Paying Bills When Snowbirding

[JourneyOfLife]

My main interest is paying the bills for the 'home' when snowbirding. But it occurred to me that everyone might have some input.


How do you approach paying bills?

Do you still pay bills the Old Fashioned way (paper bill/check)... or have you opted to Push payments (electronic you control) or let the service provider Pull payments (electronic they control), or a mix of both?


Any insights, tips, or comments would be appreciated.

[Bjeanj]

We paid all our bills online.

[Ecuadog]

Not snowbirds, per se, but we travel a bit. Paperless billing and "push" paying, using Citizens First Bank online banking.

I can't stand the thought of trying to straighten out "pull" payments gone awry.

Edit---> Just an afterthought. I do allow some utilities to auto-charge a credit card of mine so that I can collect the "mileage points." I do not consider these "pull" payments because I review the charges before "push" paying the credit card account.

[Fredster]

All of our utility bills are direct debited monthly. (Pull?)*
A couple others, checks are sent to them through my bank. (Push?)
No more bills paid by check through snail mail.
*Must say that I have not had any problems with debited (pulled) payments!

[Chatbrat]

So simple- we pay all our bills with credit cards or ach check debits--all payments are then on auto deduct from various accounts-we are on auto pilot and the beauty part of using credit cards is the cash back- we get 5%-1.65% cash back on all balances - and the balances are cleared automatically

[Kathrynsews]

So simple- we pay all our bills with credit cards or ach check debits--all payments are then on auto deduct from various accounts-we are on auto pilot and the beauty part of using credit cards is the cash back- we get 5%-1.65% cash back on all balances - and the balances are cleared automatically

Exactly what we do, not only when we are away from TV, but always. We also get nearly all our bills electronically. Very simple.

[CFrance]

We have had problems with automatic deductions in the past (having payments deducted twice and having to call the vendor and all that rigamarole), so I am not in favor of giving anyone access to our checking accounts. However, I love automatic deductions from our credit card (points or cash back and instant notification by email of any charge made on the card), or I visit the vendor's web site and authorize a one-time payment from the checking account, which has never caused a problem. I set up our church and monthly charitable donations as merchants and send them a check through online banking every month. The latest vendor to finally get on the digital bandwagon was Sumter County UCDD, or whatever it was called (now NSU, or some such) that will email a bill instead of mailing one, which was impossible to get & pay on time when we travel. Our hobby is travel, and thank goodness for the internet, e-billing, and online banking!

[Fraugoofy]

...

[thelegges]

All of our bills are paid on line, checks are only used for repairs

[rjm1cc]

In addition to above forward mail to you summer location.
Switch to a budget bill so each month is the same and then pay as you do now.
Pay a few months in advance.

[JourneyOfLife]

Did any of you determine that in certain instances, paper checks still make sense? IOW where did you "Draw The Line"?


At a certain point, adding "One More" Account/Credential (login) to maintain and monitor begins to be "more burden" than the assumed benefit. Then there is the growing number of Mobile Apps (if that is the device used).


Here are some examples:

A) Non-recurring bills that happen throughout the year - Doctors/Labs/Medical visits (remainder after insurance pays)
B) Yearly Recurring Payments - Home Insurance, Property Tax, other insurance premium
C) One-Off Payments In Person - Home Maintenance such as a New Air Conditioner Installed
D) "Maybe Payments" Quarterly or Yearly - Income Tax
E) Other situations you might have encountered

[thelegges]

Did any of you determine that in certain instances, paper checks still make sense? IOW where did you "Draw The Line"?


At a certain point, adding "One More" Account/Credential (login) to maintain and monitor begins to be "more burden" than the assumed benefit. Then there is the growing number of Mobile Apps (if that is the device used).


Here are some examples:

A) Non-recurring bills that happen throughout the year - Doctors/Labs/Medical visits (remainder after insurance pays)
B) Yearly Recurring Payments - Home Insurance, Property Tax, other insurance premium
C) One-Off Payments In Person - Home Maintenance such as a New Air Conditioner Installed
D) "Maybe Payments" Quarterly or Yearly - Income Tax
E) Other situations you might have encountered

A)Medical bills paid with spending account visa
B)use points credit card and pay off next month
C)we use a check under $300
D)direct deposit into account
E)credit card for points,nothing better than free vacations

[CFrance]

For a small local business, I will pay by check because the credit card company takes a cut of what I pay the vendor, and we like to support the local businesses.

