15 Things You Can Do TODAY to Stop Relying on a Job You Hate

Kraig | March 23, 2015 | 65 Comments · Doing What You Love

I had a conversation with a friend the other day, whom we'll call Jake. He makes a good living working for a marketing company in their account management department. He's miserable there, but relies on the paycheck to stay afloat financially. He's fiercely looking for jobs elsewhere, but has both a lack of confidence and a lack of motivation to find/land one.

15 Things You Can Do Today to Stop Relying on a Job You Hate

This wouldn't be so tragic if I didn't end it by saying that Jake has been in this situation and very miserable in it for several years. We're talking about over 10% of his life so far here. To top it off, his attitude both inside and outside of work are getting worse by the month and it's affecting his entire life.

Unfortunately, Jake is not alone in his situation. I know many people who have gone through this same thing, me included, and even more who are going through it right now. The quick answer on what to do about it is to say, "Work on your resume and send it to more firms". I say, "Forget that. There's a better way."

It's Time to STOP Relying on a Job You Hate to Keep You Afloat

What we all need to do, starting RIGHT NOW, is to decrease our reliance on any one job (or any single client, if we're business owners). If we are currently placing all our financial reliance on one employer or one client, we're being just plain stupid.

Do you really want one company to dictate how you live your life? Did you really mean to set yourself up to be so dependent on your job that if you can't find another one right away, you'll be forced to stay in a place you hate for months or (gasp) even years?

Of course you didn't mean to do that. That sounds like a terrible way to live your life. If a job sucks, you should be able to leave it. If a client is horrible to work with, you should be able walk away from them. So, you're not there yet? No problem, because starting TODAY, you're going to change things to enable you to get there.

How to TAKE ACTION and STOP RELYING on a Job You Hate

Let's talk action steps. Let's talk specific steps you can take in the next few months to set yourself up to not need to stay in a job that's ripping your soul apart or with a client that's not good for your business or your life. Here they are:

