I don’t like auto pay either. I keep track with my budget app. When the month starts over, I drag the "Paid" bar to the bottom of the screen, rename it to the current month, and check each card one by one, pay them if needed, then change the date of the next due date to the following month and drag it below the "Paid" bar again. This way I’m guaranteed to never miss anything, even if there is a statement notification I don’t get or a charge I forget about. Since due dates come once a month, it’s impossible to miss a payment this way. 
The app is called Fudget if anyone is interested. I also use it for manual budgeting because I don’t like apps that request access to my accounts.
I had autopay set up for one month but it’s just not for me. I want control over what comes out and when.
@Anonymous wrote:I don’t like auto pay either. I keep track with my budget app. When the month starts over, I drag the "Paid" bar to the bottom of the screen, rename it to the current month, and check each card one by one, pay them if needed, then change the date of the next due date to the following month and drag it below the "Paid" bar again. This way I’m guaranteed to never miss anything, even if there is a statement notification I don’t get or a charge I forget about. Since due dates come once a month, it’s impossible to miss a payment this way.
The app is called Fudget if anyone is interested. I also use it for manual budgeting because I don’t like apps that request access to my accounts.
I had autopay set up for one month but it’s just not for me. I want control over what comes out and when.
This approach may help against forgetting, but doesn't help if you are in hospital etc. Auto pay makes sure payment (min if you must, PIF otherwise!) goes through whatever!
I use sheets
@Anonymous wrote:I don’t like auto pay either. I keep track with my budget app.
I use spreadsheets, because I'm barbaric. I use strikethrough.
@longtimelurker wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:I don’t like auto pay either. I keep track with my budget app. When the month starts over, I drag the "Paid" bar to the bottom of the screen, rename it to the current month, and check each card one by one, pay them if needed, then change the date of the next due date to the following month and drag it below the "Paid" bar again. This way I’m guaranteed to never miss anything, even if there is a statement notification I don’t get or a charge I forget about. Since due dates come once a month, it’s impossible to miss a payment this way.
The app is called Fudget if anyone is interested. I also use it for manual budgeting because I don’t like apps that request access to my accounts.
I had autopay set up for one month but it’s just not for me. I want control over what comes out and when.This approach may help against forgetting, but doesn't help if you are in hospital etc. Auto pay makes sure payment (min if you must, PIF otherwise!) goes through whatever!
This is certainly the case but some issuers will take the minimum payment if you have a balance, even if you already made a payment and that’s obnoxious. If I end up in the hospital, I’m still going to pay my bills. I never leave home without my phone and if I’m so sick that I have to be hospitalized long enough I can’t get access to my phone to make payments, in all likelihood I’m not going to be able to pay my bills anyway.
@staticvoidmain wrote:I use sheets
@Anonymous wrote:I don’t like auto pay either. I keep track with my budget app.
I use spreadsheets, because I'm barbaric. I use strikethrough.
Of all the things I know about computers, I always managed to avoid spreadsheets lol.
This app actually does have strike thru available on the swipe menu and I was doing that for awhile but I’ve already got a habit of checking my accounts literally multiple times a week anyway. The chances of me missing something are extremely slim between push, text, and email notifications along with me checking apps all the time. I mean I have a folder that has every single app and I go from one to the next.
@Anonymous wrote:
@Adkins wrote:And I would stop applying for cards, for two main reasons. One, too many cards at once from the same issuer can be a risky (as in they shut down and close all your accounts); and two, like the PP said, checking for identify theft is the priority.
Yes, you are right but it's very hard to keep almost 100% of monthly expenses via credit card if you don't have a good limit.
My first CC was BoA Cash Rewards with a $1000 limit when I still did not have SSN. After the SSN grant in November I was able to raise to $ 2000. I tried to raise to $4000 in January without success.
My Discover IT had a $1000 limit and now they offered me $1500 limit.
They are my main cards.
I have a Visa Merrick Bank with a $700 limit that I use exclusively to non-dollar operations because the card doesn't charge foreign transactions.
I use Amazon Store Card activelly to all Amazon purchases.
Last March I had to buy a new cellphone ($999 plus taxes) and I had to make a $2000 reload payment at the BoA card to be able to purchase. It's too bad to have to do this. I don't want making comparions but in my origin country I had 2 unlimited limit cards.
Last week I have been applied to Walmart Card, Best Buy Card and an Amex Card. I was approved to the Amex Card with a $5000 limit. Due to this, I am wondering to cancel Paypal Credit, Best Buy and Walmart and promote Amex as my main card. What do you think?
My next goal is to get the Visa Amazon Card to be able to cancel Amazon Store Card.
My most used card was a $200 secured discover. You don't need to use every card every month. Pick one and rotate them, or keep them store specific (ie Walmart is giving 3% back to use their card, so only use their card at that store). I wouldn't cancel any cards since you already have them.
I can't remember if the Amazon Visa is under the 5/24 rule or not - it may be out of reach for two years at this point due to you having too many new accounts.
