Debate: Are mobile payment apps making us careless with our actual bank accounts?

I used to manually check my checking account balance every morning on my bank's website before I even had coffee. Now I just glance at the Venmo or Cash App notification and assume my real balance is fine. Last week I overdrew by $47 because I forgot to account for a pending utility bill from my credit union in Austin. Do you guys still log into your actual bank portal regularly, or do you think apps are enough to keep track?

3 comments

3 Comments

fox.derek10d agoTop Commenter

My buddy Jason in Phoenix just Venmo'd me $20 for pizza and I literally thought I was rich for about 45 seconds until my gas bill auto-paid and reminded me I'm broke. These apps are like putting a sticky note on a leaky pipe and calling it a day. My bank's website is now the thing I only visit when I get a suspicious email about my account being compromised.

william_henderson10d ago

My buddy Kevin in Denver once got a $50 Venmo from his landlord by accident (wrong tenant, I guess) and he spent the next two hours browsing dirt bikes on Craigslist before the guy asked for it back. That brief second of thinking you're flush, then the automatic bill hits, it's like a sucker punch every time. @fox.derek you're spot on about the leaky pipe thing, my bank's app sends me a notification for a $3 coffee but stays silent when my car insurance tries to drain my account. I swear these apps are designed to give you a little high before they remind you why you're checking your balance in the first place.

casey_harris10d ago

Oh man, I've been there too many times. Best move I ever made was setting up a separate checking account just for bills and auto-transferring enough to cover them right when I get paid. Then whatever's left in my regular account is actual fun money, no surprises. @william_henderson is right about that dirt bike thing though, we've all been there.