The power of Self-Discipline and why you should have it

Do you find yourself in a rut and want to stop living from paycheck to paycheck every month? Want to break the cycle and learn how to stop having little money at the end of each month?

The definition of living from paycheck to paycheck is a lifestyle in which a person is using most or all of their monthly income to cover their monthly expenses, with no money in their savings.

Having to worry about whether you can pay your bills, the late fees that can occur when you miss a payment and going into debt takes a toll on you both financially and mentally.

How far are you from living paycheck to paycheck? 🤔

If most of the money from your paycheck is covering your monthly expenses, you may find yourself pretty close. Consider these factors:

👉 Do you have savings?
👉 If you do have savings, is it enough to cover your expenses for at least a month?
👉 Do you have a credit card?
👉 If you do have a credit card are you confident enough you can pay your balance off in full at the end of the month?

This lifestyle is becoming increasingly popular, with 1 in 3 UK households living this way and 78% of American full-time workers.

You don’t have to live like Mr. Krabs or Julius from Everybody Hates Chris in order to keep money in your bank account. (I know those are two very extreme examples but stay with me here 😂)

You are very much capable of achieving your financial goals. Whether that’s an extra £1,000, £10,000 or £100,000 a month. It’s doable only if you believe it’s doable.

Let’s get this mula. 💰

Here are the top 10 ways to stop living from paycheck to paycheck and enjoy extra money at the end of the month. 

This post contains affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy here.

1. Track your spending

The first step to having more money at the end of the month after your expenses is to write down what you spend every month and compare it to your monthly income.

Track both your card purchases and cash purchases to get a better understanding of your spending habits. You will then begin to notice unnecessary spending, overspending and bills that can be reduced. True financial wealth is built when you spend less than you make and to do that you need to understand where your money is going.

Cancel subscriptions you’re no longer using and understand that there’s food at home and you don’t need to be on UberEats and Deliveroo every day are usually the top things people recognise when they thoroughly go through their finances.

Need help with keeping track of your spending? Check out my Finance Bundle here 👉 FINANCE BUNDLE

2. Decrease your spending

Easier said than done, yes. However, the key to cutting back is to challenge yourself to cut back £50 a week on groceries or an amount that is in line with your budget. It’s best to cut back in increments as it is a more manageable approach than cutting back a large sum at the beginning.

Try to reduce your spending in your variable expenses by as little as £10 or £25 a month as there’s only so much you can do with your fixed expenses but trying to get a better deal won’t hurt! (I talk about fixed expenses in my 4th tip)

These extra savings will add up quickly and help you on your way to saving more each month.

3. Make savings automatic

Saving money is as important as making money.

An automatic savings plan is quite simple, you just need to schedule a recurring deposit from your bank account. How much you should deposit depends on your financial situation and won’t subsequently hurt you in the long run.

Most automatic savings are locked in or have penalties for early withdrawal making dipping in and out of your savings a lot harder than usual making it a great option for saving!

When you have a year’s worth of savings in your bank you feel better equipped to deal with life’s unexpected challenges. Even if you just start with £50 a month you will feel more confident with handling your finances.

4. Evaluate fixed outgoings

Write out all of your fixed outgoings such as your rent, electricity, gas etc. Look at each expense and see if these can be reduced, even if it means switching a provider or living in a less expensive area.

You could have a six-figure income and still always end up broke at the end of the month if you live in a high-cost city. The cost of fixed outgoings is one of the main reasons for living from paycheck to paycheck, so it’s good to evaluate it at least every three months.

Here are some fixed outgoings you could consider reducing:

🏠 Rent/Mortgage
🚘 Transport
💡 Utilities
🏥 Insurance
📺 Subscriptions
🎭 Entertainment 
📱 Phone Bill
🌐 Internet

5. Create a budget

Creating a monthly budget that clearly shows when money comes in and where it goes is a great way to ensure that you will always have enough money for the things that you need.

A lot of people associate budgeting with restrictions and a lot of hassle. However, budgeting can save you money and allow you to have more to spend by helping you make the most of your hard-earned money.

People who do not have or stick to their budget tend to save less money than people who do. This is because when you budget you assign your money to categories, giving yourself a “cap” on your spending for each thing that you regularly spend your money on.

Remember to put some money aside for fun! Budgeting shouldn’t restrict you from being able to live a well-rounded life. It stops you from spending like you have an endless flow of money that comes out of nowhere.

Related: A fan of affirmations? Check out my 25 Affirmations for Financial Abundance > GIMME GIMME GIMME

6. Find the fun in frugal living

Sure, cutting back on extras is not one of the most exciting activities to do but living frugally definitely has its monetary benefits. Contrary to popular belief, frugal living doesn’t mean buying everything that is cheap and not buying things simply because they’re expensive.

Living a frugal lifestyle means being smart with your money and not wasting your money on things you actually have no need for. This lifestyle does require a decent amount of self-discipline but you’ll definitely see the reward in your bank account.

Frugal living = NO IMPULSE BUYING

7. Increase your income

I’m sure you knew this one was going to be on the list! But don’t be fooled, an increase in income doesn’t mean that it can save your paycheck to paycheck problems.

As our income increases our spending habits seem to do the same, which leaves us back at square one. If you have a solid budget, spending responsibly and you’re still struggling to make ends meet, then making more money is the way to cure your financial woes.

Think about going to classes or teaching yourself skills that could increase your salary at work. Alternatively, you can pick up a side hustle/ second job that provides more immediate cash such as being an uber driver or a freelancer.

Heather’s Hot Tip: While your income increases try to keep your expenses the same (less is even better) don’t get caught up in the flashy lifestyle trying to prove a point to others. The only person that needs to know you got money is you. 🤷🏾‍♀️

8. Change your money mindset

Having a limited belief about the abundance of money that you can have will hold you back financially in life. Having enough money is maybe enough to survive but not enough to live life to the fullest. We all deserve to live the life we want to live, with the food we’d like to eat, and the places we’d like to visit.

If you find yourself living from paycheck to paycheck then you’ve probably cultivated a scarcity mindset in relation to money.

Here is a list of ways to help shift your mindset on money:

💰 Change your money script (Instead of telling yourself “ I’ll never be able to afford that” tell yourself “ I always have more than enough money”)
💰 Create a vision board of the life you want to live
💰 Set bigger monetary goals
💰 Think of money as a tool, not a result.

Want some help to turn yourself into a financial badass? Yes? Well, take a look at one of my favourite money mindset books 👉 SHOW ME 😱

9. Get an accountability partner

With any goal, it’s important to have a cheerleader by your side. Having someone that you’re accountable to will help you stick longer to your money goals as you know that someone is “watching” you. 👀

Accountability partners are also great for keeping you motivated as saving and spending your money wisely is something you should be in for the long haul and there will be times when you’ll feel tempted to splurge and give up, so having someone there to support you will make the journey a lot smoother.

You: I’m hungry, let’s get Mcdonalds

Accountability Partner: Nuh-uh you’re saving, you got food at home.

Bamn! you just saved some coins. 👛

10. Always keep going

It can be deflating if you mess up with your budget and overspend in a few categories. Don’t give in to the temptation of starting afresh the next month. Continue to track throughout the month so you can see what you need to change and by how much.

Over time your budget will evolve such as an overhead increase or a new addition to your family. Recognizing that you are overspending inconsistently in a particular area can help you know if you need to increase the budget in that area or cut back on others.

You got this. 🤞

Well! Those are my top 10 tips for ways to stop living paycheck to paycheck. Which one of these tips will you be implementing to help save you some extra dough at the end of the month? Let me know in the comments!

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