Creating a budget and sticking to it.

Although it sounds like a burden, it actually freed me from a lot of stress. I broke out of the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle, allowing me to invest and even set up emergency funds that helped pay off an auto accident I got into.

Most importantly though, I've gained a lot of self-confidence. If I got fired or laid off today, the last thing I'd have to worry about is paying my bills because I'm prepared to handle this scenario. So I've started making more bold decisions at work like saying "no" to overtime or responsibilities I don't want to take on, which has further improved my quality of life.

I can't recommend budgeting enough.