You probably read that title and thought, yeah right. Trying to make ends meet while on minimum wage is hard enough as it is. Throw in saving money; it feels like it’s next to impossible. Paying your rent, utility bills, groceries, and the once in a while that you go out, tend to trump saving money. Why? Well, the current you needs the money right now.
The issue with that mindset is that the future you will also need that money. If you don’t do anything about that right now, then your future self is going to have an even harder time than you are currently right now.
As life continues, it’s only going to cost you more money, not less. Want a family? Tack on more money. Plan to buy a house? You guessed it, more money. The point is that even if you are making the minimum amount possible to stay above the poverty line, you want to be, and should be stashing some money away for the future.
Many people have saved a fortune off minimum wage, so it’s not impossible. Anyone can do it if you have the determination and are willing to make a few sacrifices now and then.
Take a look at some of the ways you can save money while making minimum wage.
Start Living Modestly
Obviously, one of the most significant ways to save money while making barely any cash is to live modestly. No one says you have to cut out all the fun parts of your life. Instead, enjoy them in moderation.
Just like when you’re on a diet, you are told to cut back on sweets or enjoy snacks in moderation. Too much and it’ll throw your diet out of whack. However, completely depriving yourself of them and it’ll make it harder to stay on track. You can look at saving and living modestly in a similar way.
Living modestly is also good for your psychological wellbeing. How often do you hear people say how just because you have a lot of money, that doesn’t make you happy? Someone can have all the money in the world but end up being miserable. When you live a modest lifestyle, you’ll not only start to save money, but you’ll also begin to appreciate everything else around you that much more.
Manage Your Money Better
If you want to save money for the future even though you don’t make a whole lot, it’s going to come down to a lot of money management. Now, money management doesn’t sound exciting but trust me, it will help you out immensely.
Money management has never been easier. There are so many websites and everyday people that have advice from their personal experiences to guide you. You can also download apps to help you track your spending and warn you when you should slow down.
As you learn to manage your money, budgeting and goals will be your best friends. A good budget will give you a snapshot of what your finances look like. You can then, see where you should make some cuts and where you should be putting and excess money. Setting goals will not only keep you on track, but it will also give your pride a boost every time you achieve one.
Look Into Investments
Here’s a trick to help you save money while your paycheck barely covers your expenses – bring in more cash. You don’t necessarily have to go out and find a second or third job. Rather, look into ways for passive income, like investing.
If you want to be successful with investments, you need to spend some time researching what it all means to invest and be dedicated. A poor investment could make you lose all of your money. The right investment though, now that could get you somewhere.
In the end, to save money while making minimum wage, it will force you to be a bit creative. You’ll want to make a few cuts and find ways to earn a passive income, but it is never impossible to save.
About the Author:
Jeremy Biberdorf is the owner & founder of the popular investing blog modestmoney.com. Check out his site for latest investing news and tips Follow ModestMoney on Twitter and connect with Jeremy Biberdorf on Facebook.