Last July, I successfully launched my second website, MakeMoneyYourWay! This site focuses on the concept of earning more rather than simply spending less. Today, I’d like to discuss why it’s beneficial to focus on increasing your earnings.

While I dislike waste of any kind—whether it’s food, energy, or money—I believe that reducing waste and spending less is helpful. I avoid buying things I don’t need because I don’t want to work extra hours just to throw that money away. Some may call it living frugally.

However, when it comes to buying something I truly want, I don’t mind spending more. For example, I purchased the most expensive motorcycle I could find on eBay last year. Even though I’ve only used it for six months to tour Europe and for about a week recently, it brings me so much joy. It’s currently parked in Paris and I plan to keep it until it no longer runs, despite the costs involved. But, let’s get back to the main topic.

Spending less has its limits. Sure, you can trim unnecessary expenses, like magazine subscriptions you don’t read, or a gym membership that’s been unused for months. You might also cut out routine expenses that don’t bring you joy, like a daily snack at the work cafeteria that costs $7 each time, amounting to $200 a month. Cutting these can be a conscious choice to save, but there’s only so much you can cut from your budget.

For example, canceling a magazine subscription may save you $10 a month, but if you enjoy it, why cut it if all it takes to afford it is working an extra hour a month? Being frugal to the extreme can help you get out of debt faster, but to enjoy more luxuries, like a nice motorcycle or fancy dinners, you need to focus on earning more.

Earning more has no bounds. Even if you work an hourly job for $10 per hour, asking to work an extra hour each day can bring in an additional $220 per month without additional commuting or uniforms to deal with. When I was in college working at McDonald’s, I always tried to stay longer to earn more. Extra time added up quickly, especially with overtime pay.

If starting a company seems daunting due to costs, there are businesses you can start with less than $150. I’ve detailed ways to make money with a website that earns over $2,000 a month. While it takes a minimum of a couple of hours a day, the resulting hourly rate becomes worthwhile.

Imagine having an extra $2,000 each month. You could afford daily lattes, monthly getaways, gym memberships, smartphone plans, weekly dinners, and monthly shopping sprees, all while having $500 left to save or invest. This wouldn’t even touch your regular entertainment budget. For me, I don’t follow a strict budget because my earnings comfortably cover my expenses while also allowing me to build wealth.

Earning more requires effort, and not every job offers overtime opportunities or fits well with other commitments like daycare. However, worrying about small expenses when you could easily afford them with a bit more work is not a productive use of your time. Consider putting that effort into finding a way to earn more.

To explore more strategies for increasing your earnings, visit MakeMoneyYourWay where I share practical tips to get you started today.