Illustration: Kagan McLeod

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Alexa Von Tobel, Founder of the Personal Finance Web Site LearnVest.com
Do This Now: Electronic bills are great—unless they're lost in a crowded in-box. Set up a separate e-mail account (e.g., alexabills@gmail.com) to keep your e-bills orderly.

Do This Soon: Step back and look at the big picture. Fifty percent of your take-home pay should be allocated for essentials, 20 percent should go toward savings and debt, and 30 percent can cover everything else.