What should you do with a raise or bonus?
New money is easiest to put to work before it becomes your new normal. Tell us the amount, and we'll split it across the highest-value moves — including grabbing any employer 401(k) match you're leaving on the table.
How much did you get?
$
Where'd it come from?
A few quick things about you
So the plan is grounded in your situation, not a generic split.
$
Rent, food, utilities, minimum debt payments.
$
$
Balance you carry month to month (0 if you pay in full).
Educational estimate, not financial advice. The split follows plain-English rules — high-interest debt and a starter emergency fund come before optional investing. For big decisions, talk to a fee-only fiduciary.
Who this is for
- You just got a raise or a bonus and want to avoid lifestyle creep.
- You're not sure if you're capturing your full employer 401(k) match.
- You want a deliberate split, with a little of it kept for fun.
How it works
- 1Enter the amount and whether it's a raise or a one-time bonus.
- 2We prioritize a starter cushion, real debt, the full employer match, then investing.
- 3You get a labeled plan with the why and a next step for each slice.
Methodology
Same deterministic allocator as Next Money Move, tuned for new income. On raises and bonuses we surface the employer-401(k)-match bucket prominently — an unmatched match is a 100% return you're skipping. Rules run in a fixed order so the same inputs always produce the same plan, and revolving credit-card debt is only flagged when you actually carry a balance.
Example
A $6,000 bonus when you're not capturing your full match might put a chunk toward bumping your 401(k) to the match cap, some toward your emergency fund or a goal, the rest invested, and a small slice guilt-free. A raise shifts the focus toward locking in higher monthly saving before spending rises to meet it.
FAQ
- Raise vs. bonus — does it matter?
- Yes. A raise is recurring, so the win is automating higher monthly saving before lifestyle creep. A bonus is one-time, so it's about a deliberate lump-sum split.
- Why does the 401(k) match come up first?
- If your employer matches contributions and you're not capturing all of it, that's free money — often a 100% return up to the cap. It usually beats every other use of the dollars.
- What about the taxes on my bonus?
- Bonuses are withheld at a flat supplemental rate, which can feel high, but it's reconciled at filing. This tool plans the take-home amount you actually receive.