Nobody has any money. That’s what we hear. Most of us will verify that statement with our own checkbook. Many people feel that the only way they’ll survive is by borrowing money. Credit cards are the worst way to finance your life. It doesn’t seem possible, but it has to be done. Finance your life with cash instead of credit. How do you do that? You spend less. It’s much more possible that you think.
If people kept a little journal of everything they spent money on each day, they would surprised. There would be a few dollars in soda and snacks, a few dollars for one latte, maybe a beer after work, lotto tickets, impulse buys such as new shoes, and so forth. Now, if all of that money was saved or invested for retirement, people would be much better off. Maybe it seems like a dull life to trade your little rewards for a life of austerity, so just cut it in half and you’ll still have more cash than you realized. Food, rent and utilities always need to be paid in cash. Never finance the necessities with a credit card. Keep chipping away at impulse spending, and put that extra cash towards the basics in life.
People who do without the extra stuff are usually happier than people who have too much. It’s worrisome to always be shuffling your finances just to get from one month to the next. Eventually, that kind of living catches up with you, and you’re forced to start over. When it happens, do it right. Finance your life with cash.