How can I get ahead of the bills?

IMHO the first thing you have to do is make a budget. I like to use a spreadsheet. Create a number of categories like: housing expenses, utilities, groceries, transportation, entertainment, etc. For a few months write down every penny you spend in each category; this is called your baseline. Once you have this create a budget of how much you plan to spend in each category. Every month compare what you plan to spend, how much you actually spend, and the difference.

When I was your age I discovered that ordering out for pizza every day for lunch at work will eating up 25% of my income! I started to eat cheaper meals or bring my own lunch. I had an old car that was breaking down every month and I figured out that for what I was spending keeping the clunker going I could afford a more dependable car.

The key to getting ahead is to live below your means.