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It seems like the modern world is very focused on everyone scrambling to try to get good jobs. All you see online are either complaints from people who don’t make enough or posts from people celebrating how awesome their jobs are.
Here’s the thing, though: You don’t need the best job in the world to have a good time. There’s no need to feel like you’re missing out just because you don’t have a ton of money in the bank or the nicest house. Here are a few ways you can live your best life on your current budget.
The first and best tip for anyone looking to make the most of a limited budget is to stop buying brand-new items. Most new consumer goods (with a few exceptions) aren’t worth buying off-the-shelf when secondhand versions exist. Take cars as an example. What is the purpose of buying a new car? Used cars can also get you from place to place.
New cars cost significantly more than even used cars from just a few years ago. And, as soon as you drive a new car off the lot, it loses a huge portion of its resale value. So, if they’re not an investment, and they’re not materially any different from used cars that cost a fraction of the price, what’s the purpose of a new car?
The same goes for fashion. You can hit up any thrift store in town and find perfectly good clothing that will fit you just as well as something off the rack at a clothing outlet. The only difference is you’ll pay a fraction of the money at a thrift store than you would at an outlet store.
Seriously, think about it for a second: why are you feeling pressured to spend more money on functionally identical items? You can have just as good of a time shopping and trying on new clothes at a thrift store as you could at any other shop.
Do you want to have a fun night out with friends? Make sure you hit the bar at happy hour and get the drink specials to keep your costs down. Do you want to go on a movie date with your significant other? Skip the concession stand, you don’t need a ten-dollar tub of popcorn.
You can have a great time without spending a dime, too. Walks in the park, visits to the library, and even some museums are completely free. So, don’t change your life, change your thinking: no matter how much money you make, there is joy and fun to be had out there in the world.
