Spending less than you earn is one sure path to financial security. But that doesn’t have to mean a spartan lifestyle. You can still enjoy yourself while living small.
1. Focus on the benefits
Having a financial buffer makes you the boss of your money, instead of someone who scrambles until payday. It gives you the power to coolly handle an unexpected car repair or medical bill, save for retirement and fund your dreams, whether that’s a Craftsman-style house or launching an Etsy business.
“Being frugal doesn’t mean you’re cheap. It means you want to invest your money in things that really matter,” says Lydia Senn, a lifestyle blogger at Frugal, Debt-Free Life.
Financial experts often recommend living on at least 15% less than the amount you earn. We asked several for their best tips on how to live below your means without feeling like you’re missing out.
Learn more: Best current CD rates
2. Be your money’s boss
The act of assigning a job for every dollar can be empowering. The popular 50/30/20 budget recommended by consumer advocate Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., divides money into the categories of needs, wantsand savings and debt repayment.
“Make financial choices for the month in the quiet of your own head, or with your partner, in advance — not in the moment. That way you can feel great about your spending,” says Charlie Bolognino, a certified financial planner in Plymouth, Minnesota.
3. Save off the top
Divert money from each paycheck before you’re tempted by it. Once you start, it becomes painless to save through 401(k) paycheck deductions at work, or automatic monthly transfers to a savings or investment account.
“Start small and add a percent or two every time your income goes up,” says Leon LaBrecque, CEO of LJPR Financial Advisors in Troy, Mich.
4. Pay yourself
When you finish paying off something, whether a smartphone, car or college education, continue making the same monthly payments you’re accustomed to — but direct them to yourself. Stash the money in an interest-bearing savings account, and let it accumulate. The next time you want to buy something, you can pay cash — and feel the opposite of deprived.
5. Live off one income
Many dual-income families naturally budget their lifestyles based on money that two jobs bring in. But consider the benefits of making a conscious choice to live off just one salary. If it’s possible, arranging your household costs so just one person’s pay covers the bills provides significant financial freedom.
Earmark the second paycheck for maxing out retirement savings, investing or paying off debt. It also provides flexibility for life events like an unexpected job loss or having one parent stay home with young children for a time.
6. Cut meaningless expenses
Are you eating out too frequently, subscribing to boring cable channels or paying for unused memberships? Eliminating costs you don’t care about frees up money for things you truly enjoy.
7. Write down what you value in life
Then look closely at your last few financial statements. Do your purchases match your values? “There are usually many things we could go without, but we buy them without even thinking,” says Jared Paul, a certified financial planner in Latham, N.Y.
8. Right-size your home
Hold back from buying the most expensive house the bank says you can afford. Instead, buy the small fixer-upper and make the house your own, says Diane Manuel, a certified financial planner in El Segundo, California. That way you can enjoy your nest without feeling stretched by the costs of homeownership like taxes, insurance and maintenance.
9. Drive used
Do you really need that brand-new car that loses 20% of its value as you drive it off the lot and comes with a $500 monthly payment? Purchasing a previously owned car, and paying cash, means you skip the stress of an auto loan on top of other expenses of car ownership.
“Remember, your car is only transportation. Used cars from rental agencies are good” to buy, Manuel says — “low mileage and under warranty.”
10. Pay less interest
If you carry balances on high-interest credit cards, consider consolidating your debt to save on interest. With good credit, you might be eligible for a balance transfer credit card at 0% interest for 12 months or longer. Just watch out for transfer fees, and transfer only an amount you can afford to pay off before the introductory period expires and the rate jumps.
Or refinance with a low-interest personal loan from a credit union, bank or online lender. With less interest to pay, you’ll be free of debt and on to other meaningful goals faster.
MORE: Where to Get a Loan
MORE: 3 Steps to Pay Off Debt
MORE: Foolproof Ways to Build Wealth
Jeanne Lee is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a personal finance website.
NerdWallet is a USA TODAY content partner providing general news, commentary and coverage from around the Web. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.
