You made the decision to start saving for an emergency — yay!

If this is your first step toward taking control of your life and working toward financial freedom, let me tell you right now:

It can be the most challenging task, but it is also the most rewarding.

Saving for a “starter” emergency fund can be difficult at first, because for many of us, we truly have to rewire the way we view money. We may have never been able to keep more than $5 in our pocket without spending it on something. While some of us our natural savers, and others tend to be spenders, this can be a challenge for anyone, because we are finally making the decision to be accountable and responsible with our money.

But you can do this! Even if you are in the cycle of living paycheck-to-paycheck (P2P), you can save some money. It will take time. It will require patience. And, if you are like me, it will bring on the tears, frustration and sometimes require a phone call to a friend or support person in the process, but it can be done.

Breaking the P2P Cycle

If you are caught in the P2P cycle, you can still save for an emergency fund. Here are some simple ways you can work toward saving for an emergency fund:

1. Get on a budget!

If you are not currently working on a budget–get on one now! Starting a budget (and sticking to it) is the easiest way to give yourself a raise. If you do not know where you are actively spending your money, it is incredible where it goes once you start tracking it. When my husband and I first got married, it was shocking how much money we spent on eating out and going to the movies.

Living on a budget doesn’t mean you have to stop doing fun things, it just means that you have to take an honest look at where you money is going, and be willing to make a few sacrifices for a short time so you can save money for your emergency fund.

2. Sorry Starbucks

Starbucks. Is. My. Weakness. It’s the truth. Once I got on a budget and started tracking where my money was going, it was incredible how much that $4 cup of coffee or breakfast sandwich really added up to (hint: it was upwards of hitting the triple digits in a month).

Just letting go of spending that $4 coffee twice a week can help save some serious money over the span of a couple of months, and for most people, over $1,100 a year. Plus, consider how much time and energy you can save by brewing your coffee at home and skipping the line at the drive through.

3. Say goodbye to weekends

For all you 8-to-4 workers, you have an opportunity to make some extra cash–it’s called working on the weekends. From baby-sitting to lawn-mowing to dog-walking to house-cleaning, and everything in between, there are so many opportunities to make money, and the weekend is a prime opportunity to get it done.

For all my fellow shift workers out there, you’re not off the hook either! While we may not remember what a weekend actually is, we still get time off, and that is our big break to spend our off-time making some extra cash too.

4. Say hello to doing odd-jobs

As mentioned previously, there are numerous odd-jobs that people always need done, and are willing to pay good money for it too! A good house deep-clean (especially during PCS season) could easily earn $200-300 depending on how big the job is. If you’re willing to get your hands dirty, house-cleaning is always in demand.

You know what else people need a lot of help with? Their children, and in the military, we have a lot of them. Babysitting may seem like something you stopped doing in the 10th grade, but it is still in demand, and parents will pay the big bucks for help watching their children.

Other suggestions for odd-jobs include lawn care services, pet-sitting and dog walking (a prime market for literally anyone who works in the missile field), tutoring (for children and adults going back to school), grocery shopping (I promise you, it’s a thing, look into Insta-cart and Walmart), and moving services. The more creative you are–the more possibilities you have.

5. Kiss restaurants goodbye

The average American spends over $2,500 each year on eating out each month. For starters, pack a lunch. Think about how much you could save by skipping subway at the BX every day and packing your own sandwich. Now, multiply this by how many meals you eat out and how many times per week–it gets crazy. Making your own food is healthier anyway, it just takes a little extra planning, but it’s worth it.

The Bottom Line

While saving money may feel like we are completely going against our nature, it is not impossible. Making some short-term sacrifices to save for an emergency will ultimately result in long-term gains for you and your family. So what are you waiting for? Let’s get started in the new year to set ourselves up for financial success!