Budgeting is hard, especially in college. It's that awkward time when your parents aren't always there to give you $20 for gas, but if you're like me, they still pay your phone bill. It's that transitioning period that kind of sucks. You want to be able to go out and do things with your friends, and not have to worry about the amount in your bank account.
You want to be able to buy a new sweater when you want one. You want to be able to splurge on gifts for yourself to reward yourself for an A on that hard math test. Budgeting in college is hard, especially when you barely even have time to work to make money.
I always tell myself I'm going to save my paychecks and then the weekend comes around. I have to buy food, gas, toiletries, gifts, etc. I am always thinking about what I have coming up that I'm going to have to pay for. For example: the birthdays of my dad, my little and my boyfriend are all coming up. Now that it is October, I should also be thinking about Christmas gifts.
Money is stressful. It is something I am always thinking about and stressing about. Balancing school, Greek life, other organizations, an internship and a job is hard enough. I can only work a few days a week and even that doesn't cover all of my needs.
Okay, I'll admit it - most of the things I need are more like wants. I don't necessarily need to go out with friends, or buy that cute dress, or get Starbucks every day, but I feel like I deserve those things. However, I am a giver, and I am great at giving gifts. I take pride in giving gifts, which is why I need to start balling on a budget, and you should, too.
Here are a three easy ways to be a baller at budgeting.
1. Actually create a budget. Allow yourself a certain amount of spending money per week. There are apps that can help with this. Track your spending and make sure you try your best to not go over your allotted amount.
2. Separate wants from needs. Is that ice cream a want or a need? Is laundry a want or a need? Think about these things while budgeting. Another good idea is to use only cash because it is easier to stick to spending a certain amount when you have cash rather than just swiping a card.
3. Shop smart for textbooks. Do some research and see what your best options are. I always find that it is better to rent rather than buy, because whenever I buy and sell back I never get quite what I should. I also find that bookstores on campus rip you off, so I try to stick to ordering online from Amazon or Chegg.
The bottom line is that budgeting and managing money is hard, but especially in college. You're expected to still be a kid and student but act like an adult, and sometimes that's rough. Learning how to correctly budget your money will help immensely, in the long run, when you are fully out on your own.
