• Start Here
    • About Boss Babe Chronicles
    • Work with me
    • Disclaimer and Privacy
  • Beauty
    • Style
    • Beauty Tips
    • Hair, Skin, Nails
  • Lifestyle
    • Books
    • College
    • Things To Do
    • Backgrounds
    • Fall and Winter
    • Summer Season
  • Personal Development
    • Career
    • Finances
    • Self-Care
    • Femininity
    • Productivity
    • Personal Growth
    • Law of Attraction
    • Health and Wellness
  • Relationships
    • Romance
    • Social Life
    • Colleagues

Boss Babe Chronicles

Finances•Finances

What You Should Be Doing Right After Payday

January 31, 2020

This post may contain affiliate links. That means that if you click on a link and purchase something I recommend, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This helps keep my website up and running and is very appreciated. Thank you for your support!

What You Should Be Doing Right After Payday

Payday is one of many people’s favorite days. But did you know that what you do right after payday can have a big impact on how the rest of your month is going to go financially-wise?

A lot of us are on the road to being financially-stable as well as financially savvy. There are many things we can be doing to get there such as saving, budgeting our expenses, cutting corners where we can, and investing.

In today’s post, I am going to be sharing things you should be doing right after you get paid to ensure that you are building your finances up as soon as you get your paycheck.

Pin for later 😊

What You Should Be Doing Right After Payday

What You Should Be Doing Right After Payday

Pay yourself first

I recently read The Richest Man In Babylon which, if you haven’t read yet, pause reading this and go purchase right now. Even though this book was published in 1926, it still holds a lot of information that is relevant today in regards to how the hell to actually handle money and get financial freedom.

The first thing the book teaches is to pay yourself first before you pay back what you owe others.

It might sound strange doing it this way rather than paying off your debts, but it will make sense in a second. Paying yourself first ensures that you are putting the money towards YOUR future, not into somebody else’s pocket.

If you choose to pay your bills or debts off first, you might be left with a sum of money that you think is not enough for you to live off of AND put towards savings. Makes sense?

How much money you will put into your savings differs from person to person, depending on how much you are making. Financial experts advise putting between 5-20% of your income into a separate savings account. If, however, you are currently in a position where even 5% seems like a lot, start with 2% until you get used to that being taken out of your account biweekly or monthly, and then slowly raise that percentage.

Go grocery shopping

The second thing you should do at payday is going grocery shopping.

We all know that preparing food at home is way cheaper than takeout. While it may seem like getting a breakfast sandwich and coffee doesn’t cost much, you could make multiple breakfast sandwiches and coffees at home for that same amount.

In the long run, buying groceries and making your own food is going to add up and save you a lot of money.

Here are some money-saving tips when going grocery shopping:

  • Don’t shop on an empty stomach. You will end up buying more than you need.
  • Make a meal plan so that you know what you will be cooking.
  • Make a list of what you need and only buy what is on your list. Here is an affordable meal planning pad that can help you with your shopping lists!
  • Stick to whole foods and avoid processed junk food. Whole foods are way more wallet-friendly than packaged goods.
  • Have a few meatless days throughout the week. Meat costs are higher than those of veggies and grains.
  • If you have coupons, use them on purchases you know you are going to need.
  • Brand names on foods only mean you will be paying more money. Generic store brands are cheaper and just as good.
  • Pre-cut fruits and vegetables are convenient, but a complete waste of money.
  • Buy in bulk whenever possible.

Free daily planner!

Are you ready to take your organization game to another level? This free planner will help!

    We won’t send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

    Powered By ConvertKit

    Take out your fun money

    After you’ve paid yourself and gotten groceries, it is now time to budget your fun money.

    I’m the type of person who spends WAY more on my card than I do when carrying cash. Something about actually SEEING the money disappearing from my wallet makes me think twice about spending it.

    Whether you spend less in cash or on your card, this tip is going to work in both cases.

    In my case, I take cash out of my bank account and put it in an envelope. I know that this is the money that I am allowing myself to spend that month on clothes, dinners, drinks, etc.

