Are you paid bi-weekly? If so, there are two magical months per year where you will receive an extra paycheck. Find out how to budget and build up your savings with these extra paychecks.
Extra paychecks are good for savings or paying off debt.
Budgeting & Saving Extra Paychecks
Typically, you receive two paychecks every month. However, twice a year an extra paycheck appears in your bank account. There are a few months that end up having five Fridays instead of 4. These extra Fridays provide two months with an extra check. While this money is well accounted for in your wage negotiations, there is an easy way to create a budget that excludes them. Hopefully, this sneaky money management tactic will help you build up savings.
It’s simple: budget your income as a normal month, with two paychecks. Rather than dividing your total net income by 12 months, do it by the amount of two paychecks per month.
This leaves the extra two paychecks out of the budget! In fact, the more you forget about it, the better. You won’t be tempted to spend it. Instead, pay down unexpected debt or build up an emergency fund.
Other Ways to Build Savings
Beyond the extra paychecks, there are many ways to save. Start by saving $1,000 for the most immediate of expenses. Then, work your way up to 3-6 months of savings to cover living expenses in case of job loss or a major financial hit.
Here are a few ways to increase your savings:
- Automatically transfer 5-10% of every paycheck directly into your savings account.
- Try to cut back on unnecessary expenditures. Pack your lunch or make coffee instead of buying it. If you know you usually spend $30 per week on lunch and coffee, you can now transfer that money into your savings account.
- Transform your passion into a worthy side hustle or second job. Use the money you receive from cleaning houses, babysitting, tutoring, dog walking, blogging, etc. to build your emergency fund.
- Spring clean your garage, attic, and closets and have a yard sale or sell it online.
If you’re struggling to pay off debt, ACCC can help. Schedule a free credit counseling session with us today.
