What do I do with large, infrequent bills like annual subscriptions?

A large, infrequent bill is one that costs a lot and does not come every month. By large, we mean big enough that paying it all at once would put a dent in your Bills pouch. By infrequent, we mean it shows up less often than monthly, like every few months, twice a year, or once a year. An annual subscription is a good example.

You have two options for handling these types of bills:

Keeping it in your Bills pouch

Add it as a bill item. Roo then sets aside a share of it every month. A $1,200 yearly bill adds $100 a month to your Bills pouch, and that money builds up until the bill is due.

The catch is that this build-up can look like extra money. Your Bills pouch might hold several hundred dollars more than this month’s bills need. If you aren’t expecting that, it’s easy to spend it on something else and come up short when the big bill arrives.

Setting the bill’s How Often (Every Other Month, Quarterly, Every 6 Months, or Yearly) and Next Due Date helps. The Bill Tracker then lists it under Due later until it’s coming up, so you can see what that money is waiting for.

Giving it its own pouch

This is why some people prefer a custom pouch for each large bill. You still put in a small amount each month, but the money sits on its own with a clear name, so it never looks like spare cash. It also keeps your Bills pouch steady from month to month instead of one big bill emptying it. The tradeoff is that the Bill Tracker only follows bills in your Bills pouch, so it won’t show this one’s due date.

Which to choose

Either works. Pick the one that makes it easiest to leave that money alone until the bill is due.

When you first set up your pouches, plan ahead for these bills. Give each pouch a starting amount so the money is ready by the due date.