You CAN Live on a Thousand Dollars a Month

Are you in a financial bind?

Have you tried living on $1000 a month? With strategic planning and self-discipline, the people at GoBankingRates.com say it’s possible, and I agree!

First, assess your spending. Download bank and credit card statements from the last 90 days. Categorize your transactions and divide everything by 3. This will reveal your monthly spending for each category and identify where you can make cuts. Minimize housing costs by living with a roommate or a relative. Don’t spend more than 3 or 4 hundred dollars a month. You’ll have to forgo a car. Gas, insurance, maintenance, and repairs are very costly. Seek public transportation or work out some other means. Spend no more than $200 a month on food. That’s less than $7 a day. Skip restaurants to minimize food costs. Discover programs and apps which teach meal planning. Compile a list of low-cost meals and shop with a list of needed ingredients. Find discount grocers who sell scratch and dent items. You’ll join the ranks of people I know who went through law school and medical school eating on very strict budgets. Drop all subscriptions. Enjoy the radio, the library, free apps, and YouTube. With a goal in mind, this temporary lifestyle can be achieved.

Whether trying to pay off debt or saving for a car, a house, or marriage, learning to live on less can be done successfully. It’ll be challenging, but rewarding. Remember, with God all things are possible! 

And if you’re overwhelmed with credit card debt, Christian Credit Counselors can create a debt management plan specifically for you. For more information call the Crown Helpline: 800-722-1976 or visit online at crown.org/ccc.