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How to Budget With an Irregular Income

Updated

If your income changes from month to month, creating a budget can feel challenging. Whether you work hourly, earn commission, freelance, own a business, or have seasonal income, you can still make a plan for your money.

Your SmartDollar benefit includes access to EveryDollar, making it easy to create a monthly budget, prioritize your expenses, and adjust your plan as your income comes in.

How to start

When creating your budget in EveryDollar:

  1. Estimate the income you expect to receive for the month.
  2. Budget for your most important expenses first, including housing, food, utilities, and transportation.
  3. Add your other required monthly expenses.
  4. Budget for savings, giving, or debt payments with any remaining money.
  5. As each paycheck arrives, update your budget in EveryDollar and assign every dollar a specific job.
  6. If you earn more than expected, put the extra money toward your next financial priority.

Why it helps

Budgeting with an irregular income helps you stay focused on your priorities, even when your paycheck changes.

Using EveryDollar through your SmartDollar benefit can help you:

  • Cover the most important expenses first
  • Reduce stress between paychecks
  • Avoid overspending during higher-income months
  • Keep making progress on your money goals

Keep your budget up to date

When your income changes, your budget should change too. EveryDollar makes it easy to adjust your budget throughout the month, helping you stay intentional with every dollar instead of guessing where your money should go.

The more consistently you update your budget, the easier it becomes to stay in control of your finances, even when your income isn't predictable.

Make the most of your SmartDollar benefit

Your SmartDollar benefit includes EveryDollar, giving you the tools to create a monthly budget, adjust it as your income changes, and make a plan for every dollar you earn. Budgeting regularly can help you stay organized, make confident financial decisions, and continue making progress toward your goals.

Need more help?

The team is happy to help. Submit a request here.