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Determining a budget just for a month may seem impossible. Budgeting by paycheck may leave you stuck with high expenses during a pay cycle.
That is why learning how to make a yearly budget is much simpler.
Here is why – you will anticipate every single item throughout the year.
Thus, eliminating the urgency of any emergency expenses. Honestly, most emergency expenses are just expenses that we knew would happen we just didn’t want to deal with them or the cost. This is the time to anticipate yearly expenses.
The thought of budgeting once a year shouldn’t be cumbersome. Interestingly enough, it will be freeing. You are managing your cash flow.
Once we finally got this very concept ourselves, it has changed our life, our net worth, and our happiness. (And it feels great!)
By budgeting yearly, precious time and energy will be saved.
The one year budget is a game changer for most households.
Since time was spent upfront, all expenses are covered. You’ve made a plan for your money. You can stop living paycheck to paycheck. No more letting your money control you!
You will control your money. This yearly budgeting process is very helpful for those who don’t know how much money they spend by category.
Now, let’s get into how do you create a yearly budget.
How to Make a Yearly Budget
First of all, this is the exact same process you would use to budget by paycheck, monthly, or bi-weekly.
The overall concept is the same you are just looking at longer time frame.
It will help you to forecast cash flow issues that may arise.
1. Create a Budget (or Cents Plan)
The very first step is to sit down and create a yearly budget. Or what at Money Bliss we call a Cents Plan.
Here is why we prefer to call it a Cents Plan – a Cents Plan puts your Money “Cents” with your Head “Sense” to come up with a plan.
Take time to create your yearly budget with a pencil and paper. Remember, you are working with yearly numbers not monthly.
To Do This:
Use your yearly income (net of taxes)
Review your expenses from the previous year
Increase any expenses that will be higher this year
Make sure all expenses are covered especially irregular expenses
When creating a yearly budget, you will heavily rely on sinking funds to cover your expenses.
For example, your yearly car registration is $450. Then, you set aside $37.50 each month into your sinking fund.
Not sure everything is covered, check out our courses to help you in this budgeting process.
The goal is to make sure your income is less than savings, giving, and your expenses.
2. Stay Consistent with Yearly Budget
Once you have sat down and created your budget, stay consistent.
I know you are thinking that is easier said than done. Guaranteed, the first few months will be toughest! That is when 95% of people give up and run back to their old habits.
Don’t give up on your vision and how you want to live your life.
Do not change your budget every month or every couple of months. Please don’t do it. (Sinking funds won’t let you get caught with a month without enough money.)
Here is why… When your yearly budget is created, you already allocated every possible expense you may have. Thus, there is no reason to change it. You are setting money aside in buckets.
The temptation to constantly change a budget happens because staying within the said budget is too hard. It is too difficult. It is no fun.
Don’t fall into temptation.
3. Tweak Only with Big Changes
There are times when tweaks are necessary for the yearly budget. Some examples include a pay raise, your oldest kid is starting preschool for the first time, the cost for medical insurance is rising, or a move changed all of your expenses.
As a general rule of thumb, tweak your yearly budget plan on with these qualifications:
The new expense or income will be recurring.
The new expense or income is a significant change to your Cents Plan (2% or more of your income). Rule of thumb – greater than $200.
This isn’t the place to change your Cents Plan because of overspending. That does not qualify as a big change. That is plan overspending. No sugar coating that one.
Look at ways to overcome why the overspending is occurring. The easiest solution…switch to cash for that category. Learn how to use the cash envelope system or cashless envelope system.
When the cash envelope or sinking fund is empty, no pulling money from other categories. Resist temptation. It is crucial to stop overspending in order to become free with money.
How do I make a 12 month budget?
If you don’t want to keep the same consistent budget each month or paycheck, that it completely okay.
You need the budget to work for you. That is what is most important.
You will follow the same budgeting process as above, but plan out each month for a year.
The main difference is instead of using sinking funds you would allocate the actual spending during that month.
This 12 month budget process is similar to cash flow planning. You anticipate all of your yearly expenses and which month and/or paycheck they will be paid.
This type of 12 month budget is helpful when saving a consistent amount is difficult because of income variations. Then, you are able to save more at certain points throughout the year and cover basic expenses when income is tight.
Yearly Budget Example
It won’t take long does it take to create the annual budget. It provides a different perspective – a birds eye view to make sure your expenses are covered.
In case you are a visual person, here is a case study on how to make a yearly budget work.
You can download this yearly budget template in our free printables area.
Now, you are controlling your money and not have your money control you. Write the Cents Plan in pen, so it can’t be changed.
Reviewing a Yearly Budget
Every paycheck or month, you must review that your plan is matching up to what you actually did.
There is no point to create a yearly budget plan and not use it.
It is very doable to budget once a year. The biggest step is starting.
This will help you to stop living paycheck to paycheck. Take the stress away knowing that your expenses are covered. Eliminate the urgency of emergency expenses that are truly expenses you didn’t want to plan for (hint: tires).
The best feeling is to know you are on a path with money (even if it is difficult for the time being), so you can sleep better at night.
Make your personal finances a priority.
Once we learned how to budget yearly, it made such a huge change with how money was handled in our life. We knew where our money was going in advance and how much we had to spend.
Comment below on your struggles with budgeting and learning how to budget once a year will make things so much easy for you.
More Budgeting Tips:
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More importantly, did I answer the questions you have about this topic? Let me know in the comments if I can help in some other way!
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Discovering financial independence doesn’t have to be complicated. In this guide, we’ll explore 10 incredibly simple methods to help you achieve financial freedom effortlessly. Whether it’s through saving, budgeting, or increasing your income, these easy strategies will set you on the path to financial independence in no time. Then, you can enjoy time freedom and not stress about the 9-5 grind.
How to Become Financially Independent to Create the Life you Want
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Learn the essential steps to achieve financial independence and build the life you desire. Take action today to build wealth and secure your financial future. With the right strategies and tools, financial independence is within reach, and you can take control of your financial destiny.
Find more ideas: How to Become Financially Independent: Create the Life You Want
Become Financially Sound
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Achieving financial soundness is the first step towards effective money management. Learn how to improve your financial health and become financially sound within the next 30 days. Take proactive steps to enhance your financial stability and secure a brighter financial future starting now.
Learn How: How Quick can you Become Financially Sound?
Are you Financially Stable?
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Discover the exact habits needed to achieve financial stability and take control of your finances. Financial stability means being in charge of your money, and this guide provides easy ways to attain it. Explore these simple yet effective tips to achieve financial stability and transform your financial future.
To learn more: 32+ Simple Hints Someone is Financially Stable + How You can be too!
Money Mantras to Repeat to Boast Your Mindset
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Harness the power of these top money mantras to cultivate a mindset of wealth and achieve financial freedom. Affirm your success and transform your financial situation with these powerful mantras. Pick your money mantra and unlock the keys to ultimate financial freedom with these empowering affirmations.
To Pick Your Money Mantra: Top 50 Money Mantras to Boost Your Financial Freedom
What is Your FI Number?
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Discover your FI Number Calculator and unlock the path to financial independence. You may be surprised you are closer than you thought! This tool is crucial for anyone seeking to change their financial future. Learn how to calculate your FI number and take control of your financial destiny today.
To calculate yours: How to FI and Know Your FI Number Calculator
Become Debt Free to Grow Wealth
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Discover the keys to financial independence by uncovering why living debt-free might lead to true wealth. Gain practical insights and strategies for achieving lasting financial security without the burden of debt. Perfect for individuals seeking to take control of their finances and build a solid foundation for future wealth.
To read more: Is Being Debt Free the New Rich & Secret to True Wealth?
What Are Your Smart Financial Goals?
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Gain valuable insights into setting smart financial goals and transforming your financial future. Learn how to create a roadmap for success with our downloadable financial goals worksheet. Start taking control of your finances today and pave the way towards achieving your financial aspirations.
To learn more: 10 Smart Financial Goals That You Need
Do You Use the Key Components of Successful Budgeting?
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Unlock the secrets to successful budgeting with our comprehensive guide. Learn about essential budget tools, strategies for adjusting your budget, and setting financial goals for transformative money management. Discover the freedom that comes with creating budgets tailored to your expenses and financial aspirations.
To learn more: What are Key Components of Successful Budgeting?
Time to Budget Your Money With Percentages
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Master the art of budgeting your money with percentages using the simple and flexible Cents Plan Formula. Take charge of your finances and manage your money in a way that works for you. Learn practical tips for budgeting with percentages and start on the path toward financial stability today.
To learn more: How to Budget Your Money With Percentages with the Cents Plan Formula
Learn How to Make Money Online
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Explore 65 easy ideas on how to make money online for beginners and kickstart your online income journey. This guide offers a variety of options, from starting a blog to selling products, to help you make money from the comfort of your home. Discover simple yet effective ways to increase your income and achieve financial independence.
To learn more: 50+ Ways How to Make Money Online for Beginners
Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
Did the post resonate with you?
More importantly, did I answer the questions you have about this topic? Let me know in the comments if I can help in some other way!
Your comments are not just welcomed; they’re an integral part of our community. Let’s continue the conversation and explore how these ideas align with your journey towards Money Bliss.
This post may contain affiliate links, which helps us to continue providing relevant content and we receive a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the full disclosure here.
You want to learn how to be frugal but not cheap… then, you are in the right place.
Simply put… frugal living is saving money at it finest.
To be honest, though, learning how to be frugal can come with spending more money than you planned in the name of frugality. The truth can hurt. But, in order to be frugal, you must save what you would normally spend.
That means you are economical with money.
The list of 175+ frugal living tips seems like a great place to start when you are learning how to be frugal, right?
Wrong!
You need to focus on a few basic habits first. Set yourself up for success. And then, slowly incorporate more frugal ways to save money.
In this post, that is exactly what you will learn.
The frugal habits you need to be successful along with the best frugal life hacks to guarantee success.
Let’s dig in…
Can being Frugal make you Rich?
Absolutely yes!
The key is to save money from your frugal hacks.
Remember the age-old saying, “A penny saved is a penny earned.”
Every penny will slowly add up to the next money milestone.
If you don’t believe me, then check out this millionaire’s story of being frugal.
How Being Frugal can Cost You?
It can IF you are not careful.
Being frugal is about saving money. However, it is possible to spend more money in the name of frugality.
The first example would be being more than you need just because it is a good sale, deal, or clearance price that you don’t want to miss out on.
Next, in your search to find the cheapest option, you actually spend more over time replacing it because the quality isn’t quite the same.
There is a fine line between frugality, being cheap, and simply overspending on deals.
Just be weary of overspending money in the hunt of saving money.
How to be Frugal with Money
These are the habits you want to embrace to become a frugal person.
Personally, I like to think being frugal is being picky with my money.
I loathe my investment accounts going down, so why would I want to buy things that we don’t need or don’t matter in the long wrong. That is why I choose to be frugal with money.
Specifically, I choose to be economical with how we spend money.
Now, let’s dig in to understand how to be frugal with money.
1. Know Your Goals
First, you must know your goals. If you don’t have a goal, then you aren’t going to make any progress. Period.
In today’s society, it is SO easy to spend money without even realizing it. That is the point of business – they are out to market for your money (and they are good at it, too).
You must prioritize you first.
This is something we hear over and over. Prioritize your self-care before taking care of others. The same holds true for your money.
Action Step #1 – Sit down and write out your financial goals.
If this is something you haven’t done before, then check out our helpful guide to rocking your financial goals.
2. Understand your Spending Habits & Triggers
This one is HUGE!!
If you don’t know how and where you spend money without thinking, then you will never be able to stop the spending. You can’t slow the bleed.
