Out of Money by Mid-Month

Strictly speaking, money isn't what keeps us alive. Humans got by for a very long time without it. But when you're out of money by mid-month, it becomes a real problem.

It's paper, or metal, to which we humans assign a value. If I can't or don't want to go hunting myself but still want to eat meat, I have to hire someone else, who wants something in return. A nice haircut, for example. Since I can't do that either, I hand over a piece of paper that we both agree has value. So if you're out of money by mid-month, you could lower your expectations. Over time, that gives you back a wonderful feeling of freedom. You're not a slave to consumption, but master of your own wants.

What to do when you're out of money by mid-month?

That's true up to a point. In winter you need a warm home,
and hot water isn't something to sneer at either. And you don't own any land. So you have to buy the roof over your head, or at least the building materials for it. Since your job doesn't cover that, but you don't want to do anything illegal either, you rent an apartment. The landlord wants money. Because so many other temptations are lurking, you're out of money by mid-month. How about picking up "don't needs" instead of "must-haves"? That saves you the frustration of bad purchases and installment payments, you pile up less clutter, and you gain more time and more freedom. When the ads hammer at you to buy that super electric knife right now, remember that it's simpler to cut with a regular knife or to just buy the food already sliced!

STEP BY STEP, DO MORE WITH LESS

If your debts are so high that you're out of money by mid-month, make an
appointment with a debt counselor right away.
Find out whether you qualify for rent assistance.
Apply for an exemption from the broadcasting fee (in Germany).
Review your cell phone contract; a prepaid phone could also be an option.
Before you spend a long time on the phone, agree on a personal meeting spot and talk things over on healthy walks.
Consider whether sharing a place with good friends, splitting the fixed costs, might work for you.
A good partnership lives more cheaply in ONE home than two single households do.

SAVING TIPS TO GET STARTED AND BEYOND

If you're out of money by mid-month, try the following:

Buy perishable goods at a discount shortly before the store closes!

If your cookbook tells you to preheat the oven, ignore that instruction.
Bake without preheating!

Don't leave your computer, TV or radio on standby. Pull the plug!

Don't watch movies in bed! When you get tired, switch it off! Not just with the remote, but completely!

If you're out of money by mid-month, hold your own garage sale in your apartment.

Write down all your expenses in a wall or desk calendar.

Print out your bank statements at the ATM or bank (and make a walk of it).