Don’t borrow money to live on while you go to school. If you must borrow, borrow only enough for tuition and books. You don’t need cable TV, Fancy cell phone plans, money for eating out or partying. If possible get a dependable roommate. If you work steadily, you won’t need entertainment. Peanut butter, whole wheat bread, and beans are nutritious, high protein foods, and you can keep them in a metal lockbox in your room if your roommate is a moocher.
Buy your clothes at resale shops and Goodwill if you don’t have cash. You don’t need as many as you think, especially if you don’t eat out and party. Take a job, any job, until you get one that pays better. Never quit one job till you have another. If your boss is an idiot, keep your mouth shut. If he really is stupid, he will undo himself without your help.
Live without credit cards. You will probably have to finance your first vehicle. Get a sturdy used car and drive it as long as you can. Luxury vehicles are for people with cash and those who plan to go bankrupt.
Start out with a small house. Pay more than the principle every month. Don’t upgrade till you have sufficient equity and cash. If you are a couple, make sure one of you can make the note if the other is out of a job or out of the picture. It happens.
Do without whatever you can’t pay cash for. You need less than you think. Take care of your vehicles and drive them as long as you can. Cook at home except for special occasions. Get a freezer and buy on sale. Enroll in a retirement plan as soon as you get a steady job at the highest rate you can afford. Increase your investment every time you get a raise. Chances are, the tax withholdings will make you bring home a lot more than you thought.
Take the vacation you can afford. Short days trips to the zoo and local attractions and camping, run far less than cruises and Disneyworld. Kids love this stuff.
When the kids are little, if you have the opportunity, work alternate shifts so one parent is with the kids as much as possible. You will save a fortune on daycare and have a better idea of what is going on. Teach kids the difference in what they want and what they need. It’s a good reminder for them and you.
Decrease your expectations. You don’t need all that stuff. Nobody cares, and if they do, find new friends.
Did I say it was quick and easy? I guess I was thinking in geological terms.
Nutsrok 
Thanks very much.
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Words of wisdom thanks for sharing. Living within one’s means is always a wise course to take.
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I agree. Sometimes we’ve struggled despite our best effort. I hate when we haven’t had enough money and had to pay late charges. Sometimes your money just doesn’t go far enough.
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So true as the money-managers seem to hold all the good cards so to speak that even trumps from time to time even our best efforts. Keep the faith. Rainbows appear after any storm.
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All great advice and so often not used. :)
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We were blessed with total responsibility for oourselves from the outset. Against the good advice of our parents, we got married in college. We knew from the outset they couldn’t help us, so we made it on what we earned on our student jobs. We lived cheap, cheap, cheap. We made one trip for groceries after we got paid. We usually had less than $10 left, so there was no impulse spending the rest of the month. We walked everywhere. Amazingly, I never felt poor. I’ve never been happier. It’s a blessing to learn frugality.
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I got married the first time at 18 years old, my husband had started his first job, his parents had money so he never had to work. I was only making $6.50 an hour and when it came to groceries I had $35 to spend. We had no credit cards, the only debt we had was the ongoing one with the truck that sold the tools he needed to do his job. We kept the few dollors we had in a shoe box in the closet because we never had enough to open a bank account. Looking back, I didn’t think I was doing without because that was how I was raised by my Grandparents. I’m so glad I learned a better way to live. :)
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That’s a rough way to start. Been there.
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Yes, but it taught me a few lessons.
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It’s not so bad once the lesson’s over.
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We certainly don’t know what we are getting into when we marry. It’s a wonder it ever works out.
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We played house for about 6 months then got divorced. He was a great guy but we didn’t know each other, had different interest and he had no abition for a better life.
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It’s good you didn’t have kids. You’d have had a harder time getting out.
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God blessed me with not being able to have kids and I’ve been perfectly fine with that. Not every woman needs to be a mother.
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It’s good to know when you’re well off.
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I didn’t feel poor because Daddy was a compulsive spender and Mother struggled to keep utilities on and buy groceries. The money was spent before it ever got home.
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Tim and I don’t have credit cards and even when we did way back when it was locked in our safe at home so no impulse buys while out at the shops, holidays were saved for and done on a budget. Our household bills were paid weekly so when the bill came in it would be mostly paid if not paid in full as they still are.
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We have a couple, but only use when necessary, like car rental. We use our debit card for everything. I never carry cash.
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Great advice, can’t say I have followed all of these unfortunately 😬 But I do try to now… Our car for example is second hand and we won’t be buying a new one until we really have to..
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I usually drive my vehicle 12 years, if I can.
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Nice
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