Method
Semi-monthly budget: two checks, two bill batches
Semi-monthly pay — the 1st and the 15th — creates two natural bill batches: the first check covers the 1st-to-14th bills, the second covers the 15th-to-end bills. A semi-monthly budget assigns each batch to its check and shows the balance between paydays on the calendar.
- Two checkpoints a month
The 1st and 15th structure the whole month's plan.
- Batches repeat monthly
Bills in each half-month project forward automatically.
- Mid-month gap visible
See if the second check covers the second batch before it arrives.
- Free core
The calendar and recurring plans are free forever.
The two-batch method
List everything due from the 1st to the 14th and assign it to the first check; everything from the 15th on goes to the second. The calendar makes the split visual: two paydays, two batches, and a running balance that shows whether either check is short.
Handling the mismatch
When a big bill — rent, insurance — sits just before payday, the batch assignment breaks. The fix is the same as any timing problem: move the due date, split the bill across both checks, or hold a small buffer between the 14th and the 15th. The calendar shows the mismatch the month before it bites.
Frequently asked questions
What is a semi-monthly budget?
Planning around two checks a month (typically the 1st and 15th), with each check covering the bills due before the next.
Is semi-monthly different from biweekly?
Yes — semi-monthly is 24 checks a year on fixed dates; biweekly is 26 checks every two weeks.
Is it free?
Yes — the calendar and recurring plans are free forever.
Two checks, two batches, one plan
Free core, one-time Pro, no bank linking.