Why did my balance change when I paid a bill?
The Bills section tracks what remains unpaid. Other expenses records costs you want included regardless of payment status.
One bill, two different questions
“What do I still owe?” and “What did this month cost?” are different questions. AfterEMI’s bill statuses answer the first. A Pending or Overdue bill reduces money left; a Paid bill does not. That behaviour is part of the original calculator.
| Action on a ₹950 bill | Effect on outflow |
|---|---|
| Pending → Overdue | No change: ₹950 still counts |
| Pending → Paid | Outflow decreases by ₹950 |
| Add ₹950 to expenses after marking Paid | Outflow increases by ₹950 again |
A worked payment example
The sample dashboard shows ₹6,851 left with an unpaid electricity bill of ₹950. Marking that bill Paid changes the displayed amount left to ₹7,801. This does not mean you received ₹950. It means the bill is no longer included as money still owed.
If you are keeping a complete monthly spending plan, record ₹950 under Other expenses after marking the bill Paid. Money left returns to ₹6,851. The paid bill can remain as a reminder of its status, because Paid entries are excluded from outflow.
Avoid the duplicate-entry trap
Do not leave that ₹950 bill Pending while also adding the same payment under expenses. Both would count, overstating outflow by ₹950. Likewise, if rent is already in Other expenses, adding it again as a Pending bill reduces the result twice.
Use labels that help the next time you open it
“Electricity — September usage” is easier to recognise than “Bill”. Dates are text labels, not scheduled reminders. You must change a status yourself; there is no automatic overdue detection, payment integration or notification.
Money someone owes you is different
Do not put a receivable in Pending bills. The calculator treats every Pending and Overdue entry as an amount you owe and subtracts it. It has no receivables feature. Keep amounts you expect to receive outside this list until you decide how to record the actual income.