Spending Less Than You Earn

If we want to live on less than we make and learn to save money it is imperative to develop attitudes that support such a lifestyle. Affirmations have proven to be one of the most effective tools to help us shape our attitudes and they can help us once again in this case.

Remember that you can always reword what I suggest to make your affirmations work better for you. Review the principles for writing affirmations we discussed in the article, Learn to Write Powerful Affirmations, if you want a little direction for that purpose.

Now I would like to recommend a couple of affirmations for you to try that should help with your spend less, save more attitude.

First try this one: “Because I spend less than I make, I always have money left over at the end of the month.” Repeat this every day for a month, then review weekly for a least six months.

If you have been following a basic plan to separate your available money into manageable accounts of some kind you will have your flexible spending money in one or more clearly observable accounts. In my article The Ultimate Secret to Controlling Your Money I explore in more detail this important element of money management.

Using this affirmation often, you will soon begin to think more consciously about how much is available for spending, especially as you near the end of the month. Almost unconsciously you will probably note that you have a growing cushion left at the end of the month in your flexible spending account.

At the end of the month you will relish depositing it into your growing savings account. As that savings grows from almost nothing to $100.00 to $200.00 to $500.00 you will gain in enthusiasm about your achievement in this area.

Follow the same approach with this affirmation: “Every month I put ten (or fifteen...) percent of my income into my permanent savings account.”

Remember, for affirmations to work we don't say them without a mindset for action. Always remind yourself that this accurately describes the real person that you are becoming. And keep taking steps to move more forcefully in this direction.

If you have not been saving at all previously you may want to start with a smaller amount than your ultimate goal. But begin now and grow into the full amount you know you need for your permanent savings (retirement or “financial freedom”) account.

Here is one of my favorite plans. Start with any amount that you know you can maintain, setting aside a set amount each payday. Then increase the amount you are saving by one percent every month or two until you reach your savings rate goal.