Survive with a single income
In the current economic situation, we are in today, one is lucky to have a job. When you are the only one working in your family and you have to cater to your family’s needs it is stressful and brings a lot of panics.
To curb the stress, you need to sit down as a family and discuss the way to go with the little that you are earning. The best way to go about it is by frugal living. This means you need to talk and decide on shopping, mortgage, car payment, school fees, vacations and eating out. Have a budget and stick to it. You can go for discount shopping and also bargaining. Cut some expenses such as coffee, commuting and work clothes. In advance cases, monitor every spending to ensure you don’t pass your limit.
Keeping debt at a minimum
keeping debt at the minimum is another tip for surviving on a single income. Negotiate with your credit card providers to consider lowering their Rates. You need to pay cash on most of your transactions or use a debit card. Have a credit card linked to your bank since you will be able to pay your debts in time as you receive your money or salary through the bank. Having your money linked to the bank will help you have a lower propensity to spend it.
keeping your budget at its minimum means you should go for healthy meals prepared at home than going for takeaways. meals prepared at home can be less costly and still the leftovers can be kept for the next meal. When you shop, go to a less expensive store and don’t buy anything that you don’t need. A shopping list will help you buy what you can afford and needed.
If you have a house with a backyard you can go for kitchen gardening. This will help you cut the cost of buying fruits and vegetables which takes much of the kitchen budget for one income family.
Honestly it’s difficult to survive especially with the extended African family . Worst still, when the salary isn’t substantial.
Doing your own business is the key