Just saw this site and to add to my mail deliveries. There is a website from the USPS which is called Informed Delivery. The site takes a picture of all first class mail( no catalogs, etc) And you get a picture of all the pieces early in the day. Helps when you will be getting anything of importance that could be thrown out. I also found the best way to pay most bills is an automatic on line, so the gas,electric , cable , etc will always get paid. Still get the bills in the mail to see.
I pay my bills online but will not set up auto pay. I like to control my money. Like automatic withdrawals which are hard to stop - can take months, auto pay I fear could be the same nightmare. All my bills come via the internet - none delivered to me by the USPS. I got all this going back in 2005 when we were Workamping traveling in our RV. The mail service weeded out all the junk mail which was mostly what we got.
I agree with Charlotte to pay via Internet but no autopay, with a few exceptions. I try to pay all bills via credit card to get the 1% back, unless they charge extra for cc use (county govt is the only one that comes to mind). And then I check my cc online a few times a week and pay off as I charge.
Some places still force me to call up to pay by cc.
As I was working on estate plans and what if something happens to me, how would Jim be taken care of? I set most everything up on autopay. My trustee/executor lives across the country. I never liked giving up the control, but now I like it. Most places have a way to change the credit card or bank account or even stop it online. I set up my bank to send me emails when transactions occur. It’s pretty easy to keep track of. This way, if I ended up in hospital my brother wouldn’t have to fly out immediately.
I too have everything possible on auto-pay. I get a notice that the due date is coming up, then a notice that it's been withdrawn, and a final notice that my account has been credited. My bank is very good to call if anything looks unusual, and the one time I had to stop something I had no problem. I sometimes worried that my bank account would be available but truthfully, every time you write a check or make a charge someone - many someones - has access to your information. My bank and the ccs I use have protection on them in case of fraud. Our gasoline card will call if there are unusual charges ( we once rented a diesel truck) and one of my credit card called a few years ago to check some charges - they were car service and hotels in London. She said, I didn't think you would suddenly be making charges in London, LOL. If I do plan a large debit, like several thousand to the dentist for my husband, I simply call the bank and let them know so there is no question. Once or twice Amazon has placed a temporary hold till they check with me - especially if it's something out of line with my normal charges - like when I accidentally ordered two washing machines online, instead of one. Like Paul, I keep track online and schedule the payments for the month, then note them in my own ledger once they've been paid. I do still get paper statements so I can double check all the transactions, and we have a locking mailbox.
The biggest problem I ever had was when I paid my last 2018 quarterly IRS payment online. I got a letter saying I hadn't paid it, but I had the confirmation #. Took a long time but they found it. It had been credited to my name & SS# only - for 2019 taxes. They told me next time to always use my husbands name and SS# when I paid online. If everything has to be in my husbands name I wish I was brave enough not to pay taxes on my own income and see what they do,