How to Always Pay on Time

Everyone can miss a bill payment from time-to-time. It’s when you string together a few misses that things can go south quickly. If you’ve been struggling to make timely payments, use some of the tips below to get back on track.

Organize Your Payments

Paying bills on time can be quite difficult if you’re a bit disorganized.

• Take some time to clearly list out your accounts.
• Then go through your budget so that it is updated with the most current information.
• Once you have a clear big picture, paying bills becomes that much easier.

Make it Automatic

One of the easiest ways to pay bills on time is to just make it automatic. No guesswork needed. No reminders.

AutoPay for Fixed Payments

Simply set up auto payments for fixed expenses, like your:

• Mortgage/Rent payments
• Car payments
• Phone bills
• Some utilities

Paying Credit Card Bills

You can also set up auto-pay for your credit card, though you’ll likely need to choose between paying the minimum, a specific amount, or the full balance. 

Use Reminders

If you’re app-averse or don’t want to leave it up to technology:

• Try adding your bill due dates to your calendar and setting reminders.
• Be sure to set the reminders for two or three days before the actual bill due dates.
• That extra buffer will be helpful.

Add Buffers

One simple tweak that can seriously reduce money stress is adding due date buffers.

• What is a Due Date Buffer? A small cushion between when your paycheck is deposited and your automatic payments gives your money time to land, settle, and actually be available before payments go out, no more juggling balances or overdraft fees.

How to Set Up Due Date Buffers

If your lenders allow it:

1. Map bills to paydays. List your bills and pay schedule to see which due dates fall too close to payday.
2. Check with lenders. Log in or call to confirm whether your lender allows due date changes.
3. Move the date and confirm timing. Request a new due date 3–5 days after payday and verify when the change takes effect.
4. Update autopay and monitor. Adjust autopay if needed and keep an eye on the first cycle to make sure everything runs smoothly.

It also helps you see your real spending power more clearly, making it easier to plan, save, and stay on top of bills without feeling like you’re racing the clock every month.

Tech is Your Friend

There are plenty of financial apps out there that make your life easier. Take a look at apps like Mint, which can help you track your spending, saving, and bills. 

Do One Thing: Use some sort of strategy — a budgeting app or calendar reminders — to track your bills and ensure they’re paid on time, every time.