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Simplifying Your Financial Life, Part 1

There are many reasons to organize and simplify your financial life. Eliminating clutter, saving time and reducing stress are surely among them. And here's another motivating factor: Not keeping tabs on your finances can be costly if it results in fees or interest charges you could have avoided, investment losses, additional taxes or other pitfalls. Below are five basic things you can do to get your money matters in order...and keep them that way.

Use direct deposit. Ask to have your pay, pension or Social Security benefits automatically deposited into your bank account. Direct deposit is safer, easier and more convenient than getting a paper check in the mail and then having to deposit it into your bank account. It may even help you avoid bank fees. Direct deposit also gives you access to your money sooner than with a paper check.

Automate recurring bills. Many merchants, such as insurance companies or utilities, will allow you to pay recurring bills with an automatic withdrawal from your checking account or through a charge to your credit card. However, be sure to record these transactions in your check register to avoid overdrawing your account. And if you charge the bills to a credit card, pay the balance in full by the due date to avoid interest charges. Many banks also offer online bill-paying services that allow you to pay bills quickly and easily. These programs generally allow you to sign up on your bank's website to receive bills electronically from companies you do business with.

Explore online banking. This service lets you review deposits and withdrawals, keep track of your balance, and move funds between, say, your checking and savings accounts — at your convenience. With online banking, you can quickly review your account and make sure you didn't forget to record any debit or ATM card transactions in your check register. You can get an update on whether funds from recent deposits are available for withdrawal and even be able to receive bank statements online instead of in the mail.

Put some savings on autopilot. Arrange with your bank or employer to automatically transfer a certain amount into savings accounts or investments on a regular schedule. Automatic savings programs can make it easy to build an emergency fund or save for the future. Also, if you invest in stocks, mutual funds or other non-federally insured assets, it has been documented that making investments on a regular basis can result in a higher return over time than trying to time the market.

Consider consolidating accounts. Think about how many different financial institutions you use and how many accounts (savings, checking and investments) and credit cards you have. You may be able to simplify your finances, reduce mail and paperwork, avoid certain fees and even get better deals by consolidating multiple accounts. This can also make it easier to monitor your entire portfolio and ensure that your money is properly diversified.