For some, the word "budgeting" is scary. A couple months ago, that was me. I have never been good about saving or budgeting my money in any way. I had to learn, but when I came to college I was forced. In high school, I had a job. Usually, I had a pretty good chunk of money in my account. However, I would blow it. I would go shopping a lot or decide to go out to eat when I could have just eaten at home. This didn't really affect me because I had nothing to worry about.
Then I came to college. I could no longer do this. I had more expenses, necessary expenses, to worry about. These included books, gas, and groceries. I had to make sure I had plenty of money in my account to be able to get these items when needed. This was hard, but I had no choice. It was my first semester of college and I didn't have a job because my workload was so heavy. I had to make good money choices. I had to do three things differently and it made a difference in my life right away. Those 3 things were:
1. Set Money Aside
It is impossible to never treat yourself. Doing something for yourself is a good thing and I think people forget that too often. However, on a limited income, I couldn't do this as much as before. Because of this, I had to set a certain about of money aside and I limited myself to that much spending money for a week or two. I had to make choices and ask myself it the money was really worth it. Why should I go get a pizza when I had a Chipotle gift card? Why should I pay $8 for Taco Bell when the dining hall was serving fajitas.
2. Brand Name No More
My roommate Hannah taught me a major lesson...brand name isn't everything especially for things like water. I would spend dollars more on products because of the brand name even if it tasted the same or preformed the same. This quickly changed the first time I went to the grocery with a set amount of cash. Things add up very quickly so planning is key.
And finally,
3. Finding Deals
I have finally found the joy in finding a great deal! Buy One, Get One makes my heart warm! I never buy anything without trying to find a coupon. Apps like Retail Me Not are great to have because you can save money in just a click. There is usually always a way to save money on products, you just have to take the time to look.
As you can see, budgeting my money has made me think a lot, but most importantly, it has changed me in such a great way. Budgeting money is a skill everyone needs. Without it, life can get really, really hard. I am happy to have learned these skills and I am confident that I will use them for the rest of my life. I hope you utilize these 3 ideas for saving your own money. Happy budgeting!
