The mindset in America today is “bigger is better.” “The more it costs, the more it is worth.” “Get it now and pay later.” These ideas are simply not smart. Our government is an excellent example with our national debt at a historic record that no one can pay.

A frugal life does not mean choosing poverty and it certainly does not mean giving up quality. Many millionaires are millionaires not because they became famous or because they inherited money. They are self-made millionaires who worked hard, made sacrifices, and chose to spend their money wisely. I’m not saying that all of us who work hard, make sacrifices, and spend our money wisely will be millionaires, but we can certainly live much more comfortable and carefree without the stress of owing someone else our paycheck.

Here are some things you can do to stretch that paycheck:

1. Pay in cash. If you can’t pay cash, don’t buy it. Stop using those credit cards. Credit cards are a trap. The only way you should use a credit card is if you cancel it in full every month. Otherwise, cut it off! Loading something on a credit card and then paying for it over time ends up costing double, sometimes even triple the original cost of the item. You’d better save a couple of months and pay cash, then load it up and they try to pay off the credit card. Interest devours you.

2. Eat at home. Pack your lunch and take it to work. Eating out every day costs between $ 10 and $ 15 a day. If you pack your lunch, you reduce that cost to around $ 2 to $ 3 per lunch or even less if you’re throwing out the leftovers at home. That’s a savings of $ 160 to $ 240 a month. Not to mention, if you cut back on eating out at dinner and eat at home as a family. That’s an additional savings on top of the $ 200 a month.

3. Write according to budget. Budget your income at the beginning of each month. Allocate a certain part of your income to your main expenses in advance. This will help ensure that you don’t waste money. (Main expenses are: rent / mortgage, utilities, food, car payment, gas, insurance, savings, miscellaneous). This helps you know what goes where and how much you have left after everything is paid for so you don’t overspend.

4. Buy new used or discounted. You can get just about anything you need, whether it’s used or new at a discount. You just have to know where to look. Don’t pay full price for anything. Big Lot’s, Ross Dress for Less, Nike Outlet, The Dump, etc. they are just examples of stores where you can get new discounted items. These stores also have deals and coupons on new discounted items. Garage sales, furniture rental centers, thrift stores, and today the Internet is a wonderful resource. eBay is an excellent tool for new and used items. You will be amazed at what you will find and how inexpensive it is once you start looking. Nobody will know the difference. You will get addicted!