Want to Make More Money? Start by Spending Less

It’s rare when an employee feels that he/she is paid exactly the salary he/she is worth. More typically, the insatiable desire – fueled by larger paychecks – often results in job hopping and career changes. Certainly, these opportunities will knock your door in the right time; but if you can’t help but want to see more zeros in your account balance by the end of the year, start by modifying your spending habits.

Image Courtesy of Steve Wampler Photography via Flicker

Yes, You’re Having Fun But Not Your Wallet

Let’s first discuss the first aspect of your spending habits: your entertainment budget. Unfortunately, people have a tendency to over-reward themselves for a difficult week on the job and end up over-spending on entertainment. While it’s good for the soul to have dinner with friends or catch a movie with a date, it’s also important to put a cap on such spending.

Figure out how much you are bringing home each week and use a calculator to decide five percent of this figure. If you are spending more than that figure on movies, golf, concerts, and other entertainment ventures, then it’s time to cut back on those leisure expenses. Instead, prioritize your entertainment costs, and save the rest or use it to reduce debt. You are What You Eat (and Spend)

Modifying eating habits can save just as much money as the changes in your entertainment cost. For instance, on-the-go snacks can cost about $5, and is only useful for one meal. However, that same $5 can buy items that will cover different meals for a day, like a loaf of bread and meat from the deli. Have frozen dinners and other quick fix meals a thing of the past. Not only will you spend less, you will also gear towards living a healthier lifestyle.

Control Your Spending Habits: Budget and Save

Even with careful planning, you may still run into a situation that requires emergency cash. Sites like www.mobiloans.com can offer cash to get over a temporary financial situation. Naturally, there are more permanent steps you can take towards long-term savings. For instance, the benefits of tracking your purchases on a spreadsheet cannot be overstated. Budgeting everything you buy compels you to come to terms with how much you actually spend.

Maintaining a budget seems daunting to people who are unfamiliar with such a system—a mistaken system that proves budgeting is time-consuming. In reality, once you have your spreadsheet and regular purchases in place, it takes only a few minutes to record your purchases. Before long, you will find yourself making decisions to improve your spending habits and overall budget.

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