Start looking at money as time, freedom and possibility - We're taught to see money as a way to buy things. That's how broke, unhappy and stuck people think about money. If we want independence, we need to view money in a smart way. Money buys us time, it buys us freedom and buys us possibilities. If we want to spend time raising our children, growing a garden, traveling across the country in an RV, taking care of sick family members or volunteering, we need to pay for that and money is the currency. Money buys us the ability to spend our time and our life however we want to.
Start to despise material possessions - If money buys the ability to spend our time however we want to, then every material thing we buy takes away the ability for us to do just that. If we buy a new designer purse or car stereo for $500 and we make $500 a week from our job, we just paid one week of commuting in rush hour traffic, one week of "looking busy", one week of 30 minute lunch breaks and one week of negative office politics in order to now possess that material good. If you don't yet realize that you're trading your life for those material goods every time you buy them, then NOW is the time to change your mindset. Material goods are the enemy. They take us away from living the life we want, not the other way around.
Decide what’s more important (money or time) - When it comes to priority, many people prioritize more money as more important than more time. An example is picking up a second job to make more money, but giving up your nights and weekends. Another example is switching jobs to pick up more hours and more pay. Always being willing to trade more of your time for more money is a never-ending rat race. There IS a point at which enough money is enough. At that point, we should prioritize time above all else. Having time is MUCH MORE IMPORTANT than having money.
Start thinking in terms of how much YOU need, not how much others need - If we look at our lives, we will likely see that we don't need as much money as we think we do. Does it really take $60k per year to live? I think you'll find that no, it doesn't. I live on less than $25,000 per year. I bet you can live on much less than you think. So, why do you need more money? What's it going to get you if you're just spending everything you make? More headaches is what it will bring you.
Start discovering your self worth outside of your job title or salary - It seems our world is trained to always ask "where do you work?" or "what do you do?" within two minutes of meeting someone new. We're proud when we can say we work for General Motors or Target or 3M, and definitely love saying we're the VP of Sticky Tape Distribution. It's not surprising that we have begun to base our self worth on our position and the company we work for. That's old school and not a good way to do things anymore. We aren't where we work. We are much more than that. We need to start basing our value on who we are, what we care about and what we're doing to make this world a better place.
Start looking at housing as an expense - Here's the thing. We pay for the food we eat and the clothes on our back. Why do we think we can get a roof over our head for free? We can't so we need to stop thinking that way. A roof over our head is something we need to pay for. Regardless of whether we buy or rent that set of walls and roof, it will cost us money. The question is, how much do you want to pay for it? Living in a small space such as an apartment or condo will decrease that amount we pay for it. Renting or buying a 4+ bedroom house out in the suburbs will cost us more. See how this works? It's a decision of how much you want to pay. Based on the points made above, I want to pay a modest amount. I don't want to give up all my money to live in ridiculous luxury and perhaps you don't either so make a conscious decision of how much you are willing to spend for your walls and roof.
Start looking at cars only as a way to get from point A to point B safely - In our society, we're tempted to want to fit in so, like our job titles, we want to look good driving an attractive car. Again, a car is an expense. It's something to take you from point A to point B and that doesn't come free. Unfortunately, the price we all pay to get from point A to point B is drastically different, depending on how much approval we require from others. If we already feel good about ourselves and our value in this world, we'll likely buy a used car in cash. If we don't feel confident in ourselves and want approval and acceptance from others, we may go buy a brand new or almost-new car. Unfortunately, buying a new car will trap us in many cases as we will immediately start bleeding hundreds of dollars per month from all of our pores. Please buy a used car in cash instead of borrowing for a new car. If you've got a newish car dropping in value like a rock, please sell it. You'll still be as valuable of a person without that flashy ride, trust me.
Decide to eat better and for less by doing it at home - Eating out is both hard on your health and your wallet. Got a little extra cushion around the middle like I do? Eating out is just going to make that worse. Not enough money in the bank? Eating out may be the culprit. Starting eating in a way that improves your life two fold, both physically and financially. Take the step of committing to eat at home, going out to eat ONLY on VERY SPECIAL occasions. You will make serious progress fast, because this will make a big difference.
Trade in paid entertainment for free entertainment - Take a look outside today. Is it nice enough to go for a walk or bike ride or have a picnic? This time of year, it probably is. Commit to getting out there more often and taking advantage of timeless inventions that are collecting dust in your garage, like walking shoes, your bicycle, tennis rackets and your backyard grill. This stuff is all free. No, it doesn't cost $25, like going to a movie does, or to the amusement park, or to the mini-golf course, or to the gym. Trade in all that paid stuff you do for a whole lot more free stuff and see your life improve by it.
Start treating every expense as a piece of your life (because it is) - Remember, every time you spend money, you are trading a piece of your life for whatever that dollar is buying (because you gave up a piece of your life to get that money in the first place). So from now on, treat every expense as a piece of your life and SPEND EXTREMELY CAREFULLY. Do not trade your money for things that aren't worth your life, because if you do, you are getting ripped off and no it isn't anyone's fault but your own.
Think multiple income sources - Having a single source of income may have made sense back in our parents' or grandparents' generation, but it doesn't anymore. Employers no longer keep people for 40 years. Pensions are gone. Entire career fields come and go quickly. Technology is changing rapidly. Companies are going bankrupt left and right. Having one source of income just doesn't make sense. In fact, it's down right risky. Start building up a second income source, and then a third and so on. According to Robert Kiyosaki in his best selling book, Rich Dad Poor Dad, there are four quadrants where you can earn income from: Employment, Self-Employment, Big Business, Investments. Make it a point to build up additional sources of income from any of these quadrants. More is better than one. That way if one fails, you have others in place as backup.
Think ownership of what you’re creating - The employee quadrant is the only quadrant where you will never own the work you do. Whether you build a house, create a database or software application, write a book or invent the next tech gadget, you DO NOT own it at the end of the day. You agreed to settle and ONLY ACCEPT money as your payment. I believe that's a bad idea. Working in any of the other quadrants allows you to own what you create. If you're self employed, you own what you create. As a big business owner, you own what your employees create. As an investor, you own what you invest in. As an employee, you own nothing. Bad idea. Think ownership.
Think lower taxes - Again, an employee is the worst position to be in when it comes to taxes. W2 income is the most heavily taxed form of income in the U.S. Ever hear people complaining that the rich don't pay enough in taxes? How can they get away with that? Because they don't have jobs. They earn their income in the form of dividends and capital gains. Then, how do they get to take so many vacations and buy such nice things? Because they can write them off as business expenses. Here's how Robert Kiyosaki says it in Rich Dad Poor Dad: Employees earn.. then they pay taxes on those earnings and then they spend what's left. Business owners earn, then they spend and FINALLY, they pay taxes on what's left over. How is this possible? That's how the tax code is set up. Those of us who choose to ignore it and settle for being employees get stuck with paying all the taxes. Instead of complaining about it, I believe it's time to wake up, become business owners and start taking advantage of the system already in place that favors business owners.
Think of work you care about - How productive are you when you work on things you don't care about? Not very, I bet. How productive are you in a negative office environment? Not very? Well then how much more productive do you think you'd be if you loved your environment and the work you did? Much more! So yes, to maximize your earning potential, find work you care about so you can then give it all you've got. It just makes a heck of a lot more sense. Commit to not settling and go out and find what it is you really care about and find a way to make a living doing it.
Think of how to get started right away - We should all get started right away. Life is too short to be putting things off for months or years. Think of how you can get started on a better career path right now. What can you do to find work you care about? What can you do to meet people who are already in that space? What can you do to get experience in that area? What can you do TODAY to get started?

