Tips on maintaining a good budget & saving

[Siniroth]

Also, when buying frozen stuff, especially like meat, even if you're not going to eat it all right away, buy some extra when it's on sale to save a bit of money next time (and overall)

[Minions]

I cook my own food. Soup is also a cheap alternative. Buy items in bulk that you will use. I also browse slickdeals.net and watch for deals on things I want. A lot of the time I find items I don't "need" immediately, but grab them when there's a good deal on there posted.

All of this allows me to get about twice as much for my budget than anyone simply buying things retail does. Friends often comment on how much stuff I have, and how their paycheck disappears in the first few days of the month.

[barber2006]

This may sound harsh, but long term one of the best ways to save money is to make more. I've lived off 1k a month for a lot of years through college and grad school like what is listed in the OP and made it work. But let me tell you, it is a whole lot easier to save when you are bringing in more so long as your standard of living doesn't go up much.

If you really are looking to save long term, invest in job training/education. You cannot go wrong investing in yourself. I'm old and married with kids now but I still spend the same amount on food I did when I was 19 (although the family is not as frugal as me eating their name brand cereal.......) and the money saved goes right into savings.


There are quite a few good jobs that you only need an associate degree for or some form of short term (18 monthish) training. Just bite the bullet and put in those 16 hour days for 1/60th of your life. It will suck but will be totally worth it. Not only that, going through a time like that will help you live frugal for the rest of your life. I'm the only person on my block without a pool but I'm also the only one without a car note and I owe it all to those lean times.

Of course you may already be doing this, but if not I would encourage you to.

[SaviorSelf]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQNvdKNTZUg

How the fuck

[trinironnie]

Second this. I started getting Stouffer's frozen lunches, and while they're not amazing tasting they're cheap as hell. Can't complain for $2.50/meal.

Hmm i work at target so i can get the frozen foods for 1.88-2.00 i might try this....spend about 20.00 bi weekly on food instead of 30-50 on fast food @_@.

[Zalius]

never use change for anything. any time i break a dollar, all of the change goes into a jar. i cash it 2x a year and i usually have 300-500 at a time.

try to stay under $5 a day for food, its NOT hard. fitness thread could prolly help with that. getting comfortable with investments also helps a LOT. even if you're only making another $100 a year with what you have, it doesn't matter if you weren't spending the money that generated the $100 anyways

[Absolutely Virtue]

I'm just chiming in on the cash thing. Avoid carrying cash at all costs. You'd be amazed how effective it is. Hell, sometimes I don't even carry my debit card just because I know I'll probably use it on stupid things.

[Aerides]

First, know where your money goes now. If you don't, just start tracking everything. Download your debit card/credit card statements for the last 3 months. You can't set new goals if you don't know really where it's all going now.

Second, look at what you can realistically reduce without hating life. This will tell you if you need to be spending $200 a week no matter what, or if $50 of that is totally wasted, or somewhat discretionary. But don't try to force yourself to get down to $150 and then go nuts in 2 months...comes down to choice.

Then, based on what's within your control to reduce from expenses, set yourself a savings plan.

Profit.

[Dainslaif]

How the fuck

One of my friends from college occasionally posts pictures of like, a table full of random groceries and states that she basically got it free.

"We spent $372.40 on $370 worth of gift cards and some food."

Spoiler: show

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs584...._7940727_n.jpg

"I MADE $8.08 and 2 movie tickets buying this."

Spoiler: show

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._2218159_n.jpg

It's ridiculous, I'm not even sure how it works. She said a combination of sales + coupons + mail in rebates.

[Rhyis.]

Buy a water filter/pitcher ($25ish) of some sort. Your body needs a lot of liquid, and you can't get much cheaper then free. Bottled water costs a fortune, regular tap water takes like ass, pop/alcohol/juices are expensive. It's cheaper to buy some apples, then buy apple juice. Healthier and tastier too.

[Caiyuo]

1) stop tipping

ouch lol maybe toss this on top of not going out to dinner as often as not tipping is just fucking someone else over for your own bottom line

Also living in florida, use mostly publix, would you mind sharing some of your blogs? :3

Seconding this, maybe Winn-Dixie too if you don't mind!

First, know where your money goes now. If you don't, just start tracking everything. Download your debit card/credit card statements for the last 3 months. You can't set new goals if you don't know really where it's all going now.

