[USER]

I am taking an $18,000 pay cut to get away from a toxic boss that was sinking my mental and physical health. Tips on adjusting and being more frugal?

This decrease has impacted my budgeting, savings, and overall financial planning, and I’m looking for effective strategies to adapt without significantly compromising my lifestyle.

If you’ve faced similar situations, what tips or methods helped you manage expenses, save on essentials, or find additional income sources?

Any advice on budgeting, cutting non-essentials, or negotiating other financial benefits would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

[Renate]

Well, I’d have to know where you are at financially. I took a $10,000 pay cut, and didn’t notice it at all, but I am debt free, didn’t buy too much house, drove an older, paid for car, and lived below my means.

I guess those are the first things I would suggest.

PS – you can still enjoy life on a lower income.

[Karen]

Be kind? How about a high five and a job well done!!! Good for you. Your mental, physical and emotional health is worth so much more.

Start with a budget and see where you can make cuts (you’ll be suprised).

It will take time. Try and ask yourself, “is this a want or a need”? Dave Ramsey is an amazing resource too

[Brenda]

I always ask myself. “Do I need this or just want it & can I do without it”.

[Julie]

Try drinking only water. You’d be surprised at how much beverages (pop, juice, coffee, etc) add to the grocery bill. Cut out or cut down on eating out.

Watch for sales at the local grocery store and meal plan from there. Look for free sources of entertainment.

Our libraries have cooking and crafting events that keep me busy! Give up cable and choose only one or two streaming services.

Check out YouTube for any do it yourself repairs.

[Patricia]

I made a similar move 6 years ago. Mentally I’m doing so much better. You get used to the lower salary and it just becomes normal. Fingers crossed that your new company is less drama.

For me I just kept solid that I was there because I wanted to be and if I wanted to I could be making more money elsewhere.

I made my value known (without being cocky) and in turn it made me appreciated. Best of luck to you

[Kimberly]

Wow, thats $346 a week. My tips of cutting your cable and other various things is not going to help you at all. My first suggestion is to make a budget.

Do you have enough left to survive? If no, then you need to start cutting away.

[Shannon]

Only buy what you need. I used buy a lot if it’s a good price. I now have hoarding tendencies.

But only what you need.

[Leslie]

You will make less money, pay less taxes, be able to cut out non-essentials, maybe take advantage of low income utility subsidies, and with extra energy and zest for life, take on a fun side job!

Lots of books on how to do this.

In the 70s or 80s there was the book “Your Money or Your Life”.

[Staci]

Shop clearance when you can. There are times I have found some pretty good deals. I always go through the grocery add before I shop and write down the sales.

Shop from what is on sale that week.

I also had to change my car insurance because it was way too high. Good for you for getting out of a toxic job.

I know all too well what that is like.

[Barb]

Left a toxic job for $12,000 cut. It took time, but I learned to cut corners. The cutting corners is something you need to figure out for yourself.

We don’t eat out very often. When we do, it’s with a buy 1, get 1 coupon.

I buy produce at the farmers market; sometimes you can bargain with them for less desirable, but still good, produce.

We got to overstock stores & get “scratch & dent” groceries. We don’t have a fancy house, but it’s paid for.

We buy clothes & misc items at thrift stores & yard sales. I’ve learned how to freeze & can produce for later use; that’s helped us a lot.

[Judi]

I have done the same a couple of times. You will adjust & learn as you go. Good Luck – You got this & no more negativity to deal with!

[Shari]

Stay away from budget busters like Uber Eats, fast food, and luxury stuff you usually buy. Plan your errand route so you take the shortest way and not have to backtrack.

Look at your online shopping habits. If there’s some particular thing you frequently buy (i.e., purses, shoes), then don’t even look at them.

If you really think you want it, put it in your cart for a few hours or a day.

If you come back, you may have second thoughts. You can do this!