Regardless of where you're at today in these areas, remember to start now and get serious. Our lives are passing us by and it's never worth it to spend years not taking action just because we're afraid or unprepared. Hit me up if you'd like to chat or brainstorm ways to start making some of this happen in your life.

#Why Having a Job is Riskier than Self Employment #How to Not Rely on a Single Income Source #How to Not Have to Rely on a Job #How to Diversify Your Income #How to Create Multiple Income Sources #Having Only One Source of Income is Risky

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65 Comments

Michelle says:
May 12, 2014 at 2:09 AM
Love this post! I am so happy that I was able to leave my day job last year and do something that I actually enjoy instead. One thing on your list that we are really changing in our lives right now is changing paid entertainment for free entertainment. We go on fun bike rides, walks on trails, and hike all the time now - and we both love it!
- Kraig @ Young Cheap Living says:
  May 12, 2014 at 7:01 PM
  Michelle, Yes, you've done big things over there throughout the past few years and last year in particular. Nice job on that! Glad to hear you're enjoying your work more now. Oh yes, isn't it crazy how free entertainment is usually MORE FUN than paid entertainment? That's one thing I've figured out and it's always great to hear yours and others thoughts on it. Have a great week!
- joe says:
  November 22, 2015 at 8:27 AM
  Hi how did you start?
- Rosa says:
  November 7, 2016 at 11:22 PM
  Fantastic article. Currently I'm in the car trap now which has literally set me back I can barely afford to eat. I feel like I'm in a nightmare that I repeat everyday I go to work.
Wade says:
May 12, 2014 at 9:39 AM
Fantastic list Kraig. These things on your list is where I am focusing most of my free time. Getting rid of stuff, cutting expenses, doing "free" things for entertainment. I have a lot of ideas about ways to make money outside of my "day job". Turing those ideas into $ is the most challenging part. Excellent work, keep sprinting forward.
- Kraig @ Young Cheap Living says:
  May 12, 2014 at 6:58 PM
  Wade, Great to hear from you, my friend. Hope all is well in Fargo. You know, doing free things outside is sure easier when it's not raining and storming outside every day :). Would love to hear some of those ideas you have. Perhaps we should chat sometime? Talk to you soon,
Sam at Personal Capital says:
May 12, 2014 at 6:54 PM
Kraig, what percentage of your demographic do you think HATES their job?
- Kraig @ Young Cheap Living says:
  May 12, 2014 at 6:57 PM
  25% perhaps?
  - Mike says:
    May 12, 2014 at 10:50 PM
    I think you're being too optimistic. I'd say at least 50%. I've noticed that a lot of people complain about their job to no end, but claim to enjoy it. I'm not sure how one comes to that conclusion, but they do. Crazies.
    - Kraig @ Young Cheap Living says:
      May 14, 2014 at 12:34 PM
      Mike, Yes, I think you may be right. It's probably quite a bit higher than we'd think. Take care,
  - Vinny's House of Pizza says:
    September 20, 2016 at 10:08 PM
    Try like 7 or 8 in 10. Americans are MISERABLE at work. Our country's major promise: the "dream" is over. I was one of the people you write about Kraig. Pissed. Exhausted. Physically and mentally sick everyday. So, I walked out, started a business and never looked back. Over 3 years we went from earning $25 on one side job to recently being accredited by the BBB (which is by invite only). It was a long road but our financial needs are met and more. If you count all the schooling and time invested in learning how to do what I do, it took 20 years. Overnight success.... just like that. Hahaha. The best 2 things you said IMO were to look at cars as means of transportation not status symbols. I had the exact thought today as I glanced behind me at a 20 something young woman in a BMW. It was the very modest baseline model, probably pure factory specs with no add-ons. But hey, you gotta keep up appearances right? I bet at least 20% of her monthly pay after taxes goes to the payment. Nevermind insurance, fuel, maintenence etc. I always giggle at the suckers who buy that little flashy Mercedes star-wheel symbol for $80000. Theyll insist they're buying quality. They're not engineers or mechanics. They don't know and if they research it they dont understand what they read. They buy the flash so they can impress each other and have something to discuss at parties. The other thing was looking at material things as pointless. They are. You can own a $20M home filled with the finest silks, lavish furniture and all the best technology on earth. At the end of the day you can only sit in one chair at a time. Spot on Kraig. Keep em coming. The new america is one, hopefully, that will be less naively, foolishly, absurdly, sadly materialistic than the greedy and hypocritical baby boomers.
K. Smith says:
May 13, 2014 at 10:39 AM
