Start with an amount you can keep up, move it on payday, and work out the rest from your goal and date. Here is the method for weekly and fortnightly pay.
Written by Alex BPublished 13 November 2026
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Start with an amount you can keep up, such as $50 to $150 a fortnight depending on your pay and bills, and move it on payday before you can spend it. Then work out the rest from your goal and date: divide what you need by the number of pays until you need it. A $1,000 emergency fund in 20 fortnights is $50 a fortnight. A $950 rego bill is $36.54 a fortnight. This guide shows the method for weekly and fortnightly pay.
If you save what is left at the end of the pay, there is often nothing left. Instead, move your savings to a separate account the day after payday, then budget with what remains. Many banks let you set up an automatic transfer on each payday. The amount can start small, and you can raise it when your pay or bills change.
Keep them apart, because a known bill is not an emergency. Mixing them is how an emergency fund slowly turns into the rego account.
List the big yearly costs and divide each by your number of pays: 26 for fortnightly, 52 for weekly.
For a goal such as an emergency fund or a holiday, choose how much and by when. Count the pays until then, and divide.
| Goal | How it is worked out | Per fortnight | Per week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car rego | $950 a year ÷ 26 (or 52) | $36.54 | $18.27 |
| Christmas | $600 a year ÷ 26 (or 52) | $23.08 | $11.54 |
| Emergency fund | $1,000 in 20 fortnights (or 40 weeks) | $50.00 | $25.00 |
| Total to set aside | $109.62 | $54.81 |
This household saves $109.62 a fortnight, or $54.81 a week, and every dollar has a job. If $109.62 is too much to start with, begin with the rego and Christmas amounts and add the emergency fund when pay allows.
A larger goal changes the number quickly. To save $3,000 in 12 months you need $115.38 a fortnight ($3,000 ÷ 26). To save it in six months, you need $230.77 a fortnight ($3,000 ÷ 13). If that is too steep, move the date and watch the amount fall. It is better to pick a pace you can keep than one that lasts a month.
Start with $20 or $30 a fortnight if that is what fits. The habit matters more than the amount, and you can raise it later. Check your bills for a cost you can trim, and put what you save towards your goal. The 50/30/20 rule guide shows one way to see where your pay is going.
The Free Fortnightly Budget includes a savings amount for each pay, alongside your planned and actual spending.
A done-for-you shortcut: Fortnightly Budget Plus has a Savings Goals tab. You type the goal, the target amount, the date you want it by and what you have already saved, and it shows how much to set aside each fortnight and each week. Goals are kept separate from your spending figures, so they do not distort your budget vs actual. It is an Excel workbook and nothing connects to your bank.
For more ways to build your savings, see how to save money in Australia. If you would like a rule to follow once you have your amount, a savings challenge is one way to turn it into a routine.
Start with an amount you can keep up, then work out each goal by dividing the amount by the pays until your date.
Match your pay. If you are paid fortnightly, transfer on payday. The weekly figure is half of the fortnightly one.
That depends on your debts and interest rates. Many people build a small buffer first and then work on debt, but you can look at both. If you are unsure, free help is available from the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007.
This article provides general information only. It does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs, and it is not financial advice. Examples use invented figures. Money Detective's tools provide estimates and planning information. Consider your own circumstances, and seek independent advice if you need it, before making financial decisions.