Sounds simple doesn’t it? Only buy what you need and what you can afford.
But why is it so hard to actually follow through on?
We live in a society that tells you, you need this now, and if you can’t afford it now that’s ok we will help you by financing it.
Every store offers you extra savings if you use their credit card.
But how many of us are led astray when we are overcome with excitement. We think of how much so and so would love this or so and so could really use this, but in all reality, WE CAN NOT AFFORD THIS, even if it is for someone else!
Here’s an important question to ask yourself.
Are you living within your means?
The average American household’s credit card debt is $15,607. The average student loan debt is $32,656.( source here).
I went off to college and after my first semester my family moved 12 hours away. I was on my own. And what was everyone’s advice for me? Get a credit card. Sure that credit card saved me a few times when I had no idea how I was going to buy the basics.
But I also racked up thousands of dollars in just a few short months. I could have gone without so I didn’t have to load up a credit card in debt.
Sometimes you are not willing to give things up in order to achieve your goals! ( Thanks Dave Ramsey!)
I watched my friends open as many credit cards as they could and max them out. With no intention of paying on them. Credit Collectors calling… while I continued to pay just $25 a month towards my bill. I never really considered the interest! I thought why would I pay more money when I am only required to pay $25?! Phew… thank goodness that thinking dissolved quickly.
But why worry about the future when it’s the right now that we should care about right?! Do what feels good now. Another wonderful thing our culture tells us!
It takes discipline to live within your means. To truly look at what you can afford. And when I say what you can afford I mean what you can buy with cash. Ok or your debit card, or check. But what you can buy with money you actually have in your account.
So that is where a budget comes in. I really feel that everyone should do a budget at least once. To give you an idea of where your money is going and where you want it to stop going. And be disciplined about it. Here are some great free budgeting tools from Dave Ramsey’s site
When I first went back to work part time and got serious about a budget I pulled up a few months of our bank statements and saw that my husband was spending a decent amount of money at Tim Horton’s.
That quickly came to a stop. Although I do not completely rob him of Tim Horton’s. You do still have to treat yourself once in awhile. ( Just put it in the budget!)
So when you are couponing or looking to really save money on your grocery bill, it is important to stockpile what you actually need. It is very easy to get caught up in buying 20 Febreze sprays and adding them to your shelf and marveling at the fact that you saved x amount of money.
But living a life of excess just creates a whole new layer of problems.
It takes balance. Saving for the future, your family, emergencies, etc. Now let’s get onto your tips to help you live a life within your means.
Here are 10 tips to help you break the “I’m broke, and say I’m Free.
Make a Budget & Goal
So many times people say they are broke and you ask them how much money they are spending each month and the response is ” I don’t know.” You need to look at how much your expenses are. Those are your bills. The things you must pay every month. Then you break it down to other needs and then wants. There is a great sheet to get you started in budgeting here.
Start by listing all your expenses and income over the last 3 months. I kind of snuck another one into this one but it goes hand in hand in a way. When you make your budget you will be able to make a financial goal.
What is it you are striving for? Is it to be able to pay for everything with cash/debit card? Is it to have extra money to put into savings? Is it to pay for a family vacation? Is it to just get all your bills paid? When you have a goal you know where you are heading. When you have a budget you know where your money is going. These are two things that are life changers. Write your goal down. Keep it in a place where you can read it daily. Use it when you want to give up to remind yourself what you are working towards. Think about the positive impact this financial goal will have on you and your family once you reach it.
Ask Is This a Need or a Want
Needs and wants are really two different things. The items you talk yourself into are not needs. Do you need a brand new car over a new car? Why do you need a new car? Is it because of the social order it will put you in? It’s like fancy purses. Sure everyone enjoys a new purse. Anything new is exciting and enjoyable. But why have a fancy purse when you don’t have any cash to put into it? Don’t let stuff cover up you. You matter. You’re personality is what people remember about you, your relationships, not any of your stuff. Do not let your stuff slow you down. Discipline yourself by recognizing is this a need or a want.
Don’t Put on the Comparison Suit.
Think if you lived in a place where you encountered two other people. You probably would start caring less about what you have compared to them. Think if you didn’t watch any T.V. or read any magazines or blogs about other people’s lives. Your comparision suit would hang in the closet. The temptation wouldn’t be as strong. We live in a culture today that screams lust and stuff. You need more and more. And not more used stuff. The latest and greatest. Stand up for who you are. It is much better to live life on a budget now work towards a financial goal of freedom and then if your budget allows you can satisfy your wants. But I believe once you start this financial freedom path that excitement of showing off your brand new lexus just may not have the same effect you thought it would. Do not compare yourself to anyone. Once you have your budget set keep your mind there!
Stop Using Your Credit Card
Oh the big debate. I hear it now. “But you get so many points back.” Have you ever met someone who is making a six figure say, ” My credit card points got me here.” Let’s look at facts. Credit cards make it very easy to buy things to just get the points. Isn’t it more tempting to just spend $20 extra bucks because then you will get extra points for that plane ticket you want. If you have the discipline to buy what you need and can pay off your credit card bill each month then fine, use it. But according to statistics there is a very small percent of us Americans who have the willpower to walk away from the power of just throwing it on a plastic card. Buy things with money you have- CASH, Debit Card!
