<prompt> Human: Most of the advice on rpersonalfinance involves aggressive cost cutting and managing expenses above all else. Although this is sound advice, it doesnt factor in increasing your income. Im not talking about getting a 2nd part time job - Im talking about doing what you can to get paid more in general. Advancing your career, getting promoted, etc. An active social life can lead to a good network for better job prospects. Dressing well and staying fit is important for how people perceive you. Being involved in various clubs or volunteering can be invaluable in your career. These are things that can cost quite a bit of money, but can be a great investment in your future. Student loans get a bad rap on here, but going to the right school for the right major can pay off in big ways down the road. Im not saying this is the right road for everyone, but Id just like to throw a different perspective out there - Invest in yourself. Focus on making more money.  <response>: What I can do to get paid more is continue my education and finish my PhD. In the mean time, that does NOTHING to help me manage my finances today. It doesnt help me survive on 24k today. It doesnt help me avoid debt today. What does help me today is aggressive cost cutting and managing expenses. It means that I actually live pretty comfortably on my 24k. It means that I have more in savings today than the 7 years I spent working full time between undergrad and starting grad school. You have to realize that were not in an eitheror situation here. People can have both, but often those cost cutting measures and management of expenses is what helps them today. 