make a budget

At 19 years old, this should be a piece of cake.

The only things I need to make sure that I include are:
*Savings
*Stuff for moving out
*Extra
*Insurance

I’m going to work for a few weeks so I know how much an average check will be at my new job then I’m going to sit down and write it out, tack it to my calender, and make sure I follow it.

I’ve sat down and plowed through MS Money’s budget software. We’ve got years of data but good ole Microsoft doesn’t use it the way I thought it would. So there is much tweaking to be done. But it’s a start.

I have recently escaped a 7 year relationship but kept my house and my car and my lifestlye. By leaving my ex I threw away almost $5,000 a month worth of income. I only bring in $2,500 to $3,000 a month and I am struggling to keep what is now all mine. I have found that my bills and my income are pretty much equal, if not more in bills. I need to find a way to get these bills straightened out so that I am not constantly robbing Peter to pay Paul, which I have been doing for the last 6 months and getting no where. I am struggling to get started because I have got myself behind with most if my bills. I do not want to be another person taken down by these tough financial times. I want to keep what is mine.

Everytime i make a budget something happens or there is just something i can’t live without. This year as must as it kills me i will make one and we will stick to it.

Made my first step towards making a budget. I opened up an account at Mint.com to link all of my credit cards, savings/checking accounts and loans so that I can see how much I have and how much I spend.

I basically spend whatever I want on anything I’d like until it’s all gone, and may supplement my income with wanton credit card use. I’ve started making a spreadsheet with different categories to figure out what I spend my money on. Well, I haven’t made it very far with that, but I will work on it again.

october,
big gigantic expense
car for one month about

but ohh was it worth it

I am starting the budget process. I will have the first draft of a budget by next week

kicking the starbucks habit
-using roomies coffee maker $0 (thanks roomie, you rock! :)
-buying coffee from ralphs, $5 bucks
-buying coffee filters $?
buying milk $2$3
-buying honey $0.99

kicking the shopping habit
-bought plain black and white shirts at target
they can be dressed up and dressed down.
-dry cleaned work clothes
(just the fact that i am rewearing these things that i used to wear, maked me feel ek. i want to buy all new clothes under the illusion that it will make ME different/better.
-should look on ebay for random accessories to spruce up clothes, or continue to dress plainly, which i happen to like. . . . .

buying food
-bought a lot of bread that was a dollar and put it in freezer
-bought lot of freezer food which took away the urge and desire to order takeout which used to cost me 12, 15, 0r 19 dollars
-stoocked up on…. food accessories hahaha to spruce up. . . . . tuna and stufffffffff

october big expense
-car and gas

It’s certainly an interesting time to do so. I hope to start this next week, or it’s time to drop the goal.