Fluctuating income

How to budget on a roller-coaster income

Popular budgeting advice like the 50/30/20 rule — which allots a set percentage of income to essentials, wants and savings — is meaningless for people whose paychecks go up and down.

Freelancers, the self-employed, and those who depend on tips or commissions can have a great-paying month or a bad one, and that leaves them vulnerable. A Federal Reserve report released in May found that nearly a third of U.S. adults had irregular incomes in 2016 — and 40 percent of those struggled to pay bills as a result.

Here are three tips for managing money when your paycheck fluctuates.

1 Build an emergency fund

People with sporadic income should save nine months’ worth of expenses in an emergency fund , says Todd Youngdahl, managing partner at Washington Wealth Advisors in Falls

Church, Virginia.

That’s more than the standard recommendation of three to six months’ worth. The extra allows you to “dip in to cover expenses in a month that you don’t get paid as much,” Youngdahl says.

It might take time to reach that goal, but research shows that even a small cushion improves financial health. According to a 2016 Urban Institute study, families with fairly low savings levels ($250 to $749) were still less likely to face eviction, miss bill payments or resort to public benefits than those without savings.

2 Budget what you spend

Because you don't know your income for a given month, construct your budget around your baseline spending.

Add up the costs of your necessities, including housing, utilities, food, insurance and transportation, and include a monthly amount for annual bills, such as property taxes. Don’t include extras like restaurant meals or taxi rides, just the minimum amount you need each month. An app that tracks spending, such as Mint or Personal Capital, can help you estimate.

Then find out if last year’s earnings covered this baseline. If not, you might need to trim expenses.

3 Use apps if you need an advance

If you don't have an emergency fund, a low-earning month could compel you to use high-interest credit cards or expensive payday loans. Instead, consider signing up for services such as these that offer cheaper alternatives for short-term cash:

Activehours: Provides small, no-interest advances — up to $100 per day — against direct-deposit paychecks. Cost: An optional “tip” in the amount you choose.

Dave: Offers no-interest advances until your next paycheck. Warns of upcoming bills or low bank balances to help avoid expensive overdrafts. Cost: $1 per month and optional tips.

Even: Sets aside money from your paycheck if it’s higher than average. When you earn less, Even makes deposits to bring you up to average until you get paid again, with no interest. Cost: Free if your employer offers Even as a benefit, or about $3 a week.