Lifestyle
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
If you want to reduce work hours or stay home with a child, lower your expenses to decrease the income you need.
This can also save money on daycare.
one person who lived it
Buy craft supplies second-hand to satisfy the desire for new materials cheaply, and resell unused items to defray costs.
It is much cheaper than retail and allows you to sell off items you will never use.
- One approach that helped: buying off Facebook Marketplace every few months.
one person who lived it
Practice moderation in both spending and saving to avoid being too old to enjoy your wealth.
Being frugal all your life may result in having money but being too old to do the things you want.
one person who lived it
Invest in high-quality jeans to prevent holes from forming quickly.
Cheap jeans may develop thigh rub holes within a few months.
one person who lived it
Save all year to spend a month or two in the tropics during the winter.
- You have to be willing to spend.
one person who lived it
Enjoy experiences in your youth while also saving for retirement.
One person found they could do both.
one person who lived it
Accept that living on minimum wage is very tough, especially if most of your money goes to rent.
one person who lived it
Replace shopping with free hobbies like walking or running to address boredom-driven spending.
3 people, independently
Use gym facilities such as Wi-Fi, showers, pools, and hot tubs to reduce living expenses by spending time there instead of at home.
one person who lived it
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Manage your budget and reduce unnecessary consumption to free up resources for your ambitions.
Overspending on unneeded items and over-consuming useless content prevents knowing where to start.
one person who lived it
Buy clearance clothing in larger sizes at the end of the season to accommodate children's growth.
3 people, independently
Live in a small space to physically prevent clutter accumulation.
- one person's experience
one person who lived it
Continue enjoying leisure activities from lower-income periods, such as video games, rather than switching to more expensive alternatives like golf just because you earn more.
one person who lived it