Living Paycheck to Paycheck? Do This to Get Ahead.
When you rely on your next paycheck to be able to pay bills, buy groceries or have drinks with friends, life is different. Life becomes less enjoyable.
What if your paycheck was something that became a side effect of work you loved? What if you started being intentional with that money to actually accomplish your biggest dreams?
Something shifted in my life when I decided to use my paycheck to accomplish my goals. I no longer looked at my account balance as money I had to spend. I looked at it as a lump sum of money that was broken down into smaller goals. Some of the money would be used to pay down debt, some was set aside in case of an emergency and some was for bills.
When I made this shift in my thinking, while being intentional, it no longer mattered when that money hit my checking account. I was no longer rich on the 1st of the month and broke by the 10th.
If getting ahead of your bills and not having to rely on your next paycheck to pay your immediate bills sounds like something you are craving in your life, I have good news for you. It’s easily within reach, you just need to make a few intentional shifts in your habits.
Sell anything around your house that you no longer need, use or want for some extra cash
Cancel any subscriptions you don’t use and ask yourself if you need all of the ones you do use
Cook at home and use everything in the fridge to avoid waste
Reduce your spending on everyday items by buying generic or in bulk while cutting your impulse and excessive purchases
Save any ‘bonus’ money such as stimulus checks, tax returns or gifts
Keep an eye on money you are giving out as gifts
Get a side hustle and find ways to increase your income
You don’t have to do all of these items, I would rather you do a few things really well than all of them poorly.
When I was getting out of debt, I focused on cooking at home, reducing my spending and increasing my income. By making more money and spending less, I was able to make larger payments to my debt each month without having to give up too much of my lifestyle.
Sure I had to get creative with my vacation time and say no to house projects. But by being intentional with my money, I was able to make real progress while still enjoying the things that made me happiest in life.