" It seems our world is trained to always ask “where do you work?” or “what do you do?” within two minutes of meeting someone new. " ^^^^^^omg, you have no idea how much this used to igg me. The only reason it doesn't as much anymore is b/c I'm older and simply don't have the energy to be irritated by everything. In retrospect, I was being presumptive in assuming WHY someone might want to know.....but to me if you said you were something desirable like doctor, lawyer, executive etc than people immediately start kissing your ass. If it wasn't something they wanted to hear, then it's like "Oh". It's just a barometer used by shallow people to a) estimate how much money you make, and b) see if you're somehow useful for them to know. I dont hate anyone who asks me that, but I don't like to be asked that within five seconds.... (However I guess this is where I need to work on my diplomacy skills, which would serve me better in the long run) Since I don't dislike my job, my ideal situation would be working 2-3 days/week, and doing my own thing with the rest of my time. Just the same though, it's about being able to make that choice for yourself. All the bullets are spot on. I like nice things but.....as you get older and start thinking of the cost in terms of "chunk of your life", it's not worth it. And besides, nice things last a long time; you really only need a few of them to last you the rest of your life. I get three days off, this week I've been working hard at home, getting real about this at home thing.....it's no game. I don't know how many people hate their life, since hate is a strong word. But id say 75% of Americans are tired as hell of going to work everyday and of wondering where the last ten years went. They wish they had what it takes to be their own master; thats just a natural inclination, no??
- Kraig @ Young Cheap Living says:
  May 14, 2014 at 12:33 PM
  K, Yes, it urks me too. "Hi, I'm Kraig". "Oh, Hi Kraig. So, what do you do?" Haha. Why does this bother me? Not sure. People always say I'm nuts for not liking that. It was ll fine and dandy with the job and all, but now that I'm in start-up uncertainly land, it's harder. I know I'm going to be successful, but I hate the fact that others don't think that same thing. Oh well. It is what it is. Have a great day and thanks so much for stopping by!
Ashley says:
May 13, 2014 at 10:46 AM
LOVE trading paid entertainment for free! You really can do so much stuff for free. We love just taking walks for entertainment. Good exercise and its fun!
- Kraig @ Young Cheap Living says:
  May 14, 2014 at 12:31 PM
  Ashley, I'm about to head out on some middle of the day free entertainment as I write this. It's sunny outside and the birds are chirping and I feel a walk or a bike ride coming on. Keep posting those pictures on your site of all the pretty sites in Rochester this spring. Really makes your blog light up. Talk to you soon!
Dividend Mantra says:
May 13, 2014 at 4:17 PM
Kraig, Great list here! Free entertainment is a great one. I often spend less than $10/month on entertainment - and this is usually Redbox rentals. And I finished my last day today. I hope to NEVER have to work at a job I hate again. It was tolerable up until recently, but I could no longer be a part of something that was so negative. Especially when I'm such an optimistic person. I'm very excited about new challenges and opportunities as I grow as a person. I hope we get to hang out again sometime! Best wishes.
- Kraig @ Young Cheap Living says:
  May 14, 2014 at 12:30 PM
  Jason, Wow, $10/month on entertainment is impressive. I'm about ten times that and I feel like that's doing well. I'm really excited about your journey ahead. It's going to be a really great summer for you, I can see it already. I hope you never have to work at a job you hate ever again either. I know it wasn't all bad, but sometimes it just gets impossible to handle. I've been there too. Talk to you soon and yes, we have to hang out again. I say what better time to do it than this summer?
- Bex says:
  May 29, 2014 at 3:50 PM
  Congrats on leaving that sucky job! I can't wait to do the same.
  - Kraig @ Young Cheap Living says:
    June 10, 2014 at 8:29 PM
    Thanks, Bex. I can't wait until you do the same too!
Free To Pursue says:
May 14, 2014 at 12:11 PM
Yes, yes and...YES! Your list is bang on. What a great post. One has to create options, create a strong sense of self outside work and be less financially and otherwise dependent on an employer (if you have to have one at all). Wonderful post Kraig.
- Kraig @ Young Cheap Living says:
  May 14, 2014 at 12:28 PM
  FTP, Thanks for that. Yes, we all need to create this independence from any one person or company. I mean, who wants to live that way? Not I. Have a great day!
Dee @ Color Me Frugal says:
May 14, 2014 at 12:11 PM
I really hate it when people ask what you do within 2 seconds of meeting you. I started telling people that I'm a Special Olympics bowling coach (which is true- I used to volunteer to do this for a long time. I got paid zip, but it was true). But it just super irritated me that somehow my worth would be judged by where I work. That's one of the most insignificant things about me in my opinion!
- Kraig @ Young Cheap Living says:
  May 14, 2014 at 12:27 PM
