Are you tired of being broke? Struggling to get out of poverty as a working-class citizen? Well, you are not alone and poorness is not only for the non-working. A whole lot number of people work and earn a good enough salary but they are still very poor and poorer than the ones who earn 10 times less than they are. You are poor when you are living from paycheck to paycheck and that might be due to a lack of knowing how to handle money. Our bad money habits which are mostly self-sabotage cost us daily financial struggles and keep us broke. Read on to see what changes you can make and which habits keep you broke. Here are some of the habits to ditch,

1.SPENDING MORE THAN WHAT YOU EARN
No 1 lifestyle that needs to go, with this kind of lifestyle there’s certainly no savings or a single investment that will be done. It is living beyond your means and you will find yourself in serious debt trouble. First in line habit that you need to kick and the first & only thing to be done is to cut your spending and budget effectively. If you don’t have an idea on how to draw a budget, Read about it here for some guidance 

2. NOT HAVING EMERGENCY FUND
A no emergency fund situation is the end result of spending more than what you earn. It is called an emergency because it pops up anytime unexpectedly so and we cannot avoid it. It leads to an unexpected expense, more debts, and financial ruin. During an emergency, you will have no other choice but to borrow money from either the bank, family, friends or colleagues. Believe me when I say R5 A day will make A huge difference. I am doing it. Do not stress about saving huge amounts on a monthly but if you can do better, why not?

3. EMOTIONAL BUYING
My fellow ladies will know exactly what I am talking about. Listen up, no amount of spending money will fill the emptiness or the loneliness. No amount of unnecessary spending will mend your broken heart or fix your problems. Challenges need you to put on your boxing gloves and fight back not give away your hard-earned cash. Are you being smart by buying things that you probably may never ever use? Where is the sense of being money savvy in that? ha-ha Unless you are spending your “free” blesser money. Hey!! Why don’t you take some of that “free” money and save it? 

4. NOT HAVING FINANCIAL GOALS
No goals will never push you to have financial plans. If one has a goal then one will make plans to achieve one’s goals, simple! This simple rule applies not only with finances but in all areas of our lives, to achieve your goals you put a plan in place. 

5. NOT CHOOSING HOW YOU SPEND YOUR MONEY
If you don’t make a choice on how you spend your money chances are you will make the wrong choice on the spot. Having a choice shows you have a strict and effective budget, a goal with a plan in place and you know what your money should do for you by choosing greater results not convenience. If you have no choice other people will help you choose for their own convenience without you even realizing it. Having a choice will stop you from reckless spending. Having a choice will guide your actions towards the right mindful direction.

6. NOT HAVING A SHOPPING LIST
Freely taking anything on the shelf with no shopping list is for people with no financial issues and a whole lot of money invested, great savings and even better emergency funds. When you don’t have a list you are shooting yourself in the foot if you are a paycheck to a paycheck victim. Chances are you will buy for convenience rather than an essential need. When you make a list you would list all the important necessities and when you don’t you’re likely to buy what you see, what you crave for the moment and leave behind the necessities. A list will consciously allow you to shop according to your budget. A list is a perfect reminder that you have no money to waste.

7. CHANGE OF LIFESTYLE AFTER INCREMENT
An increase on your income does not mean to go for a better car or more fast food or higher bond/rental to pay. We need to break this vicious cycle and take it as an opportunity to pay off any debt and start savings & investments. If you had already been in the process of breaking these habits, focus on those efforts and your goals. Do not go astray.

8. UNNECESSARY DEBT
Yes, there is unnecessary debt that people create on a daily basis because they are looking for convenience. Cut your credit cards and clothing accounts card and start paying them off without adding on to the debt, you are paying too much interest on these accounts. The interest you pay is the money you should save. Start buying with what you have and that will make you buy necessary clothing that you actually need and use with the actual price no interest. They might look convenient but they are part of your poverty state.

A journey to financial freedom is not easy but necessary for comfortable to a wealthy life. Start assessing your finances and keep a record of what you spend your money on. Forget about the now instant convenience and focus on lifelong convenience. Fine-tune your mindset and set the right priorities, look into the above mentioned bad habits. If you have ample time start a way of getting cash flow.

**BEING BROKE ALL THE TIME IS SIMILAR TO BEING POOR**