7 Mistakes People Make When Getting Their Paychecks Early
Written by
Laura Beck
Edited by
Rebekah Evans
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Sometimes payday can’t come fast enough — which means a lot of us are turning to services that allow us to get our paychecks earlier, so we have money in our pockets. It seems like a complete blessing — but there can be some downsides.
Here are seven mistakes people make when getting their paychecks early.
Treating It Like Found Money
When money shows up in your account earlier than expected, it feels like a windfall.
“Sometimes, when pay is received sooner than expected, it is treated as a bonus, rather than an early distribution,” said Thomas Brock, chartered financial analyst (CFA) and expert with Annuity.org. “This can result in careless spending and a budget shortfall.”
That dinner out or impulse Amazon purchase suddenly seems like a no-brainer when the money’s in your account. If this is an issue for you, remember the solution is to budget, budget, budget.
Creating a Never-Ending Cycle
Notice how you need your paycheck earlier and earlier each time? That’s because you’re actually shrinking your pay periods.
Get paid five days early once and suddenly you’re on a different schedule — one that keeps getting shorter.
Forgetting About Due Dates
Your landlord doesn’t care that you got paid early — rent is still due on the first.
One of the biggest mistakes early-pay users make is spending that money immediately without remembering that all those bills are still coming on their regular schedule. Setting up alerts or auto payments can be a good solution to this problem.
Ignoring the Hidden Costs
Think that early pay service is free? Think again.
Between “optional” tips (that don’t feel so optional), express transfer fees and monthly subscriptions, you could be paying a significant amount just to access your own money a few days early. Make sure to do the math before you commit.
Skipping the Emergency Fund
When you’re grabbing your money as soon as possible, you might never give yourself breathing room to build savings.
The irony? A small emergency fund would eliminate the need for early access in the first place.
Losing Your Paycheck Rhythm
Using early pay features regularly makes it easy to lose track of when you actually get paid. This confusion makes budgeting nearly impossible and can wreak havoc on your ability to plan for bigger expenses.
Masking Bigger Financial Problems
The most dangerous mistake? Using early pay as a quick fix for larger money issues.
If you’re consistently needing your money early just to make ends meet, that’s a red flag that something in your budget isn’t working. Early access doesn’t solve income shortfalls or overspending — it just temporarily hides them. Your best bet? Use it sparingly for genuine emergencies, not as your regular financial strategy.
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