Create a budget, and stick with it

to buy some DVDs that were on sale at HMV. I was actually in the check-out line, but at the last minute I turned around and put them back. I don’t NEED DVDs right now… I need to pay off my student loan and pay for rent/groceries, and that’s it right now. I’m glad I didn’t succumb to temptation, but I still need to not buy food from the food court at work. My excuse yesterday was that I got called unexpectedly for my on-call and didn’t have a lunch. But going forward I should assume that I’ll always be called for my on-call and pack a lunch accordingly, and if I don’t eat it then I can just save it for the next day. Those $5 mall lunches really do add up.

It was my birthday and I splashed out quite a bit on new dresses, dinners out, drinks and cab rides. But birthdays only come once a year and if you can’t spend a bit on your birthday… :P

Just got my bank statement… I have less than $325 in my bank account, and my rent cheque hasn’t even been deposited yet. Yikes. I have GOT to stop spending any money. I think I might just have to leave my debit card at home (I’ve already taken my credit cards out of my wallet) but I always worry that I’ll have an emergency and need some cash. I’m glad it’s a pay week but still, I can’t live from paycheque to paycheque. Gonna really have to buckle down and create this budget.

I really want a cell phone but I may have to keep waiting on that one as well. It’s not a necessity (although so many people think it is these days) and I’ve survived for almost a year without one so far, I think I can survive a little longer.

So, unfortunately March is going to be no spending month, unless it’s an absolutely necessity (ie, laundry or bus tickets) and I’m going to write down anything I spend money on. I think this is also a good time for me to finally list those items online that I am planning to sell but have been procrastinating on. I may have to get a part-time job on the side as well. Sigh.

Pack a lunch instead of buying lunch from the mall.