@takeshi74 wrote:I use Excel and Mint. The former is for crude budgeting, tracking transactions, balances, utilization, etc. Mint is used for analytics. Bills get paid when I get paid.
@Revelate wrote:This. There's no excuse for not setting up autopay: zero downside, and possible saving-your-bacon upside.
Excuse isn't always relevant. Many find autopay useful but that doesn't mean it's a best fit for everyone. I don't use it but I would recommend to any that would find it a useful safety net.
Infinite universe theory senor, it might be decades from now or perhaps never for you as an individual but people do forget payments even on this forum and we're way better statistically than the average I would suggest.
If it costs you nothing other than a few mouse clicks, and it protects against you or someone else's doing something sloppy later, why not do it? What is the downside? Possible NSF fee if you overdraw your checking account? Would suggest that's a bigger problem than forgetfulness, we're only talking autopaying the minimums on CC's just to cover the due date.
@Revelate wrote:
@takeshi74 wrote:I use Excel and Mint. The former is for crude budgeting, tracking transactions, balances, utilization, etc. Mint is used for analytics. Bills get paid when I get paid.
@Revelate wrote:This. There's no excuse for not setting up autopay: zero downside, and possible saving-your-bacon upside.
Excuse isn't always relevant. Many find autopay useful but that doesn't mean it's a best fit for everyone. I don't use it but I would recommend to any that would find it a useful safety net.
Infinite universe theory senor, it might be decades from now or perhaps never for you as an individual but people do forget payments even on this forum and we're way better statistically than the average I would suggest.
If it costs you nothing other than a few mouse clicks, and it protects against you or someone else's doing something sloppy later, why not do it? What is the downside? Possible NSF fee if you overdraw your checking account? Would suggest that's a bigger problem than forgetfulness, we're only talking autopaying the minimums on CC's just to cover the due date.
I'm in agreeance that auto pay should be set up. There's no downside except taking the few seconds (and mouse clicks as revelate so eloquently puts it) to set up. The downside of not setting up auto pay could create havoc to someone with stellar credit, or take a few steps back from a dedicated rebuilder.
Personal:
So what I do is keep a notebook and every month I write down the bill due, how much is due and the due date. I've been doing this for over 7 years, so I pretty much know when the bills are due. We have 31 cc due monthly or rather had, paid off 21 of them last week, and I've never been late with a bill. I also will leave myself stickie notes on the computer or add reminders on the phone in calendar. What also helps is to have the due date around your paycheck so you can pay off or most in one shot. I don't trust anyone else to pay my bills but me, so using auto billing systems makes me nervous. I log in to the accounts and pay myself. Good luck!!
Starting Score:625
Excel Spreadsheet (card, cr limit, charges, cr avail, util) I use a big green checkmark on each page every month that all bills are paid and on to the next. I know someone else who uses a notebook and manually writes out the bills due (as stated above). I've heard of Mint, just haven't ventured to check it out yet. I also continue to get paper statements. For some reason I'm afraid I might miss an email telling me when a statement is available or an account is due.... Trying not to be too old school, but I'm really not a very organized person either... My theory is if I can touch it, see it, smell it... I will remember it 
(is that a Journey song?? kidding)