  Dee, We are on the same page, my friend. I hate it too and I think I just figured out why. Yes, it feels like they are judging me or at least looking for a way to see how much I make or how important I am. Sure, it was fine when I was COO of an internet marketing agency, but now that I'm bootstrapping my own business, I'm not such a fan of it. Ninety-nine percent of all businesses fail, right? Case and point. I feel like they are thinking I will fail.
  - Chris says:
    June 11, 2014 at 11:55 PM
    I don't know Kraig...you are a writer, blogger, investor, self employed business owner, a consultant, financial coach, What have I left out? Sounds impressive to me! It takes major gonads to go off on your own. You should be super-dee-duper proud!
    - Kraig @ Young Cheap Living says:
      June 12, 2014 at 8:56 AM
      Chris, It's awesome to have you back in the conversation here! Hope you have been well. I really appreciate the encouraging comment. You're right, I do have a few things going that I should be proud of. Thanks so much for helping me see them. Talk to you soon, my friend.
- amina49 says:
  August 29, 2015 at 10:17 PM
  What are you suppose to tell people when the longest job I had was a prostitute? Now I am on welfare with a very low income. I go to the library,knit and crochet and watch free tv-an analog tv with a converter box. I get most of my clothes and household stuff at thrift stores. I get most of my yarn at thrift stores. I go to dollar stores for soap toothpaste shampoo detergent etc. I have always valued my free time. Much more important than giving up all those hours for a job I hate. Also, I live in a studio apartment and I'm very happoy there.
Stefanie @ The Broke and Beautiful Life says:
May 14, 2014 at 6:42 PM
As a professional actress, a LOT of this resonates. Particularly #5, finding self worth outside your job title.
- Kraig @ Young Cheap Living says:
  May 18, 2014 at 10:12 AM
  Stefanie, I struggled with this a lot at first and still do somewhat. When people ask me what I do, I struggle to explain it in a way that I feel makes sense to them. If I feel it doesn't make sense to them, then I feel less important as a person. I know it's something I need to work on. Having a title like, VP of Corporate Mergers, is certainly well known among others and easy to explain, as it working for a large, well known company. Thanks for stopping by and take care,
debt debs says:
May 14, 2014 at 8:04 PM
I think people asking what you do is just small talk, kinda like the weather, but is has also always irked me. Living moment to moment is a good way to deal with a job you're not thrilled with but can't afford to quit.
- Kraig @ Young Cheap Living says:
  May 18, 2014 at 10:13 AM
  debt debts, Yes, I think it's small talk as well. I just believe it's something that's easier when you're taking the "normal route" and more difficult if what you're doing isn't mainstream. Have a great Sunday!
Mike says:
May 15, 2014 at 11:01 AM
Great post, Kraig! I particularly liked points 10 and 11. It's easy to undervalue each dollar we make day to day when we lose sight of the bigger picture, which for me, is becoming financially free. The idea of multiple sources of income is relatively new to me. I guess it's because I've been encouraged to take what we can get from a job rather than taking action to earn from whatever sources work for me and my family. As someone who's grown up in the system his whole life, I'm finding it difficult to escape the gravitational pull of the job-employee system. Each day I read about alternative mindsets and experiences, and I'm better off for it. Thanks again!
- Kraig @ Young Cheap Living says:
  May 18, 2014 at 10:16 AM
  Hi Mike, Thanks for reading and for voicing your comments. Money sure is easy to spend without thinking about what it really is, a piece of our life. You're not alone in finding it difficult to escape the gravitational pull of the "job" system. I struggle with it and I hear many others do too. It's what were are taught out there in society practically from birth. I do believe thinking multiple sources of income is a better plan. Thanks for stopping by,
Average Investor says:
May 15, 2014 at 8:07 PM
#15 is so true. Young people have the advantage of TIME on their hands :)
- Kraig @ Young Cheap Living says:
  May 18, 2014 at 10:18 AM
  Average Investor, Thanks for stopping by. Yes, I think it may push us along if we had a countdown clock turned on for our lives, that told us how much less time we have left every single day. We need something to push us into action. Going another 5-10 years without taking action to make our best life a reality is just sad. We need to do things NOW. Thanks for stopping by,
Justin Brideson says:
May 15, 2014 at 11:57 PM
This post certainly made me think about my own business and employment choices and whether they were the best ones for me right now. What we did years ago might not work for us today. I am trying to get additional training so more job opportunities open up for me. You've definitely given me a few things to consider.
- Kraig @ Young Cheap Living says:
  May 18, 2014 at 10:21 AM
