bill pay and password organization

[jpaigeadams]

So we pay several of our bills online, which I love. One issue I have though is how to keep track of when I paid what, and the confirmations numbers. The system I have so far is I write it down in a little notebook that I keep near the computer. Just wondering what other people do? Also, how do you keep track of passwords? The important ones like banking ones, as well as the store ones, as well as the silly ones? Right now, I have going on 2 pages of a list, but I feel like I'm always either searching for the list, or searching for the name of the site on the list.

[sunnysandiegan]

Tracking the confirmation numbers:
We use Quicken and I put the confirmation number in the memo field. On the rare occasion where I already need to put something else in the memo field in Quicken for that transaction, then I write the confirmation number on the paper bill (if there is one) or I will add the confirm # to the email notification and save it in a special email folder (buried down a few layers).

Passwords:
I have an Excel spreadsheet set up to handle passwords. It is in code that only DH & I know. It is physically small, also, so that I can have it open on the screen while I do our finances. DH came up with a good password system in the last year or two and now that we've instituted that system, it is a lot easier to remember all the passwords and I don't always need my spreadsheet.

[LaLaLaLa]

I use the same password for everything; I just can't remember a bunch of different codes.

When I pay a bill online, I copy the confirmation information and paste it into an email to myself. When I square everything up and I've seen that the bill has cleared, I delete the email.

Most of the emails in my inbox are from me, to me, full of all sorts of reminders and other information. I'm so popular with myself.

[limabean]

I put billpay confirmation codes in the Quicken memo box.

I only use 3 passwords, so I'm bound to get it right eventually.

[annethcz]

I use the same (or similar) password for most of my online accounts.

As for keeping track of what I've paid- I write down all payments in my budget spreadsheet. I also keep track of all checking account debits in my check register.

[annettemarie]

Moving to Finances. You could also try the Organization forum for questions about organizing passwords.

[velochic]

We also use Quicken to track online bill paying as well as things like investment transactions. It's a really functional tool for these things.

We keep passwords written down in a foreign language (that doesn't use a latin alphabet, so you'd have to know the language's script, as well). It's also coded. So the password might be "fruit" and there is only one fruit we use as a password, so you'd have to know how to read the language, know the word in that language, then know the fruit we picked to use as a password. Then we may or may not substitute a number for a letter (1 for L, 3 for E, 0 for O, 9 for G). I couldn't remember all of our passwords because of the many accounts, but we're confident that this method is very secure even if it's written down. They're kept in an encrypted file on the computer. Dh is a computer science professor, so he's pretty anal about password safety.

[its_betty]

I started using a program called "1password." It did cost something (30?) but worth it. There are other password managers out there, too--this is just the one I chose. (Might be Mac only.) It also has an iPhone app which I'm not using...yet.

It allows me to use one master password (which is long and a random mix of letters and numbers but since I use it a lot, I now remember it). Then when I go to a website, I can click on 1password to fill in the site's login and password. So I only have to remember the master password. It will also generate new passwords for me, and let me know how strong my passwords are. I can open 1password to see the list of sites/passwords and to add notes to each entry as needed.

I used to keep everything in an address list: not secure at all but at least I could find all my passwords. This is better because without the master password, you can't see my other passwords, so I'm protected if my computer gets stolen.

My husband keeps everything written in a notebook. Works for him.

[pbjmama]

Maybe you already thought of this but I find that paying everything through my bank it alot easier.

[Drummer's Wife]

I use Bill Pay through my bank and don't print/record any kind of confirmation. It's all there with online banking, and I've never had a payment not go through to worry about double-checking with say, the electric company to make sure it cleared. To me it's similar to if I were writing a check out and mailing it - I don't copy that, I just figure it will post to my account. My PW's are pretty similar (3 varieties, I think?).

ETA: I realize I sound super lazy - I am! But really, if I needed to contest a payment with a company, I would just pull up the confirmation number online from the bank web site (or on my phone - which is how I pay most bills). I'm impressed others are that organized to not only record the info, but transfer it to other programs for balancing/budgeting.

[eirual]

I do it all through my bank too. I signed up with Equal Billing for utilities, so they're all a set and predictable price each month. They are all on auto withdraw.

I keep log-ins and passwords pretty much the same too, I have various back-ups in the even that they HAVE to have certain characters, but it's pretty standard.

I don't get paper bills any more, but when I did, I'd just write "Pd" on bills once they were paid. I used to write confirmation numbers, but like drummers wife, have never not had one go through, so I don't bother with them.