    If you’re someone who spends cash faster than the money on your card, do the same thing except instead of putting your fun money in an envelope, put it in a separate bank account.

    The key here, though, is to ONLY use the money you have allocated yourself and to not go back to your main account for more.

    Fill up your car

    I always fill up my car on payday! It’s the easiest way of doing something for yourself that you’re going to have to do later anyway. Might as well do it right off the bat, right?

    Pay your bills and debts

    After you are done using your money for your OWN benefits, it will be time to start paying off your debts and paying your bills.

    Do this at the end of your payday routine, and make sure you get everything paid that needs to get paid! It’s the worst when you get to the end of your bank balance and realize you still have a bill to pay which you’d forgotten about.

    If you’re looking to get organized with your budget, try using a budget planner like this one which will help you stay on budget.

    What are some of your tips for what to do with your money on payday? Share them with us in the comments!

    You might also enjoy:
    15 THINGS TO STOP BUYING THAT WILL SAVE YOU MONEY

    20 CREATIVE WAYS TO SAVE MONEY YOU WILL LOVE

    finances financial freedom money-savvy smart money mindset

    26 Comments

    About Mariam

    Hi! I'm Mariam, your go-to guide for navigating life’s twists and turns. I write posts to help women create their dream lives. Think of me as a supportive friend cheering you on to become your best self. My goal is to inspire confidence and celebrate your unique journey. Join me as we embrace our strengths and enjoy the adventure of self-discovery together!

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Comments

    1. Davinia says

      January 31, 2020 at 6:33 pm

      Great list thank you! This idea of a priority list and order to follow is really useful.

      Reply
      • Mariam says

        February 1, 2020 at 9:38 am

        I’m happy you think so! 😊

        Reply
    2. nadzzm says

      January 31, 2020 at 6:37 pm

      I really like the idea of having the fun money in an envelope. It really gives you a sense how much do you have and you are likely to spend it a bit more carefully.

      Reply
      • Mariam says

        February 1, 2020 at 9:37 am

        That’s exactly why I recommend it! 😊

        Reply
    3. goatdogsimple says

      January 31, 2020 at 7:49 pm

      Great ideas. I really benefited from reading The Richest Man in Babylon. It’s a simple concept– keep more of your money and build wealth a little at a time. Doesn’t get easier than that. Thanks for the important read.

      Reply
      • Mariam says

        February 1, 2020 at 9:37 am

        Absolutely! Thank you so much for stopping by. 😊

        Reply
    4. Amber says

      January 31, 2020 at 8:12 pm

      This helps a lot! Great advice ❤️

      Reply
      • Mariam says

        February 1, 2020 at 9:35 am

        I’m so happy you think so!

        Reply
    5. Erika Marie says

      January 31, 2020 at 8:26 pm

      These are great tips! I always save a little portion for fun things (:

      Erika Marie | https://imerikamarie.com

      Reply
      • Mariam says

        February 1, 2020 at 9:35 am

        So important to have fun money! 😊

        Reply
    6. Katrina says

      February 1, 2020 at 9:38 pm

      These are really great tips! I still live at home (thank goodness) so I don’t have a ton of expenses, but whenever I get paid my first priorities are to pay off my credit card and put money into my savings.

      Reply
    7. Britt 💀⛺️ (@AltSpeaking) says

      February 2, 2020 at 7:57 am

      Great suggestions. I am guilty of overlooking the need for some ‘fun money’ when things get tight which caused me A LOT of stress and really weighed on my mental health throughout university. I quickly learned that ‘fun money’ wasn’t just for fun, it was also financing the activities that helped me relax and let go of life’s challenges.

      Reply
    8. Jenny in Neverland says

      February 2, 2020 at 12:20 pm

      Great post! I’d definitely be interested in reading that book you suggested! 🙂 x

      Reply
    9. Alyssa says

      February 2, 2020 at 10:22 pm

      These are great tips and I pretty much do them all apart from withdraw money to spend for he month. I need to start doing this and stop using my card as it is so easy to just keep buying little things over the weeks and not realise how much you are spending!
      Alyssa
      The Sacred Space AP

      Reply
    10. Hannah Read says

      February 3, 2020 at 1:20 pm

      Great tips! We always pay bills and debts first but it’s often led to not having any fun money at all (or even not enough survival money) so I will try this the other way round for a change!

