If you are living from paycheck to paycheck, not only is it extremely stressful, but also means that all the money that you are earning every month or weekly basis goes right out of your account without any savings. While this might not seem like an extremely problematic scenario in the first instance, it is actually fairly risky because you cannot save any money, which significantly compromises your financial security in the long run. Even one small moment where you need to shell out a little extra may end up meaning that you have no savings to fall back upon. It is therefore important to understand as to how to stop living paycheck to paycheck.
Some ways to save beyond your paycheck
- Have a budget: The importance of a budget cannot be overstated. Most people do not even know where their money is going and are surprised to find out that they have no money left at the end of the month. This demonstrates a lack of financial planning because is this extremely essential to know where you are spending your income. When you budget, not only do you know what your expenses are, but you also realise where your income is going which helps you track and cut back on unnecessary expenses. Therefore, the importance of having a budget cannot be overstated.
- Have savings or an emergency fund: Life can happen to anybody, and sometimes a lot of things happen which are out of our control. For instance, a sudden medical emergency may necessitate that you have some money in order to pay the bills. However, if a person is living from paycheck to paycheck, meeting unexpected expenses such as these can prove to be an immense challenge. It is for this reason that any small amounts must be put aside in the form of an emergency fund or a savings fund to ensure that there is something to fall back on in case of emergencies.
- Pay off debt: One of the most important things to ensure financial security is ensuring that all of your debt obligations are met. Furthermore, by ensuring that you are paying your debts on time, you will also be building up your credit history, which will make it easier for you to obtain loans and other types of financial assistance in the future. Therefore, prioritise paying off debts.
- Ensure your expenses are below your income: The only way to ensure that you do not go into debt is by ensuring that your income remains above your expenses. Therefore, cut down all unnecessary expenses, and ensure that you are the only spending on items that are critical.
- Do not order food from outside: Most people think that it is cheaper to order in, but small payments towards expenses such as food and other leisure can quickly add up. Therefore, meal plan, prep and ensure that your cooker healthy meals for yourself without compromising on nutrition but try and avoid purchasing food from outside. This will also help augment your savings.
