A card from Fair Play by Eve Rodsky
Cash & Bills
How darn hard can it be to get to the bank so you have adequate cash on hand (after consulting the “Money Manager,” who can help define the standard for adequate)? Enter this cardholder, who will set up a system that prevents all interested parties from ever uttering or hearing, “Sorry, hon, I’ve only got five bucks.” This CPEer also handles the payment (on time!) of all bills, whether online, checks in the mail, or auto-pay, and balances the checkbook (or the virtual equivalent). Cozy up with the “Mail” cardholder, who will ensure paper bills come your way.
Holding this card means owning all three
Conception
Bills need to be paid
Planning
- Set up auto-pay and/or reminders
Execution
- Withdrawing cash for the week
- Paying all bills and vendor invoices (auto pay/electronic, Venmo, checks, cash)
- Balancing checkbook
- Doling out children’s allowance
Suggested Minimum Standard of Care
Do you have cash when you need it? Were all the bills paid on time with no late fees?
A starting point. You and your partner agree the real standard together, and the holder meets it without reminders.
Holding it well
- It’s a Daily Grind: relentless and time-bound. Make sure each of you holds a fair share of these, ideally one from each suit.
- The holder owns all of it: noticing, planning and doing. No “just tell me what to do.”
- Agree the Minimum Standard of Care together, then let the holder meet it their way.
- Not working? Bring it to the weekly check-in and re-deal it. Don’t take it back mid-week.
Put this card on your table
Deal it, agree its standard, and see who holds what. Free.