Sample issue

Hi there,

This issue's step: budget on two paychecks

If you're paid every two weeks, most months have two paychecks, but two months a year have three. Build your monthly budget on two paychecks only. When a third one arrives, it isn't needed for bills, so it can go straight to savings or a big yearly bill.

1. Find your net pay on one pay stub.
2. Multiply by two. That's your monthly budget number.
3. Mark the two "extra" paydays in your calendar and decide now where they'll go.

More in Work out your real take-home pay.

Ten-minute spending check

Open your phone's app store subscriptions list. One reader found three forgotten apps adding up to $43 a month. Our subscription check walks you through it.

Reader question

"My rent is more than half my pay. Is 50/30/20 useless for me?" Not useless, just a starting point. Many people in high-cost areas use something like 60/20/20 or 70/20/10. The point is to see where the money goes and choose on purpose. Try the budget calculator.

Penny by penny,
The Pennies Budget