Sid Meier's Civilization Inspired Budget

Re:Sid Meier's Civilization Inspired Budget by ryandrake on Friday November 13, 2015 @09:16PM (#10564071)

$BIGBILL comes at a fixed day each month, but $PAYCHECK happens on a different day every two weeks. Some months, $BIGBILL comes right after $PAYCHECK, in which case you're safe. Other months, $BIGBILL comes right before $PAYCHECK which means you need to find some extra money to cover the period between the bill and your paycheck. If you're living paycheck to paycheck, you always have to have these unsynchronized-cadences in the back of your mind.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Sid Meier's Civilization Inspired Budget by zrail on Friday November 13, 2015 @09:21PM (#10564102)

This sounds terrifying. It seems like you need a behavioral solution, not a technological solution. Spend a little less, cut where you can, and save until you have a buffer. Then you don't have to worry about paycheck timing.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Sid Meier's Civilization Inspired Budget by ryandrake on Friday November 13, 2015 @09:28PM (#10564130)

Welcome to the Bay Area.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Sid Meier's Civilization Inspired Budget by Jtsummers on Friday November 13, 2015 @09:49PM (#10564191)

That's not just the Bay Area. That's living paycheck-to-paycheck, and it happens everywhere. Sometimes even to "wealthy" people, if they find themselves cash poor (money tied up in retirement, home equity or other property, or investments).

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Sid Meier's Civilization Inspired Budget by lfowles on Friday November 13, 2015 @11:21PM (#10564443)

Exactly. If you have a steady income, there's no reason you shouldn't be working on a buffer to separate yourself from bills by at least a month.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Sid Meier's Civilization Inspired Budget by wlievens on Saturday November 14, 2015 @05:51AM (#10565246)

Or horribly expensive daycare for two kids :)

[ Parent | on HN ]