  Justin, Thanks for reading. I'm happy to hear this post sparked some positive thought. It may seem negative, but it's really a good thing to be questioning the status quo and considering making some changes that will lead to a better future. Glad to have been of help and thanks again for stopping by. Have a great Sunday!
Happy Healthy and Wealthy Girl says:
May 16, 2014 at 9:55 PM
great article! I left my full time in 2008 to spend more time with kids and enjoy working part time now. I came up with frugality plan in order to live this way and never regret it. The funny thing that professionally I actually didn't lose anything but even gained more because I was able to try different areas. Thanks for sharing. If only I could make my daughter thinks this way...
- Kraig @ Young Cheap Living says:
  May 18, 2014 at 10:25 AM
  HH&WG, Wow, what a great success story. Nice work on that! I'm not surprised to hear you only gained professionally by doing this. That's one of the biggest misunderstandings. People think leaving your 9-5 will hurt your career, but it only boosts it. Good luck convincing your daughter of all this. I think she'll eventually learn, but she may have to go through all the "realities" of the rat race for a few years first, like we did, to learn it. Take care,
Lanny of the Dividend Diplomats says:
May 17, 2014 at 10:22 AM
Love this post sir. This is highly motivative material and I love the inclusion of rich dad/poor dad as well. Hit on all of the points and made it in a way each reader can assess each position. Lately I've gone out to eat WAY more than I usually do. I need to scale that back and thing of the dollars I'm spending, could be spent buying assets that increase my time doing what I love. Keep it up, love the article, all readers should read this bad boy. -Lanny
- Kraig @ Young Cheap Living says:
  May 18, 2014 at 10:29 AM
  Lanny, Thanks for stopping by. Glad you enjoyed the post. I love adding a Rich Dad Poor Dad reference in when I can. I think there's a lot of wisdom in that book. Yes, I could certainly be spending less wastefully too, but I think we need to give ourselves a break once in a while. Again, I appreciate it. Have a good week!
Lila says:
May 19, 2014 at 8:57 PM
I used to eat out every single day, especially every Friday after work. Did I ever suffer. I ended up with a bunch of health problems and credit card debt, I also was very lethargic, etc. Now that eating out has been cut down I feel great, my wallet is healthier and so is my body. It's funny how many health problems disappear when you eat at home and healthy. Sometimes the mood strikes me to eat cookies or burgers. I'm still human, but I can make those items at home for less calories, cheaper and tastier too. You can also customize at home as many times as you want without annoying another person.
- Kraig @ Young Cheap Living says:
  June 11, 2014 at 4:52 PM
  Lila, Oh yes, I've also found eating out to be a two-fold problem: 1. It's unhealthy and catches up with you quickly, especially as you get older, and 2. It is quite hard on the pocket book. Thanks for sharing your story on that. I too have seen great results from eating more at home. Of course, sometimes it's a nice treat to go out for a nice meal with great people. Talk to you soon,
Bex says:
May 29, 2014 at 4:02 PM
Great post. I knew most of this already, but a good reminder and motivator! Now I'm trying to figure out how to increase and diversify income at the same time. And work on things I love. And start NOW!
- Kraig @ Young Cheap Living says:
  June 10, 2014 at 8:30 PM
  Bex, Nice plan of action there: Increase income, diversify income, work on things you love AND start now! Love it!! Great talking with you tonight,
Brenda says:
September 28, 2014 at 7:09 AM
Hi, I've found that the secret is to not spend time looking for work I love, but just to cut down on doing the "ok" minimum wage job I'm doing. Like you I've been able to do this by simplifying my life and cutting my monthly spend. Working two days a week in a job means my work just isn't that important a thing in my life. It pays the few bills I have, and that's all I need. And the advantage of doing low paid work rather than a career or a business is it's easy to walk away from and move onto something else if I get bored or decide I want a change. I like your blog, your writing is great, but find that like so many of these "be location independent" or "do work you love", or even "downsize your life", the emphasis is on setting up your own, usually Internet based, business and start to maximise your income. I wish that being independent wasn't so often linked with being a web based, ebook writing, life coaching entrepreneur. I think that puts a lot of people off trying it - "I can't do that start my own business, write a book, speak in public thing, so I'm stuck where I am". I'm a cook in a cafe, working for someone else, but I'm independent.
- Lavina says:
  February 18, 2016 at 7:57 AM
  Hi Brenda, This reply may surprise you as it comes almost 1.5 years after you commented. But I wholeheartedly agree with your point. We place our jobs as the focal point in our lives which take up the whole day and then later regret not getting sufficient time to do the things we love. Being independent like you would help some people get a realistic idea what actually makes them unhappy!
