Why Treating Savings Like a Monthly Bill That Pays You Back Can Make You Rich

Don’t you hate paying bills?! Absolutely, but they’re usually the first thing that gets paid at the first of the month, right.

At the same time, everyone wishes they were rich, but only a few are. As a matter of fact, according to Bankrate.com, a well-known financial publication, about 57% of Americans feel behind in saving for retirement, not to mention have enough to get through one month of emergency if they lose their job.

Today, I’m going to show you a mind trick that can flip the script and make you rich!

We’re going to talk about something that could absolutely transform your financial future.

 

Here’s the question I want you to ask yourself:

What if your savings were just another bill—but one that pays you back with interest, peace of mind, and long-term freedom?

Stay with me today, because we’re going to unpack this powerful mindset shift, look at some real numbers, and explore how adopting this habit can put you on the path to early retirement, financial independence, and the ability to handle life’s unexpected twists with confidence.

 

The Bill-Paying Mindset

Let’s start with something we all know too well—monthly bills.

The rent, the electric, the internet, the phone plan, streaming services, car notes, credit cards. Every single month, money flows out. And you know what we do?

We pay them—on time—like clockwork. We may not like them, but we pay them because we have to.

Now here’s the catch: Most of us treat savings as optional—something we’ll do after we cover our bills. But what happens? By the end of the month, there’s usually nothing left to save. And so the cycle repeats.

But what if we flipped that mindset?

What if we treated savings like a monthly bill—non-negotiable, automatic, a fixed cost of living?

That simple shift in mindset could be the difference between living paycheck to paycheck and retiring early with peace of mind.

 

The Savings-as-a-Bill Strategy

Let’s talk about the practical side of this idea. Imagine you add a new line item to your monthly budget. You label it: “Savings – $400/month.” Just like your car payment or rent, you treat this as something that must be paid—every single month.

Let’s say you put that $400 into a retirement account, or a brokerage account with a target return of 7% annually.

You might be thinking—”Well, that’s not a huge return.” But 7% is the long-term average annual return of the stock market when adjusted for inflation.

Now let’s compare two people over 20 years:

 

The Math—$400 Monthly Bill vs. $400 Savings

Let’s take Person A—they pay a recurring monthly bill of $400 for something like a car lease, upgraded phone service, or revolving credit card debt. Over 20 years, they’ll spend:

• $400/month x 12 months x 20 years = $96,000

And what do they have to show for it?
In most cases, nothing. Maybe a depreciated car. Maybe interest paid to a credit card company. That money’s gone.

Now take Person B—they put $400/month into an investment account with a 7% average return. What happens?

Using a basic compound interest formula:

• After 20 years, their $400/month grows to about $208,000.

Yes—you heard that right. They only contributed $96,000—the same as Person A—but the growth turned it into over $200K. That’s the power of compound interest.

So, the same $400—treated differently—creates very different futures.

 

Let’s Make It Real

Let’s take this even further.

• Want to buy a house someday? Your $400/month savings could become your down payment in just a few years.
• Need an emergency fund? Six months of living expenses saved automatically can give you breathing room during job transitions or medical emergencies.
• Want to retire early or reduce your work hours later in life? That $208,000 might be the difference between freedom and having to work until 70.

Let’s say you start at age 30. By age 50, you’ve got options. You’re not desperate for a paycheck. You’re not maxing out your credit cards. You’re not begging for raises or stuck in toxic work environments.

You’ve built a cushion that gives you freedom of choice.

 

Common Objections—and How to Beat Them

Now I know some of you are thinking,
“Doug, I barely make ends meet—how am I supposed to save $400 a month?”

Here’s the thing:

• You might not start at $400.
• Maybe you start with $50 or $100.
• The point is to start—and to treat it like a bill. Non-negotiable.

Every time you get a raise, bump up the amount. Cut back one bill that doesn’t bring you lasting value—like cable or excess takeout—and reallocate it to your “savings bill.”

It’s not about perfection. It’s about momentum.

 

Automation = Liberation

Here’s one of the best strategies:
Automate your savings just like your bills. Set up an automatic transfer on payday. When you don’t see the money, you don’t spend it.

This is how wealthy people think. They pay themselves first.

And once saving becomes a habit, your mind adjusts. You stop feeling deprived and start feeling empowered.

 

Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Let’s wrap this up.

Here’s the truth: Bills take from you.
Savings gives to you.

The difference is in how you treat them.

So, starting today, I challenge you to:

1. Create a “savings bill” and assign it a dollar amount.
2. Automate it. Make it non-negotiable.
3. Track it. Watch it grow over time. Feel the progress.
4. Celebrate it. Every dollar saved is a seed planted for your future self.

Because one day, you’ll be grateful you started now—even if it felt small at first.

 

Action Steps for Listeners

If you’ve been laid off, are rethinking your financial future, or just want to take back control of your money—this is one of the best habits you can start today.

Try this:
Open a separate savings or brokerage account and title it “Future Me.”
Set up a recurring monthly transfer—even if it’s $25.
Then increase it every few months. Watch what happens.

Because when you start treating savings like a bill—your future starts treating you with financial rewards.

 

That’s all for today’s article of Life by Design 360. And if you found today’s article helpful, share it with a friend. You never know who needs to hear this right now.

Tomorrow, I’m going to show you simple strategies to build a side hack into an income you can’t ever be fired from. Imagine, it’s your third week 5^th week of vacation and you’re not worried about going back to the office because you know your income is on automatic.

Sound crazy? It’s not. You just need the Blueprint to do it.

And I’ll show you how.

Also, be sure to watch out for openings in the LifeByDesign360 Insider Academy and Community. There we’re building every resource possible to help you create an income you can’t ever be fired from with an amazing business of your own as well as a new and growing community dedicated to success.

Until next time, I’m Doug Reed reminding you—don’t just pay bills. Pay yourself.

You’re not just surviving—you’re designing your life. Take care, and talk to you soon.