How to Avoid Paycheck to Paycheck Living in 2023

In this video, we will explore practical tips and steps to help you avoid living paycheck to paycheck – even in 2023.

After two months of marriage, we were flat broke and living paycheck to paycheck. Here’s what we did to break free of that cycle.

Living paycheck to paycheck has become an all-too-familiar reality for many individuals and families. However, there are numerous strategies and resources available to help you break free from this cycle.

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//ABOUT:

We're Hope and Larry and we love practical frugality. We raised our four sons, debt-free, including paying cash for our home when our income was well under the national average. For tips on saving money, budgeting, paying off debt, and setting goals (while living with a spirit of joy and abundance), subscribe to us here on YouTube and visit us at our website and on social media.

Information on Under the Median represents our opinions only. We are not medical doctors, medical professionals, nutritionists, or investment professionals. All content found on Under the Median is intended for informational purposes only. Please be sure to exercise due diligence and always contact a professional with any questions you may have regarding any information you have seen or heard on our YouTube channel. Use caution when following instructions in this video. The creator and publisher of this video will not be held responsible for any adverse effects that may arise from the use of any method on this channel.

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[brynnemartin]

My side job is 4 hours a week at the grocery story. A little extra money and 25% off all my groceries. It’s great!

[Gigi......]

I work at a supermarket and we get all the expired fresh products at the end of each night for free (milk, bread, vegetables, meat, flowers, vegetarian alternatives, salads, sandwiches, fruit etc)! It's saving me so much money plus, I get my normal wage on top! 🎉 My freezer is full and I'm so thankful 👌❤️

[heathersheartco]

I just made the LAST payment on my car. I own it free and clear now and I plan continuing to make car payments to myself and bank that money for future

[rebeccaoliver]

The greatest gift my mom gave me was the teaching of frugality.

[Nisa-gmwg]

My side hustle is baking sweets and breads at my job only 1 day a week. It easily generates $800 to 1 k per month.

[PInkW]

6yrs ago I was a financial train wreck.
I retired at 56 and had $11k credit card balance. I had to pay rent. I was bringing home $2300. Per month. Then my landlord said she was gonna double my rent. So I moved to Tx and changed my whole life. Paid off my cc in 15 months. Started saving like crazy for 2yrs. Got up to $28k. Bought a small home online cash for $23k. Then my social security kicks in. Now i have no debt at all and I bring home $4100.
I have $50k in savings. Doing great now.

[Mialuvsveggies]

I have zero debt (no car payment or credit cards), am a whole food vegetarian (no fake meats or anything like that), live 3 miles from work, prepare all my own meals at home, rarely eat out (only once this year), have 2 pets (no children) and still paycheck to paycheck. Times are tough.

[rg-mihh]

Stay out of debt is number one for kids starting out. If you don't have the money to buy something, save up for it.

[robertneville]

I live on social security retirement
Every 3 months I go on a trip
I live (sleep in )out of my 4 door jeep at usually a loves or flying j truck stop
My food is kept in a coleman cooler
I cook and make coffee on my coleman propane camp stove
Just got back from florence alabama where I saw crystal gayle in concert
From the money I saved on a motel by sleeping in my jeep I was able to afford 3rd row stage center tickets
Total price of trip including $100 show ticket was $200
Now im back home with all the lights off, no AC sitting under a ceiling fan eating beans and rice and rice and beans
I'm thinking Tybee island/ savannah ga some time around the first of the year

[FischerRestoration]

So true Larry and Hope.. once I figured it out I learned to watch every single dollar and became frugal by design. I've gone from spending 4k per month to living simple on 1.5k per month. It's definitely doable and it makes my life so much easier and my emergency savings is stronger than ever! Feeling blessed

[lindacgrace]

My side gig is writing. I wrote a novel (that nobody bought). Sigh. Back to the drawing board, figure out how to market the book. Start over. Proceed to write a non-fiction book (maybe that will fare better?). I call it "Prospering in Hard Times:" and I quote you several times in the book. I'll send you a copy when it's ready.

[cherieroatz]

I found a brand new Bissell on the side of the road being thrown out during a clean up. Sold it in about 10 minutes for $80!

[jamesclaire]

Great video. I am nearly 75. I worked 5 days last week and l will work 5 days this week. I do not work 8 hour days, but 5 hour days add up quickly.
I am retired military and also VA disabled. I have watched your channel for a while. I now have a few thousand in the bank as an emergency fund. When l first saw your channel l had a zero bank balance. I no longer use the 'card' when an emergency comes along. When a tire blew or a battery needed to be changed out, l paid cash. When l needed a piston changed out in my car motor, again l paid cash.
I pay cash and drive an older used car. I froze several credit accounts and in February of 2024 l will be debt free with the exception of my home. My home is the loan with the lowest interest rate. That will be the last loan to be paid off. I plan to be debt free before l am 79. Thanks again for such a worthwhile video. Stay well and be blessed.

[katehorrell]

I'm on a disability income of less than $1000 a month, but I have no mortgage or car payments or credit card debt. My side hustle is I scrap metal. My friends husband is part owner of a machine shop n he saves me scraps of copper, brass, aluminium, etc. I don't get it all the time but about every 2 months or so, but an extra $500-1000 really does help.

[rochellethundercloud]

Solid advice.
A budget is fine, but useless if you don't track your money

[cgt]

Step 6, embracing a frugal lifestyle, was a key for me. Like you, I had to learn to pay off debt and start saving, so a frugal mindset grew gradually. For me, it took small steps, like not going to a shopping mall (now, I suppose it would be: not going on Amazon) or paying only cash. Once I stopped doing those things, my thinking shifted. I started to like having savings in the bank. I stopped feeling like buying the latest things or worry about the latest "trend" in fashion or home decor. I started to realize that "fashion and decor trends" were really just marketing, to try to part me from my money. I learned the difference between needs and wants. I was already environmentally conscious and discovered that my frugal choices were better for the planet. Now, I find it hard to spend money unnecessarily and I'm glad. Money no longer rules my life. I''m not very interested in buying things unless there is a good reason. And I've gained a lot of confidence by learning to fix a lot of things for free (or very low cost) using Youtube University.

[jcSealy]

My side gig is working at a bbq restaurant 6 hours on the weekend. Free shift meals, 25% off food purchases and it pays for all my groceries. Good gig.

[jillgott]

I am retired - I took it early so that I could run my life my way ! In addition to my social security, I recycle cans and bottles which brings in a few dollars; I do temporary gigs - in May I did registration for a logging show that comes every two years to my area and in September I will be getting Christmas Trees ready for the holiday season in various stores; I sell items online; have bartered cleaning services for labor on my car repairs; babysat; participated in focus groups; yardsales and flea market sales; make crafts to sell- I only do work that is fun, easy for me, has little responsibilities yet provides me with good money. I see this way of working as a fun adventure not a hardship

[jocelynsertich]

My side gig is selling eggs from my chickens. I don’t really recoup all I spend on my animals, but it helps me be able to keep them.

[IBURUBURU]

My side gigs are: soapmaking, candle making, making diffusers, hand and body creams and lotions, lip balms, shampoos and hair masks, body sprays, etc. I really enjoy preparing them!