Here's what most Americans do as soon as they get paid

Americans approach payday in different ways. In a survey of 2,000 people by FinanceBuzz and Wells Fargo, 80% of respondents said they pay bills as soon as they get a paycheck, while 71% said they immediately move money into savings. Nearly nine out of 10 respondents said they celebrate in some way,

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What is the story about?

Americans approach payday in different ways.

In a survey of 2,000 people by FinanceBuzz and Wells Fargo, 80% of respondents said they pay bills as soon as they get a paycheck, while 71% said they immediately move money into savings.

Nearly nine out of 10 respondents said they celebrate in some way, such as a takeout meal, a "treat" purchase or buying something they've put off.

But 74% of respondents also said they have a bill due before their next paycheck with 51% saying they delay paying essential bills in the days before payday while 43% put off essential purchases such as groceries, gas or medication. Twenty-three percent of respondents reported incurring a late fee or overdraft fee and 44% said they scramble to find money for an unexpected

purchase.

"Overspending is a lot less of the story than we imagined it would be: rising costs, emergency expenses, and day-to-day living are outside most people's control, so 'budget better' isn't the answer," Chris Lewis, head of research at FinanceBuzz and author of the study, told USA TODAY. "Instead, it's more about having a cushion for the moments when money doesn't line up with your life, whether that's a small emergency fund, or better ways to track your spending."

Consumers of all income levels are feeling the stretch.

While a larger percentage of Americans earning less said they run low on money before payday – for instance, 76% of workers who earn less than $25,000 said this was true – more than one in three, or 38%, of Americans earning more than $100,000 also said they were stretched thin before the next paycheck.

A customer shops for produce at an H-E-B grocery store on May 11, 2026 in Austin, Texas. The U.S. Producer Price Index (PPI) suggests that rising fuel prices may be beginning to weigh on wholesale margins, as ongoing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz continue to strain global energy markets.

Here are some other highlights of the study:

Respondents said they spent 48% of their paycheck within the first 48 hours of being paid, on average, and started feeling financially stretched four days before getting paid.
On payday, while 80% pay bills and 71% move money to savings, 70% pay down debt or credit cards, 69% buy groceries or other necessities, 50% make a purchase they've been putting off and 44% pay back friends or family they owe.
Those who do a little celebrating on payday do a variety of things: 66% are saving for a big purchase, 46% buy a small "treat yourself" purchase, 46% also buy something they've been putting off, 44% pay for an outing or experience, 42% order takeout or go out to eat and 35% buy something for a hobby or leisure. Thirty percent said they buy something for a friend or family member and 26% go out for drinks or entertainment.

Betty Lin-Fisher is a consumer reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at blinfisher@USATODAY.com or follow her on X, Facebook or Instagram @blinfisher and @blinfisher.bsky.social on Bluesky. Sign up for our free The Daily Money newsletter, which breaks down complex consumer and financial news. Subscribe here.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Here's what most Americans do as soon as they get paid