Budgeting

Saving money can feel impossible — especially with rising rent, gas, and everything else. But in just 6 months, I managed to stash away $5,000 by making small, consistent changes. Here’s exactly how I did it.

💡 Step 1: Set a Goal With a Timeline

I gave myself 6 months to save for an emergency fund. That meant I needed to save about $834/month.

📉 Step 2: Cut Fixed Costs (Without Ruining My Life)

Downgraded my phone plan: saved $30/month

Canceled unused subscriptions: saved $60/month

Moved in with a roommate: saved $300/month

Biked instead of Uber: saved $100/month

📈 Step 3: Automate & Track Everything

Set up automatic transfers on payday to my savings account

Used You Need a Budget (YNAB) to track every dollar

Got cash-back on regular purchases using Rakuten and credit card rewards

🛑 Step 4: Stop the Impulse Spending

I started using the 24-hour rule: if I wanted to buy something non-essential, I had to wait 24 hours. Half the time, I didn’t want it anymore.

Final Result:

6 months

$5,000 saved

No second job, just intentional spending and consistency