Try to pay off all those outstanding bills first and then try not to live beyond your means!
That means take 1/4 of your paycheck and put it away for rent/mortgage, give yourself a food budget for the week and stick to it (only buy what is on sale and REAL food not junk food), and put the rest into the bank.
Every Sunday go online and check the supermarket circulars for sales and print your shopping list. STICK TO IT! Best to stock up on frozen vegetables. Tortillas and bread freeze nicely too.
Condensed soup can be pretty handy in the kitchen to help make a quick meal. If it's on sale for $1 or less, buy it. I tend to buy Cream of Mushroom or Cream of Chicken to use in recipes (sometimes even using the ones on the can)
Don't feel like you are living poor or unreasonable for doing this. Look at all those celebrities and reality "Housewives" (probably your neighbors too) that are going through so much financial trouble with large credit card debt, foreclosures, and living paycheck to paycheck. It's scary!
In a world where we live with technology and everyone wants the newest gadget, you can always find online someone who is selling their old one for a cheaper price than buying it new in a store.
Do your research.
If you are a slave to fashion and must buy a new wardrobe every season, you should DEFINITELY sell your old wardrobe FIRST before buying anything new. I know some people that buy more shoes than they have feet or occasions to wear to. Crazy!
Classic looks are best. They never go out of fashion and some pieces you can keep for a long time as fashion is a cycle and will come back again.
Men's wear hasn't changed in centuries and thus they can wear a classic suit until it falls apart.
Women on the other hand are a bit more fickle. You are best to buy and wear separates and mix and match, changing it up a bit with accessories like a scarf or necklace. Costume jewelry can be just as pretty as the real thing.
If you have a bunch of friends that also have a large wardrobe and accessories that they don't really wear anymore, you can do a closet swap. Everyone meets at someone's house for say, lunch or cocktails and brings a suitcase of items they want to swap. Everyone chooses an area in the room to present their wares and you all walk about trading one item for the other. In this way, you all get new items to wear. What ever that isn't swapped or taken is then either donated to charity for a tax deduction, or sold on ebay.
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