[Kay]

Make batches of food… roasts, red beans, meatballs, chili.. then freeze. Cooking a bigger batch is cheaper and saves time.

[Flaviola]

Good for you! Your mental health is priceless. You did the right thing!

My best advice is to keep a detailed budget. I use an excel spreadsheet and track every cent, every month.

I keep a running tally and set aside a little each month for every bill whether it’s paid monthly or yearly, etc.

That way, no bill ever catches me by surprise.

I use a credit card that gives back great rewards, making me well over $1k in free money each year. The key is I treat my credit card like a debit.

Once I swipe, that money is GONE from my budget. This is how I stay out of cc debt.

Look at your subscriptions and cancel any that aren’t absolutely necessary.

Consider switching your cell svc to something like Mint Mobile. Cook at home as much possible.

Look for deals if going to eat out. Rice and potatoes are a GREAT way to stretch meals. Shop sales at the grocery store.

Best of luck to you. You can do this!!

[Jessi]

Do you have any savings or something else lined up? It’s important to prioritize your health but you will only be trading one stress for another if you have no back-up plan.

You might m find the strength to stick it out for another two checks or so.

[Kim]

I used to do my own dry cleaning in my dryer with the Dryel product. Saved me time and money.

Also, would pack my own lunches and saved running errands for my day off so I could be more efficient with my gas money.

Also got away from wearing hose or tights and bare-legged it on dressy days.

Shopped consignment stores for wardrobe and shoes and bags.
Also tried to work in client lunches as my bigger meals of the day since the organization was paying.

All little things that really do add up.

[Dorothy]

I don’t know where you’re from, I’m in the USA and I use and love an app called Flipp. It’s shows me the ads and coupons for stores local to me so I can then compare prices and see what’s on sale.

I shop Aldi and a local discount store Grocery Outlet.

Try to eat at home most times. We also shop consignment shop, Re-use it.

Sometimes Goodwill. Yard sale and garage sale. Join your local community’s Facebook group, sometimes people give away or sell thing for cheap that way.

[Lauren]

Use flexible spending accounts for health and dependent care spending as much as makes sense to get those funds tax free.

Also, can your new job have any flexibility to work remote to save on commuting costs?

[Dawn]

I can always say, having done the same, that I am much happier with less money than I was with more

[Elizabeth]

Good for you. Toxic people have no place in my life, even some family members. Sit down and think of all your monthly expenses.

Make three columns: one for necessity, one for once in a while, one for “fun/extravagant” (like getting your nails done).

You’ll see that a lot of that 18k was covering your second and third columns.

Once you understand that your daily Starbucks and the medi-pedis are not things you can put in the first column, you’ll be okay. Now, I don’t say go totally austere.

Once in a while get that pumpkin spice latte and buy yourself a bottle of nail polish or two.

[Donna]

I wish I had the courage to do what you are doing a decade ago. as a result, I wound up being taken out of work by my physician for stress, anxiety & depression and lost my salary for nearly 2 years.

it impacted my physical health to this day. try not to dwell on the pay cut but look at is as an investment in your own health and well-being.

I don’t know you, but I have great respect for you and am proud of you for putting yourself first. you’ve gotten great advice here, I’m not sure I have anything to add.

things that helped me: grocery shopping at aldi’s; meal planning around weekly grocery specials; planning errands so you don’t crossing town repeatedly and waste gas; cut out buying drinks outside of the house; looking around the house for things no longer needed/not being used and putting them on poshmark/FB marketplace; reviewing all bills to see where a lower service plan might be doable or asking about promotions

(cell, cable, internet, netflix, etc.); using online recipe sites and making meals that stretch and can be frozen (for convenience when tempted to order take-away).

(lower cost) haircare and cosmetics; stretching hair appointments; doing at-home pedicures; not buying new clothes/shoes/bags and restricting myself to what I had…

if you have a positive “I have to cut down” mindset, it becomes like a game and you will realize how much you really don’t need. you’ve got this!

[Author]

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