Live A Paycheck Behind Challenge

[njw9272]

I have actually used the "stay a raise behind" challenge several times. Once, I surprised my husband by handing him the checkbook when his best friend wanted to sell his motorcyle and I knew my husband wanted it. I had accumulated $1200.00 by just continuing to live on the old paycheck amount. He, of course, was thrilled. Second time we used the money to start a life insurance policy account.

Have you posted the challenge before to live a paycheck behind? I discovered this in McCalls magazine (now the defunct Rosie) about 20 years ago, and it made all the difference for us. We were busy raising 4 children on a correctional officer's income, and this allowed us to take a vacation each year with no debt involved, and to start the kids back in school with no new debt. We got paid every two weeks;we paid ourselves every two weeks and one day. Two or three times a year we got "free" checks, where no bills needed to be taken out.

Elaine

[jeffrey]

It really is a great way to save. The major problem is the first time around. If you can make it through that, your set because you do get an income increase every time after that (just one behind).

[mom-from-missouri]

I do the raise 1 check behind to put into my 401K at work.