How to Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck

Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck: 6 Tips

Living paycheck to paycheck is defined as spending almost all of your income on essentials and everyday expenses so you may not be able to save for future goals nor deal with a financial emergency.

According to a December 2024 report by PYMNTS.com, more than 67% of respondents reported they were living paycheck to paycheck at the end of last year. What can you do if you want to beat those odds and get ahead of your bills? Read on for some steps that may help you achieve financial breathing room.

Key Points

•   Living paycheck to paycheck means your earnings are going towards essential and everyday expenses, meaning you have little for savings or emergencies.

•  To stop living paycheck to paycheck, track your spending for at least 30 days to understand your financial habits.

•  Prioritize the essential expenses, such as food, utilities, shelter, and transportation, as well as gradually building an emergency fund in a separate savings account.

•  Reduce your debt using the snowball or avalanche method, and try to increase your income.

•  Set financial goals and use budgeting apps to manage money efficiently.

6 Ways to Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck

Maybe it’s inflation eating up your paycheck these days. Or maybe it’s just… life.

Either way, there are likely adjustments you can make — both big and small — to get yourself to a better place financially. Here are a few basics to consider if you’re wondering how to stop living paycheck to paycheck.

1. Set a Budget

Admit it: You knew the b-word was coming.

Making a budget is the best way we know of to get a better handle on your spending and saving. It can show you where your hard-earned money is going every month — and help you nudge it in a different direction if you don’t like what you see.

Yes, it involves sitting down and doing math. You can look at how much money is going in (say, the amount of direct deposits of your paycheck) and how much is flowing out to debt payments, living expenses, and one-off charges (like your home insurance).

If this feels daunting, know that spending apps that can help you set up budget categories and monitor your money movements all in one place, the process isn’t nearly as tedious as it used to be.

You’ll probably have to tweak your budget from time to time — to deal with quarterly or seasonal bills, for example, or if costs go up. And if you’re a freelancer or seasonal worker, it can be tough to budget on a fluctuating income. But creating a comprehensive and realistic budget you can stick to through thick and thin can help you make your paycheck go further.

2. Focus on the Essentials

As you determine your personal budgeting categories, you’ll also be setting spending priorities. That starts with focusing on the essentials. Unless you’re still living with your parents rent-free, it can be a good idea to figure out the amount you’ll need for food, utilities, shelter, and transportation before anything else.

After that, you can play around a bit with what’s most important to you — your “needs” vs. “wants.” You may have to let go of a few things (sorry, Netflix) when you run out of money to spend. That can help keep you from teetering on the edge of overdrafting your checking account.

No matter what happens, you’ll have a roof over your head and something to eat. The lights, heat, and water in your home will keep working. And you can get where you need to go.

Prepare for the Unexpected

If you’re worried that an unexpected bill could come along at any time and take a huge bite out of your finances, you aren’t alone. About 59% of Americans are unable to cover a $1,000 surprise bill with their savings, according to a 2025 survey by Bankrate.

Financial advisors typically recommend keeping at least three to six months’ worth of expenses stashed away in an emergency fund. If that amount is too daunting, you can start with a much smaller amount. Anything you can put away will help if you suddenly have to pay a medical, home, or car repair bill.

You might want to start an automatic savings program, transferring a small amount of money every paycheck into a dedicated savings account. That can help your emergency fund grow with a minimum of effort.
Two more tips:

•   Consider keeping your emergency fund in an online bank account which often offers low or no fees and higher interest rates, which can help your money grow faster.

•   If you want help doing the math, you can use an online emergency fund calculator.

4. Get Out of Debt

If debt payments (credit cards, student loans, etc.) are a big part of your monthly budget, you may want to rethink your debt payoff strategy.

To truly dump your debt burden — and reclaim the money you’re paying in interest every month so you can save it or use it for other things — it can help to have a debt reduction plan. There are many options to choose from, including these popular strategies:

•   The snowball method: With this strategy you put any extra money you can toward paying off your smallest debt — while making the minimum payment on the others. When that balance is paid off, you can move on to the next smallest bill, and so on — slowly eliminating all your debts.

•   The avalanche method: The avalanche method focuses on high-interest debt. With this strategy, you would put any extra you can toward the credit card or loan with the highest interest rate. When that bill is paid off, you move on to the bill with the next highest interest rate, and so on.

If you’re using credit cards just to keep your head above water, you could end up drowning in debt — especially as interest rates are rising. Try to budget with your credit card wisely, instead of thinking of it as a life raft. Charge only what you can afford to pay off each month.

5. Increase Your Income

If your main income stream just isn’t enough — and a pay raise isn’t coming anytime soon — you may want to consider your options for earning extra cash.

That might mean taking on a side hustle (something you can do when you’re not at your regular job), selling stuff you don’t use any more, or maybe renting out a room in your home. Whatever you choose, try to make it fun (or at least bearable), so you aren’t tempted to give up. And make sure the hours, effort, and money you put into the side gig (for supplies, uniforms, etc.) are worth it and you’re really getting ahead.

Recommended: 24 Best Paying Online Side Jobs for Teachers

6. Increase Your Down Payment

If you’re on the verge of buying a house, consider your options. You may want to think about ways to lower your ongoing monthly mortgage expenses. That’s another idea for how to stop living paycheck to paycheck.

A 20% down payment usually isn’t required to finance a home purchase, and most buyers put down less. Yes, your Realtor® and your lender can help you decide how much your down payment should be. But keep in mind that if you can scrape together more, you’ll borrow less, which means you can have lower monthly payments. You’ll also have more equity sooner, and you’ll pay back less interest over the life of the loan.

