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BREAK FREE OF LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK

Harris-Courage & Grady, PLLC May 26, 2017

Are you tired of living paycheck to paycheck?

You’re Not Alone!

Half of American families are stuck in that never-ending cycle of earning and paying bills with nothing to show for it at the end of the month.

You Don’t Have to Stay Stuck!

You can build a financial cushion and eliminate your financial stress even if you don’t have a high-paying job.

Gain financial freedom by taking control of your finances:

  1. Get excited. If you’ve been living paycheck to paycheck, it’s most likely been going on for a long time. Give yourself some motivation to change your financial habits. Make a list of the advantages of getting out of this cycle. Pay special attention to how you would feel.

    • You would be able to handle any financial emergencies, such as an unexpected car repair or doctor’s visit.

    • You’d sleep better.

    • You could take a nice vacation.

    • What else can you think of?

  2. Pay yourself first. It’s impossible to save money if you don’t make paying yourself a priority. Treat your savings account like a monthly bill that must be paid first regardless of the circumstances. No exceptions.

  3. Deal with your debts. It’s extremely difficult to get ahead while you’re paying off past debts. Filing bankruptcy can eliminate your debts for much less than the cost of paying them all with interest, and it’s much quicker too! A free, no-obligation call to our office can help you determine if bankruptcy is right for you.

  4. Control your spending. Everyone should have a budget. Do you? Create one, and stick to it. If your idea of “budgeting” is checking your bank account to see if it has enough money for a purchase you want to make, it’s time to make adjustments. Your budget doesn’t have to eliminate your fun spending money—it just ensures that the fun spending money doesn’t come at the expense of things you actually need.

  5. Earn more. There is a limit to how much you can cut your expenses, but there’s no limit to how much you can earn. If you’ve been in your current position for at least two years, consider applying for something that pays better. You can also find a way to earn some money on the side. There are dozens of ways to earn extra money without leaving home.

  6. Celebrate small victories. You may not feel it’s worthwhile to save small amounts, but it will add up over time. At $50 per month, it will take less than a year to create a $500 emergency fund. If you can’t save $50, save something. It’s important to be pleased with your progress, no matter how small.

Your financial situation won’t change unless you do. Though it may seem like a long journey to break free of the paycheck to paycheck cycle, it’s worth your time and effort.

You’ll see so many benefits when you control your finances and they don’t control you.