9 Bills You Should Almost Never Risk Putting On Autopay

Autopay is a convenient way to make sure bills are paid on time each month without having to worry about late fees. For instance, putting the mortgage or rent on autopay can give you peace of mind that you won't miss a big payment with a hefty penalty fee.

However, not all bills are great candidates for autopay. If you want to get ahead financially, then it might be wise to be extra careful and avoid paying the following bills with autopay.

Credit card charges can vary from month to month, especially if you spend more than usual. 

If money is automatically pulled from your checking account to pay the bill, then it is possible that you will have a particularly large withdrawal. If you're not tracking your autopay schedules, then it could lead to additional costs such as overdraft fees at your bank.

By manually paying these bills, you can keep more cash in your wallet in order to stay within your budget. 

Utilities can fluctuate from month to month. Your electric bill might spike in the summer when your air conditioner is running, or your water bill could go higher when running the sprinklers.

Monitoring your bill can help you to see how much energy or water you use. Plus, it might motivate you to cut back.

Maybe you had good intentions when you signed up for that gym membership in January, but when was the last time you actually used it?

It's best to avoid setting your unused gym membership to autopay. If you want to try a membership without the commitment, then consider purchasing a day pass or just a single class. 

Putting your cable bill on autopay means it's out of sight, out of mind. Even if you don't watch much TV, it can be easy to overlook how much it's actually costing you. 

By forcing yourself to manually pay the bill, then you will be more aware of what you're spending. You're also more likely to ask yourself if it's worth it.

As with cable TV, unwatched streaming services could also drain your budget if you have those bills on autopay.

Instead, consider reevaluating your streaming service use. Many of these services don't require an annual contract, so you can cancel when you want to.

Music streaming services let you play new songs or allow you to make your own setlists.

However, like video streaming services, the cost of music services can add up if you aren't paying attention. You may also forget that you're paying for multiple services, or you may not realize you have access to other streaming music.

For example, a genius Amazon hack for Prime members is to listen to streaming music with Amazon Music, which is included in your membership.

From curated clothes to healthy snacks to engaging books, there are endless subscription boxes you can receive from the comfort of your home. 

However, all of these boxes can add up each month. Plus, it's harder to control costs or cancel monthly mailings when you already have the bills on autopay. 

Consider swapping clothes with friends or checking out books from the library to gain shopping thrills without losing money. 

Dropping an unlimited cell phone plan for one catered to what you actually need each month sounds like a good idea. However, budgeting for a fluctuating monthly bill set to autopay could create added financial stress. 

For example, you might not be aware that you're using more data and texts than your allotment and are being charged for it. 

Make sure you do the math regarding the best cell phone plan for your everyday needs.  

One way to smooth fluctuating bills is to set an autopay to cover a bill up to a certain amount each month.

However, if you exceed that limit, the balance of that bill could roll over to the next month and accrue more interest without your knowledge. 

Instead, make sure that any bills you do decide to autopay are set to pay in full.

Autopay can be convenient, and it makes sense for many bills. However, there are times when you should think twice about using this service.

Make sure to carefully consider when autopay is a good way to boost your bank account, or when it's likely to be costly. Making the right decision can help you avoid unnecessary fees and keep your budget on track.