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More Tips to Budget and Save Money

Okay, now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s drill down to some other lifestyle changes that can help you spend less and save more.

See the Benefits of Owning Less

It’s tough to say no to buying new, or better, or more — especially when you can make online purchases with just a couple of clicks and use a credit card to pay. But embracing financial minimalism and the mantra that “less is more” can help you change your spending behavior.

Budgeting is a great way to focus on needs vs. wants, and tracking your spending with an app, or even going old-school and writing down every penny you spend in a notebook, can help you set priorities.

Sit Down and Do the Math

It’s easier to get where you want to be if you know where you are. So it can be helpful to pull out all the paperwork when you’re creating your household budget. That means sitting down with purchase receipts, bank and credit card statements, income info, etc., to figure out how much you’re spending every month, what you’re spending it on, and how much you actually have to spend.

Look for Things to Cut

This is the painful part. If you really want to stop living paycheck to paycheck, there’s a good chance you’re going to have to get rid of some of the things you love.

That might mean cutting back on concert or theater tickets (or just choosing cheaper seats). You might have to back off on the morning trips to Starbucks. Or cancel app subscription services. The good news is, you get to pick your priorities — as long as those things track with what you realistically have and want to spend each month.

Embrace a No-Spend Period

It’d be pretty difficult to not spend any money at all for a year — or even a week. (Although some people are trying as part of the “no-spend challenge” trend.)

But by challenging yourself to only spend on things you absolutely have to have for a pre-set period of time, you can really get a feel for what’s important to you. And of course, you save money.

You can go big or small. You can challenge yourself for a year, or a month, or a week. You can try to go without buying anything new, or limit yourself in a specific category: no spending on clothes, shoes, or jewelry; no movies (at the theater or streaming); or no eating at restaurants, for example. And you can post your progress on Twitter or Instagram — if that helps push you to keep going — or you can keep it all private in your diary.

Put Your Savings into a Separate Account

It may seem super convenient to put all your money into a checking account. But that can also make that money super easy to spend.

Funneling some of your funds into a separate savings account can help you keep your hands off your cash as you set up your emergency fund or save for other short- and long-term goals.

And if you put the money into a high-yield online savings account, you typically can earn a higher interest rate than you would with a traditional checking account.

Don’t Be Afraid to Consider Drastic Changes

Some people need to make only a few minor changes to pull out of the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle. Others may need to get more radical. If you can’t get your spending under control, for example, you may need to cut up your credit cards. If you can’t afford your car payments or gas, it might make sense to take the bus or carpool to work. Or you may have to make some uncomfortable budget cuts — like going without cable or shopping at less expensive clothing stores.

When you’re thinking about what moves might help you get ahead, consider crunching the numbers first to see if the change really makes financial sense. Then, try to stay motivated by thinking about what you can do with the money you’ll save. Consulting money management guides can also give you a deeper understanding of how to make changes and spend less.

Avoid Lifestyle Creep

Another idea for how not to live paycheck to paycheck is to be aware of “lifestyle creep.” That’s when your personal cost of living increases as your income increases, perhaps so slowly that you may not notice until you are scrambling to pay your bills.

Maybe you got a raise and thought you could afford to spend a bit more on the things you want. Or maybe your friends are earning more money than they used to — and keeping up socially is hurting you financially.

If you’re overshooting your budget every month and can’t figure out why, it may be time to reexamine your priorities and focus on the larger goals (saving for a house or college for your kids) that could slip away if you can’t get a handle on your spending.

Set Financial Goals

When you’re just winging it financially from month to month and year to year, it can be much harder to live within your means. Setting short- and long-term goals — whether it’s to reduce your debt, build your emergency fund, or save for a new car or home — can motivate you to stay on track.

When you’re setting your goals:

•   Think about what you hope to accomplish and how it would make your life better. (Be specific.)

•   Give yourself a timeline. (Be realistic.)

•   Try to make your goals measurable. (Baby steps are akay!)

Be Patient and Stay Positive

Getting your finances on track can be a little like dieting. You’re bound to slip up from time to time. And getting to your goals may take longer than you planned.

You may even be tempted to give up completely.

But if you stick with your plan, you can improve your financial health — and feel better about yourself and your future.

Recommended: Ways to Reward Yourself Without Breaking Your Budget

Track Your Spending with an Eye Toward Saving

If your goal is to save more, you’ll have to spend less. And one way to get the ball rolling is to track your spending for at least 30 days to see where your money is going.

Once you spot the things you can change, you can start cutting back on current and future spending, and catch up on old debts. Then you can move more and more money to savings — and get closer and closer to your goals.

It may help to choose a budget strategy that focuses on saving, such as the 70-20-10 budget rule, which divides after-tax income into three basic categories: 70% to monthly spending, 20% to savings and debt repayment, and 10% to donations (or to more saving and investing).

The Takeaway

Living paycheck to paycheck is like treading water: You may not be drowning in debt (yet), but you also aren’t getting any closer to your goals.

By taking six critical steps, including budgeting and reducing debt, you can be on a path to end the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle. Doing so can allow you to start building up more money in your bank account.

Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.


Better banking is here with SoFi, NerdWallet’s 2024 winner for Best Checking Account Overall.* Enjoy up to 3.60% APY on SoFi Checking and Savings with eligible direct deposit.

FAQ

What is the 70-20-10 rule for money?

The 70-20-10 rule is a budgeting strategy that focuses on both spending and saving. It says that, from your take-home pay, put 70% toward living expenses, 20% toward savings and debt repayment, and 10% toward donations (or you could put more toward saving and investing).

What is considered not living paycheck to paycheck?

