I can't

save money. I always wonder how people do that. Friends who roughly make the same amount of money and have almost the same budget as I do seem to have managed to save money. And I have to have you know that I don't make that much. Some of them even have their own family and some of them are the only one in the household who brings money in. I have no money but debt. What am I doing? How do people do that? Where did you learn how?

21 Comments

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The playing field might not be as fair as you think.

Jul 18, 2022 at 1:13pm

They may be receiving a money boost from family or have access to generational wealth and/or an inheritance.

15 1Rating: +14

Budget

Jul 18, 2022 at 3:21pm

careful with the credit cards and e-$ ... budget budget with an envelope system. One envelope for rent or mortgage, one for services, one for transportation, one for food budget and its way more economical to cook for self and avoid eat-out-ism. More healthy too. One envelope for entertainment or misc ... and don't let the substances control or wreck your life. Sure they can be supposed pain relief but uh uh. They are reality avoidance. Deal with your inner life anxiety and pain by looking in the mirror and realizing pain can be our teacher. And don't forget an envelope to help those less fortunate than ourselves. Help ourself too by helping other. Have a good life. Enjoy

18 2Rating: +16

Pen and paper

Jul 18, 2022 at 5:04pm

Write down EVERYTHING that you spend, for a couple months. Don't even look at it- then add it up via category- junk food, booze,eating out, smoking, drinking, weed, car,gas,transit, etc

I've heard this same lament from others- all the while watching them spend $10 a day on lunch at work, buying Starbucks, a bar and bag of chips everyday from the vending machine etc. Then they eat out, don't buy groceries on special and buy the best stuff, have car payments, smoke, and go out drinking every weekend etc etc etc.

You'll likely be horrified to learn how much you're blowing on junk food, eating out, booze and other unnecessary garbage.

18 1Rating: +17

Anonymous

Jul 18, 2022 at 6:06pm

If you're in your 20s, you're living your life. Good for you, you're only young once. If you're in your 40s, then you're f#cking yourself.

11 6Rating: +5

Tips

Jul 18, 2022 at 8:01pm

- “You can have money now, or you can have money later.” I choose to have money later, so instead of spending, I put it in GICs so that the money is locked away
- Eliminate expenses to increase the amount of pay you keep: get rid of your car, grow your own food if you have the space, cancel subscriptions, eliminate your mortgage as fast as possible. All those regular “expenses” can and should be eliminated so that you have more spare cash for savings.
- Do side gigs for extra income. Rake leaves, walk dogs, etc.
- Don’t make others rich: fix your own bike, cook your own food, skip all the concerts that seem to be hundreds of dollars for a few hours of entertainment.
- If you really need something and it’s expensive, look for it elsewhere: on Facebook Marketplace, in another town, or online.
I’m a vegetarian, that bikes/walks/transits or rents Evos, I paid off my mortgage. I’ve given up a lot and did a lot of heavy lifting financially for years, to put me in a good place now. My salary is a little above average. It’s not about how much you make, but how you use your money to work for you. My sibling makes the same as me, and they have a mortgage that they will be paying off until they are in their 80s. You deserve to be living without debt.

10 5Rating: +5

To the budgeting commenters

Jul 18, 2022 at 8:01pm

Some of what you say resonates. It’s definitely good to track spending and recalibrate if necessary.

However, with the current state of housing costs, food costs, and gas prices, I don’t think we can reasonably shift accountability to individuals for failing to save.

People simply aren’t making enough money to keep up with inflation. Capitalism is a losing game.

29 2Rating: +27

@To

Jul 18, 2022 at 8:56pm

In regards to your last sentence- are you suggesting that there is a better way?

3 7Rating: -4

Not what it seems

Jul 18, 2022 at 9:27pm

Some people save money and still have debt. People have wildly different approaches to money…you can start small. $20 a month into an envelope under your mattress. You have to figure out what your money style is. I have money taken off of my paycheque automatically, and funnelled into a different account. I’m still living paycheque to paycheck, but even $20 a month is a nice chunk of change at the end of the year. If you are really tight on money, don’t overthink it. Just sent a few bucks aside in a place you’ll never touch it and forget about it.

8 1Rating: +7

I use to

Jul 19, 2022 at 6:07am

Think the same thing….I would mentally beat myself up wondering how come everyone did so much better than me… then I learnt different… we are not all on equal grounds.

7 2Rating: +5

Freezer

Jul 19, 2022 at 7:11am

We bought an 18cuft upright freezer this year (if you can find one). The investment pays off with our ability to buy food in bulk, cook in bulk and portion freeze. Actually helps prevent impulse buying for crap fast food. Food we freeze is nutritious. Know what your cost per meal is, helps in making grocery store buying decisions. Plant a food garden, fresh veggies make the best meal ever! You don't need a lot of space, lots of planter varieties out there. Today's economy makes it very hard to get ahead and most of us are just dog paddling along barely keeping our heads above water. Good luck!

7 1Rating: +6

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