Meal Planning
Ok so you don’t like the word meal planning. Just make your own meals at home. This can be so huge when it comes to saving money and helping with our discipline to look at needs versus want. When my husband was working out of town and I felt exhausted on the third night of being with them I wanted to run out to eat. Guess what? Our budget said you can’t. Sure I could of have given in to that want. It would have come out of somewhere else. Maybe the amount of money we needed for our electric bill. Then the money for our electric bill would be short so then our cable bill would be and the cycle continues and before you know it I’m on the phone with my best friend saying we are so broke. I have many resources on this blog to meal plan. Make your own meals.
Shop From Your Pantry
If you only have enough money to just pay your bills for the week swallow your pride and serve mac and cheese for the whole week if you have to. You all will survive and next week you can change your menu based on your finances. The point is when things are tighter one week be resourceful. Try to look in your cupboards for some simple meals you can make. Check Pinterest and just googling items from your pantry for recipes. You will be surprised how filling beans and rice can be. Don’t feel any guilt for not serving your family a a serving of fruit and veggies and so forth. That day will come. This week your priority is your finances. Of course you have to feed your family but you can do it for less without taking from your expense budget.
Use what you have in your cupboards 1st when planning a menu.
Plan your menus according to what is on sale.
Follow a Coupon Site
Follow a coupon site that does matchups if you are crunched on time and to help you plan your meals. There are so many great blogs out there definitely follow a few. Coupon Matchup lists are taking a sale item and pairing it with a coupon or an app offer. Clipping coupons will save you a lot of money but there are now many ways to save with apps as well.
Get to Know Your Prices
This is something that takes time. When you start watching for things that are on sale only you will learn when something is a deal and when it is not. The good news is with all these blogs ( yes including mine too) they pretty much tell you when things are a deal. It makes life in the fast lane much easier to save money. Utilize deal blogs to help determine when you should buy something.
Have Fun
Sometimes when we start something new we want so badly to succeed we get blinders on. Don’t deprive yourself when you are living life on a budget. A budget should not be something that makes your cringe. It should make you feel in control. If you are looking at your budget and not feeling in control because your expenses are adding up to more then the money coming in ( trust me I have been there I know the feeling) Check out this article on how to increase your income instantly without getting a second job. It comes down to balance. Balance is one of those things we are always needing to adjust and it is so crucial to so many things we do in life. Part of that balance is being able to have fun while you are saving money and working towards a financial goal. Take the things you enjoy doing and get creative and see how you can do those for less. If one month you can’t afford to go to your favorite place take these tips into consideration and remind yourself one day you will be able to. You will not be in this place forever. I know because I was there too. I thought things were always going to be tight living week to week. I’m here to tell you it gets easier and you will be rewarded for your discipline and hard work. Don’t Deprive yourself.
Get Support
Ok this may sound like I just took it to a whole new level that you want nothing to do with but hear me out on this one. The definition of support is a thing that bears the weight of something or keeps it upright. You need others to help keep you upright. Upright on the right path. If you have friends who call you up and always want to go to dinner and a movie type of thing tell them your situation and how you are working toward a goal. You do not have to go into every detail but when you let others know around you, you will see how many support you. When you get the support to what may feel like a painful lifestyle change at first, you will feel encouraged and find it easier to strive towards that goal when your friends and family are behind you. Those who love you and support you will always help you get through the comparision struggles we all experience. Remember your goal.
Grocery shopping is the one thing you can cut costs on. We have so many choices here. It does take a little bit of time, but so totally worth it. When we are not spending a lot of money on food that is overly priced and terrible for us, we will have money to go on trips with our families or whatever else it is that brings enjoyment to you.- See you won’t be deprived and it won’t be so painful! I went on a 6 month spending freeze and survived and came out stronger. You got this!
Be sure to check out my weekly grocery shopping trips for some inspiration!
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Cat
I think this is a great post. I would love to share it on my FB page. Thanks for the post.
Tasia
Thanks! Of course share away!
Bonnie Lyn Smith
These are great reminders! Thanks so much! I love what you are doing with your blog! It’s unique, and I always learn something when I stop by. We need to count our pennies, too. Loved the pantry tip!
bataviasbest
Bonnie I am so glad you are enjoying the blog! That means so much!
Andrea
Operating on a cash basis saved us when I quit my job – we each get a set amount per week, and when it’s gone, the buying stops until the next paycheck. Anything carried over goes into savings. It really makes you think about whether or not your really need that latte or piece of junk in the checkout line.
bataviasbest
Using cash and just not buying anything when the cash was gone was such an eye opener for us. I used to say well if we only have this much in our account I’ll just use my credit card so we don’t bounce. Now I am so so thankful that is not an option anymore. And we have financial freedom!
Mary Collins
I agree with you in that we are awash with ads telling us that they can finance whatever it is they are selling. It happens slowly…the debt. Making a budget and then sticking to it is key. Life can get in the way sometimes and can cause you to get off track but it’s important to get back on track as soon as possible. To be free from debt is glorious.
bataviasbest
We can finance way to many things these days! I agree being free from debt is glorious! Thanks for stopping by Mary!
Awells
I love how you mentioned to use what’s in your cupboards first when menu planning. When you go to the store without a real direction or game plan you (we/people) tend to spend more than expected. Also, I very much agree you can’t compare yourself to others. We see someone else’s nice house or car, what you don’t see is their debt.
KC
Learning how to do a budget is so essential to daily life. It is hard when you want something really bad right now, but the feeling of actually owning it (not making payments on it) is always worth it.
bataviasbest
Totally agree! A budget can be a real life saver even though at first you feel really upset about it but oh is it worth it in the end!