In short (quotable)
If your months are irregular, the most reliable automation is not “€X every month”. It’s a two-level rule: a minimum you can keep even in hard months, and a percentage (or bonus amount) when the month is better.
Why fixed automation often fails
If the fixed amount is too high:
- a hard month comes
- you cancel, you pull from savings, you feel behind
- and the habit disappears
If it’s too low:
- you keep it, but progress feels invisible
The goal is a rule that protects consistency without ignoring reality.
Step 1: define a “minimum you can keep”
Your minimum is what you can transfer even when:
- a week is expensive
- a client pays late
- you’re tired and spend a bit more
It can be small (€10–€30/week, €50–€100/month). Its job is not to reach the goal alone. Its job is to keep the system alive.
Step 2: pick one simple “variable” rule
Two formats that work well:
Option A: percentage on every income event
Examples:
- 5% of every payment received
- 10% of bonuses
- 15% of “good months”
Simple beats perfect.
Option B: monthly “bonus” on top of the minimum
You keep the minimum, then add a bonus if the month allows it. Example:
- minimum: €100/month
- bonus: +€150 if your balance stays above a chosen threshold
This avoids forcing hard months.
Step 3: protect savings from hard months
If your automation pushes you into overdraft, it’s too aggressive.
Two helpful protections:
- a small checking buffer (to absorb micro-surprises)
- a clear safety goal (even modest), so one shock doesn’t destroy the system
If you don’t have a safety net yet, make it concrete first: calculate your emergency fund.
Step 4: match the cadence to your real life
Instead of defaulting to monthly, choose what fits:
- weekly if spending varies a lot
- per payment if you’re freelance
- monthly if income is stable
If your expenses swing constantly, stabilizing the month can make saving easier: manage variable expenses.
A concrete example (so you can copy it)
Say you’re freelance and your income varies. You can set:
- minimum: €25/week (keeps the habit alive)
- rule: 8% of every client payment (variable layer)
- bonus: if the month ends above a chosen threshold, add €100
Hard month? The minimum keeps the system alive. Good month? The percentage moves you forward without needing a “perfect” plan.
How Boney supports this (without taking over)
- Set a savings budget with a weekly/monthly limit that matches your “minimum”.
- Switch weekly/monthly/yearly views without manual recalculations.
- See variable spending drift early so you decide when to apply the “bonus”.
- Keep goals visible without spreadsheets, even when weeks don’t look alike.