw caution to the wind. It’s no wonder that now and again we’re scratching our heads (how did I spend so much?) as we calculate the numbers. But, simply screaming “help, get me out of debt” will not get rid of debt! You have to decide you’ve had enough and that you are ready to take back control of your money.

• Have recent buying sprees pushed you to your limit?
• Are you tired of playing catch up and never making it to first place?
• Are you ready to stop investing in credit card companies and start investing in yourself?
• Are you ready take control of your money and make a plan for successful debt free living?

Only you can know the answer. There comes a point when anyone depending on credit cards to make it through life gets tired of living paycheck to paycheck. You get tired of losing sleep over financial worries. Consider this, wouldn’t it be nice to be debt free? Imagine the burden lifted off your shoulders, your mind clear of financial worry, and clearly seeing your way to financial independence. It is a dream that many people in today’s debt ridden society long to make come true. Your dreams of financial independence and security can be a reality because……….. Anyone can live debt free and everyone deserves debt free living!

So How Do You Get Rid of Debt?

The only effective way to lower and get rid of debt forever is to combine personal finance strategies that encourage debt free living. You may have heard them before. That’s because they work! Each individually will help you on your way, but it will take a combination of debt free living strategies to successfully lower and get rid of debt forever. Of course, most of these strategies require change. Change in your habits, your lifestyle, your plans and goals. It may even require a change in perspective! A powerful tool for success. Are you ready for your “Get me out of debt” solution?

Steps to Successful Debt Free Living

• Budget your expenses to live within your income Nothing new here. Until you take control of your money, debt will continue to control your life. Review budgeting options and choose a method you are comfortable with. You can create your own household budget. But, if you don’t think you have the self discipline and control to be a successful do it yourselfer, then make it easy on yourself. The easier it is for you to maintain your budget, the more likely you are to stick to it! You may do better with a computer or online budgeting software program. Be sure to choose an all inclusive personal finance budgeting program that will address all your needs to get rid of debt and manage your money. Manage your money through household budgeting to help you live within your income and stop creating debt.
• Debt Management Once you’ve eliminated and reduced expenses to live within your income, consistently lower and get rid of debt. Make a commitment to stop creating debt. Develop a self help plan or review debt management or credit counseling programs that may suit your needs. Gaining control, and getting rid, of debt is essential to debt free living success. Stay within your budget, save money whenever possible, and apply any extra funds to your credit card balances to get rid of debt!
• Frugal Living Frugal living inevitably leads to debt free living. If you’ve been living beyond your means, and most of us with large debt obligations have, frugal living will be an essential ingredient to get you back on the right path. You may need to lower monthly bills and learn some money saving tips to balance the household budget. Cut back on unnecessary expenses and reduce your monthly expenses. Make a few simple changes in lifestyle and you can comfortably live within your income, save money everyday, reduce and get rid of debt, save for unexpected events, and reach your goal to become debt free and financially independent.

These three main goals will bring your finances under control and get rid of debt. You may be thinking “Hey, what about saving?” Isn’t that important for financial independence?” You’re right, it is important. However, if you’re carrying a heavy load of debt, saving will only cost you money. If you can free up extra money each month to knock off that debt bit by bit, then you can free up the same money for an unexpected emergency. You’ll be surprised how much money you’ll find through saving on your everyday expenses, especially your food budget. However, if you find that you still want, or need, to make some extra money to get rid of debt and complete your debt free living goals, then consider these options:

• Ask your boss if overtime (or extra hours at regular pay) is available
• Get a part time second job

Consider a practical home business idea

• Sell off items that you rarely or never use at yard sales, consignment shops, or using newspaper ads

If you consistently follow these simple guidelines for taking control of your finances you will become debt free.

Author Resource: Cheryl Johnson is on a mission to become debt free. As publisher of SimpleDebtFreeLiving.com she hopes to guide and encourage others to live debt free through household budgeting, debt management, and money savings tips and strategies that save you money everyday and reduce living expenses.