--- title: I Stole This Payday Ritual From TikTok. Will It Actually Work? description: With any dreaded task, like going to the gym or budgeting, establishing a routine is crucial because it means you'll actually accomplish it. authors: - name: Julia Glum role: Managing Editor url: https://money.com/author/julia-glum/ bio: Julia Glum joined Money in 2018 and specializes in covering financial trends that affect everyday Americans' wallets. She also writes Dollar Scholar, a weekly newsletter that teaches young adults how to navigate the messy world of money. education: University of Florida at_money_since: 2018 articles: 453 covers: - Personal Finance - Banking - Business - Career Advice - Credit - Credit Cards - Debt - Economy and Politics - Education - Health and Wellness - Housing - Identity Theft - Insurance - Investing - Lifestyle - Loans - Mortgages - Professional Services - Retirement - Shopping - Taxes - Technology also_seen_in: - Newsweek - International Business Times - CBS News - Good Morning America - WUSA9 - Pix 11 - The New York Times - Mashable - The Washington Post - CNBC - Politico social: - https://x.com/superjulia - https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-glum editors: - name: Katherine Peach role: Associate Editor url: https://money.com/author/katherine-peach/ bio: Katherine Peach is an associate editor with a focus on news and email at Money. Her writing and editing work has been featured in Investing Daily, Clever, Investor Junkie, The Palm Beach Letter, Truth & Plenty, Independence Monthly, NICHE, AmericanStyle, AntiqueWeek, Millennial Money, Money Done Right, TheStreet, Sure Dividend and many others. education: University of Maryland, Baltimore County at_money_since: 2025 articles: 14 covers: - Personal Finance - Banking - Career Advice - Credit - Credit Cards - Debt - Economy and Politics - Education - Federal Reserve Rate Cuts - Health and Wellness - Housing - Identity Theft - Insurance - Investing - Lifestyle - Loans - Mortgages - Professional Services - Retirement - Shopping - Taxes published: '2025-12-11T13:30:46.000Z' section: Personal Finance tags: - dollar scholar - News word_count: 894 canonical: https://money.com/dollar-scholar-payday-ritual/ type: NewsArticle source: structured-blocks --- > **Disclosure:** We research all brands listed and may earn a fee from our partners. Research and financial considerations may influence how brands are displayed. Not all brands are included. [Learn more](https://money.com/page/disclaimer/). ![Dollar Scholar banner featuring a calendar with a payday](https://img.money.com/2025/08/Dollar-scholar-payday-ritual.jpg) *This is an excerpt from Dollar Scholar, the Money newsletter where managing editor Julia Glum teaches you the modern money lessons you NEED to know. Don't miss the next issue! Sign up at **[money.com/subscribe](https://money.com/subscribe/dollar-scholar/)** and join our community of 160,000+ Scholars.* * * * A few years ago, I got really into painting my nails. It became a nice Sunday routine: I'd put on a silly background show like *Nailed It!*, grab my Caboodle of supplies and get to work. I would cut my nails, file them and oil my cuticles before brushing on two coats of color polish followed by a quick-dry top coat. All those steps, in that order, made for the perfect at-home manicure. This led me to develop routines for other everyday activities, like grocery shopping and doing my laundry. I fully evolved into a creature of habit. But I never even thought about introducing a payday ritual into the lineup — until I saw [a TikTok](https://nypost.com/2024/03/22/lifestyle/gen-z-tiktokkers-reveal-how-much-how-they-budget-their-finances-in-hot-new-payday-routines-trend/) about it. ## Save time & stress — Get expert financial peace of mind ![Get Started](https://s3.consumersadvocate.org/prd/image/image/39598/medium_1ef76516-dc75-4ee1-bb20-abc490a96567.webp) Our Partner [Get Started](https://money.com/go/c7531779b97e?bidid=4114506139&pmeta=p129-c579-u41076&ptid=670737453&ptoken=c797c5d9880db568e6a2dab5b35502e8) ![Get Started](https://s3.consumersadvocate.org/prd/image/image/23375/medium_3bc88782-8fff-4c3e-85cb-335c9fcf36de.png) Our Partner [Get Started](https://money.com/go/feb91d272505?bidid=4114506143&pmeta=p129-c579-u41076&ptid=670737453&ptoken=605e8d28f32476f36a903555c2e92072) ![Get Started](https://s3.consumersadvocate.org/prd/image/image/28104/medium_d5970849-7b23-4f32-80c4-adde5be39b6c.png) Our Partner [Get Started](https://money.com/go/42a96945c208?bidid=4114506149&pmeta=p129-c579-u41076&ptid=670737453&ptoken=ce748e129895ff6f90f30861d515d5e0) ![Get Started](https://s3.consumersadvocate.org/prd/image/image/40082/medium_de803292-9580-4414-9107-91d45041ef0b.webp) Our Partner [Get Started](https://money.com/go/89bd0ce3285a?bidid=4114506146&pmeta=p129-c579-u41076&ptid=670737453&ptoken=d71f65a3a0fb384f5fdcb68e93953edc) ![Get Started](https://s3.consumersadvocate.org/prd/image/image/35117/medium_4cd45dfc-1300-479a-bf70-a79e0df6b02f.webp) Our Partner [Get Started](https://money.com/go/d54616b5ee7b?bidid=4114506152&pmeta=p129-c579-u41076&ptid=670737453&ptoken=921ac5e100b7ae4965e2c718efd9230e) ## What is a payday ritual? Michael Pumphrey, wealth advisor