Hi I’m 136 days sober and currently i have $70 in my account after paying rent. I was wondering how you go about saving money because even though im finally starting to get more hours at work, with my impulse buying I’m still down to basically nothing by the time my bills are paid. Any suggestions or ideas?
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I figured out how much of my check had to be used for bill. (Gas, rent, food, ect). The rest went into, automatically into my savings account.
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Welcome to the community 
For me going back to basics is what helped.
Realising there is so much stuff I do not need and can live without. Planning meals. Seeing what I waste in general and using it if I can.
Keeping things simple.
It’s a working progress.
Great to have you with us 
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I recently returned to work and what I have noted the most and find very interesting is the same people that say they don’t have money or are broke are the same people that buy a couple coffees everyday as well as buy lunch out most days as well.
I’m financially secure, but I have my breakfast in morning at home, pack my lunch and snacks and make my coffee for the road. I also take two bottles of water from home.
Not sure if this is helpful to you, but those small things add up to a lot of money on a weekly basis, plus packing from home affords me an opportunity to ensure I am eating healthier. I don’t make excuses, I get up and pack it every single day…
As for impulse purchases, they seem to more fill something missing in one’s life. Rarely needed items. Fill that void with being outside, exercising, playing with pets or friends. Just remove oneself from a screen that is constantly barraging us with advertising.
My truck is paid for, and unlike many of my coworkers, they drive newer vehicles and pay monthly for. My son has a 2014 ford focus and while he keeps talking about getting something newer, I remind him it works and runs well, and no longer costs anything monthly. Run it till it starts costing more than a monthly payment does.
Again, I am not stating anything mentioned applies to you, just things I do to have changed old bad habits…it’s the small changes that add to big savings.
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Hi there,
I second a good bit of what Chevy55 said. I have been broke with bad credit and not a dime to my name before. Some tips: What helped me was to cook beans and rice at home once I had a few dollars for food. I made so many variations and saved tons of money. I lost weight. From there, I learned more cheap healthy meals as the money accumulated. For the most part, if you can’t pay cash for it, you can’t afford it. Sometimes you absolutely have to borrow but, if possible, minimize it .
Try to avoid credit cards and high-interest loans, or anything like that. Compound interest is nasty. I drove cars into the ground. Paid them off and drove for 6 more years payment-free. My friends would lease luxury cars. Why fake it if you don’t have it? People will find out. And when the lease is up you have nothing. Can now pay cash for a car but won’t, because the one I have looks good and runs fine. I need the money for retirement. That stuff is expensive.
It’s hard to start an extreme saving lifestyle but once you get rolling, and have an actual cushion in your bank account you will be over the moon, and it keeps rolling and becomes a game, almost. You can do this!
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