First of all, I will admit that uncovering your spending habits is hard. It is introspective. It can be painful. Maybe even demoralizing.
But, until you let go of your previous financial failures, you won’t be able to move on.
This is an important step to make serious progress in your life. You may be amazed how this seemingly simple things will hold you back.
Action Step #2 – Review bank statements or credit card transactions. Look for things you bought without planning for them.
This will highlight your spending habits.
As for your triggers, watch your emotions and think what you automatically do when you are happy, sad, mad, and celebrating.
3. Save First
Oh my, pay yourself first.
This is something I focus on a lot at Money Bliss and for good reason. Saving money is the backbone to financial success.
If you don’t save money, then you are left scrambling when you need cash or stuck going into debt. This is a vicious hamster wheel that debt will overtake you.
Start by saving $10 a day. Many times you can find that money by uncovering your spending habits.
From there, look at increasing your saving percentage each month.
Action Step #3 – Figure out how much you save each week, each month, and your saving percentage. Brainstorm ways to increase how much you save.
To help our readers, you will find many spreadsheets and printables to help you figure out how much you save and track your savings progress. Once signed up on our email list, you will receive the password.
4. Spend Less Than You Make
Your expenses must be lower than your income. Period.
If you are currently spending more than you make, then you must look at ways to drastically cut expenses. Stop hoping that your situation will change and actually do something about it.
This seems like a very easy math concept. Yet, most people struggle with basic money management.
If you don’t believe that saving an extra $5 day, then think about having $1825 in your pocket.
Now, let’s flip it the other way, if you are overspending by $75 a week, then by the end of the year, you are in the hole $3900 plus interest if you took out debt.
Action Step #4 – Figure out your bare bones budget. Then, decide what fun spending items to keep to make sure you spend less than you make.
Here is a guide to help you figure out your bare bones budget. Also, you will find bare bones budget printable in our free library area.
5. Patience
Lastly, you must have patience.
Changing your money management won’t happen overnight. While you can have quick wins and successes, this is the race won by the turtle.
Patience comes with planning and that is one thrifty habit you should pick up.
When you become frugal with money, you plan how you spend your money and save your money. Many times, that means waiting for a sale to buy an item you need or accumulating money for another date.
Action Step #5 – Show self-restraint and try a no spend week or month.
By holding a no spend challenge, it will help you reshape your finances as well as help you prioritize what is important. As a reader, you have access to our no spend printables, too!
Frugal Life Hacks
These are the specific frugal hacks to save money.
These are the key areas you need to focus your energy on. Over time, they will become habits.
1. Pay Yourself First
Yep, this one again.
If you are frugal, then you pay yourself first.
You are focused on two things – how to save more money and how to make more money.
This pay yourself first concept will have you winning at money management – guaranteed!
2. Budget
A frugal person always has a plan on how they plan to spend their hard-earned money.
This makes sure that spending is always below income.
While many people hate the term “budget,” it doesn’t have to be constricting. We like to call it a “Cents Plan.” You make a plan for your money.
Just like you make a plan for your time on the weekend. Same concept.
The more you save now, the greater freedom you will have later.
3. Cook Meals at Home
Cooking food at home costs at least 25% of eating out. While the convenience of eating out is nice, it comes at a monetary and wellness cost.
You can make healthy meals under $10 for six servings. And not be a slave in the kitchen.
Shop the outer area of the grocery store. The expensive stuff is in the middle.
Hint: Try to incorporate a meatless meal 1-2 times per week. Plant based meals are cheaper to make.
4. Shop Less Often
This goes for general shopping, buying groceries, and adding items to your Amazon cart. The more often you go, the more likely you are to spend more money.
Decide ahead of time when you plan to shop (remember that patience concept from earlier).
For example, to get groceries for our house. I plan two pickups per month at the local grocery store and then have organic produce delivered on odd weeks with Misfits Market. Then, Costco run every month to 6 weeks. (Mind you… I have two children that are hitting the pre-teen phase.)
For me, I have shaved 30% off my grocery budget by implementing the strategy to shop less often.
5. Use Cash for Key Categories
If you are tempted to spend more than you should in certain areas, then you need to look at using cash.
When cash has been spent, you must wait until you full up that envelope again.
This helps so much with overspending.
You can do this with the cashless envelope system as well.
6. Own Less Stuff
The more items you have, the more it cost to buy and maintain.
So, by owning less stuff, you are accomplishing one of the most frugal life hacks to save money.
You don’t even need to become a minimalist. You just need to own what you need and that is it.
If you don’t believe me, look around and pack up anything you haven’t touched in the past 30 days.
7. Don’t Buy New
Buying new can be expensive. The best example of buying new is cars, trucks, and SUVs. The price instantly goes down the second you leave the dealership.
If at all possible, always look for used items that you can get at a discount or even for free.
With online forums and groups, it is much easier to find used items.
Of course, there is a caveat to this life hack; there are some things that are worth the investment and should be bought new. Just watch for sales or discounts.
8. Check your Receipts
It absolutely amazes me how many times I can be charged inccorectly. You would think with technology that this wouldn’t happen, but it does.
It takes a quick thirty seconds to scan your receipts and check for errors.
Sometimes, it may be the warranty you declined or double charged for apples. Other times, the sales price not have been rung up correctly.
Don’t hesitate to ask for the correct price!
9. Review Insurance and Ongoing Subscriptions
This may seem like a mundane task to do, but you could save yourself money.
This past summer, our homeowner’s and auto insurance went up again. We shopped around and ended up saving $1800. The same is true for cell phone and cable service.
You have to call and ask for discounts.
More often than not, these companies want you to continue as a customer and will lower your rate.
Insurance Options:
Automated Options to Save Money:
10. Switch to Reusable Products
When you throw something out, you have to buy new again.
This can fall into many categories. However, here are the main things you can reuse and ditch the waste.
This is what you want to look for:
11. Drink Water
Nothing is more frugal than drinking water.
The costs of various drinks can be a drain to any budget.
If you don’t like your tap water, then you can invest in a cheap filtration pitcher or even an under-mount filtration system. This is the one we installed and have been very happy with!
12. Watch Out for Fees
There are so many little pesky fees that can add up. Some examples include shipping, account maintenance, service fees, banking fees, etc.
While $2-8 may not seem like much, they will balloon over time. Look for promo codes or alternative ways to skip the fees.
13. Cut Cable or Unused Subscriptions
If you don’t use, then don’t spend money on it.
You can’t save money if you spend on things that don’t matter to you.
This is hard for many of us to do because we like conveniences and we don’t want to be seen as different.
Ways to Cut Cable:
The key when cutting cable is not to replace it with more subscriptions that end up costing more.
14. Collect Your Pennies
A true life hack to get you ahead financially is to know your money.
You know where you money goes. You know when you spend it. When you save it.
Also, you will never leave money on the table. If you see a penny, you pick it up and save spare change. If you lose a dollar, you want to get it back.
This means you are actively looking for ways to make more money. You want more pennies to collect that will add to your net worth over time.
15. Free Things to Do
The last frugal life hack is to always look for free things to do.
Here is a little secret… having fun doesn’t need to cost money!! We have been trained that having fun costs money. But, it is so not true!
Some of the best things in life are free.
For all of you, here is a guide of over 101 things to do without money.
Which Frugal Life Hack Will Save Money for You?
Being frugal is a lifelong habit. Yes, there are quick wins you can have here and there. But, in the long run, these frugal life hacks will have the biggest bank for your time.
Learning how to live frugally and be happy is about understanding your priorities and how you want to spend your money.
If you are serious about learning how to be frugal with money, then plan a time to examine your finances. In less than 30 minutes, you will uncover things to change the trajectory of your spending and saving habits.
Just remember… pennies do add up. So, watch your pennies and watch your net worth grow.
Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
Did the post resonate with you?
More importantly, did I answer the questions you have about this topic? Let me know in the comments if I can help in some other way!
Your comments are not just welcomed; they’re an integral part of our community. Let’s continue the conversation and explore how these ideas align with your journey towards Money Bliss.
Inside: Learn how much your 60k salary is hourly. Plus find tips to make more money and live the lifestyle you want.
You want to know to look into this… 60k salary is a good hourly wage when you think about it.
When you get your first job and you are making just above minimum wage like $15 an hour, making over $60,000 a year seems like it would provide amazing opportunities for you. Right?
The median household income was $70,084 in 2021 not much different from the previous year (source). Think of it as a bell curve with $70 at the top; the median means half of the population makes less than that and half makes more money.
The average income in the U.S. is $55,350 for a 40-hour workweek; that is an increase of 1.1% from the previous year (source). That means if you take everyone’s income and divide the money out evenly between all of the people.
But, the question remains… Can you truly live off 60,000 per year in today’s society? The question you want to ask all of your friends is $60000 per year a good salary.
In this post, we are going to dive into everything that you need to know about a $60000 salary including hourly pay and a sample budget on how to spend and save your money.
These key facts will help you with money management and learn how much per hour $60k is as well as what you make per month, weekly, and biweekly.
Just like with any paycheck, it seems like money quickly goes out of your account to cover all of your bills and expenses, and you are left with a very small amount remaining. You may be disappointed that you were not able to reach your financial goals and you are left wondering…
Can I make a living on this salary?
$60000 a year is How Much an Hour?
When jumping from an hourly job to a salary for this first time, it is helpful to know how much is 60k a year hourly. That way you can decide whether or not the job is worthwhile for you.
For our calculations to figure out how much is 60K salary hourly, we used the average five working days of 40 hours a week.
60000 salary / 2080 hours = $28.85 per hour
$60000 a year is $28.85 per hour
Let’s breakdown how that 60000 salary to hourly number is calculated
Typically, the average work week is 40 hours and you can work 52 weeks a year. Take 40 hours times 52 weeks and that equals 2,080 working hours. Then, divide the yearly salary of $60000 by 2,080 working hours and the result is $28.85 per hour.
That number is the gross hourly income before taxes, insurance, 401K, or anything else is taken out. Net income is how much you deposit into your bank account.
You must check with your employer on how they plan to pay you. For those on salary, typically companies pay on a monthly, semi-monthly, biweekly, or weekly basis.
What If I Increased My Salary?
Just an interesting note… if you were to increase your annual salary by $3K to 63000 a year, it would increase your hourly wage by $1.44 per hour.
To break it down – 63k a year is how much an hour = $30.29
That isn’t a huge amount of money, but every dollar adds up to $30 an hour.
How Much is $60K salary Per Month?
On average, the monthly amount would be $5,000.
Annual Salary of $60,000 ÷ 12 months = $5,000 per month
This is how much you make a month if you get paid 60000 a year is 5000 a month.
$60k a year is how much a week?
This is a great number to know! How much do I make each week? When I roll out of bed and do my job of $60k salary a year, how much can I expect to make at the end of the week for my effort?
Once again, the assumption is 40 hours worked.
Annual Salary of$60000/52 weeks = $1,154 per week.
$60000 a year is how much biweekly?
For this calculation, take the average weekly pay of $1,154 and double it.
This depends on how many hours you work in a day. For this example, we are going to use an eight hour work day.
8 hours x 52 weeks = 260 working days
Annual Salary of$60000 / 260 working days = $231 per day
If you work a 10 hour day on 208 days throughout the year, you make $288 per day.
$60000 Salary is…
$60000 – Full Time
Total Income
Yearly Salary (52 weeks)
$60,000
Monthly Salary
$5,000
Weekly Wage(40 Hours)
$1,154
Bi-Weekly Wage (80 Hours)
$2,308
Daily Wage (8 Hours)
$231
Daily Wage (10 Hours)
$288
Hourly Wage
$28.85
Net Estimated Monthly Income
$3,817.50
Net Estimated Hourly Income
$22.02
**These are assumptions based on simple scenarios.
60k a year is how much an hour after taxes
Income taxes is one of the biggest culprits of reducing your take-home pay as well as FICA and Social Security. This is a true fact across the board with a salary range of up to $160,200.