      Reply
    11. Simone | Beautymone says

      February 3, 2020 at 2:52 pm

      Never thought about paying myself first! I always pay bills etc. First but it’s actually a good idea. I really need to start saving more and investing in my own future. Thanks for sharing!

      xoxo Simone | https://beautymone.com

      Reply
    12. The Prepping Wife says

      February 4, 2020 at 3:32 pm

      I always pay my bills first. Such a habit, honestly. I’ll be reading the book you recommended too. Paying cash for things really does make me think about my money and being forced to stick to a budget of just what I have in my wallet. I happen to like that, really. Because just like you said, I pay way more attention to what I’m spending my money on.

      Reply
    13. loverosiee says

      February 18, 2020 at 12:31 am

      So many good tips!!
      Rosie

      Reply
    14. Bethany Jane says

      March 8, 2020 at 1:23 pm

      This is so interesting as it’s the ‘opposite way’ to how I usually do things. Although I’ve started taking a set amount out of my main account at the beginning of the month and trying to use that for anything that’s not a bill, which has made me much more conscious of what I’m spending!

      Reply
      • Mariam says

        March 8, 2020 at 2:04 pm

        That’s such a good way of budgeting and I do the same! It keeps me more on track with my spending.

        Reply
    15. Your Best Life Advice says

      May 25, 2020 at 7:44 pm

      Absolutely agree with paying yourself first. I always move a percentage of my wages across into my savings on payday.

      Reply
      • Mariam says

        May 28, 2020 at 10:49 am

        That’s awesome! Such an easy way to save money too.

        Reply
    16. Linda says

      August 28, 2021 at 12:10 pm

      Great tips thank you and here’s another. -You can read the book online in pdf for free-all 72 pages.
      Click the link below. Enjoy-
      https://tim-halloran.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/the_richest_man_in_babylon8.pdf

      Reply
    17. Tamara Johnson says

      September 12, 2021 at 9:20 pm

      Thanks for the advice I am really going to use it.

      Reply
    18. Jennifer says

      September 28, 2021 at 10:17 am

      I did the 52 week challenge.
      Depending on my checks, I work 3 or 4 days a week so I if I can I save more than that week I’ll do that. Once I completed the 52 weeks. I started over.

      Reply
    19. Kone says

      December 2, 2021 at 1:07 pm

      Thank you so much for the list

      Reply
    Previous How To Throw The Perfect Galentine’s Brunch
    Next 7 Life-Changing Financial Education Books

    Related Posts

    Finances

    7 Ways To Save Money FAST

    Finances

    6 Tips For Making Money…

    Finances

    5 Ways to Creating an…

    Finances

    How You Can Start Making…

    Primary Sidebar

    • Email
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Search The Blog

    Latest Posts

    17 Completely Free Ways to Glow Up

    How to Get Better Quality Sleep (and Finally Wake Up Refreshed and Radiant)

    10 Habits of Women Who Stay Pretty

    How to Become More Disciplined

    The Easiest “Everything Shower” Routine

    13 Classy Habits of Chic Women

    30+ Cute 4th of July Nail Ideas for Your 2025 Patriotic Manicure

    How to Step Into Your Soft Girl Era in 2025

    13 Ways to Smell Good All Day Long

    20 Beauty Hacks Before Bed to Transform Your Look Overnight

    How to Become the Prettiest Version of Yourself

    22 Ways to Make Your Life Feel Luxurious

    How Mel Robbins’ Viral Morning Routine Changed My Life

    Beauty Boost: What To Look For in Collagen Powder

    10 Ways to Create a Charming, Sexy Aura

    20 Podcasts That Will Help You Become “That Girl”

    Headway: The Best Personal Development Tool for Busy Women

    19 Habits of Successful Women

    Copyright © 2025 Boss Babe Chronicles
    Theme by SheShoppes
    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok