Which paycheck pays which bill?
Bills come monthly. Paychecks often don't. Enter when you get paid and when each bill is due, and you'll see which check covers what and how much is left from each one.
Plan a month
Example numbers are made up. Nothing you enter is saved or sent anywhere.
Why this helps
Most budget advice says to divide your monthly bills by two. That works if you're paid on the 1st and 15th. It doesn't work if you're paid every other Friday, when the check that lands right before rent is due has to cover rent and everything else that comes due before the next check. Matching each bill to a specific check shows which checks are tight and which have room.
In the example, rent on the 1st takes most of whichever check lands before it, while the other check has room to spare. Once you can see that, you know to move something if you can, or hold some money back from the easier check to help the tight one.
Want this as a spreadsheet you can keep? A household tracker is coming soon — in the meantime, see the store.
The three-paycheck months
If you're paid every two weeks, look ahead for the months with three paydays. Plan your bills as if every month has two checks, and the third check in those months is extra. Sending it straight to savings or the highest-rate debt makes a real dent over a year without changing anything else.
Questions people ask
How does it decide which paycheck pays a bill?
Each bill goes to the latest paycheck that arrives at least your buffer days before the due date. Paying from the latest check that still makes it keeps money in your account as long as possible without cutting it close.
What buffer should I use?
Two or three days works for most autopay and online payments. If you mail checks or your bank holds deposits, use five or more.
I'm paid every two weeks. Why do some months have three paychecks?
Biweekly pay gives you 26 checks a year, which is two more than twice a month. So two months each year get a third check. If you plan bills around two checks a month, that third check is free money for savings or debt.
What if one paycheck carries too much?
Look for a big bill sitting right after a payday. Many card issuers, lenders and utilities let you change the due date, and moving it a week can even out your checks. Otherwise, set money aside from the smaller check to cover it.
Bills due early in the month show up on last month's paycheck. Is that right?
Yes. A bill due on the 1st is paid from a paycheck in the previous month. The planner looks back far enough to include that check, so nothing gets left off.
Related tools
Not financial advice. These calculators give estimates from the numbers you enter. Your lender's terms, fees, day-count method and tax situation can change the result. Check with your lender or advisor before you act. Full disclaimer.