Bill Reminders: Every Way to Get Them (and Which to Use)

A missed bill is rarely about money. Usually the money was there, and the due date slipped by. The fix is a reminder that arrives early enough to act. There are several ways to get one, and each covers a different gap. Here’s how they compare and how to combine them.

Option 1: Autopay

What it does: pays the bill for you on the due date.

Pros: the CFPB says automatic payments “can be a convenient way to make sure you pay your bills on time.” Some lenders even reduce the interest rate for borrowers who pay by automatic debit.

Cons: autopay isn’t a reminder. If your balance is low when the payment comes out, the CFPB warns that “both the bank and the company might charge you a fee.” And for automatic debits, the CFPB says the company should notify you at least 10 days before a scheduled payment only if the amount changes, so fixed payments may come out with no warning.

Best for: fixed bills you’re sure you can always cover.

Option 2: Bank and card alerts

What it does: many banks let you set a text or app notification for when your balance drops below a level you choose, or when a payment posts. Check your bank’s app for what it offers.

Pros: catches a low balance before autopays hit.

Cons: your bank doesn’t know which bills are coming, only what has already happened. It can’t tell you rent is due Friday.

Best for: a safety net alongside a list of due dates.

Option 3: Phone calendar reminders

What it does: you add each bill as a repeating event with a notification before it.

Pros: free, already on your phone, and flexible.

Cons: you have to add every bill yourself, update amounts by hand, and remember to add new ones. Yearly bills are easy to forget.

Best for: people with a handful of bills who keep their calendar tidy.

Option 4: A paper bill calendar

What it does: a monthly calendar with each bill written on its due date. The CFPB’s Your Money, Your Goals toolkit includes a bill calendar tool.

Pros: you see the whole month at once, including how paydays line up with due dates.

Cons: it can’t notify you. It only works when you look at it.

Best for: planning your month and spotting crowded weeks.

Option 5: A bill reminder app

What it does: keeps a list of every bill with its due date and sends a notification before each one.

Pros: one place for every bill, monthly and yearly, with reminders set up automatically when you add a bill.

Cons: you still need to add each bill once.

Best for: anyone with more than a few bills, or bills on different days and schedules.

Billo, for example, is a bill reminder app for iPhone that reminds you 3 days before each bill is due and again on the day, at the time you choose, and lets you stamp each bill paid.

How far ahead should a reminder go off?

Early enough to act:

• Online and autopay bills: a few days ahead, so you can move money if needed.
• Bills paid by mail: about a week ahead, so the payment arrives on time.
• Big yearly bills: a couple of weeks ahead, so you can compare prices before an insurance renewal.

The setup that works

Combine three things:

1. One list of every bill and due date, in an app or a spreadsheet. Our bills spreadsheet template has a layout.
2. A reminder a few days before each bill, from a bill reminder app or your calendar.
3. A low-balance alert from your bank, as a backstop.

With those in place, autopay becomes safe to use, because you’ll always know what’s coming out and when. Our guide to avoiding late fees covers grace periods and changing due dates.

Summary

• Autopay pays bills but doesn’t remind you.
• Bank alerts catch low balances but don’t know your due dates.
• Calendars work if you add every bill.
• A bill reminder app keeps one list and reminds you before each due date.
• Combine one list, early reminders and a low-balance alert.