So what is the one thing you've done to improve your finances the most...

[BRPORSCHE]

Here is what I did on my meager income compared to most.

Stop drinking 5 nights a week.

Wow! did that have an IMMEDIATE change on my savings. I went from living paycheck to paycheck to taking a trip to jersey, started saving for a car, a planned trip to montreal in June for the gp, and paying for school. All on my own dime. And even with doing all of that I was able to save 35% of my income for the year of 2009.

Needless to say, I am a very proud guy.

[audiman08]

Originally Posted by BRPORSCHE

Here is what I did on my meager income compared to most.

Stop drinking 5 nights a week.

Wow! did that have an IMMEDIATE change on my savings. I went from living paycheck to paycheck to taking a trip to jersey, started saving for a car, a planned trip to montreal in June for the gp, and paying for school. All on my own dime. And even with doing all of that I was able to save 35% of my income for the year of 2009.

Needless to say, I am a very proud guy.

Congrats, I stopped drinking beer regularly too. I also stopped going to Starbucks like I used too. Come to think of it, Starbucks may have saved me more money than the beer-cut did.

[911Rob]

Drinking!!!!

I NEVER could afford that leisure

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by motion

Go big or die frustrated. Your choice. If you have to watch every nickel and can't get what you want, whether it be where you live, material items or vacations, then you must be frustrated. Very few people are happy spending all their time in a boring, stable situation whiling away their days, waiting to keel over. So don't tell me you're perfectly happy not getting what you want. I'm gonna call BS.

WOW! You sound angry that I am happy. Gee thanks. (actually you sound more frustrated than me)
If you stop being so insulted that I don't follow your way of doing things you might go back a read what I said. It has to start with how much risk you are willing to take, how much time you are willing to use chasing stuff... Financial advisors call it risk/pain threshold.
I have a blast in life. Its not like I have taken some vow of poverty. I eat very well (Ribeye 2 times this week already), drive nice cars, live in a great house. Do I have more toys than anyone? No. But I have what I need to enjoy life. Maybe you need more than me to be entertained. Maybe you need to keep busy. Maybe you are just a better man than I... In my life, contentment is better than stuff so you chase the stuff, I'll stay with where I'm at and be content. Now we're both happy.

[motion]

Joe, my post wasn't directed to you personally. Sorry if you took it that way. No frustration here

[mike monde]

Sold my Porsche....then bought another one so I guess I'm back to square one.

[lookin]

Cashflow & Budget

1. Put together a cash flow spreadsheet to see where our money was going.
2. Sat down with the wife to review our cash flow and came up with a realistic budget.

[campbellcj]

We paid-off all credit cards plus Sallie Mae.

However the one thing that improved our finances the most (over the last few years) is...making significantly more money! Foolproof solution to financial woes. Unless you're a real fool like some of these NBA/NFL "stars" who blow every penny no matter how much they make.