Now that the cost of mailing a letter---or a bill payment---has a risen to 41 cents, it's time to take a fresh look at money-saving altenatives. Sure, you can stay one step ahead of future postal rate increases by buying a supply of the new " forever" stamps,which are guaranteed to be good for mailing a first-class, no matter how high rates go in the future. But why not save the money you'd spend on stamps and checks, and pay your bills directly from your bank acount? there are two main options.
ONLINE BILL PAYMENT This is similar to wrting and amiling a check each month, except you do it all alone. Many banks offer online bill-paying services at little or no cost. You can set up an account information for all your monthly bills and, when those bills come in the mail each month, simply go online and make the payments. Altenatively, you may be able to go the the website of each company that sends you a bill and make your payment electronically there.
DIRECT PAYMENT You can authorize that funds be autimatically withdrawn from your bank account for regurlar bills such as your mortgage, utilities,car payment and credit cards. There is usually no cost for this service. To get started, you'll need to enroll with the companies that send you monthly bills, authorizing them to debit funds from your account. Either way, the savings can add up. The national Authomated Clearinghouse Association estimates that an avergae household receives 20 bills each month. paying thress-qarters of those electronically--15 bills a month could save $73.80 a yea in postage, not to mention the cost of 180 checks.
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