Nearly 2 years ago I was introduced to automated bill pay, a service that most banks and credit unions now offer their customers. I doubted its effectiveness and usefulness at first, but now, I can’t live without it. Each bank calls it something different, so for my purposes I’ll refer to the process as “Bill Pay.”

What is Bill Pay?

The short. An automated bill payment service provided by your financial institution.

The long. With Bill Pay, you can automate your monthly bills and drastically reduce how many checks you write. I used to go through a box of checks every couple months. Since I started using bill pay two years ago, I’m still using my second box. This alone is a money saver. Checks can get expensive, especially designer checks. Bill Pay also lets you write single, one-time checks which I use to pay contractors, freelancers, doctors, an occasional event or building reservation fee, and even some online purchases.

Why Should I Use Bill Pay?

The short. Reduced stress, easier budgeting, less hassle.

The long. Automating your bills guarantees that your bills are paid on time every time. When I started, my stress meter’s needle took a dip toward empty overnight, and the time I spent slogging through bills dropped from 3 hours to 10 minutes.
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