Should You Focus on Growing Your Income or Cutting Your Expenses?
Let’s talk money—and your relationship with it.
Most financial gurus will hammer this sermon:
- Cut your expenses.
- Avoid restaurants like the plague.
- Java coffee? That’s a sin!
But let’s be real—life isn’t a punishment.
You work hard.
You deserve to enjoy a soft life every now and then.
So are these financial advisors wrong?
Not exactly.
But most times, they miss the full picture.
Sometimes, the issue isn’t your spending habits— The real problem could be what’s coming in, or not coming in.
You see, there are only TWO types of money problems:
1. The Income Problem
You don’t earn enough to meet your basic needs, save, invest, or pursue your goals.
You’re living on the edge, not because you’re reckless. But because the math simply doesn’t add up.
How Can You Fix This?
- Grow your income.
- Learn a high-value skill.
- Start that side hustle.
- Ask for the salary raise.
- Look for better-paying opportunities.
No amount of budgeting can fix what you don’t earn.
2. The Expenditure Problem
You earn a decent income—maybe even above average.
But your spending habits are wild, unplanned, and driven by lifestyle pressure or poor planning.
How Can You Fix This?
- Create a realistic budget using this simple budget template: https://centwarrior.com/product/budget-tracker/
- Track your spending.
- Cut the fat, not the joy.
- Live within your means, not within your ego.
Because even a six-figure income can crumble under seven-figure bad money habits.
So, which problem do YOU have?
Identifying the real issue is the first step to your financial freedom.
It’s just like fitness—people keep asking:
“Is it the workout or the diet that matters most?”
Truth is, both are essential—but each has its own space.
Phase 1: Cut Expenses First (Short-Term Defense)
Especially when you’re just starting out, in debt, or recovering from a financial hit.
Cutting back helps you:
- Plug financial leaks
- Build your emergency fund
- Free up cash for saving or investing
- Build financial discipline
No point pouring water into a leaking bucket. Fix the holes first.
Phase 2: Grow Your Income (Long-term Offense Mode)
Once you’ve stabilized, it’s time to move from survival to significance.
- Build extra income streams
- Monetize your skills
- Create a scalable and passive income
- Invest wisely to multiply your cash
Because no matter how tight your budget is, you can’t shrink your way into wealth.
The Winning Formula?
BALANCE.
Be Defensive To Protect Your Money.
Be Offensive To Multiply It.
As Ray Dalio said:
“You need to be aggressive to make money and defensive to keep it.”
So, Pause and Reflect:
Are you fighting the right financial battle?
Are you fixing the real problem?
Your next breakthrough might not be in cutting that coffee
But in upgrading your income or upgrading your mindset.
Focus wisely.
Your financial future depends on it.
So, Where Are You Focusing Today?
Alex Mwangi | Your Personal Finance Architect
Helping You Master Your Money | Build Wealth | Protect Your Legacy
Visit My Resource Hub Here: https://linktr.ee/centwarrior
My Shop: https://centwarrior.com/shop/