If you aren’t living paycheck to paycheck, you’re living comfortably within or below your means, you’re putting savings away for future goals, and you have an emergency account set up so unexpected bills don’t send you spiraling.

What’s the best way to stop living paycheck to paycheck?

A good first step toward ending the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle is to find out where your money is going every month, and to set up a budget that prioritizes smart spending and saving.

Is living paycheck to paycheck stressful?

Yes, living paycheck to paycheck can be stressful. Living this way can create financial anxiety since you know you likely don’t have enough money to cover unexpected expenses, nor can you save for future financial goals.

How many Americans live paycheck to paycheck?

According to a study conducted in December 2024, fully two-thirds (67%) of Americans were living paycheck to paycheck. That can be seen as a sign that people need to manage their money more carefully to free up funds for savings and long-term goals.


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40+ Creative Ideas to Make Extra Money at Home

Ideas for making money at home are everywhere. And some of the best ones revolve around things you can do online or off, using skills and experience you already have.

Figuring out which money-making idea works for you often depends on how much time you have and how much extra income you’re interested in generating. You might start a side hustle, explore small business ideas, look for passive income options, or get a full-time remote job.

Need some inspiration? Here are more than 40 options to consider.

Key Points

•   Explore opportunities that match your skills and interests.

•   Selling handmade crafts can be a profitable side hustle, but be aware of the time and cost involved.

•   Research competitors’ pricing and marketing strategies.

•   Consider multiple side hustles for diverse income.

•   Be cautious of job scams.

40+ Creative Ways to Make Money

Creative thinking is key to finding different ways to earn an income, especially if your goal is to learn how to make money with no job. Some of the easiest ways to earn extra cash from home are selling a service (i.e., your time and skills) or selling a product.

Can you earn money online without selling anything? Absolutely, and there are plenty of ways to do it. We’ve broken down some different ideas by category to help you find your perfect money-making idea.

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Money-Making Craft Ideas

Selling handmade crafts can be an excellent way to turn a hobby into a side hustle or full-fledged business. You don’t necessarily need to be an expert artisan to get started.

Craft trends come and go, but here are some classic products to consider trying:

•   Crocheted items, such as scarves or baby clothes

•   Handmade soap

•   Handmade candles

•   Bath bombs and bath scrubs

•   Paper goods

•   Jewelry

•   Lip balms

•   Home decor items

•   Lamps and lighting

•   Pillows

•   Vinyl stickers or decals

•   Handpainted signs

•   Hair accessories

•   String art

•   Art prints

•   Tote bags

•   Wreaths

•   Holiday decorations

•   Bookmarks

•   Keychains

•   Dog bowls and other pet accessories

Once you zero in on your craft idea, think about how much time you’ll need to make each item and how much money you’ll need to spend on supplies. This can help you figure out how to price each item and how much profit you stand to make. Tip: Do some online research and see how other sellers are pricing and marketing their items.

Another important consideration is where you sell your goods. Luckily, there’s no shortage of options — here are some to consider:

•   Facebook Marketplace

•   Local Facebook bargain or community groups

•   Etsy

•   Amazon Handmade

•   aftcra.com

•   Craigslist

•   eBay

•   Your own website

•   Craft fairs

•   Local boutiques

If you’re selling your crafts online, remember to factor in shipping costs, taxes, and any fees the platform charges when setting your prices. Otherwise, you could end up shrinking your total profit.

Money-Making Website Ideas

You don’t need a website to earn extra cash from home, but having one could open up new money-making opportunities. To set up a website, you’ll need to find a hosting company and choose a domain. Your domain is your site name.

Once your site is set up, there are several ways you could use it to make money:

Selling products

A website is a great way to sell products you create, such as an e-book, digital printables, or an online course. If you’re selling handmade items, like crafts or clothing, you could set up a shop page on your site instead of using a third-party selling platform.

Selling services

If you don’t want to make a product, you could try selling a service instead. For example, you might use a website to offer services such as writing, photography, graphic design, tutoring, or online coaching.

Affiliate marketing

Affiliate marketing means recommending products and services sold by other people, then collecting a commission when the person you referred makes a purchase. For instance, if you have a pet blog, you could include an affiliate link to your favorite dog food brand. When someone clicks the link and buys the dog food, you make money.

Ads

Hosting ads on your website is another way to potentially earn extra cash from home. Every time someone visits your site and views an ad, you make money. The more traffic — or views — your website gets, the more you could earn.

Sponsored content

Sponsored content is an article, video, social media post, or other type of content that someone pays you to create and post. So again, say you have a pet blog. A dog food company might reach out and ask you to write a sponsored post reviewing their newest product. In turn, they pay you a flat fee for writing and publishing the post. You could also make money if your readers buy the product through your affiliate link.

If you’re interested in making money with a website, it helps to learn more about how to drive traffic. For example, it’s a good idea to know how search engine optimization (SEO) works and how to use it to drive people from Google or other search engines to your site. You may also want to consider how you can use social media to send additional traffic your way.

Money-Making Business Ideas

Thinking about becoming your own boss? If you prefer online business ideas, there are plenty of opportunities to consider, including:

•   Coaching or consulting

•   Interior design

•   Freelance writing or editing

•   Starting an e-commerce store

•   Virtual accounting

•   Transcription services

•   Teaching online through a platform like Outschool

Now, what could you do offline to make money from home? Some small business ideas you might pursue could include starting a home baking business, offering childcare services in your home, or tutoring.

If you’re interested in starting a home business, it’s important to check into any legal requirements in your state first. For example, if you want to launch a baking business from home, you might be subject to local or state restrictions on home kitchens. The same applies if you want to care for children in your home. Once you reach a certain number of children, you may need to register with the state as a daycare center.

