Why do I always feel broke no matter how much I make?
I remember hitting this wall: a decent paycheck, yet somehow always broke. That “Where did all my money go?” feeling haunted me every month. Sound familiar? The truth is, feeling broke isn’t just about how much you earn—it’s about how you manage what you keep.
Let me break it down:
1. Lifestyle creep is real
As I made more, I spent more. That upgraded phone? Unnecessary. Eating out four times a week? Definitely didn’t help. It’s easy to let spending silently rise with your income—until you’re back at square one.
2. Budgeting without tracking is like driving blindfolded
If you don’t know what’s coming in and going out, you’ll always feel broke. Once I started tracking my money with a free budgeting app, things changed fast.
3. Spending emotionally adds up
Retail therapy, impulse Amazon buys—it feels good for a moment but wrecks your long-term goals. I had to shift my mindset from “this feels good now” to “what feels better long-term?”
If you’re stuck in this cycle, you’re not alone. I broke it by learning how to make my money work for me instead of stressing me out—and you can too.
What are the real reasons people stay broke?
Sometimes we blame the economy or our job—but often, it’s the small decisions we make every single day that keep us broke. Here’s what I learned the hard way:
1. No emergency fund = instant disaster
One unexpected bill and boom—back to zero. Having even $500 saved made a huge difference in my stress levels and decision-making.
2. Living paycheck to paycheck by default
It becomes normal until you realize it’s a trap. I needed to figure out how to earn more without burning myself out, like picking up small gigs on weekends.
👉 That’s how I found and wrote about these easy weekend side hustles that actually paid off.
3. Lack of financial education
School never taught me how to manage money. I had to learn through trial, error, and eventually building my own system.
And worst of all…
4. Relying on just one income stream
That’s one of the biggest traps that kept me broke. Once I opened my mind to passive income, side hustles, and investing, my entire money situation shifted.
How I stopped being broke (and what I’d do differently sooner)
I didn’t grow up learning about money. I had to mess up, feel broke, then figure it out. Here’s what actually helped me change things:
1. Started investing small—even when I was broke
I thought investing was only for rich people. I was wrong. I started with a few bucks on Robinhood and got a free stock just for signing up. That tiny step gave me momentum.
I also tried Acorns—super hands-off and it rounded up my change into investments. It felt like I was saving without noticing.
2. I made money on the side (without killing myself)
I didn’t want another job, but I found creative ways to bring in cash—like how I literally got paid to listen to music. Sounds fake, but I actually made money just chilling with earbuds in.
I also flipped items, took surveys, and even made $100 in a weekend doing a quick side hustle. These things added up fast.
3. I built an emergency cushion fast
I didn’t wait to save until I was “comfortable.” I set a goal of saving $500—then $1,000—just to stop living on the edge. That emergency money gave me breathing room I never had before.
Questions people ask when they’re always broke (and my answers)
Why do I feel broke even with a decent salary?
Because your expenses rise with your income. If you don’t intentionally budget and prioritize savings, you’ll always feel broke—no matter how much you make.
What is the biggest mistake broke people make?
Thinking they can’t afford to invest. Truth is, you can start investing with $10 or less. Time matters more than how much you start with.
How do I break the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle?
Build a second stream of income—even if it’s small. I used side hustles and investing apps like Robinhood and Fundrise to change my situation without quitting my job.
Want a bigger mindset shift? Read this post I wrote on making money without a second job. It’s a game-changer.
Habits that kept me broke (and how I replaced them)
I used to think making more money was the only answer. Turns out, my habits were draining me faster than I could earn. Once I shifted these patterns, my bank account started catching up.
1. Impulse buying everything that felt like a “deal”
I’d buy junk I didn’t need just because it was on sale. That $20 here and there added up to hundreds fast. I started using the 24-hour rule—if I still wanted it tomorrow, then I could consider it.
2. Paying bills late
Late fees ate me alive. Once I automated payments and used calendar reminders, I stopped giving money away for no reason.
3. Ignoring my bank account
I used to avoid checking my balance like it was haunted. Now, I review it every couple of days—it keeps me grounded and aware.
4. Never saying “no” to social pressure
Dinners out, birthday trips, spontaneous shopping sprees—if you’re always trying to keep up, you’ll stay broke. I started offering free alternatives like hanging out at home or going for walks instead.
If any of that sounds like you, you’re not alone—I had to get real about my own patterns before things changed.
What I do now so I don’t feel broke anymore
Here’s what keeps my money in check today without feeling like I live on beans and rice.
I track every dollar
It’s not about restriction—it’s about awareness. I use a simple app to see where my money goes. If you’ve never done this, it’s eye-opening.
I prioritize income that doesn’t rely on trading time
Like investing with Acorns or real estate through Fundrise. These don’t require me to hustle every second to earn.
I stopped relying on one income
This shift changed everything for me. Here’s a deeper dive into why I’ll never rely on one income again. It’s how I stay stable even when surprises come up.
What most broke people don’t realize (I didn’t either)
I used to think I was just unlucky with money. But over time, I realized I was making some common assumptions that were quietly keeping me broke.
1. Thinking “more income” solves everything
Truth is, more money only helps if you change how you manage it. I know people who make six figures and still live paycheck to paycheck because they overspend and never invest a dime.
What helped me? Learning to manage what I already had, then adding small streams of extra cash on the side.
2. Avoiding hard conversations with myself
It’s easier to blame bills or your job. But until I sat down and asked, “What habits are keeping me broke?”, nothing changed. I had to be brutally honest—and that’s where progress started.
Warning signs that your mindset is keeping you broke
Sometimes, being broke isn’t just about money—it’s about the way you think about money. If any of these sound like you, it might be time for a reset.
You say “I’ll start saving when I make more”
Nope. Start now. Even saving $5 from each paycheck builds the habit.
You treat credit cards like extra income
Been there. Credit is debt—plain and simple. I only use mine now for things I can pay off immediately.
You think investing is too risky or too complicated
You’re not alone. That’s why I wrote this: Start investing with $10 (yes, it’s actually possible). You don’t need thousands, and you don’t need to be an expert.
My final thoughts to leave with you today… Why am I always broke? Here’s what finally changed for me
If you’ve ever asked yourself “why am I always broke?”—you’re not alone. I asked that same question for years while repeating the same cycle: spending without tracking, ignoring investing, and relying on one shaky income stream.
Once I stopped making excuses and got serious about where my money was actually going, everything shifted. I didn’t have to win the lottery or land a dream job—I just had to get intentional.
I started with simple moves:
- I opened a Robinhood account and grabbed a free stock.
- I let Acorns handle my spare change and automate investing in the background.
- I put money into Fundrise real estate projects without needing to be a landlord.
And most importantly, I started acting like someone who wasn’t broke—even before I felt rich.
If you’re stuck in that “always broke” feeling, you don’t need a miracle—you need a game plan. And you’ve already taken the first step just by reading this. Keep going.