Federal income tax is always paid by check, as is the accountant who prepares it. I like to pay my hairdresser by check because she works hard and supports a special needs child.

[Kathrynsews]

We write very few paper checks. All insurance and property tax payments are made online with the bank. Our regular doctor and dentist bills are paid online through the bank. Odd, small, medical bills by check, local small businesses, for home maintenance or improvements either check or credit card.

[ricthemic]

We r Snowbirds too (avoid the snow) Question, are the full timers "Sun birds"?' Head north to Avoid the heat July, August & September? Just wondering... "Sun Birds"

[Kazmi]

I bought a box of checks many years ago when we got married and still have a book or two in the box not used (and stamps are to mail birthday and Christmas cards). Online bill pay is so much easier.

[Fraugoofy]

...

[Radioman41]

We write very few checks, most all payments through bank bill pay. We receive bill notices from either bank and/or company. This has worked very well for us. We had a real problem receiving forwarded bills when we were snowbirds. As a note, we are still on our old Maryland neighborhood email mailing list. Our old neighbors are having a problem receiving their mail at their residences. Several have been hit with late payment charges. We believe electronic bill pay and email notices are a much safer way to go.

[TNLAKEPANDA]

No Paper bills.... Push or Pull is the only way to go!

[CFrance]

Another problem with writing checks is that your names, address, and checking account number are out there for all to see.

[New Englander]

I am closing on a home in TV in less than four weeks. I'm still trying to sell my place up north so I won't be living in TV for a while. Can somebody explain what the difference is between push and pull payments.

[Chatbrat]

use credit cards and ach for all recurring payments, have all credit cards payed automaticly from your bank accounts and or brokerage accounts--so far I've gotten close to $1500.00-cash back (since Jan 1)by using several credit cards for dining, buying gas, travel, etc-===and its tax free

[Ecuadog]

I am closing on a home in TV in less than four weeks. I'm still trying to sell my place up north so I won't be living in TV for a while. Can somebody explain what the difference is between push and pull payments.

Terms as used by the original poster (OP) ...

... or have you opted to Push payments (electronic you control) or let the service provider Pull payments (electronic they control), or a mix of both? ...

A "push" payment is where you are signing in to an online banking system and scheduling a payment to a payee, in the amount you choose, to be paid when you choose. It requires thought and action on your part.

A "pull" payment is where you are authorizing a payee to go into your bank account and take what they think you owe, when they think you owe it. You give control to the payee.

[New Englander]

Terms as used by the original poster (OP) ...



A "push" payment is where you are signing in to an online banking system and scheduling a payment to a payee, in the amount you choose, to be paid when you choose. It requires thought and action on your part.

A "pull" payment is where you are authorizing a payee to go into your bank account and take what they think you owe, when they think you owe it. You give control to the payee.

Thank you. Now I understand... I prefer to use push payments from my credit card when possible.

[The Mountaineer]

Exactly what we do, not only when we are away from TV, but always. We also get nearly all our bills electronically. Very simple.

I pay all my bills automatically through my credit cards. That way, it doesn't matter whether I am in The Villages, Ohio or elsewhere in the world. Then my credit cards are paid automatically through my checking account. That way I get air miles on 2 credit cards. My Delta round trip from Ohio to Michigan cost me $11.20. Yes, 11 dollars and 20 cents. Flights to Florida also are minimal costs. Plus, going online to the 2 credit cards means they do my recordkeeping for me. But, to each at his own comfort level.

[Chatbrat]

Do what mountaineer and I do--its free worry free $$$--if you pay with cash for every day purchases and recurring bills, you're throwing $$$ away

[bonrich]

There is one vendor I will not give access to checking or credit accts is Comcast when I used them. Every month a new charge that had to be disputed. All others, utilities etc either auto debit, credit cards I would adjudicate first.

[Chatbrat]

when you use a credit card you've got 1000 lb gorilla in your corner to dispute a charge, service, etc. also you've got additional warranty backing