I did, only not on purpose. You see, when I went for my last checkup this summer I paid the dentist in cash and then went on my merry way.

But a few weeks ago I was scrutinizing the withholdings on my paycheck to be sure they were still accurate when I noticed a line item for dental insurance.

Oops. Turns out I had dental insurance all along — dental insurance that I’d been paying for twice a month. If I had used it, it would have made my visit FREE. Instead, I ended up paying for the visit itself and the insurance — effectively causing me to pay extra.

Now of course I’ve since called the dentist and will be filing the claim for myself with the insurance, but this is one of those cases where a lack of organization can literally cost money.

Keeping your finances organized (and staying on top of the benefits you may have access to) can prevent you from spending more money than you need to. You’ll avoid late fees, rush fees, unnecessary fees, and more.