Side Hustle Money-Making Ideas

There are lots of low-stress ways to earn money. Will these opportunities make you rich? Not necessarily. But they could be a good way to earn some extra cash in your spare time without a lot of effort.

Here are some ideas to explore:

•   Taking online surveys

•   Joining an online focus group

•   Selling things you no longer need

•   Getting paid to watch videos, play games, or read emails

•   Customer service representative

•   Earning free gift cards or money with cashback apps

•   Becoming a mock juror online

•   Getting paid to test websites or apps

Home Jobs to Avoid

While there are lots of ideas for making extra money, some are better than others. Here are ones to avoid:

•   Illegal side hustles or jobs

•   Work-from-home job scams

•   At-home jobs that require a lot of work for little pay

•   Pyramid schemes or multi-level marketing (MLM) programs

There’s a simple rule of thumb to keep in mind when researching ways to earn extra cash: If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Words and phrases like “guaranteed,” “make money while you sleep,” or “easy money” are often telltale indicators that an at-home job opportunity isn’t everything it seems. It’s also a good idea to be wary of any work-from-home job that requires you to pay fees or a deposit up front before getting started.

Tips for Making Money From Home

If you’re pursuing money-making ideas from home, it helps to know some of the do’s and don’ts so you can avoid job scams while maximizing your earning potential.

When exploring ways to make money from home, do:

•   Look for opportunities that fit your skill set or interests

•   Consider how much time you can put in to making money

•   Weigh any up front investment of time or money that might be required

•   Remember to keep track of work-related expenses using a spending app

•   Report the income you earn on your taxes if you’re required to do so

When looking at ways to make money from home, don’t:

•   Assume it’s easy to make money online

•   Give out personal or sensitive information to people you don’t know

•   Fall for work-from-home job scams

•   “Forget” to report the money you make on your taxes

•   Get frustrated and give up if you’re not making money right away

Also, don’t be afraid to try and try again if something isn’t working out. After all, there’s no single option for how to make extra income from home. You may start off doing one thing and find that another side hustle or job idea is a better fit. And you don’t have to limit yourself to just one thing either — having multiple side hustles can mean multiple streams of income.

The Takeaway

Whether you’re selling goods online, starting a business, or using your website to turn a profit, there’s no shortage of ways to make money from the comfort of home. In fact, you may discover there are multiple opportunities that fit your schedule and interests. As you’re researching your options, factor in how much time and money is required. It’s also a good idea to be wary of opportunities that sound too good to be true, because they probably are. Once you start drawing an income, don’t forget to report it on your taxes, if you’re required to do so.

Take control of your finances with SoFi. With our financial insights and credit score monitoring tools, you can view all of your accounts in one convenient dashboard. From there, you can see your various balances, spending breakdowns, and credit score. Plus you can easily set up budgets and discover valuable financial insights — all at no cost.

See exactly how your money comes and goes at a glance.

FAQ

How can I make $100 a day from home?

Some of the best ways to make $100 a day from home include taking surveys for money, using cashback apps to shop, offering freelance services, and selling printables or handcrafted items online. You can also make $100 a day from home by flipping items you no longer need on sites like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or Craigslist.

How can I make fun money?

If you just want to make some extra money to spend on “fun,” some of the easiest ways to do it include selling things you no longer need, doing odd jobs in your spare time, or getting paid to take surveys and play games through various mobile apps. You can also research weird ways to make money, like donating plasma or selling your hair.

How can I make money just sitting at home?

Some of the best ways to make money sitting at home are passive income ideas that require little to no work. For example, you may be able to make passive income by investing in stocks that pay dividends, setting up an affiliate marketing website to earn commissions when people shop at your affiliate partners, or opening a digital printable shop on sites like Etsy.


About the author

Rebecca Lake

Rebecca Lake

Rebecca Lake has been a finance writer for nearly a decade, specializing in personal finance, investing, and small business. She is a contributor at Forbes Advisor, SmartAsset, Investopedia, The Balance, MyBankTracker, MoneyRates and CreditCards.com. Read full bio.



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Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Tax Refund Schedule for Tax Years 2024 and 2025

The earned income tax credit directly reduces the amount of income tax owed by lower-income working taxpayers. Depending on a tax filer’s number of children, tax filing status, and income, the tax credit can be in the thousands.

Here’s what you need to know about the 2024 EITC tax refund schedule and the 2025 EITC numbers.

Key Points

•   The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a tax benefit for low to moderate-income individuals and families.

•   The schedule is based on factors like filing status, income, and whether the return was filed electronically or by mail.

•   Taxpayers can use the IRS’s “Where’s My Refund?” tool to track the status of their EITC refund.

•   It’s important to file taxes accurately and on time to ensure eligibility for the EITC and receive the refund in a timely manner.

What Is the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)?

The earned income tax credit, also known as the earned income credit (EIC), is a credit that low- to moderate-income workers can claim on their tax returns to reduce federal income tax owed.

Singles or married couples must have some form of earned income to qualify. Above a certain income level, they aren’t eligible for the credit. The number of qualifying children is also a key component of the tax credit.

The credit ranges from $632 to $7,830 for the 2024 tax year (taxpayers filing by April 15, 2025). For context, the average taxpayer received $2,743 from the credit in the 2023 tax year.

For those filing federal returns in 2025, the maximum allowable adjusted gross income (AGI) is $66,819 for a married couple filing jointly who have three or more children. Tables with amounts for the tax credit and maximum AGI are in the next section.

At the very least, the EITC reduces the amount of tax owed. At best, low-income people who have little or no income tax liability can receive the total credit in the form of a tax refund.