Second, look at what you can realistically reduce without hating life. This will tell you if you need to be spending $200 a week no matter what, or if $50 of that is totally wasted, or somewhat discretionary. But don't try to force yourself to get down to $150 and then go nuts in 2 months...comes down to choice.

Then, based on what's within your control to reduce from expenses, set yourself a savings plan.

Profit.

Great advice.

[miokomioko]

Well, I have to say I was only half serious. But, more specifically, stop tipping in places where it's unnecessary, such as some deli or burger places. Just because there's "TIP:_____" on the receipt, doesn't mean the employees did anything worthy of a tip, especially when it's before they've even prepared/presented your food. Blah, blah, blah.

[Yabby]

Well, I have to say I was only half serious. But, more specifically, stop tipping in places where it's unnecessary, such as some deli or burger places. Just because there's "TIP:_____" on the receipt, doesn't mean the employees did anything worthy of a tip, especially when it's before they've even prepared/presented your food. Blah, blah, blah.

Yea i don't tip at like starbucks and the like when there is a tip jar, you spent 30 secs making a drink that you are paid to make. They don't go out of their way to be nice, make sure your drink is refilled,etc. But if you don't tip waitresses your just a dick lol. But like above said if you are trying to save money you just shouldn't be going out to eat at all.

[Tits]

I only tip if the person is paid under minimum wage (as is standard if the person is a TIPPED employee.)

[dejet]

Eat at home as much as you can, as someone pointed out that spending even an extra 10 can equal thousands a year.

The way I learned(im still really young only 21) is just put away a set amount from each check and live with what you have. If you can save a little more if not no big deal. Just dont touch that money you said you would save.

If you have excel make yourself a budge using that(if you know how) if not there are tons of ways to get one going even if its by hand.

After a few weeks(months maybe) you will find yourself living just fine off that money you make each week, at that point try and put more away. I started out working making less then 150 a week when I was 16. I stashed away like $15 a week.

Now I make much more, and I put away about 100 a week(I should be putting much more away but I do save about 200 a week its just not what I told myself I can live off of dotn go overboard you cant say your going to put away 200 a week if you make 250) . Its all about pacing yourself. You can live off any amount of money if you really want to. If you live at home (did you say?) you can put away much more and should.

keep track of every penny you spend for a month, then see how much you waste
That is where you will find where you can cut back, its prob eating out tho lol

Good habits >.> make em


Edit: I should ask is this money something you cant touch?(401k style? ) or is it something you can take as you please. Because if this is a 401k thing you might want to talk to someone about that. It be much lower then just a savings account as you need to put money into both.

[Siniroth]

I have a savings account going that takes $200 out of every paycheque and placing it in it. I can touch the money when I need it, but it requires me going to the bank and talking to an account manager to do, so I tend not to touch it (I've gone into it once, when I needed some cash before next pay). I can go online and place money into it whenever I want though, maybe get something like that that when you have some extra cash you won't need, toss it in there, then it's there when you need it, but not easily accessible

[sb]

Embrace being humble. Cook for yourself/bring food with you(lunch ect.). And most importantly, don't buy things you don't need or spend money unnecessarily and when you need to, be efficient, 99 cent coffee at Dunkin Donuts vs. $5 latte elsewhere, or better yet boil some water, put in thermos and a a bag of tea. Caffeine for the day for about 10 cents. Start thinking in terms like this and you will be saving money.

P.S. Don't skimp on tips like some people have said, it's a bitch move unless the person gave shit service. If you are really trying to save you shouldn't be doing many things that require tipping anyway.

[Siniroth]

Don't buy a coffee maker if you already don't have one, buy filters and strain hot water through them + grinds into a mug, ftw

[Beckwin]

don't carry much cash on a day-to-day basis, but if you go out drinking, only use cash. don't open a tab; the cash you've got in pocket is your budget for the night.

cuts back your booze spending and keeps you from going way overboard and feeling like shit the next morning. conversely, drink at your house/friends' houses. Definitely save more money that way, but sometimes you'll find yourself at a bar still.

[Iku]

Before you go grocery shopping, make sure you go with full stomach and a list of what you want to buy. Going with empty stomach tends to make you buy extra shits that you dont need due to hunger.