Save money

where I write down every single penny I spend for a month (and possibly for a longer time after) and see where things go. I’m supposed to evaluate needs and wants versus whims. Hopefully this process will help!

moving to a cheaper place! I pay 875 + utilities a month now and it’s killing me. My parents are lending me the money but I could find a cheaper place and save the rest of that money. So I found this smaller room a little closer (not that much closer) to the city for 500 + utilities a month. That’ll be awesome.

The first thing I’m using my saved money on is the new T-mobile G1 Android phone and then the rest I will save :). I have plans for that money, though the ultimate goal will either be a new desktop computer from Apple or a graduation trip (since I didn’t take any high school or college graduation trips).

Well saving money doesn’t seem to be working so the best I can do in regards to this goal is to divert money in different places, putting it where it SHOULD be going most and sacrificing other things.

I’m moving to a new place this month so I’m buying cheap furniture (as cheap as possible) but I’m going to allow myself to splurge just a little on things to decorate my room with! :)

I’m in dire need of new clothes (yes, I do know the difference between want and need and in this case, it’s need). I especially need jeans, jackets, and I would like accessories but that depends on whether I can find affordable ones. So I’m basically diverting money from my food fund (and I love food….) and entertainment to this arena. Sucks but what can you do, right?

goes toward my fund for New York. I’m saving up for a study trip to New York City in the fall with my school chums. I’m excited! Of course, I have to be accepted into the group first but I’m hoping that’s more first-come, first-serve (provided we are qualified).

I’m hoping I won’t have drained all my current saved funds by then as well or I won’t get to do anything fun in NY. I should do a piggybank style of bills instead of coins. I wonder if that’d help.

when previously, when I had a part-time job, I knew I could just indulge. Now, I can’t indulge as much anymore. I really wanted to go biking yesterday but decided not to because of the fee. sigh :( I ended up exploring a district and having cheap lunch…so all in all, it cost me less than $10 where as biking + lunch would’ve been around $30. That’s not counting shopping stuffs.

I just spent a pretty chunk on software I needed for classes, even though it was at a super steep discount (yay studentness) so that’s kind of a big ouch. On the bright side, I have a roommate for this month so that kind of helped me save on one month’s rent. But I mean…it’s still tough. I’m trying not to blow through my savings so fast because I don’t want to find a job just yet.

I’m allotting myself $35 a week for food but it’s not hard and fast as long as I keep to $150 a month. I think I can do it! Must try.

As for regular budgeting, that’s a bit difficult….but if I can save money that way, I will try. Whee. I’ll find a job in a month or two.

I live in a residence hall and I actually have my own room (shared bathroom) but I will have a roomie for anywhere from 3 weeks to 6 weeks. If that’s the case, I get to save at least a few hundred dollars! That’s great! That means I’m not pressured to find a part time job that fast. Or I could just find a job and put these few hundred dollars to good savings.

Either way, that prospect makes me happy!

I still need to open a bank account, though. A local one.

I figured out that home cooking really does save me money! I will only allow myself 2 (or 3) meals out a week, and these will come out of my personal expense account, not my “food” account. I’m going to start in the middle of February and see how much money I can save if I really really budget. Yay me.

I’ll walk as much as I can and bus it only if it’s too cold or if it’s dark. What else can I do? Hrmm, window shop. I won’t go on shopping sprees, which I’m prone to do, and I’ll spread out miscellaneous purchases as much as I can so I’m not going to deplete myself all at once. Whew. No movies for now. Netflix I’m still debating on!

Who knew that moving somewhere would take so much start-up money? :( I had to buy so much stuff, like cooking utensils and stuff….all that jazz. :( I still haven’t got all I need, I think. sigh I also bought a bunch of food too, which doesn’t help – kind of broke now.

I really need to find a job ASAP.

I really should’ve been doing this but I’ve been a bit lax. I MUST now, since my last day of work will be next Monday and this paycheck is smaller than most. :( Boo….I’ll be depending on my parents. I hate that feeling. I can’t wait to get another job after I settle down in my new city.