Why I Don't Autopay My Credit Cards Why I Don't Autopay My Credit Cards
reviewing credit card bills on a computer

Why I Don’t Autopay My Credit Cards

One of the best features of personal finance in 2023 is the ability to automate several aspects of your financial life. In fact, some have said that doing so is one of the keys to mastering money. For the most part, I agree with this as I’ve seen the benefits of automated savings, investing, etc. Furthermore, nearly all of my regular recurring bills are set to autopay. Well, that is except for a few key monthly bills: my credit cards.

That’s right, I’m not a fan of automatically paying off my credit cards. Instead, even as my rewards card portfolio grows, I still manually make payments each month. However, there are a few reasons for this — so let me explain.

3 Reasons Why I Don’t Make Automatic Payments on My Credit Cards

Reviewing purchases

First of all, one reason why I don’t like to autopay my credit card balance is that I want to look over my purchases for the month and ensure nothing is amiss. While I may not go through every single transaction and compare it to receipts like some people I know, I do like to give everything a quick scan. Specifically, I look for merchants I don’t recognize off-hand, subscriptions that may have risen in price, and, in some cases, remind myself of purchases that my boss needs to reimburse me for.

After I do this brief review, I’m one step closer to being ready to pay off my full balance.

Checking rewards

As we’ve established, I basically use my monthly credit card payment as an excuse to do a financial review. Well, this not only includes looking over the money I spend during the month but also what I earned. After all, since 97% of the reason why I use credit cards is to rack up rewards, it makes sense that I should see where I stand in terms of cashback or points.

In the case of cashback, I can decide whether there’s a specific purchase I want to cover with a statement credit, apply my credit more broadly, or keep letting it accrue. With one of my cards, I can only cash in points once I surpass $25, so there’s even more to consider as I debate whether I want to take the money and start over or hold off. Meanwhile, with my cards that earn points, it’s more a matter of knowing my balance so I can (eventually) start figuring out how I want to redeem them for a trip.

Either way, although I can check this info at any time, I enjoy wrapping it into my transaction checking time.

Moving money/selecting an account

The last reason why I don’t autopay my credit cards is probably the biggest: I may need to move some money. Yes, it sure would be nice if I just had a ton of cash in all of my accounts so that I could pay off my balance without even looking at my funds but that’s just not the case. Since I keep the bulk of my non-invested cash in high-yield savings accounts and get paid irregularly as a freelancer, there are times when I need to make a transfer from one account to another before making a payment.

Now, couldn’t I just link all of my accounts to my credit cards so I can just make payments from wherever? Well, yes I could — but that sounds like work. Plus, it doesn’t change the fact that I’d still need to review which account I want to use and, thus, wouldn’t want to use autopay.

By the way, anticipating that I may need to make moves, I typically check my credit card balance two to three weeks before the statement is due. That way, I have more than enough time to do what I have to and make my manual payment.


For as much as I love automation in my finances, credit card autopay is where I draw the line. Perhaps one day I’ll get on board — especially if I do keep adding to my card collection — but, for now, I’m content with my monthly review strategy. Of course, just because I don’t like autopay doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t recommend it for others. If your payment dates tend to slip your mind or you want to ensure that you’re always paying off the full balance, then, by all means, autopay away! But, at the end of the day, there’s also no shame in the manual approach.

Author

Kyle Burbank

Head Writer ~ Fioney
Kyle is the head writer for Fioney. He is a personal finance nerd, constantly looking for new apps and services to test and incorporate into his own financial game plan. In addition to his role at Fioney, he's written for other publications including Born2Invest, Lifehack, and Laughing Place, as well as his own site Money@30. He also creates personal finance and travel-related videos for Money@30's YouTube channel, which has garnered more than 2 million views. Currently, Kyle resides in Springfield, Missouri with his wife of 10 years. Together, they enjoy traveling (including visiting Disney Parks around the world), dining, and playing with their dog Rigby.

Other Articles by Kyle Burbank

2023 Small Business Credit Card Satisfaction Tops 2019 Highs

The latest small business credit card study from J.D. Power shows satisfaction continuing to rise. About the study and results: This week, J.D Power released its 2023 U.S. Small Business Credit Card Satisfaction Study, which includes responses from more than 3,400 small business credit card customers. In this case, the study looked at businesses with annual revenues between $10,000 and $10 million. First, it was discovered that overall satisfaction among...

Discover Announces 5% Bonus Categories for First Quarter of 2024

With 2024 sneaking up on us, Discover has announced its rotating 5% bonus categories for the first quarter of next year. About the Q1 2024 bonus categories: From January through March 2024, Discover It customers will be able to earn up to 5% back in two categories: restaurants and drugstores. According to the company, the Restaurants category includes full-service establishments, cafes, cafeterias, fast-food locations, and dining delivery services. For the...

Public App Adds Corporate and Treasury Bonds Feature

The FinTech trading app Public has announced new investment options for its members. About the features: Public is now rolling out the ability for customers to invest fractionally in corporate and Treasury bonds. This capability will be introduced on both the mobile and desktop interfaces for the service. According to Public, the addition comes as demand for fixed-income products increases. In addition to these bond types, the app will also...
The "Email" field is empty, you must enter some text to proceed.The text you entered in the "Email" field appears to be invalid, please edit it and try again
Get the Latest News Delivered to Your Inbox

FedEx Announces Winners of 11th Annual 2023 Small Business Grant Contest

Nearly three months after the entry period ended, FedEx has announced the winners of its 11th annual Small Business Grant Content. This year's event saw more than $300,000 in funds going to a variety of small businesses across the nation. Last month, the company revealed 100 finalists, with that list now being narrowed down to just 10 winners. This year's grand prize winners included KindVR, The Cupcake Collection, Up In...
Summer app

Student Loan Benefit FinTech Summer Raises $6 Million

For years, student debt has been one of the most talked about financial topics. What's more, while the debt itself has become a major part of many Americans' lives, discussion of student loans has become political due to efforts to forgive certain loan repayments. However, while we wait for resolution on that front, a FinTech that brings student debt benefit solutions to employers and consumers has raised a new round...
H-E-B and Central Market  credit cards

Imprint Launches Credit Cards from H-E-B and Central Market 

The FinTech Imprint is partnering with the popular Texas-based grocery chain H-E-B for a pair of new rewards credit cards. This week saw the launch of the H-E-B Visa Signature Credit Card as well as the Central Market Visa Signature Credit Card. With these two (nearly identical) options, customers will be able to earn rewards on groceries and beyond. First, both versions of the card earn up to 5% back on select...
Melissa Urban holding a Ness card

Health and Wellness Rewards Card Ness Partners with Whole30

In recent years, several unique rewards cards have come to market. These include offerings from FinTech startups as well as brands looking to do something special for their loyal fans. On that note, a recently-announced rewards credit card offering is now working with a popular brand to introduce new benefits for customers. This week, the Ness Card (which is issued by The Bank of Missouri) unveiled a new partnership with...
Choice Privileges Select Card

Choice Hotels, Wells Fargo Debut Choice Privileges Select Card

With spring well underway and the summer travel season now just around the corner, Choice Hotels and Wells Fargo have unveiled their latest co-branded credit card offering. Today, the two companies announced the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard. Carrying an annual fee of $95, this card will serve as the premium option in the hotel brand's new lineup. Looking at the Choice Privileges Select, it offers a mix of rewards categories....