Are you ready to make your budget bulletproof? 🚀 Today, we’re diving into all the must-have monthly bills to include in your budget. This way, you won’t miss a thing and your bills account will be spot on! We’ll also clear up the confusion between bills and spending. Let’s get started! 💪

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What Exactly is a Bill? 🤔

A bill is a recurring expense that you must pay regularly. It’s not a one-time expense or something flexible like groceries. These are fixed, expected expenses that hit your account like clockwork. Let’s dive into the top 21 bills you need to remember!

1. Tithe 🙏
   • Typically 10% of your income.
   • Though it’s not a bill per se, it behaves like one as it’s a regular, fixed amount.
   • Make it the first thing you budget for each month to follow the spirit of giving and to ensure it doesn’t get overlooked.
2. Mortgage/Rent 🏠
   • A huge part of your budget, whether you’re renting or paying a mortgage.
   • If you’re close to paying off your mortgage, you might consider moving it to the debt column.
3. Association Dues 🏢
   • Monthly fees for Homeowner’s Associations (HOA) or other community dues.
   • Pro Tip: If you pay annually, save a bit each month in a dedicated savings bucket.
4. Electricity 💡
   • Compare bills from different seasons to adjust your budget as needed.
5. Gas (for your home) 🔥
   • Different from transportation gas (that goes in spending, not bills).
6. Water, Sewer, Trash 🚰
   • Sometimes these are combined into one bill. Sometimes they’re billed quarterly rather than monthly.
   • If billed quarterly, divide by three to get a monthly figure for your budget.
7. Cell Phone 📱
   • This can include your service plan and any device payment plans.
   • If you have cell phone debt (e.g., financing a new phone), you can list the debt repayment separately in the debt column. The service fee remains in the bills column.
   • If you pay for your kids’ or family members’ phones, consider having them contribute to the cost to teach them budgeting skills.
8. Internet & Cable 🌐📺
   • Often bundled, this is a must-have for most households.
   • If you still have cable, compare costs to streaming services to see if you can save money.
   • Sometimes your bill slowly climbs up. Consider calling to request a better rate.
9. Life Insurance
   • Protects your loved ones financially if something happens to you. Regularly review your policy to ensure you’re not overpaying.
10. Health Insurance
    • Essential for covering medical expenses. If you’re not covered by an employer, make sure to include this in your budget.
11. Auto Insurance
    • Legally required in most places. Shop around periodically to get the best rates.
    • Regularly review your policies to ensure you’re not overpaying for coverage you don’t need.
    • Consider when you might move from paying monthly to annually if it saves you money.
12. Renter’s Insurance
    • Covers your belongings in a rental property. Often bundled with auto insurance for discounts.
    • Regularly review your policies to ensure you’re not overpaying for coverage you don’t need.
    • Consider when you might move from paying monthly to annually if it saves you money.
13. Professional Development/Coaching 📚
    • Any recurring expenses for coaching or professional development.
    • This could include online courses, workshops, or personal coaching sessions.
14. Annual Bills 📆
    • Property taxes, memberships, and vehicle registrations. Break these down into monthly savings to avoid lump-sum payments.
    • List them separately in the savings bucket tracker, then total the amounts and divide by 12 to save monthly in a dedicated savings bucket called Annual Bills.
15. Tuition 🎓
    • Whether it’s for private school, college, or adult education.
    • If you pay monthly, include it in your regular budget. For lump-sum payments, use a savings bucket approach.
16. Childcare 🍼
    • Daycare or after-school programs. Don’t forget this critical monthly expense!
    • Make sure to account for seasonal variations if your childcare costs change during school holidays.
17. Sports & Activities ⚽
    • Monthly fees for your kids’ extracurricular activities like gymnastics, karate, or swimming.
    • Might also include Music Lessons 🎶! Regular fees for piano, guitar, or other music lessons.
    • Include regular monthly fees and any associated costs like uniforms or equipment.
18. Security System 🔐
    • ADT, Ring, or any other home security services.
    • If you’re on a contract, ensure you’re budgeting correctly for any renewal fees or equipment costs.
19. Lawn Service & House Cleaning 🌿🧹
    • Regular maintenance to keep your home in tip-top shape. If you pay cash, you can put it in spending.
    • If they bill you, it goes under the bills column and comes out of the bills account.
20. Tolls 🚗
    • If you commute through toll roads, budget for this recurring expense.
21. Prescriptions 💊
    • Monthly or quarterly medication costs.

BONUS: 21 Subscriptions 📦

When you’re setting up your bills in the budget, you don’t want to forget all the subscriptions you (or your family) has signed up for!

1. Netflix
2. Hulu
3. Amazon Prime
4. Disney+
5. HBO Max
6. Peacock
7. Crunchyroll
8. YouTube TV
9. Spotify
10. Apple Music
11. Audible
12. Kindle Unlimited
13. Peloton
14. Beachbody
15. Amazon Kids
16. Microsoft 36
17. ChatGPT
18. Xbox Live
19. Games like World of Warcraft
20. Cloud Storage (Google Drive, Apple iCloud, Dropbox)
21. Carwash

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We hope this comprehensive list helps you organize your monthly bills and keep your budget in check. Remember, budgeting is all about being proactive and staying on top of your finances. With these tips, you’ll be well on your way to mastering your monthly expenses and achieving financial peace of mind. You’ve got this, Budget Bestie! 💖

Action Items:

1. List Your Bills: Write down all your recurring monthly bills using the categories provided.
2. Create a Budget: Use our One Page Budget Template or our amazing Signature Budget Template to help you plan income, debt, bills, spending and savings!
3. Set Up a Bills Account: Open a dedicated bills account to manage and pay all your bills from one place.
4. Set Up Savings Buckets: For annual bills, calculate the monthly amount needed and set up a savings bucket.
5. Review and Adjust: Regularly review your bills and subscriptions to ensure you’re not overpaying and that everything is up to date.
6. Consolidate Accounts: If you have bills spread across multiple accounts, consider consolidating them for easier tracking.

Got any more bills we missed? Share them in the comments below! ✍️

Book Your Free Call Now!

We are excited to create the time & space to talk to you about your current money situation. This is a free, no-obligation call where we can answer questions you may have and maybe find some quick wins for your budget.

What do you have to lose?

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