Living Well without Spending a Lot of Money

Having a moderate income does not mean that you have to live like a pauper.? If you want to live well, then the key is living within your means.? That means not stretching the family budget to upgrade to a larger home that you can barely afford, or trading up for a new car every few years.? A few small sacrifices here and there on your more big ticket items can mean a lot more money to spend (and save) in other places.??

If you find yourself tempted to “upgrade” homes, consider why you are looking.? If you simply do not have enough room for everyone, then think twice about how your home is currently arranged.? Does everyone have to have their own room?? Do you really need a room dedicated to being an office or an exercise room?? If you can combine spaces to make things work in a smaller home, then you can spend the money that would have gone to a larger mortgage payment on other things that will bring you much more immediate and hopefully lasting joy.??

The same goes for upgrading your car.? You may want to drive the newest model, but it obviously doesn’t keep you happy for long, or you wouldn’t feel the urge to upgrade.? Instead, pick a model that you love and stick with it.? Bonus points for picking a model that is moderately priced and that will save you money on gas in the long run, too.?

Spending quality time and living well does not have to involve spending a lot of money.? If you find yourself going out to dinner or to the movies often, then think about why you are going out and see if you can change your attitude to change your behavior.? You may find that taking a walk to the local park or spending time on your bike is not only healthier, but less expensive and just as enjoyable as spending money.? If you don’t cook your own meals because you don’t know how, then consider taking a cooking class - which you can consider an investment in yourself for the future.??

When you love to spend money, you should also never underestimate the power of the coupon.? If you have to shop, then save as much money as possible doing it by applying coupons and even using cash back rewards cards.? You should always make sure to pay your cards off in full when you get the bill to ensure that your interest does not negate the cash back.? Enjoy your spending, but do it wisely.??

It is easy to live well if you are living within your means.? “Keeping up with the Joneses” is a practice that is guaranteed to get you into financial trouble very quickly, but if you learn to enjoy the things that you can afford to have and to do, you will find that your life is already incredibly rich.?