The mentality in America today is “bigger is better.” “The more it costs, the more it’s worth.” “Get it now and pay later.” These ideas just aren’t smart. Our government is a prime example with our national debt at an all-time high that no one can pay.

Living frugally does not mean choosing poverty and it certainly does not mean giving up quality. Many millionaires are not millionaires because they became famous or because they inherited money. They are self-made millionaires who worked hard, made sacrifices, and chose to spend their money wisely. I’m not saying that all of us who work hard, make sacrifices, and spend our money wisely will become millionaires, but we can certainly live much more comfortably and carefree under the stress of owing someone else our paycheck.

Here are some things you can do to stretch that paycheck:

1. Pay in cash. If you can’t pay cash don’t buy it. Stop using those credit cards. Credit cards are a trap. The only way you should use a credit card is if you pay it off in full each month. Otherwise, cut it out! Charging something onto a credit card and then paying for it over time ends up costing you double, sometimes even triple, the original cost of the item. It would be better to save a couple of months and pay cash, then load it up and try to pay off the credit card. Interest devours you.

2. Eat at home. Pack your lunch and take it to work. Eating lunch every day costs between $10 and $15 per day. If you pack your lunch, you bring that cost down to around $2-$3 per lunch or even less if you throw leftovers at home. That’s a savings of $160-$240 per month. Not to mention if you cut back on eating out for dinner and eat at home as a family. That’s additional savings on top of the $200/mo.

3. Make your budget. Budget your income at the beginning of each month. Allocate a fixed part of your income to your main expenses in advance. This will help ensure that you don’t waste money. (The main expenses are: rent/mortgage, utilities, food, car payment, gas, insurance, savings, miscellaneous). This helps you know what goes where and how much you have left after you pay it all off so you don’t overspend.

4. Buy used or new at a discount. You can get almost anything you need, whether used or new at a discount. You just have to know where to look. Don’t pay full price for anything. Big Lot’s, Ross Dress for Less, Nike Outlet, The Dump, etc. These are just examples of stores where you can get new items at a discount. These stores also have sales and coupons on new, discounted items. Garage sales, furniture rental centers, thrift stores, and today, the Internet is a wonderful resource. eBay is a great tool for new and used items. You’ll be surprised at what you’ll find and how inexpensive it is once you start looking. No one will know the difference. You will get addicted!