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Discover the months with three paychecks so you can plan ahead.
If you are paid biweekly, there are a couple of months in a year when you will have 3 paycheck months.
On the other hand, if you are paid weekly, there are times when you will have 5 paycheck months instead of the regular four.
That’s because the 52 weeks in a year aren’t distributed evenly between the 12 months.
The problem is if you don’t know when those months will be then you will be missing out on their full benefits.
By knowing ahead of time when you will get your extra paycheck will help you get the most out of it and make it work in your favor.
So, today you will discover the 3 paycheck months in 2021-2030.
How Many Paychecks In A Year
If you are on every other Friday pay period, also known as a biweekly paycheck, you will have a total of 26 paychecks in a year.
This is the most common length of pay period.
But if you receive a Friday paycheck on a weekly basis, you will have a total of 52 paychecks.
However, there will be instances when the first paycheck of the year lands on a holiday.
When this happens, employers will issue the paycheck the day prior to the holiday.
As a result, that paycheck will be part of the previous year’s paychecks, resulting in 3 3-paycheck months in a calendar year.
This is also known as the “payroll leap year“.
For example, New Year’s Day 2021 lands on a Friday, which is the first paycheck of the year if you are paid biweekly.
And since banks are closed on that day, many employers will issue checks on December 31, 2020.
Biweekly Vs Semi Monthly Payroll
Biweekly payroll means that you are getting a paycheck every other week. With this type of payroll, you will end up having 26 paychecks in a year.
You will get two paychecks per month for 10 months out of the year, and there will be two months when you’ll receive three paychecks.
On the contrary, if you are paid semi-monthly, you will get your paycheck twice a month. As a result, you will get a total of 24 paychecks in a year.
How To Handle Extra Paychecks
The best thing that you can do to make the most out of your extra paycheck is to treat it as an “extra” paycheck. More like a bonus check.
Don’t include it in your monthly budget!
If you have been budgeting based on two paychecks, keep it that way, even on your 3 paycheck months.
Then use that extra paycheck to boost your financial goals.
You can use it to pay off your credit cards or beef up your emergency fund. You can even add it to your investments.
When Are 3 Paycheck Months
Here are the pay periods in 2021-2030 along with the months where you get that extra check.
1) Three Paycheck Months 2021
2) Three Paycheck Months 2022
3) Three Paycheck Months 2023
4) Three Paycheck Months 2024
5) Three Paycheck Months 2025
6) Three Paycheck Months 2026
7) Three Paycheck Months 2027
8) Three Paycheck Months 2028
9) Three Paycheck Months 2029
10) Three Paycheck Months 2030
Do 3 Paycheck Months Make A Difference
If done right, having an extra paycheck will make a great impact on your finances.
You can knock out that debt, build a fully-funded emergency fund, save for large purchases, or beef up your sinking funds to take care of seasonal expenses.
Final Thoughts On The Months WIth 3 Pay Periods
In a calendar year, you get two 3 paycheck months, sometimes even three.
And if you know how to handle that third paycheck, you will be able to save money and be closer to achieving your financial goals.
So, what are you going to do with the extra money from your 3 paycheck months in 2021-2030?
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