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How Does the Earned Income Tax Credit Work?

The EITC is a fairly complicated credit, even for taxpayers who are not filing taxes for the first time. In fact, the IRS sees errors in roughly 27% of tax returns claiming it. Online tax filing software can help. The IRS also offers an “EITC Assistant” calculator.

The amount of the credit depends on the tax filer’s number of qualifying children, filing status, and earned income or AGI. (AGI is defined as gross income — including wages, dividends, capital gains, business income, and retirement distributions — minus adjustments to income, which can be student loan interest, contributions to a retirement account, educator expenses, or alimony payments.)

Investment income must be $11,600 or less in 2024 and $11,950 in 2025.

On your tax form, the credit is filed under the “payments” section, which is a way for the credit to be directly applied dollar for dollar to any income tax you owe.

Workers receive the credit beginning with their first dollar of earned income. The amount of the credit rises with earned income until it reaches a maximum level. Then it begins to phase out at higher income levels.

Taxpayers with earned income or AGI above a certain level won’t qualify for the tax credit at all. These amounts are listed below for tax years 2024 and 2025.

Tax Year 2024 EITC Tax Refund Schedule

Number of children or dependents

Maximum earned income tax credit

Maximum AGI for single, head of household, or widowed filers

Maximum AGI for married joint filers

0 $632 $18,591 $25,511
1 $4,213 $49,084 $56,004
2 $6,960 $55,768 $62,688
3 or more $7,830 $59,899 $66,819

Phaseout amount begins at:

•   Single, head of household, or widowed: $10,330 for no children; $22,720 with qualifying children.

•   Married filing jointly: $17,250 for no children; $29,640 with qualifying children.

Tax Year 2025 EITC Tax Refund Schedule

Number of children or dependents

Maximum earned income tax credit

Maximum AGI for single, head of household, or widowed filers

Maximum AGI for married joint filers

0 $649 $19,104 $26,214
1 $4,328 $50,434 $57,554
2 $7,152 $57,310 $64,430
3 or more $7,830 $59,899 $66,819

Phaseout amount begins at:

•   Single, head of household, or widowed: $10,620 for no children; $23,350 with qualifying children.

•   Married filing jointly: $17,730 for no children; $30,470 with qualifying children.

Looking for insights into your budgeting and spending? An online budget planner can help you keep tabs on where your money is coming and going.

Who Qualifies for the EITC?

To qualify for the EITC, you must have earned income and meet certain AGI requirements.

Types of income include:

•   W-2 wages from employment

•   Self-employment (or gig or freelance) earnings

•   Certain disability benefits

•   Benefits from a union strike

•   Nontaxable combat pay

You do not have to include income from the following sources:

•   Social Security

•   Child support or alimony

•   Unemployment benefits

•   Pensions or annuities

•   Interest and dividends

•   Pay as a prison inmate

What Are ‘Qualifying Children’?

To claim a child for the EITC, a qualifying child must have a valid Social Security number, meet the four tests of a qualifying child, and cannot be claimed by more than one person.

The four tests for a qualifying child are:

•   Age: A qualifying child can be of any age if they are permanently and totally disabled; under age 19 at the end of the year and younger than you; or under age 24 at the end of the year and a full-time student for at least five months of the year and younger than you.

•   Relationship: A qualifying child can be a son, daughter, stepchild, adopted child, foster child, brother, sister, half brother, half sister, stepsister, stepbrother, grandchild, niece, or nephew.

•   Residency: The child lived with you in your home for more than half the year.

•   Joint return: The child is not filing a joint return with anyone, such as a spouse, to claim any tax credits like the EITC.

Recommended: 13 Steps to Prepare for Tax Season

Can You Claim the EITC If You Have No Children?

It is possible to claim the EITC if you have no children, but the income threshold is very low and the credit is small.

For tax year 2024, the maximum credit is $632 for filers without children. The maximum adjusted gross income is $18,591 for taxpayers filing as single, head of household, or widowed and $25,511 for married couples filing jointly.

For tax year 2025, the maximum credit is $649. The income figures are in the table above.

Requirements include:

•   A valid Social Security number

•   Not filing Form 2555 (foreign earned income)

•   Main home is in the U.S. for more than half the year

•   Not claimed as a dependent or qualifying child on another tax return

•   You are at least 19 (or 24 if you were at least a part-time student for at least five months of the year, or at least 18 if you are a former foster child after turning 14 or a homeless youth)

There are also special qualifying rules for clergy, members of the military, and taxpayers and their relatives who receive disability payments.

Recommended: Do You Qualify for the Home Office Tax Deduction?

How the EITC Can Affect When You Receive Your Refund

Your tax refund may be delayed if you claim the EITC and file early in the year. The IRS is required to wait until mid-February to issue refunds when the EITC is claimed.

In general, expect a tax refund by March 3, assuming there were no issues with your tax return and you opted for direct deposit, the IRS says.

Common Errors to Avoid When Claiming the EITC

The IRS lists five snags to avoid when claiming the earned income credit.

1.    Your child doesn’t qualify: The IRS states that most errors occur because the child doesn’t meet the four requirements relating to relationship, residency, age, and filing status.

2.    More than one person claimed the child: Only one person can claim the qualifying child. If the child counts as a qualifying child for more than one person (such as separated or divorced parents), the IRS has some guidelines on how to choose which person can claim the qualifying child.

3.    Social Security number or last name doesn’t match card: The Social Security number and name must be exactly how they appear on the Social Security card.

4.    Married and filed as single or head of household: Taxpayers cannot claim the EITC if they are married and file as single or head of household.

