You Need a Budget: The Proven System for Breaking the Paycheck-to-Paycheck Cycle, Getting Out of Debt, and Living the Life You Want

If you realize your money is not doing what you want, go back to Rule One. Or even better, wipe out your whole budget and start over. Forget every obligation and goal, so it’s just you and your checking account balance again.

You’ll also quickly discover that the more you fund your infrequent expenses, the less stressed you’ll feel.

You can get a quick pulse check on your money’s age just by observing how you talk about upcoming paychecks.

We don’t have a system for making decisions.

But here’s the thing about those big punches: perhaps they weren’t on your priority radar, but they usually do reflect your values, which are your budget’s driving force.

When you increase the time that passes between receiving your money and spending it, you’re more secure, more flexible.

Question everything. Once a year (I like to do this in January), question every one of your expenses.

By breaking large, infrequent expenses into smaller, frequent milestones, you’re getting rid of “surprise” bills that tend to blindside us.

Pick up freelance work or do odd jobs.