Today was payday in my house. Actually, it was one of the 2 “extra” paychecks we get each fiscal year. No bills get paid out of these paychecks. We use 24 out of our 26 paychecks, plus the majority of our second income, to pay bills and pay off debt. We’ve decided, together, that for these 2 “extra” paychecks, we let ourselves have a little breathing room. For these paychecks, we spend the money on the absolute necessities like gas, food, savings, and daycare but also use it to give ourselves a little bonus.
For instance, we each get a small allowance out of every paycheck ($20 every 2 weeks). From our extra paychecks, we bump that up to $100. We will usually treat ourselves to a nice dinner. We may each buy one special item and then we kind of let the rest sit. But this summer’s extra paycheck bonus is filled with all kinds of good stuff:
- $300 for our vacation (accommodations are free and food is separate. This is just for activities)
- $100 to take our daughter to see the Laurie Berkner Band (of the children’s performers, she is probably the most tolerable)
- around $300 for my plane ticket to the Financial Blogger conference
- $150 for my husband’s yearly fishing trip
I will also be using some money to buy this:
It’s nice to have some extra income every once and awhile to spend on fun stuff rather than bills and debt. While we do a pretty good job budgeting money for smaller ticket fun stuff items, buying the bigger things guilt free is a good feeling.
Do you ever use extra income to splurge? What do you like to buy?
Laurie Berkner is definitely the most tolerable!
She's fun.
Enjoy your splurge and have fun at the Financial blogger conference.
We do the same with our "extra" paychecks, although we get 5 because we are paid weekly. We don't figure them into our monthly budgets either but they often do go to extra expenses we may have at the time, but a little always get set aside for some fun; nice dinner out, clothes, something for the house, a good restocking grocery trip, etc.
Love the bag, is that Vera Bradley?
@Niki–I often find myself with a Laurie Berkner song stuck in my head. Specifically, Mouse in my Toolbox. It's quite catchy.
@Paula–Yes, it's a Vera Bradley. I love her bags!
Usually extra income goes, to debt,savings, or catch up, but it is nice to treat your self also. Love the bag.
We splurge, too. September is our 3 paycheck month and we'll be using the extra money to fund a trip to Portland for RollerDerby Regionals and also toward my plane ticket to firebird's wedding- which is the same weekend as the conference.
The rest will go in to savings for DH's school costs. But I think people need the option to splurge every once in a while (like 2x a year) in order to keep them on the straight and narrow the rest of the time.
We get paid monthly so no surprise bonus paychecks, but I like the idea!
We don't an extra check either but I do try to splurge every once in awhile to keep me sane. Even if my splurge this month was the Sports Illustrated issue with Larry Fitzgerald on the cover! Ah-the simple things 🙂
apart from out of turn bonus I haven't really earned any extra income. True they are good opportunity of splurge..with a limit
That bag is so cute! I'm glad I get to meet you at the conference.
I like anotherhousewife's reference to Larry Fitzgerald. Let's get ready for some football!
I love this idea. We live on a fluctuating income, so this wouldn't work for us since I have to plan ahead 30-60 days out. However, I am still able to squeeze in a splurge every now and then.
I almost splurged on a vacation, haven't had a nice one in a few years. Actually wanted to show my daughter a few national parks. Practicality got the best of me though, and we'll stay local instead with trips to museums and the like. The splurge will happen next year:) I do really believe in spending on kids and providing them with great life experiences that are educational and fun.