5.    Over- or underreported income or expenses: Be sure to include all types of income from IRS Forms W-2, W-2G, 1099-MISC, 1099-NEC, and other income unless it’s one of the exceptions listed above.

The Takeaway

The EITC offers income tax relief for lower-income workers. If you think you might qualify, look at the EITC tax refund schedules, seek tax help if you need to, and file electronically for a speedier refund. While filing taxes isn’t most people’s idea of fun, an online money tracker can make keeping your financial house in order much easier.

Take control of your finances with SoFi. With our financial insights and credit score monitoring tools, you can view all of your accounts in one convenient dashboard. From there, you can see your various balances, spending breakdowns, and credit score. Plus you can easily set up budgets and discover valuable financial insights — all at no cost.

See exactly how your money comes and goes at a glance.

FAQ

When should I expect my EITC refund?

According to the IRS, a refund with an EITC will arrive around March 3 if you filed electronically and elected for direct deposit, and there were no issues with your return. By law, the IRS cannot issue a tax refund with an EITC before mid-February.

Most taxpayers of all stripes who file electronically should get a refund within 21 days, according to the IRS.

Will there be an EITC in 2025?

Yes, there is an EITC for 2025. It rises to a maximum of $8,046 for the 2025 tax year.

Will tax refunds be bigger in the 2024 tax year?

It’s possible. Many taxpayers could see bigger refunds this year, thanks to changes to the standard deductions and tax brackets for 2024.


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Tax Information: This article provides general background information only and is not intended to serve as legal or tax advice or as a substitute for legal counsel. You should consult your own attorney and/or tax advisor if you have a question requiring legal or tax advice.

Non affiliation: SoFi isn’t affiliated with any of the companies highlighted in this article.

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Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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Improving Your Relationship With Money

It might seem strange to think about having a relationship with money. But it makes sense when you consider that everyone has feelings about money and those feelings can deeply impact our financial behavior.

Your parents, friends, and life experiences have likely helped you develop different perceptions and biases about money. Those attitudes can influence the financial decisions — both large and small — that you make throughout your life. These decisions, in turn, can have a significant impact on your financial health.

When you have a healthy relationship with money, you feel confident, in control, and satisfied with your financial situation. An unhealthy relationship with money, on the other hand, can lead to avoidance, impulsiveness, anxiety, and increased levels of stress. Indeed, in a March 2024 Bankrate survey, 47% of U.S. adults said money has a negative impact on their mental health, including effects like stress, anxiety, depression, and loss of sleep, at least occasionally.

Exploring and understanding your relationship with money can be the first step to improving that relationship and enhancing your financial (and overall) well-being.

Why the Psychology of Money Matters

It’s almost impossible to separate money and emotions. Those feelings may come from the way we grew up and what our parents showed us and told us about money. Or they may come from what we’ve learned about money over the years. Regardless of their roots, negative emotions — like fear, guilt, jealousy and shame — can get in the way of making smart financial decisions. Some examples of how this can play out:

•   The market plummets and fear tells you to get out — which is likely the opposite of what up should do.

•   You’re living paycheck to paycheck but guilt tells you that you should take the kids on vacation anyway.

•   You’ve racked up a lot of credit card debt but feel so ashamed about overspending, you freeze up and avoid your finances altogether.

•   A friend posts photos of their beautifully decorated home on social media and jealousy prompts you to buy furniture you can’t afford.

Emotions aren’t necessarily bad, however. Positive emotions, such as gratitude, serenity, and compassion, can inform our financial habits and decisions in positive ways. Feeling grateful for the money we earn can help us establish a disciplined savings plan. A sense of responsibility and optimism helps motivate long-term financial planning.

The more you understand how emotions impact your relationship with money, generally the easier it is to manage your wealth to achieve your goals.

Recommended: The Future of Financial Well-Being in the Workplace

Finding Your Money Personality Type

Money management habits tend to fall into five financial personality types. Your money “type” can impact your relationship with money and the decisions you make about how to spend, save, and invest it. Often, we fall into a combination of types and not just one. You may find you identify with one or more of these money mindsets.

The Spender

Spenders have no qualms about buying things. They like spending money on material items and experiences that bring them joy, whether it’s the latest iPhone or a vacation in Hawaii.

Spenders are generous with their friends and likely to support charitable causes. However, they often make spontaneous spending decisions and tend to live beyond their means. Many spenders are also investors and aren’t afraid of a risky portfolio.

Potential pitfalls: If you spend everything you make, you can end up going broke. Also, if you spend impulsively (rather than plan your purchases), your spending may not line up with what you truly value.

The Saver

Unlike spenders, savers don’t like to part with money. They continually sock away their paychecks, sometimes with no actual goal in mind. Saving simply makes them feel more secure in life.

Savers don’t keep up with the latest trends and will happily shop around, comparing prices to find the best deal. They will often drive used cars, pay their credit card balance in full each month, and watch their bank accounts grow. Savers tend to be conservative investors.

Potential pitfalls: If you save everything you make, you’re going to miss out on a lot of experiences that can bring happiness and purpose to your life. You could possibly live your whole life without spending much of what you’ve worked so hard to save.

The Avoider

Avoiders don’t like to deal with finances and don’t spend much time thinking about money. It isn’t because they don’t care about money — their head-in-the-sand approach to finance often stems from anxiety about money or a feeling that they don’t deserve to have money.

Avoiders will generally ignore their accounts so that they don’t have to think about money. They tend to let bills pile up and have difficulty making money decisions. Just the idea of going through their financial statements and budgeting makes them feel uneasy.

