Weekly, fortnightly or monthly: choosing your merry-go-round schedule
How often your merry-go-round should pay out — matching the schedule to members' income, group size and goals, with examples of how long each option takes.
How often your merry-go-round pays out shapes everything: the size of each contribution, how long the circle lasts, and how easy it is for members to keep up.
Match the schedule to how members earn
| Members mostly… | Best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Earn a monthly salary | Monthly, a few days after payday | Contribution fits the pay cycle |
| Are paid fortnightly | Every two weeks | Same logic |
| Trade or earn daily/weekly | Weekly | Smaller, frequent amounts are easier than one large one |
A schedule that doesn't match income is the most common cause of late payments.
Group size × frequency = how long you wait
The circle lasts one round per member. The last person waits the full length.
| Members | Weekly | Every 2 weeks | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 5 weeks | 10 weeks | 5 months |
| 10 | 10 weeks | 20 weeks | 10 months |
| 20 | 20 weeks | 40 weeks | 20 months |
With 20 members on a monthly schedule, the last person waits well over a year and a half — a long time to trust that everyone keeps paying. Large groups often suit a faster schedule, or splitting into two smaller circles.
Match the pot to the goal
Work backwards from what members want to buy:
- Stock for a small business — often a weekly or fortnightly pot among traders.
- Rent or school fees — monthly, timed to deadlines. See merry-go-rounds for school fees.
- A big purchase — monthly with a larger contribution.
Pot = contribution × number of members. Ten members at GHS 100 a week make a GHS 1,000 weekly pot; the same group at GHS 400 a month makes a GHS 4,000 monthly pot.
Practical tips
- Pick a fixed day and time ("Friday by 6 pm", "the 28th by noon").
- For weekly circles, keep amounts small enough that one bad week doesn't cause a default.
- For monthly circles, avoid the last days of the month if salaries arrive late.
- Whatever you choose, write it into your rules.
A worked comparison
Imagine 8 friends who can each put aside about GHS 400 a month.
| Option | Contribution | Pot | Circle length | Last payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly | GHS 100 | GHS 800 | 8 weeks | Week 8 |
| Fortnightly | GHS 200 | GHS 1,600 | 16 weeks | Week 16 |
| Monthly | GHS 400 | GHS 3,200 | 8 months | Month 8 |
All three move the same money over time, but they feel very different. The weekly circle finishes in two months with small pots — great for restocking a shop. The monthly one produces pots big enough for rent or fees, but the last member waits eight months.
Common mistakes
- Choosing weekly because it sounds faster when members are salaried — contributions end up late every week before payday.
- Very long circles. Past about 12 rounds, the risk that someone's circumstances change grows quickly. Split big groups into two circles.
- Skipping holidays without a rule. Decide in advance whether December or festive weeks are skipped, and shift the calendar for everyone if so.
- Forgetting the calendar. A shared calendar of payout dates prevents most "I thought it was next week" disputes.
You can switch between weekly, fortnightly and monthly in our free planner and instantly see the pot size, payout dates and end date for your group.
Frequently asked questions
What's the most common schedule?
Monthly, because it matches salaries. Weekly is common among traders and people with daily or weekly income.
Can we change the schedule mid-circle?
It's better not to. Finish the current circle and start the next one on the new schedule, so nobody's turn is affected.
This guide is general information to help groups organise themselves. It isn't financial, tax or legal advice — rules for savings groups differ by country, so check with a qualified adviser for your situation.