Guides / Bills
Using autopay without surprises
Autopay prevents late fees, if you set it up with a little care.
Autopay is one of the best tools for a busy household. A few habits keep it from causing overdrafts or hiding billing mistakes.
Good habits
- Pay fixed bills (mortgage, insurance) by autopay; review variable bills (utilities) before they're paid
- Keep a cushion in the account autopay draws from
- Turn on payment and low-balance alerts from your bank
- Scan each statement for amounts that changed
When you switch banks or cards
Use your bills calendar to update every autopay. Keep the old account open for a cycle or two to catch anything you missed.
General household organization information, not legal, tax or financial advice.