10 excuses that keep you broke no matter how much you make

10 excuses that keep you broke no matter how much you make

It's easy to think being broke comes from not making enough money, but that's rarely the full story. Most people stay stuck because of the stories they tell themselves-the ones that justify spending, avoiding responsibility, or putting off change.

These excuses feel harmless in the moment, but over time they drain your paycheck and your progress. If you want to get ahead, you have to start calling them out. Here are some of the most common money excuses that quietly keep you broke, no matter your income.

"I deserve it"

There's nothing wrong with treating yourself once in a while, but when every purchase becomes a reward, your savings disappear fast. You start to tie spending to self-worth, and that habit adds up quietly.

If you really want to feel like you "deserve it," start saving for the things that actually matter. A paid-off credit card or a stress-free emergency fund will feel a lot better than another delivery order.

"I'll start saving when I make more"

Waiting for a raise to start saving is one of the fastest ways to fall behind. If you can't save a little when you make less, you won't magically start when you earn more.

The habit matters more than the amount. Even setting aside $20 every paycheck trains you to live below your means, and that consistency pays off once your income grows.

"I'm bad with money"

Telling yourself you're bad with money gives you permission to stop trying. It becomes an identity instead of a behavior-and that's what keeps you stuck.

Managing money isn't a natural talent; it's a learned skill. You don't have to be perfect, you just have to be willing to track where it's going and make small changes that add up.

"You only live once"

YOLO might sound freeing, but it's often an excuse to ignore consequences. Living for today doesn't work out well when tomorrow shows up with bills and debt.

You can enjoy life and still plan ahead. Setting boundaries for fun spending actually makes it easier to say yes to things that truly matter instead of wasting money on temporary thrills.

"I'll pay it off later"

Credit cards make it easy to convince yourself that future-you will handle the problem. But interest doesn't wait, and "later" usually turns into stress and bigger balances.

If you can't afford it now, that's your answer. Paying upfront forces you to think about whether something's really worth it-and most of the time, it's not.

"Everyone spends money like this"

Comparing yourself to friends or influencers is a guaranteed way to overspend. You don't see their credit card balances, only the highlight reel.

You have to separate what looks normal from what's actually smart. Building wealth often means doing the opposite of what everyone else is doing-and being okay with that.

"I don't have time to budget"

Budgeting doesn't have to be complicated, and skipping it doesn't save you time-it costs you money. Most people spend more fixing problems that a 15-minute budget could've prevented.

Set aside a few minutes each week to check your numbers. Once you see where your money's going, you'll naturally start making better decisions without much effort.

"I can't say no to my kids or friends"

Guilt spending is one of the hardest habits to break, but it drains your finances faster than anything. Saying yes to every outing, toy, or fundraiser doesn't make you generous-it makes you stressed.

Learning to say no doesn't mean you care less. It means you're being responsible enough to protect your long-term stability, which helps everyone around you in the end.

"It's only a few dollars"

Small, frequent spending is more dangerous than big purchases because it flies under the radar. $5 here and $10 there feels harmless until it adds up to hundreds a month.

Track those "small" expenses for a week. You'll be shocked at how much extra cash you could free up just by cutting the things that don't actually improve your life.

"I'm too far behind to fix it now"

Feeling defeated makes it easy to give up before you even start. But financial progress doesn't happen overnight-it happens through small, consistent action.

You don't have to fix everything today. Pick one thing: pay off the smallest debt, save $100, or track your spending this week. Every step you take chips away at that feeling of being stuck, and that's how real change starts.

*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.