pays the bills
Covers the expenses
Pays the bills describes work or income that covers essential living expenses, often without being glamorous or fulfilling.
The phrase typically characterizes a job someone takes primarily for financial necessity rather than passion: It's not my dream career, but it pays the bills.
By extension, anything that pays the bills generates enough revenue to keep an operation viable, even if it lacks prestige or excitement.
- livelihoodMeans of earning income
- incomeRegular monetary receipts
- careerLifelong occupational pursuit
- jobPaid position of employment
- nine to fiveStandard workday timeframe
steady paycheck · salary · employment · wages · hustle culture · occupation · work · freelance · moneymaker · gig economy · day job · mortgage · utilities · groceries · breadwinner · putting food on the table · rental income · making ends meet
pays the billspassion project
Self-motivated creative undertaking
labor of love · dream job · calling · vanity project · life's work
pays the billsmoney pit
Endlessly expensive undertaking
breaks the bank · financial burden · costs an arm and a leg · unpaid · unprofitable
pays the billsleisure activity
Pursuit during free time
for fun · luxury · recreation · play · optional
pays, paying, payable, payer, payment, payee, repayment, unpaid, bill