Being forced to readjust the budget

[jmjj215]

Re: Being forced to readjust the budget

Bingo lrjohnson. That's exactly how we operate too. You just have to get that buffer and monitor to a reasonable degree!

[BAGAGT1]

Re: Being forced to readjust the budget

Last year I had to make the switch from being paid on the 1st and 15th to being paid every other week. I wasn't thrilled with the change at the time, because I had already had my budget adjusted for the amount that I was bringing home with 24 paychecks a year. However, I still managed to live on my budget with the smaller paycheck, therefore I have 2 extra paychecks a year. The first extra paycheck will come in March of this year, and I will use that to finish paying off the VW.

[Ima saver]

Re: Being forced to readjust the budget

Irjohnson, that is exactly how I felt. I always wondered how people could stock up on stuff when it was on sale. I never had the extra money.

[locolorenzo24]

Re: Being forced to readjust the budget

the first small one is this week and it should be big enough to live on...that's all that counts. I'll have to figure out what I have to do per month to make sure I really don't have to dip into it at all.

[abowers]

Re: Being forced to readjust the budget

I was paid on the 15th and the last day of the month at my last job... then we moved in July. My last paycheck came on July 31, then I started my new job at the end of August and wasn't paid until the beginning of September -- on the every other Friday schedule. So it was an adjustment, but after not having a paycheck for a month and a half, I was happy to be making any money.

[contrary1]

Re: Being forced to readjust the budget

I've always got paid once a month...........and a month after services are delivered too. So........I've become adept at getting a few months ahead of the game so I am not held hostage to the pay day, no matter when it is.
This does take awhile; one of the benefits to being older I guess.

[Tree0164]

Re: Being forced to readjust the budget

We had a paycheck change last year as well. From every Thursday to every other Thursday-not as big of a difference as you but we just adjusted (we went 3 weeks without a paycheck-talk about ouch)

Having a buffer is the best way to live with this. It can a little while to get use of the new budget. As other have said use those extra checks to pay your annual or semi-annual bills. That is what I try to do.

[Lemony]

Re: Being forced to readjust the budget

We get paid once a month. It's death. We're currently working on a cushion so we don't end up eating ramen noodles every day during the last week of the month

[locolorenzo24]

Re: Being forced to readjust the budget

Well, I thank goodness that I get paid more often than that...but still, reducing myself by 120 bucks until the extra check in March is tough enough. A cushion??? What's that? I'll have to wait until the extra one shows up to get one in place....

[Ima saver]

Re: Being forced to readjust the budget

I have built the big bills into my budget. That means I put away an extra $100 a week in the envelope that pays our car insurances,(4) our house insurance and our property taxes. Those run about $5000 a year, but I have it sitting in my checking account, waiting.

[contrary1]

Re: Being forced to readjust the budget

I've got my big bills built in too. Property taxes are the largest..........I've just figured out how much I need to put away on a monthly basis to cover them....and then forget about it until April & October.
Because of property taxes, I have really tried to adjust other things that come due periodically to other months than Apr & Oct. Car insurance, home owners, etc. Spread them out a bit...........it gives me the feeling at least, that I'm not spending all my saved up money at once that way.

[Ima saver]

Re: Being forced to readjust the budget

It is handy not to have to pay those bills out of savings, but to already have it in my checking account. I have my 4 car insurances scattered out thru out the year too.