5 Tips to Always Stay One Month Ahead on Bills

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1. Write Down Your Total Monthly Expenses And Every Bill’s Due Date

You can’t stay ahead of bills if you don’t know when they’re coming.

Think of it like dodging raindrops. You can’t avoid what you can’t see.

Here’s what to include in your list:

• All recurring bills like rent, utilities, phone, internet, and insurance.
  
• Smaller sneaky expenses like subscriptions, streaming services, and app payments.
  
• Exact due dates to avoid last-minute surprises (and late fees).
  

👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Create a simple list on paper or in your notes app and add every bill with its date next to it.

Make It Easy: Get a bill organizer notebook to keep all your due dates and receipts in one place.

2. Save A Full Month Of Expenses In Advance

This is your golden ticket to peace of mind.

Imagine paying next month’s bills with money you already have. It feels like financial freedom, doesn’t it?

Here’s how to start building your one-month buffer:

• Figure out the total amount you need to cover all bills for one month.
  
• Start small. Even $100 a week adds up quicker than you think.
  
• Use a side hustle or bonus money to speed it up instead of spending it.
  

👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Pick one expense category (like groceries or rent) and save that month’s amount first before tackling the rest.

Make It Easy: Open a Betterment Cash Reserve Account to store your one-month buffer and earn extra interest while it sits.

3. Pay Bills From Your “Next Month” Fund

Once you’ve built your buffer, it’s time to use it the smart way.

You’ll be paying this month’s bills with last month’s income, so no more paycheck panic.

Here’s how to make it work smoothly:

• Deposit all your income into a single account for clarity.
  
• Move the next month’s money into a “Bills” account right after payday.
  
• Pay from that account only. Pretend your main checking doesn’t even exist.
  

👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Create a second checking account just for bills and set up direct deposits to it.

Make It Easy: Open a Betterment Debit Account to easily separate your “bills money”.

4. Automate Every Payment You Can

You’ve got better things to do than remember every due date.

Automation makes sure your money moves without you having to lift a finger.

Set it up once and forget about it:

• Auto-pay all fixed bills like rent, car payments, or insurance.
  
• Set calendar reminders for variable bills just in case.
  
• Check once a week to make sure no sneaky charges slipped through.
  

👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Log into each bill’s account once and enable auto-pay. Preferably from your “bills” account.

Make It Easy: Consider a compact desktop calendar to write down recurring due dates for a quick visual reminder.

5. Keep Your Buffer Safe From Impulse Spending

Once you’re ahead, your only job is to stay there.

That means protecting that buffer like it’s your emergency chocolate stash.

Keep your future self happy with these steps:

• Hide your buffer account from your main banking app view.
  
• Give yourself a spending limit each week so you don’t “borrow” from it.
  
• Reward yourself differently. Take a walk or watch your favorite show instead of online shopping.
  

👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Rename your buffer account “Hands Off Money” so you think twice before transferring from it.

Make It Easy: Keep your buffer safe in a Betterment Cash Reserve Account so it earns interest while staying separate from your spending money.

📌 SAVE IT FOR LATER! 📌