Bills, Bills, Bills: Staying on Top of Your Monthly Payments

Adulting comes with a lot of questions, and more often than not, we have to figure out the answers on our own. The million-peso questions we lose sleep over? (Riffing off from a Destiny’s Child song:) “Can you pay your bills? Can you pay your telephone bills? Can you pay your automo’bills?” 

If your answer is no or not yet, you’re not alone. Staying on top of monthly bills can be overwhelming at first especially when you’re juggling work, savings goals, and well, life. But the good news? With the right tools and habits, it doesn’t have to eat you alive. 

To help us navigate the world of effectively managing our bills like a pro, we spoke to Angelo Balajadia, BPI Preferred Brand Manager and long-time financial planner. And if there’s anyone who knows the pressure of keeping it all together, it’s him.  

Angelo could easily be the poster boy for adulting. During the pandemic, he got married, bought a home, and prepared to welcome his first child all while transitioning out of a 12-year job and into a new role. It was a season of major life decisions for him, all stacked on top of each other. 

Despite the whirlwind of changes, Gelo stayed grounded, thanks to his sound financial instincts. Here’s how he does it:

Build a routine (and stick to it)

Angelo’s approach is simple yet powerful: automation. 

“For fixed billings like phone and internet, I schedule them through the BPI app as monthly recurring payments, set to go out 10 days before the due date,” he shares. 

He sets these payments once a year, and the app handles the rest. That means no more guessing due date, missed payments, and unnecessary stress of suddenly remembering there’s even payments to be made. 

Use tools that reward you

Who says paying bills has to be stressful and can only mean farewell to your hard-earned money? With the right strategy, it can actually be rewarding. 

This is what Angelo did. He makes his payment using a credit card, not to delay payment, but to earn points and pay in full. 

Using your card wisely: paying early (10 days ahead of cutoff) and in full, you not only rack up points but also maximize the card’s grace period and build a solid credit score. 

Always pay early — not just on time

According to Angelo, paying early isn’t just responsible, it’s strategic. “Once I receive a billing statement, I schedule the payment within 3 days, usually 10 days before the actual due date,” he explains. 

This is so you can catch any technical hiccups, failed transactions and unexpected changes within that 10-day window. Pro tip: Paying early also helps avoid the illusion that you still have more money to spend than you actually do.

Make your bills pay themselves

It can be really stressful to manage several expenses, especially if you've never done it before. You believe you're in control of everything, but you're not until you forget something.  

That’s why Angelo advises to take advantage of mobile banking features to automate your bill payments. Most apps today let you schedule payments, get reminders, and view your upcoming dues all in one dashboard. Once it’s set, it pretty much runs on autopilot. The heavy lifting only happens with setting it up, then you’re good to go. 

No one taught us how to effectively manage bills in the four corners of our room. But it doesn’t have to be hard. With tools like the BPI app, staying on top of due dates is easier than ever. Managing bills isn’t just about avoiding late fees, it’s about creating a breathing room for both your money and your mind. 

Want more real tips for smart adulting? Visit The Program by NEXT to help you reach your next big financial milestone.