Zi Wei Dou Shu: Why a One-Time Bonus Is Not Permanent Income

Use the Wealth and Career Palaces to separate a one-time bonus from reliable ongoing pay.

A large project bonus is a real inflow, but it should not be treated as permanent monthly income. Separate base pay, performance pay, and reimbursements, then check the net amount and the conditions under which another bonus could occur.

Identify the nature of the income

Record the after-tax amount, payment conditions, and the likelihood of it repeating. The Wealth Palace frames cash movement and the Career Palace asks whether the extra work is sustainable, but the chart does not imply that the same amount will recur.

Do not let one-time income raise fixed costs

Base fixed commitments on repeatable income, and use a bonus for savings, debt, or one-time spending rather than long-term monthly obligations. Read the Wealth and Career Palaces, then the annual layer; the budget should still be built on reliable pay.