Potential pitfalls: That lack of attention can result in overdrawn accounts, late payments, and racked-up debt. Avoidance may also mean missed long-term opportunities such as not signing up for a 401(k) match.

The Gambler

These folks are willing to make giant leaps of faith with their money, whether it’s investing in crypto or spending more than they can afford on a home (because it’s bound to go up in value). The thrill of risk and the promise of reward bring them pleasure.

Gamblers also tend to be instinct-driven and don’t pay much attention to sound financial advice. Their risk-taking doesn’t necessarily come from a place of irresponsibility but rather strong gut feelings and a sense of optimism that everything — including their finances — will turn out fine in the long run.

Potential pitfalls: Gamblers are willing to lose it all – and they just may, which can be a huge problem if they are the primary earner in a household. They may also compensate for losses by borrowing against their retirement money or children’s college fund.

The Risk Averse

Unlike gamblers, risk-averse people prize security, financial stability, and planning. Fear of losing money or that they are not doing a good enough job managing their money is at the heart of this money type. A volatile stock market stresses them out, and they’ll spend hours finding the source of a $1.90 error on their bank statement. Above all, the risk-averse wants to be in control.

This group is usually very organized about money, which serves them well. They also tend to prefer safe investments and will be thorough in their research prior to investing.

Potential pitfalls: A more conservative, risk-averse approach can hold you back from worthwhile opportunities to grow your money. Problems can arise if you are too risk-averse to make sound long-term investments.

6 Ways to Improve Your Relationship with Money

Like all relationships, cultivating a good relationship with money takes time and effort. Below are six tips that can help you build a better relationship with money and feel more satisfied — and less stressed — about your financial situation.

1. Examine Your Behaviors

Take a look at your money patterns in the past few months to a year. Are you spending more than you are taking in each month? Have you been making impulsive purchases or investment decisions? Are you avoiding financial decisions, such as how much to contribute to your retirement account?

If you’re unsure what your patterns look like, you may want to track your spending for a few months to get an idea of what money is coming in and going out of your accounts. An easy way to do this is to link your accounts to a budget planning or money tracker app. These tools automatically categorize your spending and provide a bird’s eye view of your finances. This can help you quickly spot trends in your financial behavior.

2. Consider How Emotions Have Impacted Your Financial Decisions

For many people, emotions surrounding money are most acute when they are faced with a big financial decision. It might be when you’re buying a home or making another major purchase, such as a car, or when choosing how to invest your money.

Think back to what emotions you’ve felt while making important financial decisions. Were you focused on what you wanted when you made a large recent purchase, as opposed to what you actually needed? Did your decision line up with your long-term financial goals? Were you gambling on the next big investment trend hoping for a huge reward?

If you see that your emotions are causing you to make poor choices, consider how you can work through those emotions in future scenarios.

3. Set Some Financial Goals

One of the best ways to manage your relationship with money is to know what you want to accomplish financially. If you aren’t working towards anything specific, you may spend more than you should, or the opposite — never reap the rewards of your hard work.

Keep in mind that you can have multiple financial goals with different timelines. Consider where you’d like your finances to be in one year, three to five years, and 10 or more years. Here are some examples of goals you might set:

•   Short-term: Building an emergency fund, buying a new car, or going on vacation

•   Mid-term: Paying off credit card and student debt or putting a downpayment on a home

•   Long-term: Saving for a child’s education or growing your nest egg with retirement planning

Once you’ve come up with a list of achievable and measurable goals, you’ll want to create an action plan to make them happen. This could mean cutting cable to save extra monthly cash, setting up a recurring monthly transfer from your checking to your savings account, and/or contributing more to your 401(k).

4. Communicate with Your Partner

Talking honestly and positively about finances with your significant other can help you have a healthier relationship with that person and also with money. Sharing how you feel about money and the attitudes you learned from your own family can help you and your partner understand each other better.

To get started, you may want to sit down together and talk about what money means to you, what your parents taught you about money, what you want to accomplish with it, and what your fears about money are. Having an understanding of your partner’s beliefs and perceptions can help you avoid conflict and set the stage for healthy discussions about your joint finances. You and your partner can then work together towards shared goals.

You may also want to set up a weekly or monthly money meeting with your partner to go over current challenges and anticipate future needs

5. Talk to a Financial Planner

Working with a professional can be an effective way to take emotions out of your financial decision-making. A financial planner will generally assess your current financial situation, then work with you to develop an individualized financial plan. They can help you set and work towards long-term financial goals, create a budget, build wealth through an investment portfolio, and put protections in place to help secure your future.

6. Review What Resources Your Employer Might Offer

Many companies now offer a range of financial wellness tools and resources that workers can use to strengthen their finances and make sure they’re on the right path for long-term goals. These benefits might include help with student loan repayment, a 401(k) with employer matching, and access to free financial planning and coaching.

If you work for a company that has a benefits portal, that can be a good place to start to see what’s open to you. Ideally, you don’t want to leave anything (money or support) on the table.

The Takeaway

Everyone feels emotions about money. Exploring and understanding your relationship with money can help you take steps to overcome emotional obstacles, reduce money stress, and build a more secure financial future.

Sofi at Work offers a variety of financial wellness and financial education resources to help employees make objective decisions about money and build a positive foundation for financial success.


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4 Monthly Bullet Journal Ideas

Looking to get a better handle on your finances? You may want to consider a monthly bullet journal. Part calendar, part to-do list, part note keeper, this type of journal can help you organize your finances, track short- and long-term financial goals, and more. And because it’s highly customizable, you can modify your journal to suit your specific needs. Whether you’re trying to curb your spending, get out of debt, or improve your financial habits, read on for ways a bullet journal can help.

