55% of Americans say their finances are getting worse — here's how to budget when your income changes every month

55% of Americans say their finances are getting worse — here's how to budget when your income changes every month

Christy Bieber

Sun, August 2, 2026 at 3:30 PM GMT+3 5 min read

Inflation has hit many Americans hard in the post-pandemic era. According to Gallup, almost a third of Americans citing rising prices as a top financial problem. A record 55% of Americans also indicated their finances are getting worse, while the number of Americans working multiple jobs has been steadily on the rise and recently hit the highest level in decades.

For many struggling workers, the challenge extends beyond simply not having enough money. Irregular income can make budgeting difficult.

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Let's pretend, for example, that Joshua is currently working three different jobs, including driving for rideshare companies, picking up bartending shifts and working as a customer service representative. The only problem is, despite working all the time, he feels broke and has no idea how to effectively budget, as his income is so irregular.

What should Joshua do and how can he make a budget that actually helps him get ahead?

Tips for budgeting on an irregular income

While budgeting with an uncertain income is undoubtedly a challenge, it's also critical to feeling good about your finances. In fact, consumers with a budget feel more in control, more confident and more secure. Fortunately, there's a solution.

"Track your income and expenses for a solid year so that you can get a full picture of what you're working with," Mary Ware, senior wealth advisor and managing partner of Carnegie Private Wealth, told Moneywise. "From there, you can come up with a monthly average of what you need to earn or save to cover your expenses."

Ware recommended looking back at bank and credit card statements to estimate both income and spending. And she stressed the importance of planning for irregular events, such as holidays. Those costs should be included in the monthly budget and saved for during the year.

Domenick D'Andrea, founder of DanDarah Wealth Management, agrees with this big picture approach. "Start by looking at your last six to 12 months of income. Once you have those numbers, you can look at what your lowest income months are and try to build a budget that, even in those months, you can cover all of the day-to-day necessities," he told Moneywise.

So, let's say Joshua earns between $3,700 and $5,100 depending on the month, but his average last year was $4,800. And he typically spends around $4,600 per month.

He could base his budget on $4,800 a month and aim to cut spending to $4,320 a month to save 10% of his average monthly income. In months when he makes more than $4,800, he can put the extra money into savings to cover the bills in months when he makes less.

Or, he could try to cap his spending at his lowest earning month of $3,700 so he's always able to cover the bills with what he earns that month. This requires more drastic lifestyle changes, but both approaches could work. The latter would simply allow his savings to grow faster.

That could be a good thing, as both Ware and D'Andrea also stressed the importance of having an emergency fund with several months of living expenses. "I would try not to overspend during those higher earning months until you build a six-month emergency fund," D'Andrea said.

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A budget can only go so far in solving your financial woes

While budgeting based on average or minimum income could help Joshua take more control over his finances, both Ware and D'Andrea also suggested he may want to look at some bigger lifestyle changes too, as his current situation of working three jobs is likely unsustainable.

"I would look at the costs in commuting from job to job," D'Andrea advised. "It could make sense to cut out one of those jobs if you can replace some of the lost hours. This may sound like you are giving up money, but you may end up taking home more money with less commuting costs and other job-related expenses."

Joshua could also look to upgrade his career prospects. "Now might be a good time to invest in yourself," Ware said. "You might consider trading up to one higher-paying profession, even if it means going back to school — and even taking on loans. Think of it as shorter-term pain for longer-term gain. I think investing in yourself is always one of your best bets."

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This article originally appeared on Moneywise.com under the title: 55% of Americans say their finances are getting worse — here's how to budget when your income changes every month

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.