A bonus can be a cherry on top of the salary you are already earning. But just because it is extra money outside of your expected income does not mean you should skip giving some extra thought to how you spend it. Used mindfully, a bonus can actually make a meaningful difference to your financial situation.

Think about it this way: On average, a bonus is about “2.8% of total compensation,” which “means an employee earning $80,000 might receive roughly $2,240, while someone making $120,000 could see closer to $3,360,” said Kiplinger , citing data from Northwestern Mutual. That could mean an extra couple thousand knocked off your credit card balance or deposited into your emergency fund — money you will be glad to have next time you inevitably need a car repair or something breaks aroun

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