Wade says:
March 24, 2015 at 12:42 PM
Kraig, Amazing list and everything is spot on. You are doing what you love and influencing others. Who can beat it? Wade
- Kraig @ Young Cheap Living says:
  March 24, 2015 at 12:46 PM
  Wade, Thanks so much. I appreciate the kind words. I hope all is well with you. We'll have to catch up again soon via Google Hangouts. Take care,
Thomas Green says:
April 8, 2015 at 1:28 PM
Fantastic post and great advice. I especially like the advice about cooking at home and seeking free entertainment. I think both of those things put together can not only positively impact your finances, but your health too. Home cooked meals tend to be much better for you than even the same type of meal eating out, and free entertainment can be had by jogging, hiking, or simply walking. Those things tend to make you feel more content than paying to see a movie, and they certainly do much more for your health too. That also means that your future healthcare costs can be reduced...and you'll be thanking yourself in the future for taking care of yourself.
Becky says:
November 16, 2015 at 6:47 AM
I'm an Instructional Designer (UK), so when people ask what I do, and I tell them, they still don't really know. I dread the question because it annoys me having to spend so long explaining it! As for point 2, I've never really thought of it like that, but it's so true! I have to salve away for several hours in order to pay for something like a shopping spree! Is it really worth it? I'm currently in a role I'm not enjoying and I can't really pinpoint why so for that reason I feel like I'm sticking it out, waiting for it to get better. But not sure if I should carry on waiting or just walk away. I've been in the job for 5 months, how will I know when I've waited long enough? :-s
Financial Samurai says:
January 15, 2016 at 2:28 AM
Howdy Kraig! Where'd you go? Miss your posts and podcasts man. Come back! Sam
Gloria says:
March 26, 2016 at 7:48 PM
Where I work at a plain machine operator that push a button made 180,000 last year ! It's a union shop most people here do well, hard to get in but there's ways to do it but nobody likes to work hard it's a 12 hour shift almost everyday and free health insurance plus retirement !pays 30.00 bucks. I mean you would think people will kill to get in ,but not really nobody wants to live to work but the ones that do. Will retire before their time rich.! It is worth it ? A golden cage still a cage.
- gotsuzuki says:
  March 29, 2016 at 12:58 PM
  you work at a plain machine operator and you push a button and make $180,000 a year and nobody wants to do this job. Your full of crap....and to PROVE youre full of crap I DARE you to put the name of your company up here, so I can call and GET your job or anyone else there who is whining about pushing a button for $180,000. You must be related to the Clintons.
gotsuzuki says:
March 29, 2016 at 12:52 PM
Funny,all day Ive made it a mission to read articles like this...people going on and on about the monetary, lifestyle and boundless rewards of quitting your job and doing........ Exactly...thats where their rhetoric stops. These people are all like politicians....Im gonna make America great!!! These people are trying to get YOUR money at the end of every article...thats how they make money...writing BS on the internet and selling it to you..
W.K. Little says:
May 20, 2016 at 8:55 PM
Very good points. Using some of these strategies I was able to get out of the rat race & fire my boss over 10years ago. What I enjoy today is being able to help others experience that same joy . Great post. – WL
Millennial Moola says:
June 20, 2016 at 2:52 PM
Once I started selling everything I owned and got down to two boxes of stuff, my expenses plummeted. Amazing how much less sq footage you need when you own almost nothing!
Tyree Bingham says:
August 26, 2016 at 11:26 AM
God, I would love to do this, but my thinking is stuck in a hole so I have no idea where to even start. I've had less that $20 left over after bills for the past year, so I can't see a way out. I would love to do so many things, I just don't know how to get there. I hate working dead end jobs just to stay afloat. I wish I just had a fairy on my shoulder telling me what to do and when.
Kari says:
August 29, 2016 at 4:06 AM
This is all great but when your survival depends on working as many hours as you can to make it financislly even for your basic necessities, some of the ideas of giving up "stuff" will hardly make a dent or enable you to work less. Not only that, you can't tell your employer that you'd only now like to work four days (or less) per week because you're ok with the money you'd earn four days. And then if you try to specifically find a job that is only three or four days, it may not pay the same hourly as your current job which may now be an issue as you might struggle trying to get by on the new lower pay. There are so many complications with trying to change one thing because one or more components must be in place to facilitate the desired or intended goal. I am so downtrodden with where I'm at in life, figuratively and literally (where I live). It might be one thing if I were younger (40 now) but being so far away from where I want to be and the obstacles I am facing make me believe that short of begging for money or a free place to live (I live in a low income apt and I am struggling real bad financislly because of inconsistent employment and poor pay) so that I could actually do something about my long term future effectively, i can't see the light at the end of the tunnel right now.
