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How Can You Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck?

Living from paycheck to paycheck can cause stress, especially when you cannot cover all your needs and wants on a monthly basis. Constantly scrambling to make ends meet can feel like running on an endless financial treadmill.

A combination of practical strategies and a positive attitude can help you make real progress. The most crucial step is to start – now!

#1: EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED

When you are struggling to pay for all your current expenses, it can seem impossible to put anything aside for your future. However, unforeseen circumstances can happen anytime. Job loss or accidents could put you in a bigger financial trap. Cushion these circumstances by building and emergency fund.

While people usually put six months’ worth of expenses in their rainy-day fund, you can aim for saving at least S$1,000 first. Even if you start with just S$50 per paycheck, you will become more confident in managing your finances as time passes.

#2: CREATE A REALISTIC BUDGET

Be honest! Do you know where all your money goes to? If you are merely paying for the incoming bills and ensuring that everyone is fed, you may not have a system in place. When you have a budget, you can easily monitor where your money goes and where it should be.

A budget also uncovers your spending habits. Examine these spending habits to make necessary changes. Cutting down on non-essential expenses can help save money for your future.

#3: TACKLE THE FOUR WALLS

According to financial author Dave Ramsey, you must take care of your Four Walls first. These fundamental walls include food, utilities, shelter, and transportation. Put these on the top of your budget priorities and write down other categories that you need to pay for. List these categories based on their importance.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

When you run out of money, that is it. Stop spending!

#4: LIVE BELOW YOUR MEANS

Don’t get a part-time gig to keep living a lifestyle that you can’t afford! Increasing your income streams can help with your situation, but you must be responsible with your money. Remember why you took on that additional job in the first place.

Seek the help of others to ensure that you are not tempted to spend your extra money. Stay intentional and stick to your budget.

#5: AVOID THE CREDIT CARDS

Are you trapped in a mountain of debt? Well, you won’t get out of it if you continue using your credit cards.

As much as possible, avoid using your credit cards until you are completely out of debt. This will help you control your spending. If you lack the willpower, eliminate all your credit cards except for one. Put all your credit on this card and pay off the minimum each month (on time).

#6: BE PATIENT

Getting out of this situation can’t be achieved overnight! Start with small positive steps toward money management. Think of money that you can save and watch it add up. This process takes time and commitment, but you can do it.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Just have the courage to start now!

Sources: 1 & 2

7 Financial Commandments for Your Thirties

Hitting your thirties signify that you are halfway to retirement. After establishing a financial foundation in your twenties, it is up to you to use the following decade of your life to build and protect your wealth.

Whether you want to purchase a flat or to travel the world, these seven financial commandments can help you stretch your dollar.

#1: YOU SHALL LEARN SELF-CONTROL

Throughout your childhood, your parents or teachers taught you to practice self-control. The sooner you learn the importance of delayed gratification, the better off you will be. Applying self-control makes it easier to stay on top of your finances.

Select consciously spending cash rather than swiping your credit cards. Credit cards are convenient, but you must pay your bills on tip to maintain a good credit score. Do you really want to pay interest on a pair of jeans or a box of cereal? Think about it.

#2: YOU SHALL GET YOUR INSURANCE IN ORDER

Let us face it! You are not getting any younger. You need to sort out your health insurance, life insurance, and other policies. Considering a life insurance is prudent, especially if you have people depending on you.

#3: KEEP ADVANCING IN YOUR CAREER PATH

Developing your skill set occurs in your twenties. In your thirties, you will need to apply these skills to increase your earnings. Start by researching potential career paths and identifying companies where you can fit in. If you have the resources, you can go back to school to further your studies. Alternatively, you can take free online courses to boost your career.

#4: YOU SHALL INCREASE YOUR EMERGENCY FUND

The pandemic highlighted the importance of keeping an emergency fund. Having an emergency fund can help cushion the financial blow of unexpected events. If you started an emergency fund in your twenties, you followed the standard rule of keeping at least six months’ worth of your expenses.

Image credits: unsplash.com

As your income increases in your thirties, you should also boost the balance in your emergency fund and take your family in consideration. Make it a habit to save money and to pay yourself first!

#5: HONOR YOUR PAYCHECK

Stop spending your entire paycheck in less than a month! Live within your means and do your best to save a portion of your paycheck to propel your future. Gradually increase the amount you save while decreasing the amount from which you live off.

