Living paycheck to paycheck is what money you get on payday and you have zero dollar in a few days after you get paid. This is a reality for most people. Where all the hard earn money go? Statistics is only good for information but it will not help. Try this monthly. See sample on the blog or create your own personal money management. Income every two weeks for a month and expenses such as rent or mortgage, groceries, water bills, electric bills, gas or whatever type of transportation to get to work, car payment, and car insurance. Write all the necessary expenses for a month. Deduct total expenses with your money income. (Write it down to see what happen to your money.)

May____ ~ May ____

1st two week Income:
2nd two week Income:

1. Rent/Mortgage
2. Groceries
3. Water
4. Electric
5. Gas/Transportation
6. Car Payment
7. Car Insurance
8.
9.
10.

Income Total – Total Expenses = $0

(If you are getting a loan or charging anything to your credit card, you need to evaluate your spending habit. If you are using bank line of credit, you are spending bank money that you don't have to begin with. NEVER sign up for money you don't have instead do something about it.)

~Be aware if it says PENDING on your bank account that money is not cleared yet.

~As for pending deposit, you cannot spend it before it is cleared. If you start spending before it is cleared, the bank will charge your account for each company or each check a bank fee of $29.00 or more depending on your bank.

For example, you bought gas for $10.00 and you will see on your account a $29.00 bank fee.  Now, you end up paying $ 39.00 for a $10.00 gas.  Ridiculous but it is a reality!  So, if you go to the store spend another $45.00 and you will see another $29.00 bank fee.  Take notice of all bank fee.

A – Expenses	B – Bank Fee	C – Total
Gas $10.00	Bank Fee $29.00	$39.00
Safeway $45.00	Bank Fee $29.00	$74.00
Electric $200.00	Bank Fee $29.00	$229.00

~As for pending charge on your account or not charge yet, it is not cleared out of your account. DO NOT start spending before your pending charge or your auto pay are paid. KNOW when is the bills are due date and how much. Auto pay is another problem. Never sign up for it if you are living paycheck to paycheck. Unless you have no choice because you are traveling and you just want to get it paid.

What happen when you spend money before pending charge? You end up paying company for bounce check($30.00 or more/less) and late fees($15.00 or 10% maybe more/less). Don’t forget bank also charge bank fee($25.00 or more/less).

For example, let's say you have a $100.00 insurance bill.  You start spending the money before paying your bills that is on the pending charge.  By the time, it was charge you do not have enough money to cover the bill.  The check bounce and it is return back to you bank.  Since, it was not paid on time. The insurance company now will charge you for bounce check and late fees.  They will even send it to collection company that charge fees as well.  Don't forget your bank will charge you too.  Hopefully you catch it before everyone just start taking out your money out of your account.  It is legal that is the sad thing.  Wait!  This is all start with your doing.     

A Bill	B Fees	C Total
Insurance Bill $100.00	Late Fees
	Bounce Check Fee
	Collection Agency Fee

For $100.00 bill. You will be paying twice or more for one bill plus a headache. You could have save or pay your credit card with. Believe me company, collection agency and bank like it when you spend. All of them will get to charge you for more. Write C-Total the fee charge to your account. Check your bank statement. You work hard and you need to know where all your hard earned money go.