- Nsweet says:
  October 21, 2016 at 9:39 PM
  I understand how you feel, Kari. I'm 47 and work in a mail room, making $12/hour. I have to commute 1 hour. We have to wear polyester polo shirts with the logo on them. It's getting colder, now, and their solution was to wear a long-sleeved shirt under the polo! They can't buy us long sleeved shirts/sweaters, etc. but the CEO can drive around in a Maserati. It feels so demeaning. Why do I have to put up with such abuse? I owe money. That's why. It sucks. I feel helpless at times, too, Kari. But, I keep my head up and bite my tongue (quite often). For now, I just keep thinking that I'm using this job for the money. You need money to make money. So, I don't give my heart and soul to something I don't care about... I couldn't care less if the mail gets out on time. I'm not passionate about it at all. People like us, who can't afford to quit our jobs, need to take a deep breath, do what we are paid to do, and blow it off at the end of the day. For now, that's all we can do.
Sue says:
August 29, 2016 at 3:11 PM
Kari, if you are so unhappy, you must do something about your circumstances. Ask around and speak to friends and strangers ane ask them for some ideas of what else you can do to improve things for you and get a more satisfying and better paying job.
Megan says:
October 6, 2016 at 9:33 AM
This article really does open your eyes. I've always wanted to be an actress. Lately I've been thinking about leaving the 2 jobs I have to focus all my attention on making it a reality. Both jobs really do get me down, i feel completely numb while working at either, so it makes sense to leave, for my own sanity. But acting isn't a guarantee. 1 of the jobs I have is flexible but I still don't feel good being there. I have a car which is all paid for. But still so confused. Time is more important than money to me, buy I need money for the car to get to auditions. In such an awquard situation! I didn't know if I could get an outside opinion at all? Thank you so much if anyone does.
Nsweet says:
October 21, 2016 at 9:10 PM
Kraig, How does one get started? My husband and I are in debt up to our eyeballs (mortgage, car payments, medical bills). He's been a master hairstylist at a high-end salon for over 20 years. I've been bouncing around offices, never being happy. I hate going to work where people half my age are in charge, telling me what I can/can't do. As if they know better. I want a change, but how can I start? I can't quit my job because of the financial burdens we already have in place. I understand what you mean about paying for these things with our time. I'm not getting any younger (47). I just never thought I would be where I am at this point in my life. I've been depressed about it for some time, now. I don't have the resources (money, time, energy) to go back to school, which is what I would need to do, to do what I love doing. I'm tired and drained from all the demeaning jobs. Children treating me like a child. I'm old enough to be their mother, and they are allowed to be disrespectful and condescending towards me because they have a title after their name! I'm sick of it. I just want to be happy. How can I get started?
- Nsweet says:
  October 21, 2016 at 9:42 PM
  I just want to make sure I receive follow-ups, as I did not see the check-boxes before posting the above comment.
Jeri says:
October 23, 2016 at 10:29 PM
Love this post, I am in a job that is ok - but quit frankly I have been working for other people since 14 years old. Worked my way up through the ranks to a Director position and it's soooo not worth it. All you do is work work work. I spend zero dollars on Entertainment as there is no time. If I was younger I would do things so different. I have been locked into a single income job for the last 8 years has my husband has health issues. I am 60 years old and just want to be done. I am so over the rate race. At this age it's just scarey to up and quit because it is harder to be your own boss and do things you want to do instead of have to do. Young people go for it!! This is great advice in this article. I look forward to retirement to get out of the rat race of making money for others.
Mark Adrian says:
October 25, 2016 at 5:10 PM
Kraig, I'm a little late to the party, just came stumbled across your blog, but I'm impressed. Your authentic writing style is refreshing. As is your practical advice. I recent quit my cube job a do real estate. It's been even better than I could have imagined. I feel like a giant weight is off my shoulders. I saved up a lot of money and cut my lifestyle to make this happen. I think a lot of times we get stuck and don't realize there's a better or different way. Just want to say, well done and I look forward to catching up on the blog!