Use the 60-80% of your income to fulfill your needs and allocate the remaining 20-40% of it to your savings and investments. Transferring the money automatically to your savings ensures that you will not be tempted to use it.

#6: YOU SHALL WRITE YOUR WILL

Do you still think that you are invincible? Try waking up in your thirties after a night of heavy partying! Protect the people you love by writing a will. Without one, others will have the power to decide how to split up your estate and how to raise your children.

#7: YOU SHALL NOT COVET THEY NEIGHBOR’S THINGS

As you reach your thirties, you may find yourself in a place where you tend to compare your accomplishments to your peers. Scrolling through your feed can highlight the milestones that your friends have reached such as purchasing a flat or getting married. You can admire your neighbors’ new car or new job. However, you do not need to stretch your budget to keep up with them. Doing so will ruin your finances.

Focus on your financial goals, live within your means, increase your savings, and do your best to be content. Acknowledge your inner strengths and use it to succeed!

Sources: 1 & 2

7 Famous People Who Still Earn Millions Beyond The Grave

They may no longer be breathing in this world but they probably earn more in one year than most of us will in our entire lives!

These numbers, accumulated by Forbes, show the top earning dead celebrities in 2015…

7. JOHN LENNON

Yoko Ono’s soulmate that is better known as the singer-songwriter of the Beatles – John Lennon takes the 7th spot.

With a whopping total of US$12 million (S$16.9 million) in 2015, this iconic musician continues to share the revenue of his recorded and published music. Other ventures such as the Beatles-themed Cirque du Soleil show are also earning him money even after death.

6. MARILYN MONROE

One of the famous entertainers of the 50s is the dashing Marilyn Monroe. Although she died more than 50 years ago, her legend continues as the Authentic Brand Group bought the rights to her brand. Her branding consists of a lingerie line, clothing label, perfume, and spa treatments. In 2015, these earned her US$17 million (S$23.9 million).

Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)

This proves that her beauty still captivates the hearts of many!

5. ELIZABETH TAYLOR

Aside from her movies, this legendary leading lady has been reigning supreme in the celebrity fragrance business. One of her top fragrance called “White Diamonds” is still continuing to sell even after 24 years.

All in all, Elizabeth Taylor earned about US$20 million (S$28.1 million) this year!

4. BOB MARLEY

Bob Marley, a reggae superstar, may not be an outright entrepreneur when he was alive but he became one in his death. This is due to three reasons namely: his Marley Beverage Company, his House Of Marley, and his music royalties.

He really does not need to worry about money as he is still earning US$21 million (S$29.6 million) after his death!

3. CHARLES SCHULZ

It is rare to see people who cannot recognize who Snoopy and Charlie Brown is! With the release of the “Peanuts Movie”, their creator named Charles Schulz who died in 2000 earned about US$40 million (S$56.42 million) this year. He is said to be earning a cut from the licensing revenue of the popular comics too.

2. ELVIS PRESLEY

The King of Rock and Roll’s magic lives on until the present day as his brand and name is still earning an impressive amount of US$55 million (S$77.5 million). This is largely due to the sales of his albums, memorabilia, and Graceland ticket sales.

Elvis, we can’t help falling in love with you!

1. MICHAEL JACKSON

Smooth as his pipes were, Michael Jackson has been bringing home the bucks gracefully since young. Consistently, he has been earning triple-digit millions every year after his death in 2009. Thought that was thrilling? How about if I told you that he earned US$115 million (S$162.1 million) this year alone?

Well, his undying talent still drives the force of his Cirque du Soleil show, his Mijac Music catalogue, and his music royalties including the half of the Sony/ATV publishing empire.

See his everlasting career here:

Sources: 1 & 2

How to maximize your life with a $3,000 paycheck

With S$3,000 for a monthly salary, many fresh graduates do not think that is enough to spend nor save. But think again. As a bachelor or bachelorette earning $3,000, you are already better off than many others beset with hefty household bills. So, for someone fresh out of school with no dependants or minimal financial liabilities, maximizing your life with your $3,000 paycheck may be attainable and here is how we can approach this mathematical sum with the help of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. According to Abraham Maslow, a renowned American psychologist, inherent human needs are fulfilled in the following priorities, starting from physiological needs, safety needs, love/belonging needs, esteem needs and finally, self-actualization needs.

