As with any other type of paperwork, be it your lecture notes or your personal papers, it is important that you organise any paperwork relating to your personal finances. By taking a few simple steps to organise yourself at the beginning, you will save yourself many headaches and moments of panic later on.

Here are few tips to help you keep track of your finances:

Keep all paperwork relating to your finances (bank statements, bills etc.) in one place - like a boxfile. Keep a record of all your money transactions: your visits to the cash dispenser, cheques you write, which bills you've paid, and check through your bank statements. Take advantage of the up-to-date balance information that you can get from your bank cash dispenser or through telephone and on-line banking. Set aside an hour each week to do your accounts. This way you won’t forget any bills and will have a better idea of your current financial situation.