How to Afford Life AGAIN!
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For a lot of you, the issue isn’t that you don’t make enough money. Let me say that again: it’s not that you don’t make enough money.
Sometimes, it’s about knowing exactly where your money is leaking. Because the big bills aren’t always the villain – often times it’s the quiet little habits you never question. Those “every now and then” expenses that feel harmless…but hit your wallet every. single. time.
So let’s talk about things you might need to stop buying – or at least cut back on – if you’re serious about lowering your cost of living.
1. Scale Back on Extracurricular Overload
Let’s start with something we don’t talk about enough: extracurriculars.
I saw this video where a woman was saying her family lives paycheck to paycheck. No savings. No money left at the end of the month.
She then listed out their monthly expenses, and each of her kids were in two or three activities. Plus, she had a few personal expenses she was paying for each month.
And listen – I really try not to judge, but let’s be for real.
Activities are great. We all need outlets. But if your household is hanging on by a thread financially, and you’re not even able to put anything in savings, you’ve got to get honest about what’s necessary right now versus what’s “nice to have.”
You don’t have to strip everything down to nothing. But instead of two or three things per person, how about one activity each? I always say, moderation is your best friend.
It’s a win-win: everybody gets something fun to look forward to, and you get room to actually breathe in your budget.
2. Audit Your Yearly Trips (Be Honest With Yourself)
Now let’s talk travel. I know some of y’all aren’t ready for this, but you need to hear it.
I’m all for experiences. In fact, I preach experiences over things all the time. But some of y’all are taking that advice and running a little wild with it.
“Experience over things” doesn’t mean six vacations a year when you have no savings. It doesn’t mean flying out every other month and putting everything on credit.
Let me keep it 100: you don’t have to be in a new city to create memories.
You can explore a small town nearby, walk a trail or hit a state park, go to a local festival or free museum day, or just plan a weekend staycation and actually rest. The goal is to live life and collect moments – not to fake luxury while your finances are falling apart behind the scenes.
So pull up your past 12 months. Look at your travel spending. And be honest: are you doing too much? If so, scale back. Save the difference. You’ll thank yourself next year when your money’s right.
3. Cook More at Home – Seriously
Takeout is cute until you realize it’s draining your money.
Ordering out three or four times a week? It adds up. Fast.
One of the easiest ways to cut your cost of living without changing your income is to just cook at home more, using ingredients. No, you don’t have to become a chef. And no, you don’t have to cook every single day.
My advice? Bulk cook once or twice a week, and freeze a few extra meals at the beginning of the month for nights when you don’t feel like cooking.
Here’s a hack: I use Chat to plan meals using whatever’s already in my pantry. It gives me recipes with no extra grocery trip, no wasted food, no extra spending. Simple.
4. Watch Out for “Just in Case” and “It’s Only” Buys
These two little phrases?
“I might need it just in case.”
“It’s only $5.”
Yeah… they sound harmless, but they’re sneaky expensive.
If you catch yourself saying either one, that’s your cue: put it back.
“Just in case” usually means you don’t have a real plan to use it. And “it’s only” turns into $5 here, $12 there, and $7 next week, until you’re wondering where that extra $300 went this month.
Intentional spending means stopping and asking: “Do I really need this? Or am I just trying to justify it?”
5. Track the Small Stuff, It Adds Up Fast
Here’s what really shocks people: it’s not always the big bills draining your account. It’s the tiny stuff you grab without thinking.
A soda here, a snack there, an extra coffee, that $2 app you forgot you signed up for. When you swipe, tap, and Apple Pay – it doesn’t even feel like money anymore.
I used to think I was only spending $40/month on little extras. When I actually pulled up my statement and added it all up? Try $120.
And that’s how your money disappears.
Those micro-spends are one of the easiest things to cut without feeling deprived, so start tracking them – seriously. Once you see where your money’s leaking, it’s way easier to plug the hole.