[Stacey Daprile – Ambassador]

I hear you Antoinette! Five years ago I left a job that I loved because it simply did not pay enough, and in life – money does matter. Fortunately, I have come to love this job just as much. I admit it took some time to build the relationships that make going to work feel so good. The thing is I am a teacher, so the pay is not that phenomenal wherever I am. But one one move did give me a 30% raise.

As far as budgeting – you can budget backwards and us the 50, 20, 30 rule. 50% of take home goes to fixed costs (housing, auto, insurance), 20% goes to financial goals (retirement, savings, investments) and 30% flexible spending (eating out, entertainment, travel, and groceries). Good luck!

[Kayla Buell – Ambassador]

I’m with you on that one! I took a $15,000 pay cut last year to switch industries and although I know I made the right move for my sanity, like you said, I do need to find ways to bring in some extra cash. Having a side hustle definitely helps. Freelance writing and blogging has allowed me to make an extra few hundred dollars every month which has helped us tremendously. But as far as figuring out how much you need to make, start with your fixed costs. Which bills can’t you get rid of? Are there things you can cut? Maybe an expensive gym membership or some other luxury that you can live without for a period of time? Once you know what your fixed costs are, you need to figure out how much you spend roughly on other essentials like gas and food. That’s the minimum amount you need to make, and you shouldn’t accept any job offer where you’ll be making less than that. Best of luck lady!

[Antoinette Minor – Ambassador]

Thanks ladies! I’m glad I’m not the only one in the boat and I’ll definitely look at the tips you both gave me.