When you start getting into a higher salary range, the more you make, the more money that you have to pay in taxes.
Every single tax situation is different.
On the basic level, let’s assume a 12% federal tax rate and a 4% state rate. Plus a percentage is taken out for Social Security and Medicare (FICA) of 7.65%.
So, how much an hour is 60000 a year after taxes?
Gross Annual Salary: $60,000
Federal Taxes of 12%: $7,200
State Taxes of 4%: $2,400
Social Security and Medicare of 7.65%: $4,590
$60k Per Year After Taxes is $45,810.
This would be your net annual salary after taxes.
Hourly Wage after Taxes
To turn that back into an hourly wage, the assumption is working 2,080 hours.
$45,810 ÷ 2,080 hours = $22.02 per hour
After estimated taxes and FICA, you are netting $45,810 per year, which is $14,190 per year less than what you expect.
Plus budgeting on $22 an hour is much different!
***This is a very high-level example and can vary greatly depending on your personal situation and potential deductions. Therefore, use a tax calculator to help you figure out how much your net paycheck would be.***
Taxes Based On Your State
In addition, if you live in a heavily taxed state like California or New York, then you have to pay way more money than somebody who lives in a no tax state like Texas or Florida. This is the debate of HCOL vs LCOL.
Thus, your yearly gross $60000 income can range from $41,010 to $48,210 depending on your state income taxes.
That is why it is important to realize the impact income taxes can have on your take home pay. It is one of those things that you should acknowledge and obviously, you need to pay taxes.
But, it can also put a huge dent in your ability to live the lifestyle you want on a $60,000 income.
My 60000 Salary to Hourly
More than likely, your salary is not a flat 60k, here is a tool to convert your salary to hourly calculator.
Many teachers are hovering in this range, which may make you wonder do teachers get paid in the summer.
If you are looking to change industries, you need to check out the freight broker salary.
60k salary lifestyle
Every person reading this post has a different upbringing and a different belief system about money. Therefore, what would be a lavish lifestyle to one person, maybe a frugal lifestyle to another person?
And there’s no wrong or right, it is what works best for you.
One of the biggest factors to consider is your cost of living.
In another post, we detailed the differences between living in an HCOL vs LCOL vs MCOL area. When you live in big cities, trying to maintain your lifestyle of $60,000 a year is going to be much more difficult because your basic expenses, housing, transportation, food, and clothing are going to be much more expensive than you would find in a lower cost area.
To stretch your dollar further in the high cost of living area, you would have to probably live a very frugal lifestyle and prioritize where you want to spend money and where you do not. Whereas, if you live in a low cost of living area, you can live a much more lavish lifestyle because the cost of living is less. Thus, you have more fun spending left in your account each month.
As we noted earlier in the post, $60,000 a year is just below the median income that you would find in the United States. Thus, you can live a modest lifestyle here in America.
What a $60,000 lifestyle will buy you:
If you are debt-free and utilize smart money management skills, then you are able to enjoy the lifestyle you want.
When A $60,000 Salary Will Hold You Back:
However, if you are riddled with debt or unable to break the paycheck to paycheck cycle, then living off of 60k a year is going to be pretty darn difficult.
Two factors will keep holding you back:
You must pay off debt and cut all fun spending until that happens.
Break the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle.
It is possible to get ahead with money!
It just comes with proper money management skills and a desire to have less stress around money. That is a winning combination regardless of your income level.
$60K a year Budget – Example
As always, here at Money Bliss, we focus on covering our basic expenses plus saving and giving first, and then our goal is to eliminate debt. The rest of the money is left for fun spending.
If you want to know how to manage 60k salary the best, then this is a prime example for you to compare your spending.
You can compare your budget to the ideal household budget percentages.
recommended budget percentages based on $60000 a year salary:
Category
Ideal Percentages
Sample Monthly Budget
Giving
10%
$250
Savings
15-25%
$1000
Housing
20-30%
$1200
Utilities
4-7%
$200
Groceries
5-12%
$350
Clothing
1-4%
$50
Transportation
4-10%
$200
Medical
5-12%
$250
Life Insurance
1%
$25
Education
1-4%
$50
Personal
2-7%
$93
Recreation / Entertainment
3-8%
$150
Debts
0% – Goal
$0
Government Tax (including Income Taxes, Social Security & Medicare)
15-25%
$1183
Total Gross Income
$5,000
**In this budget, prioritization was given to basic expenses and no debt.
Is $60000 a year a Good Salary?
The short answer is “yes.” However, there are several factors that go into determining the appropriate salary for you and your field.
As we stated earlier if you are able to make $60,000 a year, that is a good salary. You are making more money than the average American and slightly less on the bell curve on the median income.
You shouldn’t be questioning yourself if is 60000 a good salary.
However, too many times people get stuck in the lifestyle trap of trying to keep up with the Joneses, and their lifestyle desires get out of hand compared to their salary. And what they thought used to be a great salary actually is not making ends meet at this time.
This $60k salary would be considered a middle class salary. This salary is something that you can live on very comfortably.
Check: Are you in the middle class?
In fact, this income level in the United States has enough buying power to put you in the top 91 percentile globally for per person income (source).
The question you need to ask yourself with your 60k salary is:
Am I maxed at the top of my career?
Is there more income potential?
What obstacles do I face if I want to try to increase my income?
In the future years and with possible inflation, in some expensive cities, 60,000 a year is not a good salary because the cost of living is so high, whereas these are some of the cities where you can make a comfortable living at 60,000 per year.
If you are looking for a career change, you want to find jobs paying at least a $70000 salary.
Is 60k a good salary for a Single Person?
Simply put, yes.
You can stretch your salary much further because you are only worried about your own expenses. A single person will spend much less than if you need to provide for someone else.
Your living expenses and ideal budget are much less. Thus, you can live extremely comfortably on $60000 per year.
And… most of us probably regret how much money was wasted when we were single. Oh well, lesson learned.
Deep Dive: What Is A Good Salary For A Single Person in Today’s Society?
Is 60k a good salary for a family?
Many of the same principles apply above on whether $60000 is a good salary. The main difference with a family, you have more people to provide for than when you are single or have just one other person in your household.
The costs of raising children are high and will steeply cut into your income. As you can tell this is a huge dent in your income, specifically $12,980 annually per child. Plus this does not include college.
That means that amount of money is coming out of the income that you earned.
So, the question really remains… Can you provide a good life for your family making $60,000 a year? This is the hardest part because each family has different choices, priorities, and values.
More or less, it comes down to two things:
The location where you live in.
Your lifestyle choices.
You can live comfortably as a family on this salary, but you will not be able to afford everything you want.
Many times when raising a family, it is helpful to have a dual-income household. That way you can provide the necessary expenses if both parties were making 60,000 per year, then the combined income for the household would be $120,000. Thus making your combined salary a very good income.
Learn how much money a family of 4 needs in each state.
Can you Live on $60000 Per Year?
As we outlined earlier in the post, $60,000 a year:
$28.85 Per Hour
$231-288 Per Day (depending on length of day worked)
$1154 Per Week
$2308 Per Biweekly
$5000 Per Month
Next up is making $65,000 a year.
Like anything else in life, you get to decide how to spend, save and give your money.
That is the difference for each person on whether or not you can live a middle-class lifestyle depends on many potential factors. If you live in California or New Jersey you are gonna have a tougher time than Oklahoma or even Texas.
In addition, if you are early in your career, starting out around 39,000 a year, that is a great place to be getting your career. However, if you have been in your career for over 20 years and making $60K, then you probably need to look at asking for pay increases, pick up a second job, or find a different career path.
Regardless of the wage that you make, if you are not able to live the lifestyle that you want, then you have to find ways to make it work for you. Everybody has choices to make.
But one of the things that can help you the most is to stick to our ideal household budget percentages to make sure you stay on track.
Learn exactly how much do I make per year…
Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
Did the post resonate with you?
More importantly, did I answer the questions you have about this topic? Let me know in the comments if I can help in some other way!
Your comments are not just welcomed; they’re an integral part of our community. Let’s continue the conversation and explore how these ideas align with your journey towards Money Bliss.
Are you wondering what the best passive income apps are? The best passive income apps can help you make money and build wealth while sleeping, on vacation, and more. With passive income apps, you can make money using just your phone or computer. These apps help you earn money in different ways, like investing in…
Are you wondering what the best passive income apps are? The best passive income apps can help you make money and build wealth while sleeping, on vacation, and more.
With passive income apps, you can make money using just your phone or computer. These apps help you earn money in different ways, like investing in stocks, getting cash back when you shop automatically, or renting out your things.
Passive income is money you earn without having to work all the time. You might need to do some work at the start, but after that, the money keeps coming in with little effort.
You don’t need to spend hours every day to see results. Many of these apps are easy to use and free, so they are a great way to improve your finances with little effort.
Using the right mix of passive income apps can help you make extra money regularly or even make a full-time income.
Recommended reading: 18 Passive Income Ideas To Earn $1,000+ Each Month
Best Passive Income Apps
Below are the best passive income apps:
1. Freecash
Freecash is a popular passive income app that helps you make some extra money with little effort. You can earn by completing tasks, such as taking surveys or downloading apps.
Another way that you can earn passive income with this app is by referring people to the app. You can earn up to 30% of your referral’s earnings for as long as they are a member. Your referral earnings start at 5% and can go up from there, all dependent on your affiliate earnings.
I have personally earned over $300 in passive income referral earnings from this platform (in addition to affiliate income), so I know that this is real.
Click here to sign up for Freecash.
2. RVshare
RVshare is a money making app where you can rent out your RV to others. This can help you make extra money every month. Many people use RVshare to turn their RV into a good source of passive income.
If you have an RV that you’re not using, you could make $100 to $300 a day, or more, by renting it out to others through RVshare.
RVshare is a great app for making money because it helps travelers save by renting RVs directly from owners, without a middleman. It’s like Airbnb, but for RVs.
You can rent many types of RVs on RVshare, such as:
Class B camper vans
Travel trailers
Pop-ups
Class C Motorhome
Class A Motorhome
Toy hauler
RVshare handles all payments securely and sends money to your bank account one business day after each rental starts.
You can learn more about RVshare here.
3. Neighbor
Neighbor is a self-storage app that lets you rent out extra space in your home. You can make money by offering spots like your garage, driveway, or even a spare room.
You can use this website to rent out your unused space and make up to $15,000 a year. With Neighbor, you can rent out your garage, driveway, basement, parking lot, shed, warehouse, carport, attic, street parking, or even a closet.
You can choose your own prices and decide which reservations you want to accept and host.
Neighbor provides $1,000,000 in host liability protection for your peace of mind. You also receive automatic monthly deposits directly to your bank account for fast payment.
Here’s how Neighbor works:
List your space: Describe your space and set your earning goals on Neighbor.
Respond to renters: Review requests from renters interested in your ad. You can see what they want to store and when, and decide whether to approve or decline.
Schedule move-in: Once you approve a renter, schedule their move-in date.
You can sign up for Neighbor for free here.
You can also learn more about Neighbor at Neighbor Review: How To Make Money Renting Your Storage Space.
4. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is a popular app that lets you earn money for doing simple tasks online. You can use it on both your phone and computer.
You earn points, called Swagbucks (also known as SB), for activities like taking surveys, watching videos, and browsing the web. These points can be redeemed for gift cards or cash via PayPal.
I have personally received over 110 gift cards from Swagbucks (I like to redeem my points personally for free Amazon gift cards).
