In our last article, we covered 5 reasons why you are always broke. Now, we look at ways to help you stop being broke all the time.

#1: Pay attention to your finances

Paying attention to your finances means that you get conscious of how your money moves in and out of your life. It means tracking your income and expenditure. Just by doin so, you will begin to notice things that you had not before, and will be able to identify where you spend money badly, and which areas, such as saving, could be better.

Paying attention to your money doesn't have to be hard or complicated. Take a look at your payslip and see where money is being deducted, and see which areas can be changed. As for tracking your expenses, a little notebook where you jot down every time you spend money will go a long way.

#2: Create and stick to a budget

As stated in 'The B Word' most people associate a budget with a restricted lifestyle, no fun, and generally figures which most people have an aversion for. Sadly though, for your personal finances to make sense, you’ve got to have a plan of how you will spend your money once it’s earned. This doesn’t have to be some fancy Excel or Quickbooks document, it can be in a notebook, but everyone must have a budget. In fact, to make it easier to palate, call it a spending plan.

While making a budget is the beginning, sticking to it is what makes the difference, and is, unfortunately the hardest part of budgeting. The easiest way to stick to a budget is to automate ( create standing orders at your bank) and create cycles, such as doing your shopping every second Friday, rather than when things run out

#3: Stop wasting money

Cut out everything that you don't really need to have. You might be broke because you have too many luxuries. Having a subscription to DSTV is a luxury even though you might consider that common place. Get rid of these things until you have money saved up again.

On of the easiest ways to do this is to avoid withdrawing cash when you have immediate plan for its use. On our ' Dude Where's MY Money?' Series on KISS FM, a lot of people, calling in, highlighted that they buy things on the street, in traffic jams, and in the supermarket as they worked with the cash they had rather than what they had a budget for.

#4: Spend less than you earn

Look for ways to cut back on your budget. Identify, for example, which supermarkets in your area tend to have lower prices. Watch for sales on everything, not just clothing. Clip coupons, comparison shop and visit second-hand shops. Every one of these practices will help you cut back.

With changes in the broad economy like the lowered cal rates and the 'Mututho' Bill, saving money has become easier than before. Rather than spend it elsewhere, put the money into a saving account and use it towards one of your long-term financial goals.

#5: Earn More

Look for ways of making more income so you can have more money. You don't have to have a weekend off each week. You can find other jobs that will give you more hours so you can get ahead on your bills. This might seem difficult, but  the extra cash will go a long way.

Other than getting another job, you can also start a small business that costs little in terms of time and money, such as making and selling beaded jewelry.