Getting a month ahead on your bills can seem daunting, especially if you’ve been living paycheck to paycheck.
However, it’s an achievable goal that can offer you a sense of financial security and freedom.
By taking control of your finances and implementing some effective strategies, you can work towards having a buffer to cover your upcoming expenses and no longer feel the financial anxiety that comes with living hand to mouth.
What Does Getting a Month Ahead Actually Mean?
Getting a month ahead on bills means having enough money saved up to cover your financial obligations for the following month without relying on your current paycheck.
You are living on last month’s income.
When you achieve this goal, you can break free from the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle and enjoy more financial stability.
How to Actually Get a Month Ahead on Bills
Getting one month ahead means you’re using this month’s income to pay next month’s bills.
That creates breathing room, reduces stress, and helps you control your finances.
Here’s how to actually do it:
1. Assess Your Financial Situation
Before you can get ahead, you need to know what “a month ahead” really looks like for you.
- List all your monthly expenses: Rent/mortgage, utilities, groceries, insurance, phone, debt payments, subscriptions—everything.
- Add them up: This total is your one-month savings goal. For example, if your total monthly expenses are $3,000, your goal is to have $3,000 saved.
- Know your income: Add up all reliable sources—your job, side hustles, government support, etc.
Action Tip: Use a spreadsheet or budgeting app (like YNAB, EveryDollar, or a free Google Sheet) to visualize this clearly.
2. Create a Zero-Based Budget
This budgeting method ensures every dollar has a job.
What It Means: A zero-based budget gives every dollar a job. Income – Expenses = $0. This doesn’t mean spending every dollar—it means you’ve assigned it, whether to bills, debt, or savings.
- Assign your income: Cover necessities first (housing, food, bills), then assign what’s left to savings or debt.
- Cut unnecessary expenses: Temporarily reduce spending on dining out, subscriptions, shopping, or entertainment until you hit your goal.
- Track every expense: Know where your money is actually going.
Action Tip: Review the last 2–3 months of bank transactions to spot recurring payments you might have forgotten about.
3. Increase Your Income (Even Temporarily)
Boosting your income can speed up your progress.
- Sell Unused Items: Look around your home—old phones, unused furniture, clothing. Sell on Facebook Marketplace, Trade Me, or local buy/sell groups.
- Freelance or Gig Work: Use platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, TaskRabbit, or even food delivery apps for side income.
- Ask for Overtime or Take a Temp Job: Even short-term boosts in income can help you hit your savings goal faster.
Tip: Funnel 100% of extra income into your “get ahead” savings.
4. Automate Your Savings
Don’t rely on willpower—make saving frictionless.
- Set up an automatic transfer: Right after payday, move a fixed amount into a separate savings account just for next month’s bills.
- Treat savings like a non-negotiable bill: This builds the habit and ensures consistency.
- Use windfalls wisely: Tax refunds, bonuses, or gifts can fast-track your goal. Don’t spend them—save them.
Action Tip: Rename your savings account to something motivating, like “Next Month’s Bills” or “Get Ahead Fund.”
5. Maintain the Buffer and Adjust as Needed
Once you’re ahead, protect that progress.
- Review Your Budget Monthly: Life changes—make sure your budget reflects it. Update for any new bills or income changes.
- Resist Lifestyle Creep: It’s tempting to increase spending as income grows. Instead, maintain your expenses and put the surplus toward staying ahead.
- Plan for Annual and Irregular Bills: Set aside money monthly for things like insurance renewals, school fees, or holidays so they don’t derail your progress.
Action Tip: Once you’re consistently a month ahead, aim for a two-month cushion to reduce financial anxiety even further.
If you’d like a checklist to work through the steps above, download a PDF version here or save the image below.
Final Tip: Treat Getting a Month Ahead Like a Short-Term Mission
It may take a few months of effort, but once you hit that goal, everything feels easier.
You’re no longer using this week’s paycheck to cover last week’s bills.
Instead, you’re continually operating from a place of financial breathing room.
