Debt Dumpers 2025

[Tygerlilly]

That sounds like an issue with large bill items and a too low of an account balance to handle it. That would be an issue if you don't have adequate funds in an account to handle too many large enough balances and unless you're adding into that account (either manually or auto) that would get you in trouble with auto pay.

I'm well aware of what the issue is. Which is why we do not do anything on autopay (unless it is required). I was agreeing with ruadisneyfan2 that autopay would screw someone up.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I'm well aware of what the issue is. Which is why we do not do anything on autopay (unless it is required). I was agreeing with ruadisneyfan2 that autopay would screw someone up.

Understood it's just the difference between saying autopay as a feature is the issue (outside of glitches that can and do happen) vs someone's individual situation that just doesn't gel for one reason or another with autopay same as not doing autopay doesn't always gel with someone's situation. For a budget board that kinda seems like a good distinction to make though that isn't meant to be aimed at you specifically just a general towards the topic considering a few posters mentioned the feature).

 

[afan]

Understood it's just the difference between saying autopay as a feature is the issue (outside of glitches that can and do happen) vs someone's individual situation that just doesn't gel for one reason or another with autopay same as not doing autopay doesn't always gel with someone's situation. For a budget board that kinda seems like a good distinction to make though that isn't meant to be aimed at you specifically just a general towards the topic considering a few posters mentioned the feature).

A lot of people don't keep extra money in their bill paying account because it doesn't earn interest in most cases or because they don't have it.

Others would rather have control of when things get paid.

Yes autopay works for some and not for others. Both ways have pros and cons. Neither way is wrong, it's what works for each individual person/family.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

A lot of people don't keep extra money in their bill paying account because it doesn't earn interest in most cases or because they don't have it.

Others would rather have control of when things get paid.

Yes autopay works for some and not for others. Both ways have pros and cons. Neither way is wrong, it's what works for each individual person/family.

Yup which is what I already said to you when I quoted you a few hours ago down to having a specific account for utilities (joint bills in general sans the mortgage that came out of my husband's account only I would still transfer money into our joint account for that bill).

I think it depends on what someone's individual set up is. It was better for us to have autopay set up for most things because of which bank account the funds were coming from and it took the annoyance of always having to remember this day the electric bill is due but that day the gas bill is due oh and the wastewater is due that day oh now I've got the water bill due that day, the cable and internet is due on that other day, Then there's the discounts for your insurance and back when we had student loans that as well and then cell phone bills, etc.

What we often did when utilities were split a different way was transfer the funds for the specific bill on an auto transfer for bills that stayed the same (like our life insurance until we got notices of the new amount as we age up in levels) to our joint account for which the utilities were then set up to draft from. And then for the bills that aren't consistent in amount we'd see the bill amount and manually transfer the amount needed to the joint account ahead of time then it would draft from there.

We tried it without autopay when the utilities were first set up in the rental house and then tried again in our new build house and realized it was more work for us to account for it than it was to do autopay.

That's why I said to the other poster, for a budget board (if you're talking about ways someone pays, can save money or help in their own situation) kinda making that distinction about the feature of X but about how it fits in with what works for them makes a difference.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Understood it's just the difference between saying autopay as a feature is the issue (outside of glitches that can and do happen) vs someone's individual situation that just doesn't gel for one reason or another with autopay same as not doing autopay doesn't always gel with someone's situation. For a budget board that kinda seems like a good distinction to make though that isn't meant to be aimed at you specifically just a general towards the topic considering a few posters mentioned the feature).

Yeah, I wasn't blaming the autopay system itself as being the problem. It's good for those who have more money than time and you just want to relieve yourself of the chore of paying bills.
If you have more time than money, you might want more control.

We have been out of debt for several years and making great progress saving most of our pay these days but part of that isn't just from being debt free. Part of it is the stage of life we're in. Our children are financially independent so no more diapers, day care, summer camp, karate, clothes, shoes,etc. That alone is life altering. Many people here are right in the thick of it with child care, college costs, etc. all while trying to have extra to pay down debt. That is challenging.
Even though I'm very disciplined now, doesn't mean I'm never weak. I'm still human.
Even an alchoholic knows not to hang out at a bar.