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Got a Bonus at Work? Here’s What to Do First
Experts say workers can split bonuses into savings, debt repayment and fun spending using a 50/30/20 formula.
A Reddit poster recently asked how others plan to spend work bonuses, with responses ranging from paying off debt to splurging on luxuries like scarves and styling appliances.
Skip Skolnik, senior planner and founder at Skolnik Retirement Solutions in Amherst, Ohio, recommends using bonuses to build a safety net covering two, four, or six months of expenses.
Experts suggest allocating 50% of bonuses to savings or investments, 30% to high-interest debt, and 20% to fun spending, mirroring the 50/30/20 budgeting framework.
Kelly Gilbert, fiduciary advisor and owner of EFG Financial in Grand Rapids, Michigan, states, "Where are you in your bills, your savings? After that, it's fun."
Bonuses differ from other windfalls and require tailored strategies; NerdWallet, Inc. emphasizes this guidance is for educational purposes only.