Blog / Reminders

Set up payment reminders: never miss a charge again

By Horizon Labs · October 24, 2026 · 4 min read

Most payments aren't forgotten because they are unimportant, but because they come irregularly. A reminder before the charge takes the remembering off your mind and gives you enough time to check your account or still cancel.

Why a reminder beats a good intention

If you try to remember payment dates, you rely on your memory. That works for rent on the 1st, but not for the insurance that is charged once a year. If a charge goes through while your account isn't covered, it can cost fees. And a subscription that renews without notice costs you another year before you notice.

Which payments deserve a reminder

Not every payment needs one. It is most useful for these:

• Yearly fees and insurance that are charged only once a year
• Subscriptions with a notice period, such as magazines, software or a gym
• Larger amounts where your account must be covered
• Payments of varying amounts where you want to check the amount beforehand

For rent on the 1st, which you never forget anyway, you don't need one.

How many days in advance should the reminder come?

That depends on the purpose:

• Monthly payments: one to three days before, so you can still top up your account
• Yearly fees and insurance: two to four weeks before, so you can compare or cancel
• Subscriptions with a notice period: the notice period plus a few days of buffer

Count the notice period backwards from the date the contract renews. If the contract says "cancellation four weeks before the end of the term", set the reminder five weeks before the end.

How to make the reminder useful

• Write in the note what it is about, such as the provider or the contract number. The notification shows it to you.
• Check your balance and the amount right when you are reminded.
• For every yearly fee, ask yourself whether you still need what you pay for.

How to set up reminders in MoniCal

Create the payment as an entry in the calendar and switch on "Reminder" for the entry. Then choose how many days in advance you want to be reminded, from 1 to 60 days. The reminder arrives as a notification at 9 a.m. It shows the note or the category, the amount and the date, for example "Netflix: −$12.99 on 07/22/2026". For recurring entries, the reminder applies to every repetition. For MoniCal to remind you, you need to allow notifications in iOS Settings. You can use reminders for up to 3 payments for free, and without limits with Pro.

Frequently asked questions

Do reminders work without internet?

Yes. Reminders are scheduled on your iPhone and arrive without an internet connection. No data is sent to a server.

I'm not getting a reminder. What could be the reason?

Check in iOS Settings under Notifications whether MoniCal is allowed to send notifications and whether a Focus mode is silencing them. Also, the entry must be in the future and the reminder must be switched on.

How early can I be reminded?

Up to 60 days before the payment. That also works for yearly fees with a long notice period.