Here are some ways to earn on Swagbucks:
Surveys – Share your opinions on various topics and earn points.
Videos – Watch short video clips and earn a few points for each one.
Shopping – Do your usual online shopping through the app’s links and get cash back.
Web browsing – Use the Swagbucks search engine and earn points just for searching.
Referral program – You can refer friends and family to Swagbucks and earn points.
Swagbucks is free to join and use, making it a great choice for anyone looking to make some extra money with little effort.
You can join Swagbucks through my referral link, and receive a $10 bonus.
5. Fundrise
Fundrise is one of the highest-paying passive income apps that lets you invest in real estate with income generating assets. You can start with as little as $10 and get started in around 5 minutes.
Fundrise pools your money with other investors to buy properties, such as single family homes, apartments, and industrial properties. You earn money from rent and property sales.
Investing in real estate can be risky, so make sure you understand what you’re getting into. Fundrise has an easy-to-use app and detailed updates on your investments.
Remember, your money is tied up for a while, so this is for long-term goals. Fundrise makes real estate investing simple and accessible.
You can sign up for Fundrise here.
6. Honeygain
Honeygain is a popular passive income app that lets you earn money effortlessly just by sharing your unused internet bandwidth and your internet connection. You can install it on your desktop or mobile device.
Here’s how Honeygain works:
You keep the app running in the background.
The app uses your unused internet resources.
You get paid for the data shared.
You earn money based on the amount of internet traffic routed through your connection. Honeygain pays $1 for every 10 GB of traffic.
7. Ibotta
Ibotta is a free cash-back app that helps you save money when you shop. You get rewards from shopping both in-store and online.
With the Ibotta app, you sign up for an account, unlock rebates and rewards, shop at stores like Walmart, Target, Kroger, and more, verify your purchases, and then earn cash. You can redeem rebates from hundreds of stores, and it doesn’t cost you anything – it’s free money!
Plus, Ibotta lets you earn cash back both online and in-store, setting it apart from other companies.
Ibotta stands out as one of the easiest passive income apps because you earn money while shopping as usual. It pays you in cash or gift cards for stores like Amazon and Starbucks.
Please click here to join Ibotta.
8. Airbnb
Airbnb can be a great way to earn passive income with minimal effort. By renting out properties short-term, you can make extra cash without much day-to-day work.
Whether you have an extra room, a vacation home, or even just a spare couch, Airbnb lets you list your space for short-term rentals, transforming unused real estate into a regular income source.
Airbnb manages bookings, payments, and provides insurance coverage, making it convenient for hosts once everything is set up. With its worldwide presence and easy-to-use platform, Airbnb continues to be a leading choice for earning passive income through property rentals.
9. Acorns
Acorns is a popular app that helps you save and invest your money without effort. It rounds up your everyday purchases to the nearest dollar. Then it invests the spare change into a diversified portfolio.
For example, if you buy a coffee for $3.50, Acorns rounds it up to $4.00. The extra $0.50 is invested.
You can click here to sign up for Acorns.
10. Rakuten
Rakuten is an easy-to-use app that helps you earn cash back from your shopping. You don’t need to do anything special. Just shop at over 2,500 stores and retailers through the app, the Rakuten website, or by downloading the Rakuten browser extension, and you can earn payouts.
Simply choose a store from their extensive list (including Kohl’s, REI, Toys”R”Us, and more), shop online as usual, and earn cash back effortlessly.
Rakuten earns a commission for directing you to the store where you shop, and they share a portion of that commission with you as a reward.
You can join Rakuten here.
11. Capital One Shopping
Capital One Shopping is an app that helps you save money while you shop online.
You don’t need to be a Capital One customer to use it. Just download the browser extension and start using it right away.
This automatic savings app stands out because it requires no extra effort on your part. The Capital One Shopping app automatically searches for and applies the best coupon codes as you check out, making sure that you get the most savings possible on your purchases.
You can learn more about Capital One Shopping here.
12. Fetch Rewards
Fetch Rewards is a fun way to earn rewards from your shopping receipts. You just take pictures of your receipts using the app and you get points.
I use Fetch Rewards all the time and it takes less than one minute to earn points. This mobile app is incredibly user-friendly and one of my favorites. I’ve been using it for a while now, and it’s super easy to earn rewards on the shopping you’re already doing.
With Fetch Rewards, you earn points by scanning receipts from any store – whether it’s a grocery store, clothing store, restaurant, or gas station. Then, you can redeem your points for gift cards to places like Target or Amazon, as well as other rewards.
Here’s how Fetch Rewards works:
Shop like you normally would.
Scan your receipt after you’re done.
Earn points on Fetch Rewards.
You can sign up for Fetch Rewards here.
You can also read my review at My Honest Fetch Rewards Review.
13. Robinhood
Robinhood is a popular app for investing in stocks, cryptocurrency, options, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). It’s easy to use and has no fees or commissions, which makes it great for beginners.
Plus, Robinhood’s app is simple and clean. You can see your investments and track their performance easily.
Robinhood also allows you to buy fractional shares. This means you can invest in expensive stocks with just a few dollars.
You can even invest in dividend-paying stocks on Robinhood.
When you invest in dividend-paying stocks, you’re buying a piece of a company that gives you money regularly. Think of it like getting a small thank you for holding on to the company’s stock. These payments usually come from the company’s profits and they’re called dividends.
Here’s a vehicle I rented on Turo when I was visiting Hawaii. The person I rented from had many, many vehicles listed on the site and it seemed to be a good passive income stream for them.
14. Turo
Turo is an app that lets you rent out your car to make extra money. It is a peer-to-peer program where you cut out the middle person and rent out your car.
With Turo, you can earn about $500 or more per month with just one car. If you own a couple of cars, you might make over $2,000 per month. Your earnings depend on the type of car and how often it’s rented.
Just like renting out your RV when you’re not using it, you can also rent out your car!
It’s a cost-effective option compared to traditional rental car companies for customers, and it’s a great way to earn extra money if you’re working from home and your car isn’t in use or if you have a two-car household.
I have rented cars a few times on Turo and I have always had a good experience. It looks like a possibly good way for a person to make money.
15. M1 Finance
M1 Finance is an app where you can earn passive income.
Some of the ways you can earn passive income through this app are by investing your money in the stock market (you can customize your investment portfolio with over 6,000 stocks and ETFs) as well as saving your money in their high-yield account (at the time of this writing, their high-yield savings account rate was 5.00%).
16. Masterworks
Masterworks is an app that lets you invest in fine art.
You don’t need to be wealthy to own a piece of famous art. Masterworks purchases valuable paintings and you can buy shares in these artworks. When the painting is eventually sold, you receive a portion of the profit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to common questions about passive income apps.
How can I make $1000 a month passively?
There are many ways to make $1,000 a month passively, such as by renting out a space on Airbnb or Neighbor, renting out a car or RV, investing in an investment app such as Masterworks or Robinhood, and more.
Can you make passive income from an app?
Yes, you can make passive income from an app. Some passive income apps include Neighbor, RVshare, Freecash, and M1 Finance.
How can I make passive income from my phone?
You can make passive income from your phone by installing apps that pay you for different things, such as renting out your stuff, getting cash back, or investing your money. For instance, Honeygain pays you for sharing your internet data, while Rakuten gives you cash back for shopping. These apps run in the background, requiring minimal effort from you once set up.
How to make $5,000 a month passively?
You can make $5,000 a month passively by investing more of your money in different kinds of investments, such as stocks and rentals. It may take some time to get to $5,000 a month in passive income, but it is possible.
What are the highest-paying passive income apps?
The highest-paying passive income apps depend on how much time, effort, and money you put into it. But, generally, passive income apps where you are investing your money (such as in the stock market) or renting out things you own (like a property rental or vehicle rental) typically pay the most.
What are some free passive income apps?
Free passive income apps include Freecash, RVshare, Neighbor, Airbnb, Honeygain, Rakuten, and Acorns.
Best Passive Income Apps – Summary
I hope you enjoyed this article on the best passive income apps.
As you can see, there are many ways to make money with passive income apps. Some will allow you to earn simply some spare cash, whereas others you may be able to build up and eventually earn a full-time income.
Some may require you to invest your money up front (like Fundrise), and some of them are free passive income apps (like Honeygain or Fetch Rewards).
The best passive income app depends on what you are looking for, the amount of time you have, and the amount of risk that you want to take on.
This post may contain affiliate links, which helps us to continue providing relevant content and we receive a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the full disclosure here.
Every traveler has big dreams about going around the world and touring famous destinations. While this is nice, we have to admit it; it will cost us a lot. Even just going to a different country for a simple vacation can cost you time, effort, and money for only a few days.
You might be one of those people who save up a year prior, but there will always be unexpected expenses we’ll face regularly, and our budget might get affected or, worst, disappear.
However, you can do a lot of things to save up money for your next trip.
Probably the only thing that would be a struggle is discipline and commitment. That is the #1 reason people struggle to save money for anything and why debt is rampant.
Let’s admit it, saving money is easy, but completely committing to it and disciplining yourself is hard. But if you’re keen on these two factors, then saving money will be a breeze.
That said, here are some things you can do to save money for your next trip.
Plus you will learn how to start a vacation fund! All for one purpose to start traveling and enjoying many trips.
How to Save Money For Travel
You might think that budgeting is the key to all this, and you think that it will be complicated because, after all, planning for your next vacation is a big endeavor. Luckily for you, though, these tips are simple and easy enough to do that you can save up money as easily as you breathe.
Plus you will learn how to start a vacation fund.
1. Keep Track of Your Spending
If you’re one of those people who has difficulty keeping track of their expenses, don’t worry, there are plenty of us in this world who have the same problem. So, you might be thinking, what can I do?
The solution for this is simple.
Firstly, go through all of your accounts and see how much you’re spending every day down to the last penny. Knowing your expenses is the most important thing if you want to track how you spend your money.
You might hear this all the time, but a financially responsible person is one who keeps track of their expenses.
It’s cliché, but it’s true.
After seeing your accounts, write all of the info down and categorize them into several categories like food, utilities, bills, entertainment, etc. You might be surprised at how you spend your money on things.
If you have someone you trust with your finances and would prefer someone else to keep track of them, then, of course, feel free to ask them to do it for you.
2. Buy Secondhand or Use Coupons
If you’re planning to buy new stuff for your travels, it’s best if you opt for second hand things such as clothes, shoes, bags, etc.
Buying brand new things will cost you more and will likely cause you to go over your budget.
If you don’t know where to buy them, you can start looking at charity shops and other bargain sales. You might even be surprised to see things that are still good as new but for half the price.
It’s all about finding that bargain, and there are many out there.
In terms of coupons, there are many sites online that offer discount coupons that will let you in on a great deal. Not only that but if you’re struggling with the lodging, there are sites out there that can reduce the price of your hotel with a coupon or a promotion for said hotel. Or if you’re looking to buy a souvenir, you can also find coupons for them. Even your local supermarket will have discounts, special offers etc.
So, just keep an eye out for them. Once you start looking for special offers/coupons, you’ll wonder why you didn’t notice them before.
A great place to start is with the Entertainment Book or Groupon deals.
3. Buy in Bulk
Of course, buying in bulk is not the best option all the time, but if you want to save a few bucks on things you usually use outside of the house like toilet paper or soap, you can buy them in bulk.
It’s the best way to save a few dollars.
Not only that, there are online shops that offer discounts for travel expenses if you buy a lot of stuff from them. If you don’t want to personally go to the store and go back home with a lot of things in tow, you can have them be shipped to your doorstep.
4. Open Up a Vacation Fund
If you’re one of those people who constantly go over your budget and spend the money that is supposed to be for other things, then opening up a savings account might cure you of this disease.
A dedicated account just for your vacation fund.
