Oscar Kiki / Free tools
Free planner
Which paycheck pays which bill?
Rent's due on the 1st and payday is the 5th. Enter how often you're paid and when your bills are due, and we'll match every bill to the paycheck that has to cover it and show what's left from each one.
Your pay
Your bills
Due day is the day of the month, 1 to 31. Bills due on the 31st fall on the last day of shorter months.
Your next paychecks
Get the printable bill planner
A planner page to fill in by hand each month (your paychecks, the bills each one covers and what's left) plus a page on how to use it. Download it right after you sign up.
Done. Here's your bill planner, ready to print:
The rule
Each bill goes to the last paycheck you get on or before its due date. That paycheck is the last money you'll have before the bill is due, so it's the one that has to cover it.
If one paycheck comes up short while the one before it has money left, set the difference aside from the earlier paycheck. Many card companies and utilities will also move a due date if you ask, which can spread bills more evenly.
The planner uses the calendar dates you enter. If your payday falls on a weekend or holiday, your employer may pay a day early or late.
| Paid | Per year | Months with an extra check |
|---|---|---|
| Every week | 52 | 4 months get 5 |
| Every two weeks | 26 | 2 months get 3 |
| Twice a month | 24 | None |
| Once a month | 12 | None |
Questions
Which paycheck should pay which bill?
Pay each bill from the last paycheck you get on or before its due date. A bill due on the 3rd, with paydays on the 28th and the 11th, comes out of the paycheck on the 28th.
Why do some months have three paychecks?
Paid every two weeks, you get 26 paychecks a year, so two months a year have three. Many people budget the month on two paychecks and use the third for savings, debt or a bill coming up.
Should I use my gross pay or take-home pay?
Use take-home pay: what lands in your account after taxes, insurance and retirement contributions. If it changes from check to check, use your smallest typical paycheck.
What about bills that don't come every month?
For yearly or irregular costs like car registration or holiday gifts, divide the cost by the number of paychecks before it's due and set that much aside each payday. Add it here as a bill if you like.
Is my information saved anywhere?
No. The planner runs in your browser and nothing you type is sent to us. Only the email form below the planner sends anything, and only your name and email.
Plan the whole year, one paycheck at a time.
Our Paycheck Budget Spreadsheet does this for every paycheck of the year, with a bill calendar, an expense tracker, sinking funds and a debt payoff plan. It works in Excel and Google Sheets.