Living Within or Under Your Means?
What people usually mean
People often say something like, “You just need to live within your means.” It sounds simple, even wise. But I’ve always wondered, what do they actually mean by that?
If living within your means includes saving for emergencies, avoiding debt, and investing for your future, then yes, absolutely, live within your means. But often that’s not what people mean when they say it. Usually it’s more like, “make ends meet.” Pay your bills, cover your needs, maybe have some fun money left.
When life happens
But what happens when life happens? When an emergency hits, or a big repair pops up, or college tuition for your kids is higher than you planned? What about when your parents need help, or you realize at 55 that your nest egg has a long way to go? Those moments can leave people feeling stuck, discouraged, and downright scared, because they thought they were doing it right. They were “living within their means.”
Why I prefer “under”
That’s why I like to think of it a little differently. I call it living under your means. It’s a small shift, but it’s more clear. Living under your means means you don’t spend everything you technically "could." You leave some room. You have margin every month.
That margin is what lets you make progress. It’s what allows for saving, for building an emergency fund, for investing while there’s still time for it to grow. It’s what gives you choices. Sometimes that extra goes toward something fun or meaningful, like a vacation or a home upgrade. Other times it goes toward long-term stability, like funding your future self or cushioning your family from stress when life throws something at you.
What margin really gives you
Living under your means doesn’t mean living small. It means being intentional. It means making sure your financial life has enough space to handle what’s ahead without fear.
Try this:
If you’re curious what “living under your means” could look like for you, start small:
Check your margin. Look at last month’s income and spending. How much space did you leave?
Pick one place to shrink. Choose a category where spending less wouldn’t hurt your quality of life.
Give that space a job. Move the difference into paying off debt, growing savings, or investing; and label it “future freedom.”
A small, steady margin adds up. And once you feel the breathing room, you’ll never want to go back.
If you’re part of a couple who wants to build that margin together, or if you’re navigating money on your own and want forward motion, schedule a Connection Call when you’re ready. We can talk about what’s possible.
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