It’s amazing how little you really need. For the last year I’ve been paying bills on two residences using an income that’s about 1/4 of what it used to be.
I own a house in Baton Rouge, and that’s my primary residence; but I also have an apartment in Atlanta because that’s where my clients are located.
To be able to afford the dual city lifestyle (which I have out of necessity since there is no work for my profession in Baton Rouge) I cut out everything I didn’t need. Let me state that again — need. As my mother used to always say — “you should separate your wants from your needs.” And that’s what I did.
The first thing to go was having my hair colored at the salon. That saved me about $60 a month.
Next, I ‘bundled” my Baton Rouge services so I have cable, internet, and home phone (which I need for my monitored burglar alarm) all from Cox. But at my Atlanta apartment I don’t have any of those things. I get “air” channels on an old TV using an analog/digital adapter (ABC, CBS, NBC, etc.), I nab free wifi wherever I can get it, and I use my iPhone for just about everything else.
For books, I frequent the library, download free ebooks, or borrow from friends.
Movies are the same — library, download, or borrow.
For lunch and dinner, I don’t do take-out anymore. If I’m going to eat at home I cook so I can save my money for meals out with friends.
I haven’t bought clothes in a year (maybe two). Okay, maybe I have gotten a new shirt (or something) if I find a great piece on the 75% clearance rack, but in general I’m recycling what I have (and taking hand-me-downs from my sisters).
It sounds awful, doesn’t it?
But, it’s not. I wish I wasn’t so restricted with my spending, but honestly, I really appreciate little gifts I’m given. A friend who offers to treat at lunch. My sister passing along makeup she got as a free gift, but that’s not her shade. Neighbors who let me dig through the items they’re putting at the curb so I can furnish my Atlanta apartment — I got a coffee table, butcher block kitchen cart, and various kitchen items that way.
Anyway, you get the idea of what life has been like. This year has actually been better financially than last year, however I’m still living hand to mouth. But I’m okay with that. I don’t know why, but I feel like the experience has made me a more empathetic and thankful person.