Budget by paycheck calculator
See which bills each paycheck needs to cover over the next two months and how much is left to spend from every payday. No sign-up, and nothing leaves your browser.
Your pay
We've filled in an example — replace it with your numbers.
What lands in your account after tax.
Your next payday from today.
Put aside first. Optional.
Your bills
Fixed monthly bills and the day of the month each is due. Up to 12.
Only changes formatting.
Your paycheck plan
How it works
The calculator starts from your next payday and lays out every paycheck for the next two months. Weekly pay repeats every 7 days and every-two-weeks pay every 14 days. Monthly pay lands on the same day each month, and twice-a-month pay on the two days you choose. If a payday is the 29th, 30th or 31st, shorter months move it to their last day.
Each paycheck covers the days from its payday up to the day before the next one. Every bill is then given a due date in each month — again moved to the last day of shorter months — and assigned to the paycheck on or before its due date, so the money is there before the bill is.
For each paycheck, the calculator adds up the bills it has to pay and your savings per paycheck, then subtracts them from your take-home pay. What remains is left to spend until the next payday. Bills that fall due before your next payday are listed separately, because they come from money you already have.
If a paycheck's bills and savings are more than its pay, it's marked as short. When an earlier paycheck has enough spare money, the calculator suggests setting that amount aside in advance. Otherwise it suggests moving the largest bill to a later due date. It assumes the same pay every paycheck and the same bill amounts every month.
Frequently asked questions
What does it mean to budget by paycheck?
Instead of planning a whole month at once, you plan each paycheck on its own: list the bills due before your next payday, pay them from this paycheck, set your savings aside, and spend only what's left. It works especially well if you're paid weekly or every two weeks, because your pay and your monthly bills don't line up neatly.
Which paycheck should pay each bill?
The calculator uses the paycheck that arrives on or before the bill's due date — the most recent payday before the bill is due. That way the money is always in your account in time, and no bill has to wait for a paycheck that lands after it's due.
What if one paycheck can't cover its bills?
It's common when rent and other big bills fall in the same pay period. Set aside part of an earlier, lighter paycheck so the money is ready, or ask the company to move a due date so it lands after a different payday. Many lenders and utilities let you choose your due date for free.
What about months with three paychecks?
If you're paid weekly or every two weeks, some months have an extra paycheck. Because each bill is assigned to only one paycheck, that extra pay usually has few or no bills — the calculator shows it with a lot left to spend. It's a good moment to boost savings or pay down debt.
Track this automatically — Calm Coins is free
Calm Coins plans your budget from payday to payday, keeps your bills and due dates in view and shows what's safe to spend before your next paycheck — no bank connection needed.