We use internet banking or direct debit as much as possible.
We have our personal accounts, but also we have a "Direct Debit account", an "Accrual Account" and a "Long term savings account"
All the bill/rent etc come out of the Direct Debit account - this account does not have a card. We pay groceries etc on the credit card and pay it off in full each month. We have worked out a budget of what this can be. Things like health insurance and gas/electricity comes out of this account.
The "Accrual account" is for things like car rego, car repairs/servcing etc. This also has no card access.
The Direct Debit and Accrual accounts are all linked with the daily transaction account (which does have a card), so I only pay 1 set of bank fees for the lot each month.
The Savings account is a high interest savings account, without a card. This is for long term stuff. At least 10% of the pay is automatically paid into this account.
In addition, we've organised monthly automatic deductions of gas and electricity ($50 and $70) and we make up the difference every quarter. The phone bill is a set amount for all phone calls, including broadband, which is deducted each month.
I used to be useless at budgeting. I found a system that helped me, though I don't use it religiously - look up Simply Budgets. Also the Barefoot Investor has a good ideas.
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