Cash flow basics for irregular income
When takings jump around week to week, a monthly average is not enough. Use a rolling view instead.
Irregular income makes a monthly budget feel broken. One strong week and you feel rich. One quiet week and you feel behind.
Start with a 13-week view instead of a single month. List expected money in and money out by week. Include wages, rent, stock, tax set-aside, and your own pay.
Then separate "coming in" from "safe to use". Coming in is the invoice or till total. Safe to use is what remains after tax, essentials, and a small buffer.
If a week goes better than expected, bank the surplus against the next soft week rather than expanding spend immediately.
This is less exciting than a growth plan, and more useful on a Tuesday morning when the account is thinner than you hoped.
