Something I haven't been able to comprehend is how people don't live paycheck to paycheck. I've been doing it for years. My monthly budget only leaves so much leftover and, after taking care of necessities, I want to do something I actually enjoy like eat cheese sticks, drink wine, and go out with friends.
This summer, I made a life change and opened a savings account where 80% of both of my jobs checks aren't accessible to me. That leaves about 20% for me to buy gas, groceries, and enjoy myself with whatever is left. However, I'm now paying rent, electricity, internet, my phone, and my car, and I don't think there's going to be much left of my savings each month.
Granted, I am paying for my life responsibly and still enjoying some of it, but it still seems as though I won't be saving much money over time. If, hypothetically, I have $150 left in my savings each month and I manage not to take myself on a shopping spree, I should have $1800 by next May.
I should save this for a rainy day or pay rent in advance or something, but that's enough for a 2 week trip in Europe (very realistic, I should have been a travel agent). I'm young and I want to travel and next thing you know that money is gone and I'm back to square one.
I can only imagine how people who make minimum wage barely scrape by. I make more than that, and I still don't see much money left.
This article is asking for advice, because Google searches aren't helping me.
Everything about saving money doesn't realistically account for life's pleasures or any kind of happiness.
My question is, HOW?
How do people save money in a world full of light, temptation, and adventure? How do people enjoy themselves and still have so much put away? How do I invest my money or find some other way to make my funds harder to reach? How is this not a required class in high school and college?
Please write a response article or sit me down for an intervention because I'm having way too much fun to not spend every dime I have enjoying what might always be the last day of my life. I need a 'How to save money as a free spirit" article in my life.
Thank you in advance.