Yes, of course, this is an obvious tip, but you would be surprised at how many people don’t want to be bothered to open up a new account for savings. Let’s admit it; money can easily be sucked into your everyday life, and having your savings within reach is a bad idea.
After opening up a travel savings account, try to put money into it every day, no matter how small it is.
You didn’t buy your regular coffee from Starbucks today? Put the money in the vacation fund jar. You didn’t eat out today? Put the money in your savings account. Did you manage to save money on your weekly grocery shopping? Put the money in the vacation fund box.
This way, you won’t accidentally use your money for other things.
5. How to Budget for Travel
Making a budget is easy. Sticking to it and making it work is hard.
That said, estimating how much your trip will cost you is a good place to start.
The first thing you should do is estimate how much you will be spending every day and how many people will be traveling with you.
Let’s be generous and say you have a budget of $50 daily per person. However, you have to think of other factors like where you want to travel and how thrifty you should be in your travels.
Do you plan on eating out every day?
Do you plan to visit attractions that cost money?
How do you plan to get from A to B?
These are all things that you should consider when beginning your budget to travel.
Remember how you can find discounts on things you want to buy for travel? You can do that with your accommodation too. There are hotels out there that offer discounts and promotions based on a given circumstance or condition.
For example, some hotels offer discounts for first-timers or if it’s a holiday. If you can find hotels like that, you can incorporate them into your budget. However, you have to consider when the promotions will end. And if you’re planning to incorporate an RV into your trip, you can get help for RV financing with My Financing USA so your budget wouldn’t be strained too much.
Ready to Save Money in Your Vacation Fund?
Saving money for your travels is easy, but completely committing to it and making it work when the time comes can be a struggle. It is like most things in life, it takes time and effort. Make sure that you’re always prepared for emergencies, especially financially.
Remember, if you want to save money, you have to be clever and resourceful, and you have to take advantage of every opportunity to save.
More Ways to Save Money:
The time to start is now.
I hope you have found my tips helpful and I wish you all the best in your travel saving goals. You can do it.
cheap tickets
Author Bio
Lauren Cordell is a freelancer who writes for various financing and business websites. Aside from finance and business, she also writes book and movie reviews. If she’s not writing, you will see her sitting at the corner of a coffee shop reading books.
Here are great ways to save money when planning your next vacation. Find great deals on airfare, hotel, and so much more!
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Start searching today!
Earn free travel rewards with Orbitz. Save up to 50% on select hotels with Insider Prices. Fast booking & free cancellations.
Reserve now, pay later!
Find 24/7 Personal Assistance only with Travelocity’s Customer First Guarantee.
Travelocity has some of the best deals on vacation packages, flights, hotels, and car rentals.
Photo Credit:
rvshare.com
If you’re thinking about going on a road trip, camping, or renting an RV for a special event, RVshare makes the whole process simple and fun!
If everything you want to do costs money, then at least find a coupon code or deal!
Be thrifty with your spending money!
Photo Credit:
shop.entertainment.com
The popular book of coupons is now a downloadable app!
The Entertainment® Book and Digital Membership offer 2-for-1 and up to 50% off discounts, all conveniently accessed on our mobile app, online or in the book.
Great way to save money on local restaurants, activities, hotels, adventures, and more!
Photo Credit:
www.groupon.com
Groupon’s top deals updated daily.
Discover and save on thousands of great deals at nearby restaurants, spas, things to do, and more.
Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
Did the post resonate with you?
More importantly, did I answer the questions you have about this topic? Let me know in the comments if I can help in some other way!
Your comments are not just welcomed; they’re an integral part of our community. Let’s continue the conversation and explore how these ideas align with your journey towards Money Bliss.
This post may contain affiliate links, which helps us to continue providing relevant content and we receive a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the full disclosure here.
This topic is an age old debate.
Is money a symbol of success?
What does it mean to be financially successful?
Does money make you successful?
Money is the only measure of success, right?
Success is not measured by money, correct?
Is money everything?
The question only look to more questions.
And honestly, those deep-thinking questions are the ones that leave us feeling the most vulnerable and difficult to articulate.
That is why the success is money debate will be hotly contested at any happy hour, break room, or phone call.
Let’s dig into various sides of the argument, so you can make a wise decision for your life.
Just a hint… this topic show many shades of gray and might not be as black and white as you want.
Why is success Measured by Money?
There are many reasons why money is associated with success.
The primary reason is people deep down truly believe that money will change their situation. More money = more happiness. Isn’t that the quote we all grew up on?
Next, measuring success happens in two ways. The things that are tangible like money, assets, cars, houses, jewelry, etc. The other way of measuring success is intangible – something that you can NEVER value even if you tried.
Money opens doors of opportunities. You get to decide what equates to success.
That is why most people judge money success.
No matter how you spin it, money opens opportunities that weren’t available before. That is the final reason why measuring success with money happens.
Is Money the only Measure of Success?
Honestly, absolutely not.
However, one of the best ways to measure progress is with numbers. That is the reason so many people rely on measuring success with money.
Your financial success nonetheless is NOT the only measure of success.
There are many variables that go into your equation of success. Some to consider include:
Lifestyle
Choices to do what you want
Happiness
Gratitude
Ability to give back
Work / life balance
Spending time doing what you want to do
Helping others
The list can go on and on. Thus, the success is money debate will continue for ages.
The key point to remember is the word… YOUR.
This is your journey. Your path with money. You make choices based on your desires.
How to be Successful with Money
And not give up your soul.
This is a delicate balancing act. Honestly, it shouldn’t be labeled as a balancing act because that isn’t an accurate reflection of being successful.
You must find your rhythm.
Find the point where money helps you to do what you want to do in life, but isn’t your #1 focus. Let’s dig into ways to be successful with money.
1. Be Different
Going against the grain of society is gutsy. It is the willingness to be different. This is the moment when you say enough is enough of doing things society’s way and start putting your success first.
It will feel awkward at first.
Anything that is new is harder at first. Just like any resolution, it takes time for a new habit to be made.
Ways to be Different:
Learn to become self-reliant instead of just ordering something online.
When you want to bail on something, show persistence for just a little bit longer.
Sign up for Struggling to Financial Success Money Bootcamp to assess your finances.
Find a like-minded community.
Decide what is more important to you than money.
Learn to say no (and not feel guilty).
Celebrate your successes when you go against society’s norms.
2. Stop the Comparison Game
This is such an easy trap to fall into! Sometimes without even realizing it.
We don’t even need to leave the comfort of our home to start the comparison game. Society even pushes the concept of comparison – even at the young ages. Across all media, it is okay to wish for something you don’t have.
If everyone else is doing it, you might as well, too.
Is comparison the root of all evil? Probably not.
With money, comparison can cause a quick, slippery slope to debt. The average household has $90K of debt (not including mortgage). That is a heavy burden to carry.
Even if you manage to stay out of debt, reaching financial freedom and retiring early will be harder. It is okay to be different. It is okay to stay outside of the comparison game.
Societal pressures are huge. The impact can lead to financial ruin.
From money coaching, I have learned that many of their biggest financial decisions and mistakes have been made with outside pressures.
3. Stay Persistent to Your Plan
Persistence is a trait that was a given when I grew up. Remember the saying, “Practice makes perfect.” It was expected to try over and over again until you succeed. It didn’t have to be perfect; it was the effort that counted.
Today, persistence is a character trait our elementary school stresses to the students. Why? Because today’s kids give up WAY too quickly.
This is your story. Your money journey.
You judge your success with money based on your plan.
Getting out of debt. Stop living paycheck to paycheck. Reaching financial freedom. Retiring early. Those things will not happen on their own (wouldn’t that be great if it could?). It will be tough to reach those milestones.
Ask anyone who reached $1 million net worth, retired at 50, or had a little money left over at the end of the month but covered bills. They will say it was tough at times. But, it is worth the extra effort and persistence in the end.
4. Pay Yourself First
Money success is based on one simple area… saving money before you do anything else.
While this concept seems simple enough, do you actually pay yourself first?
This is something I talk about over and over here at Money Bliss, the reminder continues.
Today is payday, then you move money to a separate savings account.
That is as simple as it gets.
Resources to Pay Yourself First:
5. Be Wary of the Love Of Money
Remember the saying, “Money Talks.” Unfortunately, in today’s society, money talks. It provides access. It provides freedom. Money is a status symbol.
This is not true of every person in society. Not everyone struggles with the love of money.
But, many of our decisions tend to be based on money rather than what is better for our lives.
Everyone dreams of winning the lotto. A chance to finally change their situation. Honestly, winning the lotto creates bigger problems without getting to the root of the love of money.
Find contentment.
The best way to overcome the love of money is to be content with what you have been blessed with.
Regardless of the amount in your bank account, look around and find everything you have been blessed with.
Is Money Success?
What is your opinion?
Does the saying, “Money is the key to success” a part of your life.
The success with money debate will happen for years and there is nothing we can do to change that.
So, you have to define what success means to you.
As we have stated in this post, success looks different to everyone. This is your financial journey and legacy.
What would make you feel like you had an impact?
That is your answer to success with money.
One of the best ways to improve your personal finance situation is to increase your income. Here are a variety of side hustles that are very lucrative. With time and effort, you can start enjoying the lifestyle you want.
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Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
Did the post resonate with you?
More importantly, did I answer the questions you have about this topic? Let me know in the comments if I can help in some other way!
Your comments are not just welcomed; they’re an integral part of our community. Let’s continue the conversation and explore how these ideas align with your journey towards Money Bliss.
Inside: Learn what 15 an hour is how much a year, month, and day. Plus tips to budget your money. Don’t miss the ways to increase your income.
You’re probably wondering if I made $15 a year, how much do I truly make? What will that add up to over the course of the year? Is $15 a living wage?
Is this wage something that I can actually live on? Or do I need to find ways that I can increase my hourly wage?
In this post, we’re going to detail exactly what $15 an hour is how much a year. Also, we are going to break it down to know how much is made per month, bi-weekly, per week, and daily.
That will help you immensely with how you spend your money. Because too many times the hard-earned cash is brought home, but there is no actual plan for how to spend that money.
By taking a step ahead and making a plan for the money, you are better able to decide how you want to live, make sure that you put your money goals first, and not just living paycheck to paycheck struggling to survive.
The ultimate goal with money success is to be wise with how you spend your money.
If that is something you want to do, then keep reading. You are in the right place.
$15 an Hour is How Much a Year?
When we ran all of our numbers to figure out how much is $15 per hour is as an annual salary, we used the average working day of 40 hours a week.
40 hours x 52 weeks x $15 = $31,200
$31,200 is the gross annual salary with a $15 per hour wage.
As of June 2023, the average hourly wage is $33.58 (source).
Let’s breakdown how that number is calculated.
Typically, the average work week is 40 hours and you can work 52 weeks a year. Take 40 hours times 52 weeks and that equals 2,080 working hours. Then, multiply the hourly salary of $15 times 2,080 working hours and the result is $31,200.
That number is the gross income before taxes, insurance, 401K or anything else is taken out. Net income is how much you deposit into your bank account.
That is just above the $30000 salary, which is a lower starter salary, but well below where you want to start about a $35000 salary.
Work Part Time?
But you may think, oh wait, I’m only working part time. So if you’re working part time, the assumption is working 20 hours a week at $15 an hour.
Only 20 hours per week. Then, take 20 hours times 52 weeks and that equals 1,040 working hours. Then, multiply the hourly salary of $15 times 1,040 working hours and the result is $15,600.
This post may contain affiliate links, which helps us to continue providing relevant content and we receive a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the full disclosure here.
How Much is $15 Per Month?
On average, the monthly amount would average $2,600.
