What To Eliminate First: The 20 Days of Monthly Work Dedicated to Covering Your Bills

The uncomfortable truth? Americans dedicate roughly the first 20 days of each working month—approximately 480 hours—purely to covering essential expenses, leaving little room for savings or enjoyment. According to Advance America’s research, this harsh reality shifts dramatically by geography: some states see bills consuming nearly half the month’s earnings, while others require fewer than seven days of work to settle obligations.

The real culprits behind this squeeze are predictable yet relentless: childcare, groceries, medical bills, rent or mortgage payments, internet, phone services, utilities, and transportation costs. As Laura McCutcheon from Advance America notes, “Groceries and energy expenses represent the heaviest burden, regardless of location.”

Which Expenses Are People Actually Cutting?

When survey participants were asked which costs they’d slash to free up $1,000 monthly, patterns emerged around behavior vs. necessity:

Dining Out Takes the Biggest Hit

Restaurant and takeout spending jumped 3.7% year-over-year this September, significantly outpacing inflation in many categories. Nearly half of those surveyed (47%) identified this as their first target for reduction. The logic is straightforward: cutting restaurant visits directly frees up cash without requiring lifestyle restructuring.

Entertainment and Streaming Are Next

The average American commits $69 monthly to streaming services alone. Layer in movie tickets, concerts, and events, and entertainment becomes a substantial discretionary line item. Over one-quarter (26%) said they’d trim this category to reach their $1,000 savings goal.

Travel and Transportation

Fuel prices climbed 4.1% annually according to recent data. Fifteen percent of respondents indicated they’d reduce leisure driving and skip vacations. Yet herein lies a critical distinction: cutting vacation spending is easier than reducing work-related commutes or necessary errands, creating a ceiling on how much this category can genuinely shrink for families operating paycheck-to-paycheck.

The Stubborn Expenses Nobody Cuts

Interestingly, survey responses revealed psychological resistance to cutting certain items, despite their cost burden:

Groceries Remain Untouchable

Despite 56% reporting that food costs have spiraled out of control over the past year, only 8% would consider switching grocery brands or reducing food purchases. The reasoning is simple: eating isn’t optional. Families prioritize nutrition over savings, treating this category as non-negotiable even when prices sting.

Utilities Rarely Get Touched

Only 4% of respondents would adjust heating, cooling, or electricity usage to reduce utility bills. People find it easier to skip entertainment than to lower home comfort, though many remain unaware of efficiency upgrades—better insulation, doors, and windows—that could lower bills without sacrificing comfort.

The Real Story: 20 Days Means Less Freedom

The core takeaway? For the first 20 days of each month, workers are essentially on auto-pilot: their income is already spoken for before they can breathe. The choices available for cutting expenses cluster around discretionary spending—dining out, streaming, entertainment, travel—while true essentials like food and utilities remain psychologically protected despite their cost.

For those looking to reclaim those 20 days and redirect income toward savings or goals beyond survival, the most realistic path involves trimming leisure expenses first, then exploring longer-term solutions like utility efficiency upgrades. The uncomfortable math? Until essential costs stabilize, that first three weeks of work will keep feeling like they belong to your landlord, not your dreams.