You can live like a poor person to save money. Besides, you don’t just cut costs and save money by living below your means. It’s about not letting money control you but taking control of your pocket. A medical bill or sudden car repairs, retirement savings, and the dream funding (whether it’s launching an Etsy business or Craftsman-styled housing, etc.) can be handled economically when you live below your means.
How to live like a poor person to save money
Living between 10% and 15% less of the amount you earn is the rule of thumb. Without having the feeling of missing out, the tips in this publication explain how you can live below your means.
1. Make an attainable financial plan
You feel empowered when you engage in assigning every dollar to a job. You can categorize your money into needs, wants, debt repayment, and savings by using the common 50/30/20 budget plan. This 50/30/20 budget calculator should be helpful.
Do not make your financial choices for the month at the moment. Do this in advance in your quiet, or with your partner. You will feel great when you spend your money this way.
2. Save off the top
Before you are tempted by each paycheck, divert some money from it.
You can then have automatic transfers into an investment or savings account, or save through 401(k) payment deductions at work easily, once you start.
3. Don’t live off multiple incomes
The lifestyle budgets of most dual-income families are based naturally on the money they earn from multiple jobs. The benefits of making the conscious effort to live off a single salary should be put into consideration.
There is significant financial freedom when it is arranged, if possible when one person’s pay covers the household costs.
You can invest or pay off debts, or make retirement savings by earmarking your other paycheck. Unexpected happens such as a job loss can be flexibly handled by having one partner stay with the kids (if this is the case) for some time at home.
4. Make yourself a payroll
You can make a direct payment to yourself from the monthly payments you are used to after you complete payment for things such as your college education, smartphone, or car.
Allow the interest to accumulate by stashing the money in an interest-bearing savings account. You will feel the opposite of deprived when you can buy something with cash another time.
5. Right-size your home
The bank says you can afford to buy the most expensive house, but you need to hold back. Buy and make the small fixer-upper house instead—you could even become a slum lord with a safe property.
You won’t feel stretched by homeownership costs such as taxes, insurance, and maintenance while enjoying your nest.
6. Cut meaningless expenses
Do you pay for useless memberships, subscribe to boring cable channels, or frequently eat out? You free up money for things you truly enjoy when you eliminate the costs you don’t care about. Let’s also say you dreamed of getting a supercar—this isn’t ths right time.
You can try to write down the things you value in life for a start. Look at your last few financial statements closely—are your values being matched by your purchases? You can help yourself to stop spending money on unnecessary things when you make those small changes.
7. Invest in used
What is the need for a 450-dollar monthly payment on a brand-new car that loses up to 20% of its value in the first year, and around 40% over the first 5 years from the original price?
You can pay cash for a car that has previously been used which lets you get around other expenses of car ownership that come with an auto loan.
Your car is only for transportation, have that in mind. Besides, used cars with low mileage and low warranty from rental agencies make a good buy.
8. Try to pay less interest
You can save on interest when you consolidate your debt if you carry high-interest credit card balances.
You might be eligible for a balance transfer credit card with an interest of 0% over 12 months or longer when you have good credit. Just make sure you only transfer an amount you can afford to pay off before the introductory period expires and the rate surges on the transfer fees.
Consider a low-interest personal loan from an online lender, bank, or credit union to refinance yourself. You will be on to meaningful goals faster when you have less interest to pay and are free of debt.
With the basic tips above, any individual will easily live like a poor person to save money to secure a potentially wealthy lifestyle. But hey, that shouldn’t stop you from presenting yourself decently and speaking confidently like a rich person.
