When do you pay bills?

[~bs]

autopay on due dates unless the bill is physical paper, then I pay immediately so I don't forget.

[TexasHusker]

True. The bill is the same whether you pay it on the day it arrives or on the day it's due. Back in the day when savings accounts paid 5% interest, it made sense to wait until the last minute. Today, when most accounts pay a fraction of one percent, holding the money those extra days doesn't really make much difference. Our checking account isn't interest-bearing so I'd just assume pay the bill right away and be done with it.

That said, almost all of our bills are paid automatically and those transactions usually happen on or very close to the due date.

One thing I did do several years ago when gas prices were rising out of sight: I decided that from now on, I was only putting $20 in the tank, out of protest. That started saving me money every time I went to the pump right away - previously I was spending triple that amount.

[HundredK]

For any bill that I pay interest on the balance, I pay it as quickly as I can just to avoid having that interest compound and charge me even more. For any bill that doesn't charge interest, I just pay it whenever is convenient.

[disneysteve]

One thing I did do several years ago when gas prices were rising out of sight: I decided that from now on, I was only putting $20 in the tank, out of protest. That started saving me money every time I went to the pump right away - previously I was spending triple that amount.

I don't follow how that saved you money. If prices were steadily rising, it would have saved you more to fill the tank. Otherwise by the next time you went, the price was higher.

[Outdoorsygal]

By paper checks or he pays the water company in person with cash
They bill every 3 months so he doesn't do it often

[PeggyHefferon]

Several years ago I combined my Christmas bonus and tax refund to use for new living room furniture that were long overdue for replacing. I used my Visa for the convenience and the bill was opened then set aside only to be forgotten. The late fees and interest stung. Ever since I open and pay bills after dinner the day that they arrive.

[kork13]

Basically all of our bills are paid automatically. Any that I can get charged to credit cards for rewards, otherwise draft from checking. My bill payments aren't necessarily linked to when we're paid (1st & 15th every month), but most of them are around then anyway... CC's are all due around the 28th each month, mortgage on the 1st, utilities around mid-month.

Exception to that nonchalance are our savings/investments, which are directly tied to our paychecks -- I've got all of those setup to pull half on the 1st, half on the 15th.

[TexasHusker]

I don't follow how that saved you money. If prices were steadily rising, it would have saved you more to fill the tank. Otherwise by the next time you went, the price was higher.

It actually saved me a lot of money. Instead of putting $60 in the tank, I just capped it at $20. This gave me extra money for lattes and two-martini lunches.

[Outdoorsygal]

too funny ^^

[rennigade]

It actually saved me a lot of money. Instead of putting $60 in the tank, I just capped it at $20. This gave me extra money for lattes and two-martini lunches.

My one friend used to pump and go...before you had to pre pay. Just fill up and pull away without paying...no biggie.

[TexasHusker]

My one friend used to pump and go...before you had to pre pay. Just fill up and pull away without paying...no biggie.

I had a friend who used to pump and dump. I won't go into details.

[snafu]

Since Tuesday was our easiest work day, I designated Tues as 'Desk Day.' Made it a point to open all mail, set up bill payment for two business days in advance of due date, [now] synced with cell's calendar. Since 2-5% cash back I charge as many non fee bills and disposables [RX,food,gas] as possible. Once electronic banking became available I set up balance transfers, again, two business days in advance of due dates. I review most vendor and bank confirmation each Tuesday's desk day. It takes under 20 minutes, let's me catch any missed bills, take advantage of any discount for early payment and know at a glance what's upcoming as we have several once-a-year bills.

We use a modified zero based budget system and sweep leftover sums to accumulate in saving until there is sufficient to add to an investment stream. Somehow it makes us more aware or motivates us to watch where the dollars go.

[porkpistol]

Every single bill we have is set to auto-pay directly from our checking account. I actually split our paychecks into different accounts. I have a buffer in the bills account in case something is higher one month (for instance we order a PPV off DirecTV or fluctuations in gas/electric bill). Otherwise there is enough to pay each bill every month. The other account I call our "Variable" account and it is used to pay for everything else (gas, groceries, fun etc.).

The only time we actually use credit cards is if we want to make a large purchase to get rewards, then it is paid off the following bill cycle.

[msomnipotent]

My one friend used to pump and go...before you had to pre pay. Just fill up and pull away without paying...no biggie.

The gas station I used to work at had a pile of rocks for that purpose. You might get free gas, but it was going to cost a back windshield. I'm really surprised I was never shot at while working there.


Everything except my car insurance and credit cards are on autopay. I check my credit cards every few days. I just caught another unauthorized charge two weeks ago. With this last one, I have realized that very single time I book our vacation, my cards get hacked a few days later. I have informed the fraud depts at the credit cards, but I don't think they care.

Decided to edit because I have no proof it is a particular company, just coincidence three years running.

[rennigade]

The gas station I used to work at had a pile of rocks for that purpose. You might get free gas, but it was going to cost a back windshield. I'm really surprised I was never shot at while working there.

Thats one way to deter people. I cant remember when the entire pre pay thing started. Not sure if it was when gas prices started rising rapidly and there was a huge uptick in people filling up and driving away without paying. Either way pre paying is a safe bet for these businesses.