I pay myself first with 10% in savings, 10% in tax savings and then I tithe… the rest goes to life.

After my bills are paid, any remaining funds are saved to go toward the next month's bills. Once I know the next month's bills will be covered I can think about savings, the IRA or the HSA. Of course, that's always the time that something major breaks – not counting the new roof, gutters and siding, I've had more repair costs this year than any other. I'm constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop, appliance-wise.

The one big payment priority I'd add to your list is: health insurance. My insurance company takes my premium from my checking account on or after the 10th of each much, so on the first of the month I subtract the amount from my checking ledger and forget about it.

Back to the taxes…I like the idea of paying as the money comes in by or making additional payments. I didn't even know it was possible, or that one could pay electronically (other than for payments made when filing electronically). I need to look into that because two of the four quarterly payments happen to be the same months (June & September) when my property taxes are due. And having the property tax installments so close together doesn't give much time to save up.

I need to sock away the savings and IRA stuff again, and I'm putting aside money for the new computer I'll need next year.

However, the first order of business is making sure the bills are paid, and the other stuff has to happen AFTER.