Bi-Weekly Budgets

I'm curious how other people budget.

I currently have a monthly budget set up, where I assume two payperiods a month. This would work if my bills and savings plans were also based on two pay periods a month, but every so often (twice in fact) there are three pay periods a month. For me that is May and October & all of my savings/debt paymetns are bi-weekly. I've read about this elusive 'extra' pay cheque - but that just doesn't work for me b/c of how my funds are structured.

Which brings me to the realization that monthly budget for a bi-weekly gal, just isn't going to work.

I would like to have a budget that isn't different every two weeks, but this may be the best course of action. Does anyone else have this problem? The fear I have with a bi-weekly budget is that there may be monies from the first two weeks, that I need for the second two weeks bills...

Below is an image of what my May 29 - June 11 budget would looke like.

On the left there is this weeks pay (no deductions this week, woohoo!), plus my current balance (which contains Jordan's portion of the rent). After the two 'pluses' I have all off the debits that will occur within the next few days. These are all of my 'fixed' expenses. The utilities is a guess, but it will be about that.

After alllll of that.. I'm left with $388.73. My car needs a tank of gas, and I think it's my turn to buy groceries. I usually budget $200/month for groceries. Assuming I spend that, I will have $138.73.

$138.73 - That's Lame!

Yes, yes it is lame - but it's my fault that it's lame. Who's Visa payment is eating up a big part of what could be my discretionary spending? That would be my Visa.

Sigh.

So, what should I do with this $138.73?

• Do I hold on to it for 'in case I want something'?
• Do I put it on my visa to accrue that much less interest?
• Do I put it in planned spending/Christmas fund?
• Do I put it in my emergency fund?
• Or... is there something I'm forgetting...

hmm...

What would you do?