Who is living check to check? How do you end it? Help me!?

Answer 1

Lets see im living from loan to loan. It sucks bad. Got layoffs and work injuries in my house. An all around bad 4 months. But before all our bad luck came upon us we were living paycheck to paycheck. One thing that helped the most was cutting out spending on things not absolutely needed. We wouldnt go out or even buy extras around the house. I have 3 kids so that makes it even harder. Also organise your bills so that only one or two come outta each check this helps alot. Your utility company will work with you generally to help set a payment date that you can meet. Our biggest problem was our bills were all coming due at the same time and that check would be gone and we would have to wait for the next one. Good Luck. The only other thing i can tell you is maybe applie for a better paying job that covers your expences. Hope this helps....your not alone.

Answer 2

The majority of people are living check to check. That is one of the major flaws with our educational system. It does not teach basic economics and responsible money handling. Alan Greenspan, before retiring, always brought this up when speaking before Congress. Since most of us didn't get taught in school, there is still hope. There is a plethora of information available to you. It's almost like going on a diet. There are a lot of ways of getting your finances in order. You just have to find what works for you. I will recommend doing some reading. I have read Robert Kiosaki's books. I don't recommend doing what he did to break free of the cycle. But he does a good job of teaching basic money principles that are easily applied. I recommend the following books by him: "Rich Dad/Poor Dad", "Cashflow Quadrants", and "Prophecy". David Bach also provides some good easy steps to help end living check to check. "Automatic Millionaire" and "Start Late/Finish Rich" are two of the more popular of his books. Some classics are "Richest Man in Babylon", and "Think and Grow Rich". Another book I recommend is "The Four Laws of Debt Free Prosperity". Remember the best investment you can make is in yourself and your understanding of money. It's as important for us in this day and age to understand the workings of money as it was for the farmer to be able to use a hoe and a shovel in the agricultural age. I hope this helps. You by asking the question will get you started on the road. You may find it hard at first but long term you will see success.

Answer 3

Well, I'm not now, but I have lived check to check in the past. Start by paring down your expenses to the absolute minimum. Get rid of anything non essential (cable, internet, eating out, impulse shopping). Then save all the money you used to spend on those things to give you a financial safety net. While you cut expenses, try to find a way to increase your income. You could try for a higher position at your current employer or apply for higher paying jobs at other companies. Ask your boss for a raise, if it's been awhile, or get a second job to help get you through your financial difficulties.

Answer 4

We always lived check to check. Then we sold our NICE house that was too much for us. We used the equity in our house to buy an not so great house straight out. Now we have no house payment. We still have a car payment but earlier this month we were able to take a trip to Maui for a week and it is already paid for. Christmas is already paid for. All this on a one income salary of mid 50's. The Bible says that the Debtor is a slave to the lender. We decided that we could live in a smaller, older house and enjoy life or live in a fantastic house and never get ahead. We are happy with our decision. My advice is live on a budget below your means.
Also, check out www.daveramsey.com

Answer 5

The best way to break this cycle is to go back to school. You will be living check to check for a bit longer, but at least there will be a light at the end of the tunnel.

Apply for financial aid (see website below), apply for school (lots of good community colleges out there), and learn an occupation or skill that will allow you to make more money.

Believe me it is possible to do this. You just might have to work harder than you ever had to in your life. But, I did it. I know others can too.

I was a single mom living at below poverty level, did not graduate from high school, divorced, etc... I applied for financial aid and went to school. I had to work two jobs and go to school full time. It was rough and I had to really work hard to be sure that myself and my kids were taken care of. But, once I was eligible for financial aid and I was going to school I studied really hard and applied for scholorships and low interest loans.

Made it through and now I have a BA in Human Services from Western Washington University and a Masters in Social Work from the University of Washington. I am now a Program Director and therapist for a medium sized company. I make enough money to support myself and my children, pay off my college loans and have recently purchased a home and a decent car.

If I can do it. Anyone can. I was almost completely illiterate when I started out. I just had a lot of drive and desire. You can do it too.

Answer 6

SPEND LESS THAN YOU EARN. There is no other way. You have to get into the habit of paying yourself FIRST. Take 10% (to start) out of each paycheck and put it away. To start put it in a savings account that is not attached to your checking account. Then when you have a couple thousand dollars put it into other types of investments (like a CD or mutual fund). This is in addition to whatever other retirement savings you do like a IRA or 401k. When you have 2 months income saved in the bank, then look at paying off ALL you debt (except the mortgage) and after that then you run your savings up to 6 months income. The point is to take small achievable steps toward getting in control of your finances.

Answer 7

That's a very difficult question, but a good one.

I helped myself out of the paycheck-to-paycheck thing by not using ANY credit cards. Cash only for everything. The money that you don't have to spend paying off the cards is like getting a raise. Also, even though you think you can't do it, start putting away a little money every paycheck. I actually got a piggy bank and started putting dollar bills in it (don't spend any of your change...put it in your bank). Sometimes I could put away a twenty. You don't miss it, and now you have savings! Once you get enough, open a savings account. Wait until you have enough so they don't charge you a monthly fee...at my bank, it's $300.

It has worked for me. Good luck!

Answer 8

We are definately living paycheck to paycheck. I think the only way to end it is to pay off the credit cards and cut them up! Open a savings account and have money automatically withdrawn, even $25 a month adds up. That way if you need new brakes, new glasses, etc. you can pay out your savings instead of putting on the credit card.
Good Luck!

Answer 9

I live check to check. I just deal with it. I try to save (it's hard tho). Open a checking acct and put a few dollars in every paycheck..it will eventually add up

Answer 10

Do what I did and start your own business. Is there a way you can take what you do at work and turn it into a homebased business. For instance, if you are a bookkeeper start your own bookkeeping service. If you are a paralegal, do sideline paralegal work for others that are in need of assistance but can't afford a lawyer. Or if you love making gift baskets for your friends turn it into a business.