Ending the Paycheck to Paycheck Lifestyle
Living from one week to the next creates stress. It’s an exhausting way to live. The good news is that you have the ability to end this way of life.
In Over Your Head
When you live paycheck to paycheck, all it takes is one unforeseen expense to send your finances into turmoil. It creates a domino effect. It isn’t long before you’re using money allocated for one bill to pay another. You can take out a small loan to bring your bills to their current status.
Budgeting
Establishing a household budget is necessary to avoid the same scenario from returning. Gather all your bills and list them on a budget worksheet. Then deduct your income after taxes. The remaining amount is what you have to live on and work with each month to begin the process of reducing your debt. A budget will allow you to see exactly where your money goes.
Reducing Your Debt
Debt from one or two sources is easy to handle. However, most people have many smaller monthly payments deriving from credit cards, student loans, and car payments. Eliminating credit card debt will free up money that you can use to plan a vacation or buy a home. There are a couple of ways to pay off credit cards. You can begin with the one that has the smallest balance or the one that has the highest interest rate. For the rest of the credit cards, pay the minimum balance only. Once you pay one off, you use that money towards the next one.
Smart Use of Money
You want nice things. After all, you work hard for your money. However, getting into debt to acquire these things is not a smart move. It will bring on another payment due. Instead, if you find something you want, save for it. This way the purchase is free and clear. There’s no monthly bill pending and no interest added.
The Importance of Savings
Having savings set aside for emergencies will prevent unexpected repairs from dipping into your bill money. This will eliminate stress and allow you to remain current on your obligations, helping you establish good credit. You can start with $20.00 and increase the amount you deposit weekly as time goes on.
Saving Money Daily
You probably don’t realize how much money you waste in a single week. You get a cup of coffee on the way to the office, order out for lunch and opt to eat dinner out at least once a week. That’s roughly $100.00 in just one week. If you do the math, over the course of a month, it’s $400.00. That’s money you could use to fund a nice vacation or reduce your debt. Shopping for groceries is another place where you can spend far more than you need. Before going to the supermarket, make sure to create a list and stick to it. Also, use coupons when possible.
Living paycheck to paycheck is very stressful. You’re always one check away from poverty. Work to reduce your debt, control your spending, and put money away.