So I go the opposite way, I count my tax refund as income month to month. Because I am usually low income and also partially self employed, I save for most of the year for taxes due to not having withholding at all my jobs and often am pleasantly surprised by getting a refund.
My gross income is still what I count the % from, though, If that makes sense
Income (Post-Tax)
Did I do it “wrong” in last years challenge? I counted pre tax pay as income, figured out savings (some as pre tax IRA some as post tax long term savings accounts) but then I also counted my tax refund as income and the portion I put in savings as savings.
There is no wrong, there is only how you want to do it!
I suppose it’s really just about saving something huh? 
There’s just a lot of different ways one can account for income and savings and it’s not fair to make EVERYONE fit in that box.
Also I am a hufflepuff sorry
That’s what I did last year and I didn’t worry about it. This year it might be make or break for my ability to reach the challenge goal, so every percent counts!
Ok, here are January’s numbers:
Total pre-tax income: $3479.77
Debt payoff: $1302 (all the stimulus went here)
Straightforward savings: $582
Total “savings”: $1884
Savings rate: 54%
My projected income and savings both are about $600 less for February 
Here’s January:
Income is W2 job, stimulus check, credit card rewards and interest. Budgeted income is my YNAB view - uses last month’s total income + stimulus check since I budget my income in the next month/“am a month ahead.”
January Check In
Day job take-home: $2168.00
Coaching paychecks : $1325.00
Stimulus check: $600
Craigslist sale: $70
Total income: $4163.00
Cash savings: $1379
Trad IRA: $600
Car fund: $170
Total savings: $2149.00
Post tax percentage: 51% savings
I don’t count my 401k as income or savings for this challenge because it confuses me. But I also put in 6% and my employer puts in 4%, so about $310/month.
January Check-In
Income (Post-Tax)
Total Post-Tax Income: $3151.77
Savings:
Total Savings: $1726
Post Tax Percentage: 55%
I’m also not counting my pre-tax 401k, since I want to keep an eye specifically on my discretionary saving/spending. Also um when signing up for this challenge I 100% forgot about the 401k 
January!
I donated my stimulus check, so I am ignoring that.
Pre-tax Income $2400
Total Saved $632
26.4%
Most of my months will be right around here, which is fine. The months that I get a commission check or tax refund will be much higher, but that will only happen a few times during the year.
January check-in! Can’t believe it - 21% sounded so out of reach 
Take-home pay: $3417.98
401k contributions:$280
Extra car payment:$125
Savings: $405
Percentage: 23%
Income (Post-Tax)
YTD Cash: $2,956
YTD Retirement: $1,767.96
YTD Total: $4,723.96
February update!
Total pre-tax income: $2698
Debt payoff: $702 (standard autopays on my 2 personal loans)
Straightforward savings: $432 (tiny bit above projection but not by much)
Total “savings”: $1134
Savings rate: 49%
February!
Pre-tax income $2400
Total saved $660
27.5%
February Check In
Income post tax:
Day job take-home: $2192.56
Tax Refund: $640.00
Thredup: $20
Total income: $2852.56
Cash savings: $1033.08
Trad IRA: $350.00
Car fund: $170
Bike Fund: 217.79
Total savings: $1770.87
Post tax percentage: 62% savings
I am missing my swim team paycheck in this month’s income. It is mailed to me 
so I can’t count on it arriving at any particular time. So next month’s income numbers will be artificially inflated.
January was an “uber frugal” month for me, and since I use CCs for everything, my Feb savings reflect my Jan spending. I’m really proud of this Feb savings number based on my income!
I don’t count my 401k as income or savings for this challenge because it confuses me. But I also put in 6% and my employer puts in 4%, so about $310/month.
YTD Cash Savings: $2402.08
YTD Car Savings: $340.00
YTD Bike Savings: $217.79
YTD IRA: $950.00
YTD Total: $3909.87
YTD Percent saved: 55%
February Check-In
Income (Post-Tax)
Total Post-Tax Income: $2892.54
Savings:
Total Monthly Savings: $1726
Post Tax Percentage: 6.6%
YTD Total savings: $1960
YTD Percent saved: 32.4%
My savings rate last month saving my average Spent a loooot of money on cold-weather clothes (definitely needed) and fitness-related stuff ha
For these purposes, and to keep things consistent with last year, I’ve decided to go ahead and play hard mode. I’m also tracking a mirror spreadsheet with calculations out of net pay, just to see.
February:
Salary: $4,515
Match: $113
Other: $3,604 (federal tax refund with Larva’s stimulus, Christmas money)
Total Income: $8,232
Reserve: $2,000
403b: $339
Total Savings: $2,339
February Savings: 28%
2021 Savings: 24%
2021 Total: $3,178
State tax refund incoming this week, so will be included in March (along with EIP3?).
received my tax return of $1200 today and put $400 of that directly into savings, a nice 33%.