In short
- One list: what you pay, how much and when it's due.
- Each bill comes out of a specific paycheck, so you know what's left of each.
- Annual bills get divided by 12 and set aside monthly.
- A reminder a few days ahead saves you the late fee.
How to track your bills in four steps
- List everything. Go through three months of statements and write down what repeats: rent, utilities, phone, subscriptions and loan or card payments.
- Add the due date. If the amount changes, like electricity, use the average.
- Match each bill to a paycheck. Paid twice a month? Bills due the 1st to the 14th come out of the end-of-month check; the 15th to the 29th, out of the mid-month one.
- Set aside annual bills. Car insurance or a yearly membership gets divided by 12 and goes on the list.
An example with two paychecks
Emma gets $1,600 on the 15th and $1,600 on the last day of the month. Her bills:
| Bill | Due | Amount | Paid from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | 1st | $1,100 | End-of-month check |
| Phone | 5th | $45 | End-of-month check |
| Internet | 10th | $60 | End-of-month check |
| Gym | 12th | $35 | End-of-month check |
| Electric and water | 18th | $90 | Mid-month check |
| Credit card payment | 25th | $220 | Mid-month check |
| Car insurance ($600 a year) | Set aside | $50 | Mid-month check |
The end-of-month check covers $1,240 in bills, leaving $360 to live on for the first half of the month. The mid-month check covers $360, leaving $1,240. Her bills total $1,600, half of what she makes.
That's why the first half of her month feels tight: she can ask to move her card's due date or carry money over from the mid-month check. For the rest of the month, see how to make a monthly budget.
Do it in Divall
With DivMe, your month in Divall:
- Add each fixed bill with its amount and due date.
- A red number flags the ones due in 3 days or already past due.
- The end-of-month projection shows what's left after your bills.
DivMe doesn't connect to your bank or pay anything: you pay, then log it. Logging your monthly income and spending is free; fixed bills with alerts are part of Divall Pro. Divall is free to start: with DivMe you can set up your bill list in a few minutes.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as a fixed bill?
Anything you pay every month for about the same amount on a known date: rent, utilities, phone, internet, subscriptions and loan payments. Groceries and eating out are variable, even if they happen every week.
How much of my income should go to bills?
There's no number that works for everyone. What helps is knowing how much each paycheck has left after bills; if it's close to nothing, start with the bills you can lower or cancel.