When you are living a low- income life and you are trying to get a head. It can seem as though no matter how hard you try you just can’t get a break. Most people feel this way because it hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel when you are deep in it.

The first thing is knowing where to start to fix your life. Then there is trying to find ways to fix your problems that are not going to be just a temporary fix.

You also have to find balance in your life, find ways to work and if you are a parent have time for your family.

Today I will share with you, ways to help you get your life on track to accomplish your goals and to better your life.

Change your perception

It’s easy to look at what you don’t have and tell yourself how much you need them. Instead of looking at what you don’t have, look at what you have and how it can benefit you tell you are able to get the things that you need.

Example: You don’t have a car

We all can make a list of why we need a car (especially if you have a family)

But instead of thinking (or obsessing over not having a car) think about the good things about not having a car in the moment.

1. You don’t have to worry about trying to get gas money (especially with gas prices these days)
2. You don’t have to pay a high car payment every month
3. You don’t have to worry about keeping car insurance
4. You don’t have to worry about paying finds or tickets
5. You don’t have to worry about finding the money to get it fixed

Also think about the positive outcome of what you are doing without a car

1. If you are able to walk or ride a bike to work, you are getting daily exercise that you don’t have to pay for.
2. You save money by riding the bus then paying gas
3. You have me time before you get home (this gives you time to think and plan)
4. You are able to save money tell you get a vehicle.
5. You don’t have to worry about coming up with money you don’t have to get back and forth to work.

Changing the way that you view your life in the moment, will open your eyes to better ways to navigate.

Learn how to build

often in life when you get to step one, we try to jump to step four. You have to learn to take it step by step. If you are on step, one make plans for step two, when you get to step two make plans for step three etc…

Example: Your goal is to have a vehicle

Because you don’t have one at the moment you have implement strategies to help you with your day-to-day life tell you are able to buy a vehicle.

So, for step one you have to get a job (if you don’t have one) and find ways to get what you need without having a car.

1. find a job around your area (find a job that you can walk or ride a bike if you have one) that pays enough for you to pay your core bills (rent, electric, cell phone, water and trash). This will take care of your needs you will have to sacrifice your wants for the time being.
2. Work from home (this is great if you have a hard time finding a babysitter).
3. Find a job on the bus line (this way you buy a bus pass for the month and don’t have to worry about getting back and forth to work.
4. See if you can get daycare assistants (this will help you with the cost of childcare)
5. You can get your groceries delivered to your door (this helps with getting food and not having to pay for a uber, taxicab, Lyft or find a ride) I use Walmart Plus, and I have a car but using it helps me save on gas (they also take EBT if you have food stamps you just pay the yearly fee and delivery is free for the whole year)
6. Shop online and get everything you need sent to your home (you can get any and everything shipped to your house from medicine to toilet paper) You use coupon code apps on your computer to help cut cost, you can also use cash back apps to make money for buying what you need.

Now that you have a job and can pay your core bills. You have away back and forth to work, you have childcare or a way to work from home and not have to pay childcare, you get everything you need shipped to your home, so you have everything you need without having a car you are ready for step two.

Step two saving for a vehicle

The first thing most people do is save up for a down payment to buy a car off a car lot. It’s easier and faster to save $1200 for a down payment then to save $5000 to buy the car in cash.

However, since you can do everything that you need to do without having to have a car it’s smarter to save for the $5000. It will take you more time yet buying the car straight out will cost you less in the long run. You will not have a car payment; you will not have to pay full coverage insurance (witch you will have to pay if you are making payments on a vehicle).

Another benefit from taking your time and saving up money you will be able to shop around for a while and see what you want and were the best place to get the vehicle. (You can buy a car in cash from a car lot you don’t have to buy it from an owner from an app or classified add if you don’t want to).

You don’t have to worry about missing any payments (and them shutting off the car or repossession of the car).

You won’t have to worry about taking what you can get base of your credit score either. Buying in cash means as long as you have the cash you can get whatever you can pay for.

Once you have your car you can plan for the next goal and the steps you will make to reach that goal. One step at a time. Slowly building tell you are where you want to be on your journey.

Use your resources

We live in a time were anything you want and need to know can be found. Use any and everything you can to help you get to your destination.

If you have to use government assistances then use it to help you get to your next step, just don’t use it forever (you will never get a head).

Learn good money management with the little money that you have and implement good habit’s this will help you when you start making more money.

Use frugal ways to save money and stretch your dollars. As your income increases start learning how to save and invest.

Implement things into your home life to lessen stress (stress kills)

Read books or auto books, listen to podcast, watch YouTube videos (if you don’t have a computer at home go to the library)

Sign up for free budget classes or free homeowner classes (if you want to own a home). Take classes on how to clear up your credit report (learn how to do this without paying someone you can clean your own credit)

Look for programs (For free) in your city or county that you can get information from an expert.

Find programs that offer help with food and clothes (there is no shame in getting help that you need).

Knowledge is power, the more you know and the more help that you can find the better off you will be. Use whatever information you can find to improve your life.

Well, that’s all that I have for today, I hope this helps you on your journey.

Thank you for reading Everything Frugal

• Frugal Resolutions for 2025: Simple Tips to Save Money
• Master Your Budget: 5 Essential Steps for Financial Success
• The Frugal Scoop
• Frugal Living Lessons from the Caribbean
• Declutter Your Home This Fall: Tips for a Fresh Start