You’ve planned your regular bills in PennyGo, but what happens when your electricity costs more than expected or your insurance premium increases?
Bill Watch helps Penny spot possible changes and bring them to your attention, keeping your financial plan more closely aligned with what’s actually happening.
How Bill Watch works
Bill Watch is a PennyGo Plus feature that connects to your Outlook or Microsoft 365 mailbox and looks for likely household bills.
When Penny recognises a bill, she can compare its details with what you’ve already planned.
For example, if your electricity bill is usually $240 but a new bill arrives for $285, Penny may notice the difference and suggest reviewing it.
She can also suggest adding a recurring bill that isn’t in your plan yet.
Nothing changes automatically. Penny brings possible changes to your attention, and you decide whether to update your plan.
That means less time checking bills yourself and more confidence that changes worth reviewing may be noticed.
Getting started
Open Setup → Settings → Bill Watch in PennyGo.
Switch on Turn on Bill Watch.
Connect your Outlook or Microsoft 365 mailbox using Microsoft’s secure sign-in process.
Choose which eligible bills you’d like Penny to watch.
Once enabled and connected, Bill Watch can begin looking for likely bills.
You can change which bills are watched at any time. Eligible new recurring bills may also be selected for watching by default.
When Penny notices something, you’ll receive a suggestion in PennyGo to review.
What about privacy and security?
Your inbox is personal, so Bill Watch is designed to limit what it accesses and retains.
Read-only access: PennyGo cannot send, change or delete your emails.
Selective reading: Bill Watch first checks basic message details to identify likely bills. Only shortlisted emails and supported PDF attachments are considered for closer analysis.
Personal information protection: Before readable bill content is sent for AI analysis, PennyGo removes common personal identifiers, such as names, email addresses, phone numbers and account details. Automated redaction reduces exposure but cannot guarantee every identifier is removed.
Limited storage: Original email bodies and PDF attachments aren’t stored in PennyGo. Temporary bill-checking information is retained for up to 30 days, while changes you confirm become part of your financial plan.
Bill Watch information isn’t sold or used for advertising or AI model training. Connections use security protections, including encryption in transit and protected storage of Microsoft connection credentials.
You’re always in control of whether Bill Watch is active.
Common questions
How do I turn Bill Watch off?
Go to Setup → Settings → Bill Watch and switch off Turn on Bill Watch.
Penny stops checking your mailbox, but your Microsoft connection and individual bill preferences remain saved so you can turn it back on easily.
How do I disconnect my email completely?
In Bill Watch settings, select Disconnect. This removes PennyGo’s stored Microsoft connection and switches off Bill Watch. It doesn’t automatically erase previously retained review information.
Does it work with Gmail?
Not currently. Bill Watch supports Outlook and Microsoft 365 mailboxes.
Does Penny read my entire inbox?
No. Bill Watch screens message details for likely bills and only examines shortlisted messages more closely. Your entire mailbox isn’t sent to AI.
What if my email connection expires?
PennyGo may ask you to reconnect your Microsoft account before Bill Watch can continue checking.
Will Penny automatically update bills or move money?
No. Penny only makes suggestions. You decide what to change, and PennyGo never transfers money on your behalf.
A little less financial housekeeping
Your PennyGo plan helps you prepare for upcoming expenses. Bill Watch adds another pair of eyes to help notice when those expenses change.
You make the plan. Penny helps keep an eye on what changes.
Bill Watch is an optional assistance feature and may not detect every bill or change. Always check important notices and confirm payment details with the original provider.