headshot of Marguerita M. Cheng, CFP
  • Written By
    Marguerita M. Cheng, CFP®, CRPC®, RICP®

    Marguerita M. Cheng, CFP®, CRPC®, RICP®

    Expert Contributor

    Marguerita M. Cheng, CFP®, CRPC®, RICP®, is the chief executive officer at Blue Ocean Global Wealth. As a CFP Board of Standards Ambassador, Marguerita educates the public, policymakers and media about the benefits of competent and ethical financial planning. She is a past spokesperson for the AARP Financial Freedom campaign.

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  • Edited By
    Savannah Hanson
    Savannah Hanson, financial editor for Annuity.org

    Savannah Hanson

    Senior Financial Editor

    Savannah Hanson is an accomplished writer, editor and content marketer. She joined Annuity.org as a financial editor in 2021 and uses her passion for educating readers on complex topics to guide visitors toward the path of financial literacy.

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  • Published: July 27, 2022
  • 3 min read time
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How to Cite Annuity.org's Article

APA Cheng, M. M. (2023, May 28). Which Bills Should You Pay First? Annuity.org. Retrieved June 8, 2023, from https://www.annuity.org/2022/07/27/which-bills-should-you-pay-first/

MLA Cheng, Marguerita M. "Which Bills Should You Pay First?" Annuity.org, 28 May 2023, https://www.annuity.org/2022/07/27/which-bills-should-you-pay-first/.

Chicago Cheng, Marguerita M. "Which Bills Should You Pay First?" Annuity.org. Last modified May 28, 2023. https://www.annuity.org/2022/07/27/which-bills-should-you-pay-first/.

The past few years have brought financial turmoil to millions of Americans. A turbulent economic climate has resulted in many households having their income reduced or losing income entirely. When this happens, it can be hard to know how to prioritize expenses if you can’t afford to pay for everything. If someone is experiencing a reduction in income or loss of income, here is what I suggest.

Set a Money Date

Set a money date with yourself or with your spouse or partner. It’s important to take inventory of your income and expenses to truly understand what you can afford and what you need to pay for. These conversations can be very difficult, but if you set aside time to deal with it, the process is less overwhelming or stressful.

A money date can help you cover the most important themes of your household finances, including cash flow, outstanding debts and savings goals. Make sure you go over any big bills or expenses that are coming up in the next few weeks or months.

This is also a good time to discuss each person’s priorities and values regarding finances. By laying out your collective and individual priorities, you can make a budget that everyone is happy with. This makes sticking to that budget more sustainable.

Consider the Consequences of Not Paying

A simple way to decide which bills should be paid first is to weigh the consequences of not paying each bill. The more severe the consequences of non-payment will be, the bigger the priority it is to pay that bill.

Prioritizing Expenses

Family NecessitiesThese include basic food and unavoidable health care expenses. Try to keep these expenses to a minimum, but prioritize paying for basic health and safety needs.
Rent or MortgageNot paying your rent can result in eviction or damage your credit. If you are a homeowner, you can end up in foreclosure if you don’t pay your mortgage. Always assume that your landlord or mortgage lender will proceed with eviction or foreclosure if you do not pay.
UtilitiesIf you fall behind on utilities payments, you could find yourself without electricity or running water. Many companies will allow you to make a minimum payment to avoid disconnection if you can’t pay the full bill.
Car PaymentsIf you need your car to continue working, making the payments on that lease or loan should be your next priority. In most states, it’s illegal not to have auto liability coverage, so make sure you keep up with insurance payments, too, if you live in one of those states.
Child SupportYou can end up in jail if you don’t pay child support, so making that payment is imperative. This is another situation where you may have the option to make partial payments if you can’t afford the full amount, which is why it’s prioritized further down the list.

If there are some bills you simply can’t pay, it’s important to be proactive. For example, you certainly don’t want your phone turned off. Contact your provider and ask if you can split the bill. And if you’re falling behind on rent or mortgage payments, contact your local housing counselor or rental assistance program to ask for help.

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Last Modified: May 28, 2023
headshot of Marguerita M. Cheng, CFP
Written By
Marguerita M. Cheng, CFP®, CRPC®, RICP®Expert Contributor
Marguerita M. Cheng is the CEO of Blue Ocean Global Wealth and a financial professional with multiple certifications, including Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC®), Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP®) and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®). She is a member of the Board of Directors for the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., and has served on the Financial Planning Association National Board of Directors.
  • Named amongst the Top 100 Influential Financial Advisors on Investopedia
  • Recipient of the American College Center for Women in Financial Services' Women Working in Wealth Award, 2022
  • Member of the CNBC Digital Financial Advisor Council
Edited By
Savannah Hanson, financial editor for Annuity.org
Savannah HansonSenior Financial Editor