Ideas
See Your Future - Do You Like it?
By Staff Writer
May 18, 2007 - 7:24:54 PM

So where the heck did we get $39 from.... if you forgot to pay your credit card bill by even one day, guess what...you may just get a $39 late fee.  Because this fee is just added to your account debt, it doesn't seem to feel that bad.  Guess what?  It is the same as someone taking almost two $20 bills out of your wallet...just because...I forgot??

Using the recurring appointment feature on your email software:

Many programs online or software have a recurring appointment feature.  Use this for recurring items such as monthy bills, annual birthdays, watering plants schedule, and even anniversaries.  If you need to do something to prepare for the event, schedule the reminder a few or more days in advance so yuo have time to respond, e.g. if you need to have your bill paid by the 25th of the month, set a calendar appointment or reminder to notify you on the 18th.  Also, remember sometimes the due dates for bills change by a few days each month so factor that in.

Even with these reminders you need to have the discipline to act on your calendar.  What I mean is that you may have a tendency to get used to the reminders of the monthly bill payment and start to ignore them.  Make it a habit to act on or reschedule any task that comes due.

Schedule Projects That You Need to Prep For Up Front

That big party you are going to throw in the summer is not so far away.  If you are like most people you will grab a piece of paper and start listing out everything you need to do and then hang on to the list or drop it into your planner.   Try this technique instead.  Take the list of things you need to do and schedule times in your calendar to get it done.  For example, your list may include

1. Write list of invites and get phone numbers
2. Select Menu From Caterer or List Grocery list
3. Buy a new grill

You get the idea.  Now take these tasks and decide when you are going to do each of them and put them in your calendar.  So maybe you can work on the invite list for 30 minutes the next two Wednesday nights becuase you do not have to bring the kids to soccer....schedule it.  Now when do you want to buy the grill . ..maybe you have time on the second Saturday in June or you know there will be a sale on a particular day.  Schedule this in your calendar.

"You got to be kidding," you exclaim.  Do I sound like I am kidding.  Let's face it .  Everything takes time so be realistic and schedule time to do it.  If you find that your calendar is getting to busy perhaps it is because you are doing to much or are not doing the things that really matter.

Life is not a list.  Life is a series of events that add up to Your Life.  By putting everything in your calendar, you are almost creating a forward diary.  When you read your diary you can remember how things happened in your life good and bad....by using your calendar, you can read the diary of your future.  How things may happen or what you are not planning to happen.

So use your calendar.  You will remember to do things and maybe even save a lot of money and heartache.  And you will see how you are living your life.  AM I planning to do what is important or am I just going to check things off the list till I get to the end of it?