3 No-Brainer Reasons Why I Have My Utility Bills Set to Autopay

As a personal finance writer, I do what I can to make managing my finances easier. My monthly calendar lists every payment that is set to come out of my checking account, so I'm not caught off guard about an upcoming payment.

Another way I set myself up for success is by using autopay services provided by my billers. While I don't have every monthly expense set on autopay, I use this payment solution for several of my expenses. I'll share with you three reasons why I made this money move.

1. They're low-cost bills

As mentioned above, only a few of my bills are set to autopay. I manually schedule payments for more costly expenses, like my home mortgage. I want to avoid overdriving my bank balance when the payment is drafted from my account. Manually scheduling helps prevent this.

The bills I have set up on autopay are low-cost bills. Here's a breakdown of the costs of the expenses that I have set to autopay:

• Electric: $140/mo
• Gas: $45/mo
• Mobile phone service: $75/mo

These expenses add up to a small amount compared to my other monthly expenses, so I'm comfortable having them automatically deducted from my checking account every month.

2. They're fixed costs

The bills I've chosen to automate through my billing providers are considered fixed costs -- meaning they don't fluctuate (or at least not much). For my electric and gas bills, I'm on budget billing. My service providers send me a monthly bill based on my average usage costs for the year. This keeps my costs more manageable year-round.

For example, in the summer months, we run central air, so we use more electricity. Instead of paying much higher bills during the warmer months, we pay a steady rate year-round. My bills may rise slightly if my usage changes, but generally, I know what to expect and won't be surprised when I see a payment drafted from my checking account. Because of this, I'm comfortable having my utility bills set to automatic payment.

3. It helps make my life easier

I'm a self-employed freelance writer, so I have a lot to keep track of each week in addition to my financial affairs. Having a few of my bills on autopay saves me time and reduces my stress. Knowing there's one less bill I might forget to pay eases my mind. I'm always looking for ways to simplify my life. This strategy works well for me.

Could autopay bill payment be a win for your finances?

You may wonder if you should enroll in autopay. It may not be ideal to put every expense on autopay, but it could be helpful for you to do this with some of your steady, less costly bills.

This may be especially helpful if you sometimes forget to schedule your bill payments or want to eliminate some manual tasks that take extra time. It can also help you avoid paying late fees since your bills will be paid on time.

Review your monthly expenses and consider which bills may be best to set on autopay. You can set up automatic payment directly through the biller by logging into your online account.

Ensure you know what bills are coming up soon to avoid a costly surprise. Marking each bill's due date on your calendar can help you stay organized.

For additional money management tips, check out our personal finance resources.