"Having more money means you can spend money on more things. But the "good life" should not be about quantity. Rather, it's about spending your time and money on the very things and events that make you feel happiest and most fulfilled.
I use the example of a young 20-something who was making very little money as a budding artist in New York City. She was sharing an apartment in Brooklyn, living very simply. Her good life meant having the opportunity to travel. By paring back on day-to-day expenditures, like meals out and cab rides, she was able to utilize her money toward a greater joy, which was taking weekend trips. In her mind, she was "living it up.""
---> Farnoosh Torab, Thestreet.com reporter
When you work and have money on your hands, you're the only one who has the power to control how much money you spend. Back in the day when I was still in college and away from home, I learned how to budget my allowance. It was hard because I knew myself as the extravagant type when I was a still in high school. But I learned the value of money when I did volunteer jobs as a Physical Therapist where I had to live within my means. It really is important to save. But most people will say that no matter what they do, they just can't save because the point is, why work hard for your money if you can't enjoy it?
Just a quick reality check, most of us are all employees working for our own respective boss or maybe you're a boss who have subordinates but still you have a boss of your own.
Regardless of the position, all of us, at one point or another, became broke. Literally no money on our pockets. People say, no matter what they do, they just can't save. I realized that I don't have to save. If I get my salary, I won't focus on saving because doing so just doesn't work. Instead of trying your best to save, try your best to know the things that you are spending money on. Do you really need it? Will you die if you won't be able to buy it?
It helps if you're someone who's easily satisfied. It works for me because I'm basically low-maintenance. If I still have a working watch, I won't buy a new one. The only thing that I splurge on is food. I remember when my mom told me that it's important to save and don't buy things that you don't need...but never ever ever starve yourself. =) That was music to my ears.
I am also now doing my poor-rich days. There are days that I don't spend more than a hundred bucks a day and there are days when I splurge. I also have my Starbucks moment once in a while.
Bills are the most inevitable things on earth. One thing that works for me is that I pay on time. Way way before the due dates. I learned how to budget when I started to live on my own. Which I enjoy, really. I can stay the whole day in my flat and not go out. I'm not easily bored that's why. There's a big responsibility when you decide to live on your own. You have to take care of yourself because no one's gonna wake you up and tell you that food is ready. You have to do everything on your own. Run your own errands. Prepare your own food. Clean your flat. Bring yourself to the doctor when you're sick. Budget your own money. For people who are still living with their parents, maybe you can try living on your own and I'm telling you, you will definitely enjoy life. =)
When you limit yourself on your ways of spending and maybe focus on a specific goal, like a vacation in Boracay or maybe go to HongKong Disneyland, it really is possible. But you have to sacrifice and cut down on irrelevant stuff. it's effective if you're the type who wants to travel. It's just one sample on how you can enjoy life even when you are working on a tight budget.
One more thing that I avoid --- debts. That's one big factor why people go bankrupt. Avoid it just like you avoid seeing your boss when you're late.
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