Need(s) fulfilled: Physiological
Image credit: ss3singapore.wordpress.com

1. Spend 20% or $600 on irresistible meals that are simply affordable. Fortunately, it is never a hassle to find them in the heartlands or the CBD areas which serve to satisfy your hunger pangs after a half day of hard work! Alternatively, you can prepare your own nutritious and palatable meals within the budget!

Need(s) fulfilled: Love/belonging, safety
Image credit: en.wikipedia.org

2. Spend 10% or $300 on delighting your beloved family, partners and friends. Rope them in for a laugh by watching a hilarious movie, enjoy a hearty chat over a scrumptious meal or simply participate in a sport that all of you relish.

Need(s) fulfilled: Love/belonging, safety, physiological, self-actualization
Image credit: todayonline.com

3. Save 50% or $1,500 for your upcoming big ticket items. In Singapore, your residential property is probably your greatest prized asset. Your lifetime of savings and efforts will be manifested in your small but cozy HDB flat. At the end of the day, it is the family warmth that truly matters in the home, not so much about the size. Depending on your risk appetite, a portion of the 50% may be used for investment purposes to earn a return over the inflation rate. As easy as this may sound, engaging in due diligence is key to making or breaking it.

Need(s) fulfilled: Love/belonging, safety, esteem
Image credit: huishilicious.wordpress.com

4. Set aside 10% or $300 as an emergency fund. Life is filled with surprises. You never know what will happen tomorrow. Putting aside 10% of your income may seem wise to buffer yourself against uncertainties. Take for example an unexpected invitation to your superior or colleague’s wedding or baby shower. An emergency fund boosts your readiness and willingness to share the joys, build a stronger rapport and put you in a better position to win people’s hearts.

Need(s) fulfilled: Physiological, safety
Image credit: graphichive.net

5. The last 10% or $300 is reserved for miscellaneous expenses such as transport fares, therapeutic services and new merchandises. After a month’s worth of toiling, you definitely deserve some pampering. Indulge in a massage to relieve yourself of the piled-up stress from work. Recharge before moving on to the greater things in life.

The good news is that the higher level needs such as the esteem needs and self-actualization needs often do not pose a material constraint on your financial resources. By living within your means while maintaining optimism, you gain the understanding and respect of your peers and family members. Through demonstrating your forthcomingness in celebrating others’ blissfulness and successes while realizing the relentless quest for material wealth does not always lead to happiness, you would have already achieved the moral high ground.

3 Simple Tips To Stop Living From Paycheck to Paycheck

Living barely within your income is not a laughing matter. When you are living paycheck to paycheck, you live a life of constant stress, worry, and dread that you might be stuck in an unfortunate debt. It is a struggle to gain control of your money and your commitments. So, here are 3 Simple Tips To Stop Living From Paycheck to Paycheck…

1. CREATE A SYSTEMATIC FINANCIAL OPERATING SYSTEM

In order to cease your worries, a huge turnover can be money flow management. You must give conscious effort to know about where your money flows in and out. Once you have control over your money flow. Then, you will be able to create a systematic financial operating system that consists of: money flow management and budgeting.

Money flow management is accomplished by using a ledger or an app. There are a couple of efficient yet free apps that can help such as: EXPENSIFY, EXPENSE MANAGER, MONEYWISE, POCKET EXPENSE PERSONAL FINANCE, and MINT.

Image Credits: wikihow.com/Do-Envelope-Budgeting

Likewise there are a couple of budgeting such as STATIC or FLEXIBLE budgeting. For personal finances, I highly recommend a simple technique called ENVELOPE budgeting. It starts by storing the cash into separate categories of household expenses that are allocated in separate envelopes.

Budgeting will surely help you gain clarity and control. Start by writing down your monthly income, followed by your monthly expenses, and then subtract the two. Plan and search for a suited technique.

2. PREPARE MONEY FOR YOUR BILLS ACCORDINGLY

Some bills are due frequently while some are semi-annually. Prepare money for your bills accordingly by noting them down. If you have a monthly bill, you may try a trick called half payments. For half payments, you prepare the payment for the bill by subtracting half of the bill’s amount to your bank account per two weeks (bi-weekly).

3. BOOST YOUR EMERGENCY FUND

Prepare for the unforeseen events and financial failures by saving at least 8% of your income per month. You shall call this category your “emergency fund”. It is better to save a certain amount of money than to have nothing save at all.

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