If you’d told me a year ago that I’d be writing a blog post called How I Saved $5,000 in 6 Months on a Low Income, I’d have laughed in your face with a mouthful of ramen noodles. I mean, I was the kind of person who thought “budget” was just a suggestion and not, you know… an actual survival strategy. But here I am, $5k richer and about 10 years wiser in just 6 months.

No, I didn’t rob a bank. I didn’t win the lottery. I didn’t sell pictures of my feet online (though I seriously considered it during month two). What did I do? I got my stuff together—kinda. And I’m here to spill the beans in the most painfully honest way.

Why “How I Saved $5,000 in 6 Months on a Low Income” Ain’t Just Clickbait

Okay, first off, let’s address the elephant in the room. Yes, I was on a low income. I was working part-time at a bookstore and doing odd freelance gigs online. Altogether, I made somewhere between $1,200 to $1,500 a month. Not terrible… but definitely not “$5k savings” kind of money.

But when rent, food, and adulting tried to eat up my entire paycheck, I realized I had to make a plan—or die trying (financially speaking). So I decided to try something crazy: being intentional with my money.

Spoiler alert: It worked.

The Brutal First Month of My “How I Saved $5,000 in 6 Months on a Low Income” Journey

That first month? Yikes, guys. It was a mess. I downloaded like 6 budgeting apps. I tried bullet journaling. I even attempted the envelope system (spoiler: it’s not cute carrying around envelopes with “Groceries” written in Sharpie). I was overwhelmed. Every budgeting video on YouTube made it look easy—like, “Just stop buying Starbucks every day!” As if I had Starbucks money to begin with?! Bruh…

So I started small. I tracked every cent I spent that month. And lemme tell ya, that alone was eye-opening. Have you ever realized you’ve spent $40 in one week on snacks alone? Yeah, same. That was my first “ouch” moment.

I printed out a rough budget and just stuck to three rules:

1. No impulse buys. (RIP midnight Amazon scrolling.)

2. Eat at home 90% of the time.

3. Save something, even if it’s $5.

Just those tiny changes helped me save my first $300 by the end of the month.

Side Hustle Life – Another Big Part of “How I Saved $5,000 in 6 Months on a Low Income”

Look, my regular paycheck wasn’t going to cut it. That’s just facts. So I hustled. Not in that Instagram-influencer kind of way—no Lambos or neon signs that say “GIRLBOSS.” Just good old-fashioned grind.

Here’s what I tried:

• Freelance writing – Found a few gigs on Upwork and Fiverr. They didn’t pay much at first, but hey, $25 here and there added up.

• Dog walking & pet sitting – People love their pets more than humans sometimes. I made over $400 doing this in two months.

• Selling old stuff— Cleaned out my closet; found some brand-name clothes I hadn’t worn since 2015. Made over $300 selling on Poshmark and Facebook Marketplace.

• Surveys & cashback apps – This one’s a grind, not gonna lie, but I made about $100 using Swagbucks, Rakuten, and Fetch.

Nothing fancy. Just hustle. Side money became savings fuel.

Saving $5,000 in 6 Months on a Low Income Required Saying NO a Lot

Oof, this one hurt. Saying no to people, events, cravings… I had to become that person.

Friend: “Wanna go out for drinks Friday night?”
Me: “Can we do a BYOB game night instead?”
My brain: “You need social interaction!!”
My wallet: “You need rent money!!”

There were weekends I stayed home just to avoid spending money. I even got comfortable telling folks, “Hey, I’m on a savings goal right now. Raincheck?”

And you know what? Most people respected it. A few gave me side-eyes, but whatever. Those aren’t the folks paying my bills.

Also, I stopped feeling bad about not keeping up with people on social media who were posting Bali trips while I was literally eating homemade bean chili for the 4th night straight.

Emotional Rollercoaster of “How I Saved $5,000 in 6 Months on a Low Income”

There were days I wanted to quit. Days when I was just like, “What’s the point of saving if I’m miserable??” But then I’d check my account, see $1,000 saved, and think—holy crap, I did that.

It wasn’t just about money anymore. It was about proving to myself that I had control. That I wasn’t just surviving—I was building something. Slowly.

I celebrated milestones. When I hit $2,500 saved, I treated myself to a thrifted leather jacket ($15, no regrets). I even cried a little when I hit $5,000. No lie. I ugly cried on my bed while hugging my dog. He did not care, but I did.

Specific Tricks I Used in My “How I Saved $5,000 in 6 Months on a Low Income” Adventure

• Meal prepping like a broke Gordon Ramsay: Sundays were for cooking big pots of rice, beans, pasta. Did I eat the same thing 3 days in a row? Yes. Did it save me hundreds? Absolutely.

• Cash-stuffing envelopes (but digital): I used a second checking account just for savings. As soon as I got paid, I transferred money there so I couldn’t touch it.

• Unsubscribed from temptation: No more marketing emails. No more “50% off this weekend only!” emails. Deleted shopping apps too.

• Automated savings: Even if it was $25 a week, I set it and forgot it.

• Free entertainment only: Library books. Walks in the park. Free community events. Netflix mooching (thx mom).

Every lil’ thing helped stack that cash. One dollar at a time.

Would I Do “How I Saved $5,000 in 6 Months on a Low Income” Again?

Yes. But not exactly the same way. I think I’d try to be a little less extreme about it. I got pretty obsessed at one point. Like, checking my bank app five times a day level obsessed. Not healthy.

BUT—I wouldn’t trade the lessons for anything. Now I know I can save, even when it feels impossible. And I’ve built habits that I still use today, even as my income’s gotten a lil’ better.

Saving gave me freedom. Confidence. Options. And peace of mind. That’s worth more than any fancy dinner or impulse online buy.

TL;DR (Too Lazy; Didn’t Read)

Here’s the quick rundown if you just skipped to the bottom:

• I saved $5,000 in 6 months while making under $1,500 a month.

• Tracked all my spending. Avoided impulse buying.

• Picked up side hustles like pet sitting, freelancing, selling old stuff.

• Ate at home almost all the time. Meal prepped like crazy.

• Said no to social events when needed. Stayed focused on the goal.

• Automated savings and celebrated every milestone.

So Now What?

So that’s my wild story of How I Saved $5,000 in 6 Months on a Low Income. If I can do it—someone who used to think saving $20 was a big deal—then seriously, anyone can.

Here’s some questions for you:

• What’s stopping you from starting your savings journey today?

• What would saving an extra $5,000 in 6 months change for you?

• Are you ready to stop making excuses and make some changes?

Let’s chat about it in the comments. Or just scream into the void with me—saving money is hard, but dang, it’s worth it.