There are a lot of different steps involved in achieving financial freedom. You need a budget to help you track your incoming and outgoing expenses. You’ll also need a strategy for how you’re going to save cash towards your future, and the goals you want to achieve in the short-term. However, one of the most essential things of all is making sure that you’re getting the most out of your income. Your income is the biggest contributing factor in whether you live a simple life free from financial worries, or not. So, how can you start making a real difference to your income in 2019?

Negotiate a Higher Salary

Asking your boss for a bigger paycheck is an intimidating feat – but it’s something you might need to consider if you think that you deserve more money. Ultimately, if you’re working harder than anyone on your team, but you’re still making the same amount of cash, there’s nothing wrong with asking your boss what you need to do to be eligible for a raise. Don’t walk in and demand that you get paid more – instead, discuss what you can do to make yourself a better investment for the company.

Start a Side Hustle

If there are no options in your current job to get a raise, then look at whether you might be able to make additional money in your free time with a side hustle. Yes, this will mean spending more of your time on work, but it could be worth it if your efforts turn into a legitimate business opportunity in the future. Take a look online and see whether you can make some extra money by embracing a digital career as a graphic designer, or an online mentor. The gig economy offers a wide variety of ways to earn in the modern world.

Expand Your Skills

If you’re not ready to start a side hustle yet, consider looking for ways that you can expand your talents online instead. Taking a class outside of your working hours that teaches you how to hone a valuable skill could mean that you have more opportunities to transition into a career that pays more in the long-term. Ask yourself what kind of jobs you might be interested in and do some research to find out which role pays the best. Once you’ve chosen a job that appeals to you, compare your resume to the skills required for that career, and work on filling the gaps one degree or certificate at a time.

Make a Change

The most important thing you can do when you want to increase your income this year is to stop doing the same thing over and over again and expecting the same results. You can’t simply commit to a life in the same job, never asking for new opportunities, and hope that extra cash will fall into your lap. Whether you decide to start renting out your apartment for extra money, or you look into building your own business from scratch, you need to be willing to take control of your life, and your finances.