at [Tanglewood Total Wealth Management](https://www.tanglewoodwealth.com/), says the definition of payday ritual is simple: It's "a dedicated time to reflect and to focus on how you're doing and what you can continue to work on to get you where you want to be." It doesn't matter whether you get paid weekly, biweekly or monthly — the benefit lies largely in the fact that you're keeping a regular appointment with yourself. With any dreaded task, like going to the gym or taking out the trash, establishing a routine is crucial because it means you'll actually accomplish it. Otherwise, Pumphrey adds, something like budgeting "can easily fall to the bottom of your priority list." Consistency is key here, says Mandy Kelso, TD Bank's head of financial education. It's less about stopping yourself from spending money the second you get it and more about using payday as an opportunity to manage your cash flow. "It ensures that every decision you make — big or small — supports your life goals and enables you to grow financially," she says. "You should feel a sense of empowerment around your financial health and more peace of mind." Fine, I'm convinced. So what actually needs to be on the checklist? Kelso says the first thing to do is housekeeping: Make sure you've received the right amount from your employer. You should also scrutinize your pay stub to confirm that withdrawals like your 401(k) and health savings account contributions have come out properly, says Equitable Advisors' Zach Melone. Next, begin dividing up your take-home pay. You'll want to prioritize your essential expenses, paying down debt and your emergency fund. Then you can allocate the remaining balance to align with your goals. Those goals will vary from person to person. Maybe you want to invest for retirement or save for a new car, while I have my heart set on buying a Ninja Slushi or taking a trip to Amsterdam. Payday is the perfect chance to see whether you're on track — and, if not, change your approach, Pumphrey says. One way to do this is by working backward: Start with the sum of money you know you'll need and do the math to determine how much of each paycheck you need to sock away to reach that sum on time. But if that's too complicated, you might want to follow [the 50-30-20 rule](https://money.com/how-much-you-should-save-every-paycheck/). It suggests spending 50% of your income on needs, 30% on wants and 20% on savings. "These simple but effective actions will create a routine that puts you one step closer to achieving your financial goals, every time you get paid," Kelso adds. This might sound like a lot of work (and it is). Thankfully, there are hacks that can make payday rituals an easier lift. Perhaps the simplest is to automate everything. Melone gives a great example**:** If you get $3,000 deposited into a checking account on the first of the month, you should set it up so that on the third of the month, $300 goes to a Roth IRA where it gets automatically invested, $300 is whisked away to a savings account for a house down payment and $1,000 gets transferred for rent. By addressing your obligations upfront, all you really have to do on payday is check that the deposits are in the right place (and that you're progressing toward your financial milestones). The experts' other tip for painlessly creating a payday ritual is to incentivize yourself to complete it. Pumphrey suggests following your budget review sesh with a nice dinner; Kelso recommends pairing it with a celebratory coffee. "If treating yourself each payday helps you stay on course, include that in your budget," she says. ## The bottom line A payday ritual — in which you set aside time to evaluate your behaviors, check in on your progress and identify needed changes — can set you up for success. Everyone's routine may be slightly different, but it can really move the needle. "The true impact of a payday ritual is that it encourages you to manage your finances with intention, consistency and protection," Kelso adds. "By doing so regularly, you place yourself on a clearer path toward lasting financial health." ## Get the financial advice you need, without leaving your home ### An Online Financial Advisor can help you develop a sound and effective economic plan that works for you. Click below to learn more. [Get Started](https://money.com/pr/u73fdabeac7e?ap_referrer=%2Fdollar-scholar-payday-ritual%2F) ![](https://s3.consumersadvocate.org/prd/image/image/26409/medium_84cd5235-e7cf-4d20-aff5-f5197af93ec8.png) Financial Advisors are standing by, ready to help you out today. [Get Started](https://money.com/pr/u30e1ddd1d92?ap_referrer=%2Fdollar-scholar-payday-ritual%2F) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "@id": "https://money.com/dollar-scholar-payday-ritual/#breadcrumb", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://money.com" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Personal Finance", "item": "https://money.com/personal-finance/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Dollar Scholar", "item": "https://money.com/dollar-scholar/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I Stole This Payday Ritual From TikTok. 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