Annual Amount of $31,200 ÷ 12 months = $2,600 per month
Since some months have more days and fewer days like February, you can expect months with more days to have a bigger paycheck. Also, this can be heavily influenced by how often you are paid on and on which days you get paid.
Work Part Time?
Only 20 hours per week. Then, the monthly amount would average $1,300.
How Much is $15 per Hour Per Week
This is a great number to know! How much do I make each week? When I roll out of bed and do my job, what can I expect to make at the end of the week?
Once again, the assumption is 40 hours worked.
40 hours x $15 = $600 per week.
Work Part Time?
Only 20 hours per week. Then, the weekly amount would be $300.
How Much is $15 per Hour Bi-Weekly
For this calculation, take the average weekly pay of $600 and double it.
$600 per week x 2 = $1,200
Also, the other way to calculate this is:
40 hours x 2 weeks x $15 an hour = $1,200.
Work Part Time?
Only 20 hours per week. Then, the bi-weekly amount would be $600.
How Much is $15 Per Hour Per Day
This depends on how many hours you work in a day. For this example, we are going to use an eight hour work day.
8 hours x $15 per hour = $120 per day.
If you work 10 hours a day for four days, then you would make $150 per day. (10 hours x $15 per hour)
Work Part Time?
Only 4 hours per day. Then, the daily amount would be $60.
$15 Per Hour is…
$15 per Hour – Full Time
Total Income
Yearly Salary (52 weeks)
$31,200
Yearly Salary (50 weeks)
$30,000
Monthly Wage (173 hours)
$2,600
Weekly Wage (40 Hours)
$600
Bi-Weekly Wage (80 Hours)
$1,200
Daily Wage (8 Hours)
$120
Net Estimated Monthly Income
$1,985
**These are assumptions based off simple scenarios.
Paid Time Off Earning 15 Dollars an Hour
Does your employer offer paid time off?
As an hourly employee, you may or may not get paid time off.
So, here are the scenarios for both cases.
For general purposes, we are going to assume you work 40 hours per week over the course of the year.
Case # 1 – With Paid Time Off
Most hourly employees get two weeks of paid time off which is equivalent to 2 weeks of paid time off.
In this case, you would make $31,200 per year.
This is the same as the example above for an annual salary making $15 per hour.
Case #2 – No Paid Time Off
Unfortunately, not all employers offer paid time off to their hourly employees. While that is unfortunate, it is best to plan for less income.
Life happens. There will be times you need to take time off for numerous of reasons – sick time, handling an emergency, or even vacation.
So, let’s assume you take 2 weeks off without paid time off.
That means you would only work 50 weeks of the year instead of all 52 weeks. Take 40 hours times 50 weeks and that equals 2,000 working hours. Then, multiply the hourly salary of $15 times 2,000 working hours and the result is $30,000.
40 hours x 50 weeks x $15 = $30,000
You would average $120 per working day and nothing when you don’t work.
$15 an Hour is How Much a year After Taxes
Let’s be honest… Taxes can take up a big chunk of your paycheck. Thus, you need to know how taxes can affect your hourly wage.
Also, every single person’s tax situation is different.
On the basic level, let’s assume a 12% federal tax rate and a 4% state rate. Plus a percentage is taken out for Social Security and Medicare (FICA) of 7.65%.
Gross Annual Salary: $31,200
Federal Taxes of 12%: $3,744
State Taxes of 4%: $1,248
Social Security and Medicare of 7.65%: $2,387
$15 an Hour per Year after Taxes: $23,821
This would be your net annual salary after taxes.
To turn that back into an hourly wage, the assumption is working 2,080 hours.
$23,821 ÷ 2,080 hours = $11.45 per hour
After estimated taxes and FICA, you are netting $11.45 an hour. That is $3.55 an hour less than what you planned.
This is a very highlighted example and can vary greatly depending on your personal situation. Therefore, here is a great tool to help you figure out how much your net paycheck would be.
Plus budgeting on a just over $11 an hour wage is much different.
$15 an hour Salary Calculator
Now, you get to figure out how much you make based on your hours worked or if you make a wage between $15.01-15.99.
This is super helpful if you make $15.25 or $15.35.
You are probably wondering can I live on my own making 15 dollars an hour? How much rent can you afford on 15 an hour?
Using our Cents Plan Formula, this is the best case scenario on how to budget your $15 per hour paycheck.
When using these percentages, it is best to use net income because taxes must be paid.
In this example, we calculated $15 an hour was $11.45 after taxes. That would average $1,985 per month.
According to the Cents Plan Formula, here is the high level view of a $15 per hour budget:
Basic Expenses of 50% = $992.55
Save Money of 20% = $397.02
Give Money of 10% = $198.51
Fun Spending of 20% = $397.02
Debt of 0% = $0
Obviously, that is not doable for everyone when living so close to minimum wage. So, you have to be strategic in ways to decrease your basic expenses and debt. Then, it will allow you more money to save and fun money.
To further break down an example budget of $15 per hour, then using the ideal household percentages is extremely helpful.
recommended budget percentages based on $15 per hour wage:
Category
Ideal Percentages
Sample Monthly Budget
Giving
10%
$130
Savings
15-25%
$312
Housing
20-30%
$780
Utilities
4-7%
$130
Groceries
5-12%
$208
Clothing
1-4%
$26
Transportation
4-10%
$104
Medical
5-12%
$130
Life Insurance
1%
$13
Education
1-4%
$26
Personal
2-7%
$48
Recreation / Entertainment
3-8%
$78
Debts
0% – Goal
$0
Government Tax (including Income Taxes, Social Security & Medicare)
15-25%
$615
Total Gross Income
$2,600
**In this budget, prioritization was given to basic expenses. Thus, some categories like giving and saving were less.
A great way to lower your transportation costs is to buy a beater car.
Can I Live off $15 Per Hour?
Living off close to minimum wage can be a very difficult situation.
Is it doable? Absolutely.
You just have to be wiser (or frugal) with your money and how you spend the hard-earned cash you have been blessed with.
A lot of times when people are making under near the minimum wage mark or slightly above, they feel like they are in this constant cycle that they can never keep up. They are not good enough to make more money. Feeling like they are constantly struggling to keep up with bills and expenses. And things just keep adding on top.
You need to do is change your money mindset.
This is what you say to yourself… Okay, this is my season of life right now. I have aspirations and goals to change how much I make, but for now, I am going to make sure that I am able to live on my 15 dollar per hour. No going into to debt for me.
In the next section, we will dig into ways to increase your income, but for now, is it possible to live on $15 an hour?
Yes, you can do it, and as you can see it is possible with the sample budget of $15 per hour.
Living in a higher cost of living area would be more difficult. So, you may have to get a little creative. For example, you might have to have a roommate. Move to a lower cost of living area where rent is cheaper.
Also, you must evaluate your “fun spending” items. Many of those expenses are not mandatory and will break your budget. You can find plenty of free things to do without spending money.
5 Ways to Increase Your Hourly Wage
This right here is the most important section of this post.
You need to figure out ways to increase your hourly income because I’m going to tell you…you deserve more. You do a good job and your value is higher than what your employers pay you.
Even an increase of 50 cents to $15.50 will add up over the year. Even better $16 an hour! The goal is $20 an hour or more!
1. Ask for a Raise
The first thing to do is ask for a raise. Walk right in and ask for a raise because you never know what the answer will be until you ask.
If you want the best tips on how specifically to ask for a raise and what the average wage is for somebody doing your job, then check out this book. In this book, the author gives you the exact way to increase your income. The purchase is worth it or go down to the library and check that book out.
2. Look for A New Job
Another way to increase your hourly wage is to look for a new job. Maybe a completely new industry.
It might be a total change for you, but many times, if you want to change your financial situation, then that starts with a career change. Maybe you’re stressed out at work. Making $15 an hour is too much for you and you’re not able to enjoy life, maybe changing jobs and finding another job may increase your pay, but it will also increase your quality of life.
3. Find a New Career
Because of student loans, too many employees feel like they are stuck in the career field they chose. They feel sucked into the job that they don’t like or have the potential they thought it would.
For many years, I was in the same situation until I decided to do a complete career change. I am glad I did. I have the flexibility that I needed in my life to do what I wanted when I needed to do it. Plus I am able to enjoy my entrepreneurial spirit.
4. Find Alternative Ways to Make Money
In today’s society, you need to find ways to make more money. Period.
There is no way to get around it. You need to find additional income outside a traditional nine to five position or typical 40 hour a week job. You will reach a point where you are maxed on what you can make in your current position or title. There may be some advancement to move forward, but in many cases, there just is not much room for growth.
So, you need to find side hustle – another way to make money.
Do something that you enjoy, turn your hobby into a way to make money, turn something that you naturally do, and help others into a service business. In today’s society, the sky is the limit on how you can earn a freelancing income.
There are so many legit ways to make 300 dollars fast today!
5. Earn Passive Income
The last way to increase your hourly wage is to start earning passive income.
This can be from a variety of ways including the stock market, real estate, online courses, book sales, etc. This is where the differentiation between struggling financially and being financially sound happens.
By earning money passively, you are able to do the things that you enjoy doing and not be loaded down, with having a job that you need to work, and a place that you have to go to. And you still make money doing nothing.
Here is an example:
You can start a brokerage account and start trading stocks for $50. You need to learn and take the one and only investing class I recommend. Learn how the market works, watch videos, and practice in a simulator before you start using your own money.
One gentleman started with $5,000 in his trading account and now has well over $36,000 in a year. Just from practice and being consistent, he has learned that passive income is the way for him to increase his income and also not be a slave to his job.
Tips to Live on $15 an Hour
In this last section, grasp these tips on how to live on $15 an hour. On our site, you can find lots of money saving tips to help stretch your income further.
Here are the most important tips to live on $15 an hour. Highlight these!
1. Spend Less Than You Make
First, you must learn to spend less than you make.
If not you will be caught in the debt cycle and that is not where you want to be. You will be consistently living paycheck to paycheck.
In order to break that dreadful cycle, it means your expenses must be less than your income.
And when I say income, it’s not the $15 an hour. As we talked about earlier in the post, there are taxes. The amount of taxes taken out of your paycheck is called your net income which is $15 an hour minus all the taxes, FICA, Social Security, and Medicare are taken out. That is your net income.
So, your net income has to be less than your gross income.
2. Living Below Your Means
You need to be happy. And living on less can actually make you happier. Studies prove that less is better.
Finding contentment in life is one thing that is a struggle for most.
We are driven to want the new shiny toy, the thing next door, the stuff your friend or family member got. Our society has trained you that you need these things as well.
Have you ever taken a step back and looked at you really need?
Once you are able to find contentment with life, then you are going to be set for the long term with your finances.
Here is our story on owning less stuff. We have been happier since.
3. Make Saving Money Fun
You need to make saving money fun.
Save money with the popular 100 envelope challenge.
It could be participating in a no spend challenge for the month.
Start a billionaire morning routine to build a wealth mindset.
Maybe changing your habits and not picking up takeout and planning meals.
Whatever it is challenge yourself.
Find new ways of saving money and have fun with it.
Even better, get your family and kids involved in the challenge to save money. Tell them the reason why you are saving money and this is what you are doing.
Here are things to do with no money. Free activities without costing you a dime. That is an amazing resource for you and you will never be bored.
And you will learn a lot of things in life you can do for free. Personally, some of the best ones are getting outside and enjoying some fresh air.
4. Make More Money
If you want if you do not settle for less, then find ways to make more money. If you want more out of life, then increase your income.
You need to be an advocate for yourself.
Find ways to make more money.
It could be a side hustle, a second job, asking for a raise, going to school to change careers, or picking up extra hours.
Whatever path you take, that’s fine. Just find ways to make more money. Period.
