They're Out to Get Me
from 
JoeUser Forums
JoeUser Forums
A lot of people, a majority I would even venture to say, get paid on a bi-weekly basis, that is to say, every two weeks. I would also be so bold as to even suggest that most people split their monthly bills into a first of month and a 15th of month.
Budgeting this way results in two extra paydays each year, almost like bonuses.
I'm sure that's not ground-breaking news for any of you, but my train of thought continues on to realize that this majority can be split into two groups, Week A and Week B. Those that get paid in the first week of the year and those that get paid the second, respectively. This means that up to four times a year there is a surge in spending. I mean, I spend my extra paychecks, so I'm assuming most everyone else does too. This is a smaller "most everyone," than my prior loosey-goosey statistics (maybe someday, if I ever get to be a rich and famous writer, I'll hire a researcher to do the tedious googling for my "essays") because I do realize that there are going to be a significant number that actually use these boons to pay down debt or establish emergency savings or something likewise.....wise. Regardless, this surge in spending has GOT to be something that advertisers/retailers are aware of and target.
Just briefly recalling, as I approach this Christmas season, and giving thanks that one of these "extras" is happening my next payday, and it seems that I am always "rescued" just in time by such an event. An unexpected and unplanned for extra payday.
As I get older and more mature in my career (I was a late starter, not entering the workforce until I was in my late twenties with barely an Associates Degree and a child to raise) I am starting to learn how to balance my life money-wise. I am starting to plan ahead.
Christmas is awful convenient to the commercial retail industry isn't it? It falls close enough to one of those two "boons" that people are either willing to spend instead of save, or go into debt, banking on a boon early next year, all in the spirit of love, humanity, and warmth.
Ah, well. Now I KNOW they're out to get me...ok, not ME but my money.
Budgeting this way results in two extra paydays each year, almost like bonuses.
I'm sure that's not ground-breaking news for any of you, but my train of thought continues on to realize that this majority can be split into two groups, Week A and Week B. Those that get paid in the first week of the year and those that get paid the second, respectively. This means that up to four times a year there is a surge in spending. I mean, I spend my extra paychecks, so I'm assuming most everyone else does too. This is a smaller "most everyone," than my prior loosey-goosey statistics (maybe someday, if I ever get to be a rich and famous writer, I'll hire a researcher to do the tedious googling for my "essays") because I do realize that there are going to be a significant number that actually use these boons to pay down debt or establish emergency savings or something likewise.....wise. Regardless, this surge in spending has GOT to be something that advertisers/retailers are aware of and target.
Just briefly recalling, as I approach this Christmas season, and giving thanks that one of these "extras" is happening my next payday, and it seems that I am always "rescued" just in time by such an event. An unexpected and unplanned for extra payday.
As I get older and more mature in my career (I was a late starter, not entering the workforce until I was in my late twenties with barely an Associates Degree and a child to raise) I am starting to learn how to balance my life money-wise. I am starting to plan ahead.
Christmas is awful convenient to the commercial retail industry isn't it? It falls close enough to one of those two "boons" that people are either willing to spend instead of save, or go into debt, banking on a boon early next year, all in the spirit of love, humanity, and warmth.
Ah, well. Now I KNOW they're out to get me...ok, not ME but my money.