If you get paid every other week, you probably look forward to the months when you receive three paychecks instead of only two.

For most of my career as a salaried employee, I was paid biweekly and received 26 paychecks a year. That’s two more than people who are paid twice a month.

Take a look at the math:

• Biweekly: 52 weeks ÷ 2 = 26 paychecks
• Twice a month: 12 months × 2 = 24 paychecks

Every year, I would pull out a calendar and identify the three paycheck months based on my employer’s pay schedule.

3 Paycheck Months in 2022 if You’re Paid Every Other Friday

Although I’m no longer paid biweekly, I’ve continued this tradition for the past few years on MichaelSaves.com.

Here are the three paycheck months that I’ve identified for 2022:

• If your first paycheck of 2022 is Friday, January 7, your three paycheck months are April and September.
• If your first paycheck of 2022 is Friday, January 14, your three paycheck months are July and December.

List of Every Friday Biweekly Payday in 2022

First Paycheck of 2022: Friday, January 7

1. January 7
2. January 21
3. February 4
4. February 18
5. March 4
6. March 18
7. April 1
8. April 15
9. April 29
10. May 13
11. May 27
12. June 10
13. June 24
14. July 8
15. July 22
16. August 5
17. August 19
18. September 2
19. September 16
20. September 30
21. October 14
22. October 28
23. November 11
24. November 25
25. December 9
26. December 23

First Paycheck of 2022: Friday, January 14

1. January 14
2. January 28
3. February 11
4. February 25
5. March 11
6. March 25
7. April 8
8. April 22
9. May 6
10. May 20
11. June 3
12. June 17
13. July 1
14. July 15
15. July 29
16. August 12
17. August 26
18. September 9
19. September 23
20. October 7
21. October 21
22. November 4
23. November 18
24. December 2
25. December 16
26. December 30

The example shown above is only for employees who are paid every other Friday.

If you’re paid biweekly but not on Fridays, identify your three paycheck months for 2022 by pulling out a calendar, marking your paydays and finding the months with three of them.

Make a Plan for Your Third Paychecks

If you determine your three paycheck months in advance, you can make a plan for how you’ll spend the money and reach your savings goals faster.

To simplify the budgeting process, I’ve always recommended that people who are paid biweekly build their monthly budget based on receiving two paychecks a month and not a penny more!

And during the months when you receive three paychecks instead of two, treat the money as a bonus!

Need some ideas for how you’ll spend, save or invest your third paychecks? Here are just a few of the ways I’ve taken advantage of three paycheck months in the past:

• Pay down mortgage principal
• Pay a semi-annual bill like auto insurance
• Fund a home improvement project
• Add to the emergency fund
• Invest in a Roth IRA
• Save money for Christmas presents
• Book a weekend trip

What’s your strategy for your three paycheck months in 2022? Let me know in the comments below and see this step-by-step guide to learn about my personal budgeting strategy.

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• How to Create a Monthly Budget That Actually Works