If you get paid weekly, you know how exciting those extra paycheck months can be. Since there are twelve months and 52 weeks in a year, you will end up with four or five months each year where you receive an extra paycheck. Because of this, it’s important to keep track of how many weeks are in a month if you’re paid weekly.
Depending on how many weeks in a month, you may get an extra paycheck just in time to pay for Christmas gifts or take a nice vacation. The calendar below can help you plan for those months where you’ll get an extra paycheck.
If you are paid weekly on Fridays, you’ll receive an extra paycheck in each of these months.
- 2020: January, May, July, October
- 2021: January, April, July, October, December
- 2022: April, July, September, December
- 2023: March, June, September, December
- 2024: March, May, August, November
- 2025: January, May, August, October
- 2026: January, May, July, October
- 2027: January, April, July, October, December
- 2028: March, June, September, December
- 2029: March, June, August, November
If you’re paid bi weekly on Fridays, you’ll have some months where you receive an extra paycheck, though it won’t be quite as often as above. You will still receive an extra paycheck two or three times a year, though, and that’s nothing to sneeze at! You can look at a calendar to help you figure out which months you’ll get an extra check. Take the time to plan so you make an excellent choice with your money once it arrives in your bank account. Step one is to find out how many weeks in a month you’ll receive an extra paycheck.
What should you do with your extra paycheck?
If you have budgeted to live each month on your income from two paychecks, you might find yourself with extra cash on hand in those additional paycheck months. Now that you know which months have extra pay days, you can prepare in advance and decide the best way to spend (or save!) your money.
Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Emergency fund
If you don’t yet have a fully funded emergency fund, those extra paycheck months are a great time to throw some extra cash at your savings account! It’s tempting to spend it, but you won’t regret saving money for the unexpected hard times that may come in the future.
Pay down debt
One of the best things you can do for your financial future it to pay down debt. Whether it’s your mortgage, car payment, or other types of debt, the earlier you pay it off the more money you can save on interest. Paying off debt might not seem like a “fun” way to spend that extra paycheck, but once your debt payment is off of your budget, think about how much extra money you’ll have each month!
Investing
If you decide to put each extra paycheck into your investment accounts, by the end of the year you’ll have saved an entire month’s worth of income. Because of the time value of money, saving more now will reap huge rewards in the future as your money grows over time. You can use this calculator to see how your money could grow if you invest it now.
Special occasions
Depending on how many weeks in a month, those five-payday Decembers could be an excellent chance to save up for Christmas without even trying. It’s always a good idea to budget your spending, but knowing you have an entire extra pay check can give you a budget starting point for buying gifts for your loved ones.
Similarly, if your extra paycheck month falls on a special occasion like an anniversary or birthday, it could be a great way to splurge a bit on your favorite people, or even on yourself!
Vacations
Paying cash for a trip won’t be as difficult if you know you have an extra paycheck that month. Make your budget, figure out your plans, and pack your bags! If one extra paycheck isn’t enough to cover the trip of your dreams, keep saving until you reach your goal. You’ll enjoy your vacation even more knowing that your hard work has already paid for it.
Getting an extra paycheck can be thrilling, but it’s easy to blow that extra money if you don’t take the time to plan the best way to spend it. Check out a calendar and plan out what you’ll do with those funds. It will give you something to look forward to! And you’ll have no regrets when you know you spent the money wisely whether it was paying down debt, investing, or doing something extra special.