Effort: MinimalCost: Nominal fee (depends on bank)

If you haven't done so already, set up automatic bill payment through your bank online--and while you're there, be sure to take advantage of any rewards programs or money-saving tools that your bank makes available, such as savings program.

Some of the businesses you deal with might not support online payments through your bank, but most banks offer the option of automatically mailing a check to anyone on a recurring schedule. So even small monthly payments for local services can become a stress-free, automated affair.