Different pay cycles
The app budgets by month, and the budgeting cycle itself can't be changed. You can still handle any pay cycle or irregular income with targets and carry over. Here's how, with some practical examples.
Use targets to adapt to your cycle
Example 1: bi-weekly pay
You're paid every two weeks and your $1,000 rent is due on the 1st. Set a target for the rent and put half of it aside from each paycheck: $500 after the first, the full $1,000 after the second. By the time rent is due, you've already saved it.
Example 2: seasonal income
Some jobs pay more in certain seasons, for example a teacher paid during the school year but not over the summer. Set targets to save part of your income in the high-earning months. If you need $3,000 for the summer, a target of $1,000 a month from March to May has you covered when the income stops.
Use carry over for consistency
Example 1: irregular expenses
Car maintenance doesn't happen every month, but you know it's coming. Let the unspent money in your Car maintenance category carry over each month. Set aside $50 a month, and by the time the $300 service comes around, the money is there without squeezing the rest of your budget.
Example 2: income gaps
If you freelance and have gaps between projects, let essential categories like rent, utilities and groceries carry over their balances. If you usually earn $3,000 but one month brings $1,500 less, the amounts carried over from earlier months help bridge the gap without cutting essentials.
Treat the month as a flexible tool
The month is a frame, not a strict boundary. Your budgeting doesn't have to start and end with the calendar month. Ask yourself: "What does this money need to cover before my next payment?" and allocate accordingly. This works whenever your money arrives.
Example 1: multiple incomes
You and your partner are paid on different days, one on the 1st and one on the 15th. Instead of squeezing everything into one paycheck, use the month to plan what each paycheck covers until the next one. The first covers early-month bills like rent and utilities; the second covers mid-to-late-month spending like groceries and entertainment.
Example 2: unexpected income
You receive a $500 bonus mid-month. Instead of spending it right away, use it for future needs: $200 towards next month's rent, $100 towards holiday savings, and the rest into your emergency fund. A surplus funds category is a good home for money like this.
Summary
With targets, carry over, and a flexible view of the month, you can make the app fit almost any income pattern and stay in control of your money, no matter when or how it comes in.
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