This piece is part of my 2016–2026 archive migration. Some original formatting, content, and external links may be missing, changed, or not be optimized.
It’s only temporary; it doesn’t even have to be painful
By doing this, you will be able to pay down more debt, invest more of your resources, build a more robust emergency fund, avoid living paycheck to paycheck, and catch up on any bills you’re behind on paying.
Sometimes, increasing our income by getting a raise or starting a business can take time.
What you can do now to get the same result is to slash your expenses for a temporary timeframe.
After performing this exercise, you might want to permanently cut some expenses out of your budget or arrange a new living or transportation situation.
Sometimes, the savings are so dramatic that you don’t want to return to your old lifestyle.
How To Cut Costs Seasonally
Stop eating out. Every year I detox from eating out for weeks to months at a time. Of course, my health dramatically elevates, but my dining out budget drops to zero, opening up more availability to save and invest.
Pause the shopping. There is always a deal, a sale, or some new flashy item to buy, which means if you don’t buy it now, it will still be there in the future – something even better, more than likely. The unplanned shopping trips add up. Take a break from the shopping and pad your pockets.
Cut your subscription costs. Are there any subscriptions you’re paying for every month that you rarely use?
Cut your food budget. A good friend of mine found a way to get healthy pre-made meals for every day of the week for only $30–$40…what a steal!
Move in with family for a short period. Not only can you help contribute to their housing costs and save them some money, but you can also spend more time together, make new memories, and dramatically slash your expenses.
Post-pone the car purchase. If you need a new car immediately, you might be able to catch rides with friends and family, utilize public transportation, or take Uber and Lyft, so you don’t have to obtain a monthly car payment.
Post-pone moving into the new place. Stay with family or friends and save on your housing costs by delaying your move.
Cut out any fees. Fees from our bank accounts, subscriptions, late fees, administrative fees, etc., add up. Find a way to get rid of as many as you can. Those little dollars add up to big dollars over time.
This content is for informational purposes only — not professional advice. Consult a qualified professional before making any major decisions.