I'm looking for a proverb in Portuguese that conveys the same. I'm not looking for a translation or an explanation. Literally, it means that the hunter who got paid for the bear's skin, and spent the money, and then couldn't catch any bear, found himself in a very awkward position. I'm looking for a similar proverb meaning that you have to follow a certain chronological order so as not to get in trouble.
3 Answers
In Portuguese, there is:
Não ponhas a carroça à frente dos bois.
which has an English analogue "(don't) put the cart before the horse", and whose meaning is the same.

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A good option to talk about someone in that sitution could be:
Não conte com o ovo no “fiofó”* da galinha.
*"fiofó" is a common substitute(slang) for coarse words that refers to butt
It can be translated to english as something like: "Do not count on the egg in the chicken's butt." and it's used when someone do something hastily.
See the examples below:
Maria nem recebeu a herança e está comprando uma casa. Está contando com o ovo no "fiofó" da galinha;
Não saia comprando tudo no mercado antes de receber o salário. Não conte com o ovo no “fiofó”* da galinha;
As suggested in the comments, another option to this could be:
Não conte com o ovo antes de a galinha pôr.
Avoiding any word that could be considered offensive.
In Portugal, we have these two proverbs:
- "Não contes com o ovo no cu da galinha."
- "Não contes os pintos senão depois de nascidos." (less common)

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1In standard Brazilian Portuguese we wouldn't say "fiofó" or "cu". These words are regionalisms and vulgarisms. No self-respecting actor, professor, or reporter, would use those words in public or on television. They would be the laughing stock of the whole country if they did it – Centaurus Dec 27 '15 at 22:32
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In Portugal, the word "cu" means simply "bunda". For its meaning in Brasil (it's a vulgar word, like @Luis noted), see this question: portuguese.stackexchange.com/q/1337/157 – ANeves Dec 28 '15 at 11:37
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2The user didn't as for a saying appropriate in Brazil; rather, he asked for an expression in Portuguese. – Alexandre Cartaxo Dec 28 '15 at 18:49
more applicable to situations that involve monetary transactions
is irrelevant to the question. (But I agree with you that this answer is a better and more specific match for “catch the bear before you sell its skin”.) – ANeves Dec 28 '15 at 11:34