If you’re living from paycheck to paycheck, struggling to make ends meet and struggling to pay off your debts, you can end the struggle and fight your way to greater financial freedom. Here are some simple steps you can take to get out of debt, save more money and live a fulfilling, but a frugal lifestyle with your family.

Write a Monthly Budget

Before you do anything else, sit down with your signify ant other (if you have one) and write down a budget including all of your essential monthly outgoings. Once you know how much the bills will set you back each month, you’ll know how much money you have left over, and you can create a budget than takes all of these numbers into account so that you can stop overspending.

Cut the Credit Cards

Unless your credit cards are working for you (they’re earning you air miles, cash back, etc.), it’s probably a good idea to cut up your credit cards and start using cash or your debit card for every transaction. It’s just too easy to overspend when you put your purchases on the plastic, and before you know it you can be in major debt!

Consolidate Your Debts

If you have lots of debts, and you’re finding it difficult to juggle all of the necessary payments, it might be time to look into banks with best debt consolidation programs, so that you can turn all of your debts into one manageable monthly payment, that won’t break the bank and which will make it easier for you to draw up an accurate budget each month.

Start an Emergency Fund

Yes, paying off your debts should be your main priority, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t also start saving as soon as possible. Obviously, the majority of your spare cash should go to overpaying your loans and credit cards, but you should send a small sum direct to a savings account each month, so that you have an emergency fund ready and waiting should you lose your job, need to fix the car, or deal with whatever disaster strikes when you least expect it.

Pay into Your 401(k)

No matter how tough. You’re finding it, you and your spouse should make paying into your 401(k)’s a priority. At the very least, you should pay in enough to make the most of the employer match and ensure that your future is as secure as possible. If necessary, you can do this by cutting down on all but the most necessary purchases.

Practice Frugal Living

If you want to save money, pay off your debts more quickly and contribute to your retirement fund with relative ease, then probably the best thing you can do is practice frugality in every area of your life. That doesn’t mean that you can never treat yourself to a coffee or a new pair of shoes, but it does mean that you should watch every penny, make savings on the cost of any purchase where you can, and try to make the things you already own last as long as possible.

If you do all of these things, you’ll slowly but steadily see an improvement in your financial situation, and as the years go by, your family will eventually reach a point of financial freedom, where your monetary worries are few and far between.