VARIABLE INCOME BUDGET
Irregular or single income? Pay yourself a steady salary and set money aside
Name
Month
The trick with an up-and-down income: budget from your lowest typical month, then fund the rest in order of what matters most. Irregular Income
① Your Lowest-Month Baseline
Look back over the last 6–12 months. What did you bring home in your leanest month? Build your plan on this number — anything above it is a bonus.
$
② PRIORITY EXPENSES — FUND TOP TO BOTTOM
1Housing (rent / mortgage)
$
2Utilities & phone
$
3Groceries & essentials
$
4Transportation / gas
$
5Insurance & health
$
6Minimum debt payments
$
7Everything else / extras
$
▶ TOTAL NEEDED
$
③ SET ASIDE FIRST — OFF THE TOP
Taxes (self-employed)
%
Slow-month buffer fund
%
Savings / retirement
%
Tip: many self-employed women set aside 25–30% for taxes and 10% into a buffer before spending a dollar.
④ OVERFLOW / BUFFER PLAN — WHERE EXTRA GOES
1st — Fill 1-month buffer
$
2nd — Emergency fund
$
3rd — Extra debt payoff
$
4th — Goals / investing
$
⑤ THIS MONTH — ACTUAL INCOME vs. PLAN
Actual income received this month
$
Baseline plan total (from above)
$
▶ Overflow to distribute (income − plan)
$
Income This Month
$
Set Aside %
$
Priorities Funded
$
Overflow ✓
$
📝 Notes — reminders for a slow or a bumper month
"My income may rise and fall, but my plan holds steady. I pay myself a calm, reliable salary." 🌿
Free Printable — Print as many copies as you need 🌿 SpendWiseCents.com