5. No State Taxes
Paying taxes is one option to increase what you take home in each paycheck.
These are the states that don’t pay state income taxes on wages:
Alaska
Florida
Nevada
New Hampshire
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Washington
Wyoming
It is very interesting if you take into account the amount of state taxes paid compared to a state with income taxes.
Also, if you live in one of the higher taxed states, then you may want to reconsider moving to a lower cost of living area. The higher taxes income tax states include California, Hawaii, New Jersey, Oregon, Minnesota, District of Columbia, New York, Vermont, Iowa, and Wisconsin. These states tax income somewhere between 7.65% – 13.3%.
6. Stick to a Budget
You need to learn how to start a budget. We have tons of budgeting resources for you.
While creating a budget is great, you need to learn how to use one.
You do not have to budget down to every last penny.
You need to make sure your expenses are less than your income and that you are creating sinking funds for those irregular expenses.
Budget Help:
7. Pay Off Debt Quickly
The amount that you pay interest on debt is absolutely absurd.
Unfortunately, that is how many of these companies make their money is from the interest you pay on debt.
If you are paying 5% to even 20-21% or higher, you need to find ways to lower that debt quickly.
Here’s a debt calculator to help you. Figure out your debt free date.
Make that paying off debt fast is your target and main focus. I can tell you from personal experience, that it was not until we paid off our debt that we finally rounded the corner financially. Once our debt was paid off, we could finally be able to save money. Set money aside in separate bank accounts and pay for cash for things.
It took us working hard to pay off debt. We needed persistence and patience while we had setbacks in our debt free journey.
Jobs that Pay $15 an Hour
You can find jobs that pay $15 per hour. Polish up that resume, cover letter, and interview skills.
Job Search Hint: Always send a written follow-up thank you note for your interview. That will help you get noticed and remembered.
First, look at the cities that require a minimum wage in their cities. That is the best place to start to find jobs that are going to pay higher than the federal minimum wage rate. Many of the cities are moving towards this model so, target and look for jobs in those areas.
Possible Ideas:
Customer service representatives
Paraeducators at schools
Warehouse workers
Retail workers
Cashiers
Housekeeper
Delivery Drivers
Overnight Stockers
Companies that pay more than $15 per hour:
L.L. Bean
Chick-Fil-A
Panera Bread
Torchy Tacos
McDonald’s
Five Guys
Costco
Wayfair
Amazon
Many grocery stores
Best Buy
Target
Wells Fargo
Disney World
Disney Land
Bank of America
JP Morgan
Cigna
Aetna
Maybe working as a virtual assistant with no experience is right for you??
$15 Per Hour Annual Salary
In this post, we detailed 15 an hour is how much a year. Plus all of the variables that can impact your net income. This is something that you can live off.
How much is 15 dollars an hour annually…
$31,200
In this post, we highlighted ways to increase your income as well as tips for living off your wage.
Use the sample budget as a starting point with your expenses.
You will have to be savvy and wise with your hard-earned income. But, with a plan, anything is possible!
Now, find low stress jobs that don’t need a degree and pay well!
Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
Did the post resonate with you?
More importantly, did I answer the questions you have about this topic? Let me know in the comments if I can help in some other way!
Your comments are not just welcomed; they’re an integral part of our community. Let’s continue the conversation and explore how these ideas align with your journey towards Money Bliss.
This post may contain affiliate links, which helps us to continue providing relevant content and we receive a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the full disclosure here.
This is definitely a tough topic to tackle. And the reason why is money is a very highly contested and debated issue, but on the same flip of the coin, it is a taboo subject and nobody talks about money. So the question remains is money everything in life.
I am going to be brutally honest in this post and highlight both sides of the coin. The hard part with money is money provides opportunities. Yet, money can also be the root of all evil.
Thus, is life all about making money?
In this post, we are going to outline everything that you would want to know about this topic – is everything about money. The reasons that you should care about money and the reasons that you need to forget about money.
Too many times, you want desperately to care about money. Yet, you are afraid of taking the right steps to get where you want financially. You are trapped in the vicious cycle of making poor decisions.
Everything is About Money
Everything is about money seems appropriate, right?
You roll out of bed each morning to go out and make money. You think about how you should save your money while you’re out buying a coffee or picking up groceries. Then, you began to think… all I do each and every day is go to work, make money, spend my money, rinse, and repeat. Or maybe you are sticking your head into the sand to ignore your financial situation.
Subsequently, you stress about money because there was not enough left over each and every week. Or maybe there’s a tiny bit leftover, but you are still not happy.
It seems like everything is about money. Life revolves around money. Every decision you make involves money.
That right there is the reason that managing money is so difficult for so many different people because you do not understand why money is good and why money is bad.
So, in your head, you must define good and bad.
Then, how money correlates to your belief system about finances, how you interact with money on a daily basis, and your definition of good / bad. This needs to happen to be able to move forward.
If you want to change how you feel about money and interact with it, then you must decide what steps you’re going to take.
Why is Money Everything?
Let’s go back a few 100 years.
In the times, people had to barter to be able to survive. They exchanged goods and services in order to get the things that they needed. They were able to help others with their services and in exchange get the supplies or services they needed in exchange. It was a basic system that worked for survival.
That is how the first marketplace was developed; it was a bartering system. You had to barter to buy and sell things.
As society became more advanced and industrialized, the concept of money came around. Instead of having to barter for goods and services, you were exchanging money for a good or service. That is how you made money and spent money.
Consequentially, at the basic form, money is almost everything because that is the basis of how we are able to survive and do the things that we need to do on a daily basis.
There is no possible way to go through life without money. Period.
Is Money the Only Important Thing in Life?
Honestly, the answer is no.
If you truly believe that money is the only important thing in life, then you need to think about your priorities. Even in the Bible, it states that money can be the root of evil, but that money itself is not bad.
Money can help others that are in need. It can help provide housing for your family and keeps you fed. It can provide a security blanket, aka an emergency fund in times of need.
So money is needed, but it is not the most important thing in life.
There are plenty of other things that are more important. Look around you and count your blessings.
But, you have to remember the bottom line is that money opens up the door for opportunities.
You Should Care About Money & What Money Can Buy
Is life only about money?
In this section, we are going to outline the exact reasons you should care about money.
Money can buy everything! Specifically a whole lot of things; it can buy you a new house, a new car, take you on that vacation, buy the organic food that you want.
Money can buy you absolutely anything!
The problem with money for the general population is that it is finite. You do not have unlimited access to do everything you want with the money. And that can be a very frustrating situation to find yourself in.
That is why you get caught up in this belief system, that nowadays money is everything.
You have to have money to be able to do anything, to go anywhere, or to buy anything.
But the difference and the key you must learn from this post is while money is important, money management is the critical lesson.
You Should Not Care About Money & What Money Cannot Buy
Why it is said that money is not everything in life?
In this section, let’s discuss the exact reasons why you should not care about money.
Money cannot buy you happiness.
Let me repeat that again, money does not equate to being happy.
Money will not change your depression; money will not make your relationships better. There are many things that money can do, but money cannot cover up the deeply hidden wounds and poor decisions that you made previously.
Those are things that money absolutely cannot buy. And that is the reason that most people say money is not everything.
You have to find happiness in other ways that do not involve your finances. You have to find joy in the simple things. You must find gratitude for what you have.
These are all things that a $100,000 check cannot buy you. Only your heart can buy you these things and that takes some deep soul searching in time and investment.
Can you find the things that make you happy? But money cannot be one of them. And that, my friend, is the reason that money is not everything.
Five Steps to Make Money Work For You (Without Controlling You)
As stated earlier, the critical lesson you must walk away from is proper money management.
You must know how to manage your money. So that money can do everything that you want it to do.
Money can provide you with those opportunities.
With poor money management skills, you are absolutely unable to make progress. You won’t be able to take any steps further.
1. Learn about Money
One thing that is not taught in our education system is how to manage money, why it is important to save, and how to stay out of debt. Our society is living paycheck to paycheck because we are not taught anything better.
You must take the time to learn how money works.
That right there is the reason most people fail with money.
Learning how to save or how to pay off your debt will not happen overnight. Most people quit quickly because they want instant success, instant gratification. And with money, it is a long-term game.
The choices that you make starting today will affect your future. The choices you made one year ago, three years ago, or ten years ago are affecting where you are at financially today.
2. Understand the Purpose Of Money
Money is a tool. Money is not an object.
Hence, let me define that a little bit deeper.
Money is a tool to help you accomplish what you want in life, and where you want to go by utilizing money correctly. You are able to reach your financial goals.
Whereas, money is not an object. That means when flashing your cash when out with friends, flashing that brand new car, or buying that house in a dream neighborhood just because you have something to show off.
That is an object. That is not what money is about; you are just showing off. That is when money is everything, specifically your ego. But, it doesn’t have the right meaning of money success.
3. Consequences of Poor Decisions
This is the reason people feel like money is everything. The past decisions that you have made might have cost you money, you may have lost money and you are still paying for those financial hits today.
Consequently, you feel like money is everything to be able to get out of your current situation.
You need more money to be able to advance your financial freedom. You need more money to be able to pay off the debt that you bought into your life.
The desire for more money and everything circles back to the concept of everything is about money.
There are no ways to move forward because your finances are holding you back. If you are stuck in this trap of past poor financial decisions, you have to recognize those mistakes and learn from them.
Write down your past mistakes, and list exactly what you have learned from them. Once you’ve done that, you have to let it go and let it be a lesson learned.
Focus on positive ways to change your habits.
Find a different community or a new group of friends that have the same values around money that you are striving towards. Then, the temptation of poor money decisions slips away with the bad influences.
Dedicate time to make your goals and values a priority.
4. Talk About Money
Money is a taboo subject in our society.
Because of that, wealth is not passed down from generation to generation. The older generation was taught that you don’t talk about money, so they’re not going to share the lessons that they learned over time. Yet, how many recipes are family favorites that everyone knows how to make because they’ve been passed down from generation to generation.
That needs to change.
You need to learn to talk about money. And that will help you set you up for money success, because like I said…
Money is a tool that can be talked about money. Objects are just showing off.
Kristy@ Money Bliss
While it can be hard to talk about money for the first time, set up a dedicated time with your spouse, significant other or a friend to just ask some questions and learn their money tips.
Maybe even reach out to your parents and ask, “what was your biggest financial failure? What was your biggest financial success?” Learn from their answers. If that is not an option, find a mentor that you believe has done well financially and ask them about making smart financial decisions in their life.
Ask them what they did to get there.
Ask what do they see that you are doing wrong, so that you can change today.
By talking about money, you will learn from other’s mistakes without making those same mistakes.
5. Prioritizing Money Is Not Greedy
If you have money, that does not mean you are greedy.
Unfortunately, money and greed are tied together in many ways.
The difference comes into play with how you view money. Is it a tool or an object?
Greedy with money is when money becomes all about you and your wants. You hold onto your money so tight and cannot use money to help others. It is all about money upholding your flashy lifestyle.
When you prioritize money as a tool in order to buy the things that you need in life. That prioritization leads to money success and you are able to open up doors of opportunity.
And that right there can lead to so many wonderful life choices for you.
That does not mean you are greedy about your money, it means you actively choose to prioritize what money can do for you as a tool.
Is It All About Money?
In this post, we discussed so many variables that can impact your money.
Overall, money is a belief system.
You can believe that it is a tool to help you succeed.
You can believe that it is an object to show off.
And that lies the difference of your perception of money.
Do you perceive whether life is going to be all about money, or are you going to use money as a tool to do things that there is no possible way you could do without that money?
You have to learn to not let money control you and to start controlling your money.
Is money everything or not? I will leave you to come to your personal conclusion.
