Here Are The 3 Paycheck Months For 2021 + What to Do With Your Third Check
Last Updated: February 22, 2021 • 5 min read
Author: Zach L.
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Most W-2 workers get paid twice a month or biweekly.
Most W-2 workers get paid twice a month or biweekly. If you, like many others, are getting paid biweekly, there are two or three months in 2021 in which you will get three paychecks and it all depends on when you get your first paycheck of the year.
Most W-2 workers get paid twice a month or biweekly. If you, like many others, are getting paid biweekly, there are two or three months in 2021 in which you will get three paychecks and it all depends on when you get your first paycheck of the year.
Paid Every 2 Weeks?
If you are getting paid semi-monthly, usually on or around the 15th and 30th of each month, that's 24 paychecks every single year.
However, if you are getting paid on a biweekly schedule, like every other Friday, that would end up being 26 paychecks in a year.
If you are getting 26 paychecks a year that would mean there will be two months every single year that you would get three paychecks instead of two.
What months are the three paycheck months in 2021? Good question, this year that depends on the day you received your first paycheck of the year.
All Three Paycheck Months in 2021
January 1st of 2021 is a Friday, but it is also a Holiday. That means you may receive 3 paychecks in January 2021. You may also get paid on Thursday, December 31st of 2020, it all depends on how your employer handles payroll. If you end up getting paid on the 31st, that would make December 2020 a three-paycheck month, instead of January 2021.
All Three Paychecks Months in 2021 Starting January 1
If you get your first paycheck of 2021 on January 1st, your 2021 three paycheck months are July and December. January could possibly be a three paycheck month as well, it all depends on if you actually receive your check on January 1st.
- January 1
- January 15
- January 29
- February 12
- February 26
- March 12
- March 26
- April 9
- April 23
- May 7
- May 21
- June 4
- June 18
- July 2
- July 16
- July 30
- August 13
- August 27
- September 10
- September 24
- October 8
- October 22
- November 5
- November 19
- December 3
- December 17
- December 31
2021 Three Paycheck Months Starting January 8
If you get your first paycheck of 2021 on January 8th, your three paycheck months will be April and October.
- January 8
- January 22
- February 5
- February 19
- March 5
- March 19
- April 2
- April 16
- April 30
- May 14
- May 28
- June 11
- June 25
- July 9
- July 23
- August 6
- August 20
- September 3
- September 17
- October 1
- October 15
- October 29
- November 12
- November 26
- December 10
- December 24
How Does This Work if I Don't Get Paid on Fridays?
If you get paid every other week (biweekly), but not on Fridays you can easily figure it out on your own. Grab a calendar and your favorite marker and start circling the first day you got a paycheck in 2020 and then circle every two weeks until you find your 3 paycheck months!
How to Treat Third Paychecks as Bonus Money
Unfortunately, your boss doesn't just hand out "bonus" paychecks. Here's a simple tip to help you make your third paycheck feel like a bonus: budget as if you were only getting two paychecks every month.
It sounds easy, doesn't it? However, if you do that, all your expenses for the month will be budgeted based on a normal two paycheck month. When you get that "bonus" third paycheck, you'll find a lot of extra cash in your pocket. If you haven't started a budget yet, a three paycheck month is the perfect excuse to get started.
You should treat that money as a bonus. You can do whatever you would like with it, but here are some good ideas to help you on your way:
Make the Most of Your "Bonus" Paychecks
- Pay Off Debt
- Save For a Rainy Day
- Prepay Some Bills
- Start Saving for Retirement
- Treat yourself
Start a Plan
Three paycheck months provide you with many opportunities to improve your financial position. You can make your future a little more secure, pay off some outstanding debt, or take care of a large expense.
No matter how you plan on using those third checks make sure to be intentional with your money. You won't regret it!