Key Points

•   Bullet journals provide a visual, organized method to monitor financial goals and expenses.

•   They serve as a tool for planning and reflecting on financial decisions and career moves.

•   A bullet journal can help you manage your spending through setting and tracking budgets.

•   A bullet journal may support your financial education as you monitor your progress and make resource lists.

•   For job searches, you might use a bullet journal for application tracking, position details, and company research.

What Is a Monthly Log?

Having a daily to-do list is useful. But sometimes it helps to see the larger goals and tasks you’ve set for yourself, especially if you’re working to develop good financial habits. Enter the monthly log, which is a key component of many bullet journals. The log gives you a snapshot of the things you’d like to accomplish that month and the progress you’ve made so far. You may choose to include it alongside your daily or weekly to-do list or keep it on a separate page.

How to Fill Out Your Monthly Log

Figuring out what should go in the log each month may take some time. You might find it helpful to make a big list of all upcoming events and tasks. Then, place each item in the correct month’s log, and be sure to add details such as important dates and milestones. You may also decide to categorize and color-code each entry for easy skimming.

Here are some different different ways you can tackle financial stress through journaling:

•   Get control of bills by listing when each bill is due, how much is due, and the payment method you plan on using.

•   Keep tabs on your savings plan by noting when you intend on putting money into your savings account, how much you’re depositing, and where the money is coming from, such as your checking account or paycheck.

•   Track your progress on paying down student loans, car loans, personal loans, credit cards, and other debt.

You can also use a monthly log along with your budget or a spending app to help you better understand your spending habits.

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Benefits of Using a Bullet Journal

There are plenty of reasons why many people turn to bullet journaling to help them keep their finances on track. For starters, recording things like your expenses and spending, household budget, or savings goals can help you stay organized and increase productivity. There’s also the thrill of watching your savings balance go up or debt balance go down — and celebrating those accomplishments.

Visual learners may find monthly logs especially useful, particularly if they decide to color-code entries. But even just jotting down important details about your financial life can help keep your goals top of mind.

4 Monthly Bullet Journal Ideas

Here’s the beauty of a bullet journal: You can try out strategies others use or create a bespoke system for yourself. It can be as simple or complex as you’d like, and you may even find that it evolves over time. Here are four ideas on how to use bullet journaling in your financial life.

Use a Bullet Journal to Control Spending

You don’t have to have the classic signs of a shopaholic to want to curb your spending. A bullet journal can be a great tool to help you rein in the number of purchases you make.

One idea is to create a weekly bullet journal where you set how much you’ve allotted for discretionary spending that week and track any purchases made. Understanding how and where your money is going could help you avoid the bottom-dollar effect. This is when you may feel less satisfied with the last item you were able to buy with your budget.

Another option is the kakeibo budgeting method. This simple but effective strategy requires you to create a line item budget at the start of each month based on how much you plan on earning and spending, plus your savings goals. Throughout the month, you track every single penny you spend. At the end of month, review the log to see if you stayed on track spending-wise and are making progress on your savings goals.

Recommended: 10 Tips for Spending Your Money Wisely

Use a Bullet Journal for Financial Education

Despite what you may think, you can learn about finance without having a finance background. In fact, boosting your financial literacy could improve how well you spend, save, and invest your money. And a bullet journal might help get you there. You can use it to track your progress in an online financial literacy course, for example, or as a place to write down the books or podcasts that will help build your personal finance knowledge.

Use a Bullet Journal to Land a Job

Whether you’re searching for your dream job or just the next gig, consider devoting a few pages of your bullet journal to your job search. You may want to start by listing your goals in an easy-to-see spot so you can refer to them throughout the process. Use other areas to note the roles you apply for, key details about the positions, notes on the companies you researched, and any upcoming interviews. You can also try creating daily, weekly, or monthly to-do lists in your journal to help you stay on track.

Recommended: How to Make Money Even With No Job

Use a Bullet Journal to Track Progress on Long-Term Goals

Let’s say that you’re saving for a big-ticket item, like a house or car, or setting a long-term goal, such as paying off a large credit card bill. Bullet journaling lets you set those goals and track your progress. You can also break the goals down into smaller, easier-to-manage tasks that you set on a daily, weekly, monthly, or quarterly basis.

The Takeaway

Bullet journals allow you to record tasks, deadlines, responsibilities, and more in a format that combines a to-do list with a calendar. Though it can serve a wide variety of purposes, a bullet journal can also help you organize your finances and maximize your productivity. Common ideas include journaling to control spending, boost your financial literacy, help with a job search, and work on short- and long-term financial goals.

Take control of your finances with SoFi. With our financial insights and credit score monitoring tools, you can view all of your accounts in one convenient dashboard. From there, you can see your various balances, spending breakdowns, and credit score. Plus you can easily set up budgets and discover valuable financial insights — all at no cost.

With SoFi, you can keep tabs on how your money comes and goes.

FAQ

What should be in a monthly bullet journal?

Monthly bullet journals are flexible, so use them to suit your needs. For instance, if you want to monitor and manage your personal finances, you can use the bullet journal to track when bills are due, when you plan to deposit money into a savings account, how much debt you have, and more.

How do you make a monthly bullet journal?

You can purchase ready-made bullet journals or make your own. If you go the DIY route, simply buy a notebook you like and personalize it. It’s a good idea to create an index that you can update when needed as well as a log to list your future goals. You can also create sections for monthly and daily logs, where you can add more details.

What are monthly spreads for?

A monthly spread is another name for a monthly log. This is where you lay out the tasks you have for a particular month. Typically, a spread runs two or more pages, but do whatever works best for you.


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