In this post, we listed why money is a good thing. But, we also listed reasons why money can be evil.
You just have to remember the key to success is money management. In order to do the things that you want in life, you must decide how the income and cash assets will work in your favor.
Now for you, is everything about money or not?
Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
Did the post resonate with you?
More importantly, did I answer the questions you have about this topic? Let me know in the comments if I can help in some other way!
Your comments are not just welcomed; they’re an integral part of our community. Let’s continue the conversation and explore how these ideas align with your journey towards Money Bliss.
Inside: Learn how to set smart financial goals and change the trajectory of your personal finances. Download our setting financial goals worksheet.
Financial success doesn’t happen just in January. It happens every single day of the year with every single decision you make.
Now, is the time to take your New Year’s resolutions and make them into smart financial goals.
Financial goals will help keep you on track.
There are two ways to look at goals.
You can either set them,
or ignore even making financial goals.
A lot of people don’t like to set financial goals because they feel like they are setting themselves up for failure. (And that is a money mindset that needs to be broken!)
However, by setting smart financial goals, you are more likely to make progress on the things that matter to you most, and that at the end of the day is the most important.
Too many times we see that people are stressed about money and their finances. They prefer to ignore their money situation and dig their head into the sand. You can quickly see that will only make the situation worse, and progress will NEVER be made.
Today, we are going to examine smart financial goals, give a few examples of goals to start with today, and then let you think BIG on long-term financial goals.
Let’s dig in and change your financial future…
What is a Financial Goal?
A financial goal is writing down what you want to accomplish with your money.
It can be big, it can be small.
The size and scope of the money objective does not matter.
The most important part is that you are making a decision, ahead of time about what you want to do with your money.
Everybody has different goals.
Comparing yourself to others is worthless. Each person is on their own financial journey. The only comparison that needs to happen is what is going on with you and your situation.
What are the 5 smart goals?
First, you need to make your goals with this template in mind.
Then, you will become the next millionaire with no money.
S – Specific
An overarching vision for your life is fabulous and will help you to keep on track of what you want to achieve. However, when it comes to making smart financial goals, they need to be specific.
You must clearly identify or define your goal. Be specific.
M – Measurable
With your goal, you must consider how you plan to measure it. Thankfully, this one is easy to quantify with personal finances.
You can gauge progress with dollar amounts or percentages.
If you are paying off debt or starting your journey to saving money, then using dollar amounts makes sense. If you are striving towards financial freedom, then you are looking at savings percentages or metrics to increase your net worth.
A – Attainable
With the smart goal format, we are quick to back off our goals because we don’t think we can achieve them. Don’t sell yourself short.
It is better to reach 80% of your goal than to walk away from it completely because you are 80% closer today than before you set your goal.
Go for a stretch financial goal; you will probably surprise yourself with what you can accomplish. Use those money mantras to keep you on track.
R – Realistic
Think about your financial goal logically. In a levelheaded voice, ask yourself if you are capable of reaching this goal today.
You have to be realistic about the season you are in and what your next financial step is. With the smart goal template, this is the point when you break up your goals into smaller pieces to set reasonable goals.
State your goal in a positive statement.
T – Time-Bound
The last part of the 5 smart goals is probably the most forgotten. Yet, it is the most important to reach your goals.
Changing your perspective on time planning will vastly improve your results.
Keep your financial goals within a timeframe of under 3 months.
Loftier financial goals that are long-term – that is great! You must break them down further into mini-milestones to reach your long term goal.
SMART Goal Example:
A great smart financial goal example would be these statements…
Starting today, I will save $96 each week for the next 52 weeks by transferring money when I get paid.
I will pay off an extra $3000 of student loan debt six months from today.
This year, I will increase my savings percentage to 15% by paying myself first and living off the rest.
These are just a few examples. We will provide more in a little bit.
How To set Smart Financial Goals?
Financial goals will help you make faster progress than you thought possible.
You just must be willing to make changes, be realistic about what you can accomplish, and keep a positive mindset.
Let’s dig in on how to set smart financial goals. This is exactly how you achieve financial goals.
1. Know Where You Stand Financially
That means knowing two important factors. First, what Money Bliss Step to Financial Freedom you are on, and second, what is your net worth?
Those are two benchmarks that will help you to determine what your next financial goal should be.
Without knowing where you stand, you won’t be able to track your progress. Also, knowing your liquid net worth is helpful.
2. Define Your Vision
What is the overarching theme for your life? Think long term 10+ years from now.
Here, at Money Bliss, we like to refer to it as your Dream Big Vision.
This will be the starting point for all of your smart financial goals.
What is the one thing that you want most? This doesn’t have to correlate to money. It can be a LIFE goal.
You must first define your vision to clearly make smart financial goals. Think of it as building blocks. You will progress faster with be stable by building your goals one step at a time versus trying to jump over a few key steps and sinking fast.
Also, make sure you do not have a money block holding you back.
3. Create a Plan
Once you know your Dream Big Vision, you have to create action steps along the way to help you reach it.
That is where the Money Bliss Steps to Financial Freedom will help you define the big financial moves to make along your journey.
Then you can take your personal situation (where you stand financially) and your personal vision to create a plan. Many times your personal finance plan will have many short term and long term financial goals along the way.
Smart Financial Goals Examples
What are some good smart goals? These are the top financial goals we truly believe everyone must accomplish.
Everyone is on their OWN journey.
Here is a list of money goal examples that can be further defined by your situation.
1. Be a constant learner
The first smart financial goal is to be a constant learner. With money management and personal finance, there is so much to learn! We all complain that we weren’t taught how to manage money in schools.
Yet, this is a life-long skill.
Add one or two of these finance books to your booklist. Many of us strive to read books monthly that will enrich our lives.
Recently, I made the decision to want to learn more about investing. While there are a ton of investing books out there (and I have read many of them), I wanted to dig deeper into the investing world. So, I signed up for this course and found a wonderful trading community.
Also, since tax laws are constantly changing, it is wise to stay current on news events and find ways to improve your personal finance situation.
Example #1 – I will read one personal finance book each quarter.
2. Pay Yourself First
This is one of the best long term success factors with money. Yet, it is the hardest for us to grasp.
You must pay yourself first … meaning you save money today for another purpose later.
This is one of the best ways to not be knocked over by unforeseen circumstances and to stay out of debt.
Early on, you must fully fund an emergency fund.
Then, consider saving for a rainy day fund, a down payment on a house, or retirement. This is one of the best money management tips you don’t want to skip.
Example #2 –I will set up automatic withdrawals of 10% of my paycheck to move into a savings account and $200 to Roth IRA when I get paid.
3. Multiple streams of income
A conversation I would love to have with my grandpa is about working for one company for 34 years and retiring with a pension. In today’s world, this is a foreign concept and side hustles are the norm. What would our previous generations say?
Now, you need multiple streams of income.
If you say your job is stable and you’re fine. You are….until you’re not.
That is why you need to be proactive in creating multiple types of income. The quick response is picking up a side hustle. Another would be investing in the stock market. Possibly flipping second-hand items. Maybe picking up a second job.
There are many ways to make money fast. But, you must find ways to make money before you actually need the extra cash.
Example #3– I am going to sign up with Neighbor to lend out the space I don’t use to create extra income.
4. Get out of Debt and Live debt free
You can’t move forward when you have debt hanging over your head and holding you back.
Progress is impossible when you are living with and trying to pay off debt.
The faster you can pay off debt, the better off you are. Then, you need to stay debt free.
This is one of the best smart financial goal examples!
Example #4 – I will pay off the total balance of my student loans before I turn 30.
5. Spend less Than You Earn
This is a simple example. Yet, it is more difficult to achieve with the amount of easy access to credit in our society.
This is an ongoing mandate to live by.
You can easily reach many long term goals, by staying on track in the short term.
Example #5 – I will participate in a no spend challenge for the next 30 days to identify what my spending priorities are.
6. Increase your Saving Percentage
This is one of the best ways to slowly increase your net worth and not notice the difference.
Ultimately, you want to save at least 20% or more of your income. There is no limit to how much you can save.
Save more money today, then work less later.
Yes, there is a trade-off to live below your means. But, the long term impact is well worth it plus you can sleep well at night.
Example #6 – I will increase my saving percentage by 1% each month for the next 12 months. Then, I will be saving 12% of my income.
7. Let money flow through your hands
Too many times, people become so focused on their goals that they forget to let money pass through their hands. This could be with giving money to charitable organizations or paying it forward in the drive-through line.
Don’t make this overall complicated.
Just like Dave Ramsay says about giving, “If you can’t live on 100% of your money, you will still have to make changes to live on 90%.” Start small with giving and increase each year.
Example # 7 – I will research organizations I want to donate money to. Then, pick one to contribute $100 a month for the next year.
8. Keep a Financial goal Journal
Research has shown that if you write down your goals, then you are more likely to achieve them. In fact, statistics show you are 1.4 more likely to reach your goals when you write them down.1
So, be smart and keep track of your financial goals! Plus it is great to look back and see the progress you have made. Each milestone that you have crossed. That is great motivation to keep trucking on your current target.
Example #8 – Buy a money journal and track my progress each month. You can even use Google Keep to create a digital journal.
9. Teach others solid money management skills
Throughout your life, you will learn many valuable lessons. Most of them probably came from the school of hard knocks.
Don’t let those valuable lessons go to waste. Help others learn from your mistakes. We all made them and had to overcome them.
One sentence may positively change the trajectory of someone else’s financial path.
This may seem like an odd example of a smart financial goal. However, your journey has been pivoted by others stepping in to help or maybe be watching others fail.
We need more individuals in this world who understand proper money management. Pass down your knowledge to your kids, local school, friends, neighbors, or by volunteering.
Example #9 – Make monthly meetings with my teenager to discuss money. Discuss a success and failure I did in my past.
10. Retire on Your Terms
The final top financial goal is to retire on your terms when you want.
This looks different from one person to another. Some may want to FIRE. Others love their job and never want to leave. Some are forced to work well beyond what they want.
The key to retiring on your terms is to have enough saved up for you to continue your lifestyle without bringing in earned income.
Honestly, putting off saving for retirement is not a smart financial goal.
Example #10 – Open a Roth IRA and deposit $583 each month to reach the maximum contribution amount each year.
Setting Financial Goals Worksheet
If you want to make progress, you have to take action. If you don’t, then you watch from the sidelines and your dreams go up in smoke.
Take thirty minutes to fill out our financial goals worksheet.
Start with your overall vision. Then, break it down into small bite-sized milestones that you can accomplish. Review monthly and set new money goals once you accomplish previous ones.
Which Financial Goal Examples will you Start With?
Throughout this post, we reiterated this concept. But, it is SO important that it is worth repeating again…
This is your journey. Your journey will be different than anyone else. So, don’t spend time comparing yourself to others. Spend time focuses on what you can accomplish.
From the top financial goals, what is your next priority?
Personal finances are a long term game. You must assemble building blocks to slowly climb one step at a time.
Start with some of the best financial books to get started.
Also, use these millionaire quotes to stay motivated along the way.
Comment below on what your current financial goal is.
Source
Forbes. “Neuroscience Explains Why You Need To Write Down Your Goals If You Actually Want To Achieve Them
https://www.forbes.com/sites/markmurphy/2018/04/15/neuroscience-explains-why-you-need-to-write-down-your-goals-if-you-actually-want-to-achieve-them/?sh=c59f73c79059. Accessed May 8, 2024.
Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
Did the post resonate with you?
More importantly, did I answer the questions you have about this topic? Let me know in the comments if I can help in some other way!
Your comments are not just welcomed; they’re an integral part of our community. Let’s continue the conversation and explore how these ideas align with your journey towards Money Bliss.