How do most people cope with repeated 5 week months in this country?

[woody87]

DH and I lived overseas for a number of years, fortnightly pay was standard in almost all industries.

Since moving back to the U.K and both commencing work with the NHS I am astounded that people just put up with repeated 5 week pay cycles.

NHS pays on the last Thursday of the month in Scotland, however nursery fees (£800) are due on the 27th of the month with no exceptions and the latest date that council tax, British Gas and my mortgage company will accept is the 28th!

Therefore this month I had to pay almost £2k of bills out of savings three days before we were due to be paid and I fully accept that I am in a fortunate enough position to actually have a small amount of savings that can cover this.

What on Earth do people do if they don't have savings? Overdraft? Then incurring fees that go into the banks pocket?

This country is a fucking riot.

All bills are set to come out the start of the month not the end. I'd change as many as you can so you get paid 28th and then you pay the bills in the next few days

I don’t really understand your problem
i get paid calendar monthly and all my bills go out calendar monthly
I get paid on 28th or earlier if that falls on a weekend - all my bills go out between 1st and 7th - then I just have food, fuel and personal spending to find

The early Christmas pay doesn't automatically mean a 6 week month - that's a choice.

I get paid last working day of every month - except December, when I get paid at LEAST a week early. This year was 9 days.

Rather than add that on to January and make it 40 days I put the early pay in my savings account until the 31st December.

January was then 4 weeks and 3 days long.

I do this every year.

November pay covers ALL of December, and no matter when I get December's pay I don't touch it until 31st. Zero stress. (I also save for Christmas every month).

As for bills - separate bill account. Money goes in on pay day, and dd dates have zero impact.

OP, I think you need to do careful budgeting, taking into account the five week gaps. They are predictable, just annoying, So you will need to set aside money in the 4 week periods in order to ensure that there is always a buffer ready for the five week period. Once you have the system and budget in place, it will be a lot less stressful.

Change your direct debits so they come out a day or so after pay day. So if you are paid at the end of the month change your due dates to 1st or the 2nd.

Once you are in flow it works.

I get paid 23rd, direct debit all come out.ahortly after that

@IIVFPrayingForBioChild is that a joke?!