It is possible to make a budget work while still saving enough to retire. It starts with learning to change your habits so you can put money aside.It is not that easy to make any sort of real, lasting change in your habits. You will have a few setbacks, and that's ok.

Understanding personal finance

We have this idea that if we just make a certain amount of money, we're going to do great. But it doesn't work like that. We find ourselves always adapting our spending and lifestyle to our income.Be careful with your spending even if you suddenly have more than you need. Don't chase temporary pleasure with money. Continue to live below your means.

Train yourself not to adapt

Put 10 % away from each check you receive to create a cash buffer for emergencies. Try and increase it with time.

Save a percentage of each paycheck

When it comes to money, people will do whatever they can to get hold of your money, regardless of how it will affect you.Don't rush into any sort of decision making. Always consult a second source.

Knowledge is power

Our personal finances don't exist on their own. They are connected to the economy and government laws and regulations. It all is as much part of your finances as to how you spend and save your paycheck.Educate yourself. Call your members of Congress and let them know what you think.

Finances are bigger than your paycheck

<ol><li>Start early. The more time your money and investments have to grow before you need them, the more money you’ll have all things being equal. Every little bit counts, even to only to get into the right habits.</li><li>Put yourself in the right place geographically.</li><li>Do some side hustles. Books, freelance writing, speeches, whatever work you can get your hands on. </li><li>You cannot benefit from real estate or investments if you don't start saving early.</li></ol>

Get started

Assuming you have enough to cover the bills and aren't pulling an overdraft fee, start by automating your retirement savings. You know you need an emergency fund, so automate. Do the same with increasing your 401(k) contributions each year, or paying off your credit card debt.

Automate anything you can

There's one question I hear as a personal finance writer more than any other. It's not how to game the stock market, or become a billionaire-it's simply how to make a budget work while still saving enough to retire comfortably.

Knowledge is power

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