Paying monthly bills when you're paid biweekly
Your bills stay on the same dates each month. Your paydays move about two days earlier on the calendar every month. That drift is why the "heavy" paycheck changes during the year and why budgets that worked in March fail in May.
See the drift
Here's which check pays rent (due on the 1st) across a year of Friday paydays:
| Payday | Bills this check covers (due date) | Bills | Left from $1,850 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Dec 24 | Rent (Jan 1) | $1,350 | $500 |
| Fri, Jan 8 | — | $0 | $1,850 |
| Fri, Jan 22 | Rent (Feb 1) | $1,350 | $500 |
| Fri, Feb 5 | — | $0 | $1,850 |
| Fri, Feb 19 | Rent (Mar 1) | $1,350 | $500 |
| Fri, Mar 5 | — | $0 | $1,850 |
| Fri, Mar 19 | Rent (Apr 1) | $1,350 | $500 |
| Fri, Apr 2 | — | $0 | $1,850 |
| Fri, Apr 16 | — | $0 | $1,850 |
| Fri, Apr 30 | Rent (May 1) | $1,350 | $500 |
| Fri, May 14 | — | $0 | $1,850 |
| Fri, May 28 | Rent (Jun 1) | $1,350 | $500 |
| Fri, Jun 11 | — | $0 | $1,850 |
| Fri, Jun 25 | Rent (Jul 1) | $1,350 | $500 |
| Fri, Jul 9 | — | $0 | $1,850 |
| Fri, Jul 23 | Rent (Aug 1) | $1,350 | $500 |
| Fri, Aug 6 | — | $0 | $1,850 |
| Fri, Aug 20 | Rent (Sep 1) | $1,350 | $500 |
| Fri, Sep 3 | — | $0 | $1,850 |
| Fri, Sep 17 | — | $0 | $1,850 |
| Fri, Oct 1 | Rent (Oct 1) | $1,350 | $500 |
| Fri, Oct 15 | — | $0 | $1,850 |
| Fri, Oct 29 | Rent (Nov 1) | $1,350 | $500 |
| Fri, Nov 12 | — | $0 | $1,850 |
| Fri, Nov 26 | Rent (Dec 1) | $1,350 | $500 |
| Fri, Dec 10 | — | $0 | $1,850 |
Each bill is paid from the most recent paycheck on or before its due date. Highlighted rows go negative and need money moved from the check before.
The check that pays rent lands anywhere from 1 to 14 days before the 1st. When it lands early, the money has to last longer.
Four ways to stay ahead
- Bills account. Move half of your monthly bills from every check into a second checking account. Pay bills only from there.
- One-bill buffer. Keep your biggest bill's amount in checking at all times so timing never causes an overdraft.
- Move due dates to balance your checks (how).
- Get a month ahead with the two extra checks, then pay this month's bills with last month's pay.
A 12-month view
Over a year, 26 checks of $1,850 = $48,100. Twelve months of $2,145 in bills = $25,740. The bills always fit; it's only the timing that causes trouble, which is why tracking by paycheck works.
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Frequently asked questions
Why do my biweekly paychecks never line up with my bills?
Biweekly paydays move about two days earlier each month because 14-day cycles don't match month lengths.
What is a bills account?
A separate checking account that receives a fixed amount from every paycheck and pays only your bills.
How do I get one month ahead?
Save the extra paychecks from your 3-paycheck months (and any windfalls) until you have a full month of expenses, then pay each month from the previous month's income.