8 Days of April Spending!
Trying something different this month!
I’ve been keeping track of my in and outgoing money like this since November and it has made watching my money enjoyable. I am a student so don’t have paychecks coming in. Instead I do side hustles, which is the incoming money.
Changes for this month:
-Automatic bills aren’t considered active spending. I was getting frustrated because I wasn’t counting this as no-spend days even though I wasn’t actively going out to spend money, and it made my numbers look bad.
-Added specific goals for the amount of no-spend days and bleh days I have. Hopefully this makes me want to spend less to hit that goal!
-I’ve also started tracking my purchases in the EveryDollar app as a start to using a rough budget. Not sure how to handle one off/maintenance purchases though, especially if I have savings to cover them.
April 1st:
-Got cat food that should last me for the next 2 months and topped up on gas
April 2nd:
-No spend, income only
April 3rd:
-Bills. Don’t even get me started on TMobile, but it’s essentially two months of payment plus fees. Did you know that enrolling in autopay takes away their responsibility to let you know if payment didn’t go through??
April 4th:
-Went to an estate sale for reselling sourcing and personal items, stuck with my goals. Went to Wendy’s for lunch and got worms for my compost after putting it off for a solid 3 months.
April 5th/6th:
-No spend
April 7th:
-Stocked up on study snacks and got an energy drink so I could stay up late to study for an exam.
April 8th:
-Both of my bigger pets had their annual visits. I get certain discounts and flea/tick/heartworm prevention for free since I’m a vet student so that’s why it’s so cheap.
-Had to order a cover for my water heater. I live in an RV so it’s not uncommon to have little expenses like this every month as maintenance.
#budgetingforbeginners #lowbuyyear #lowbuymonth #finances #spendingtracker
Budgeting can be a daunting task, especially for students who often juggle financial constraints with educational expenses. Tracking your spending is crucial to understanding your financial habits. Using tools like the EveryDollar app helps categorize spending and achieve financial goals. Start by identifying necessary expenses versus discretionary spending. Setting specific no-spend days can foster a mindset of mindful spending, encouraging you to prioritize essential purchases. Balance is key: while it's important to save, indulging in necessary self-care purchases or occasional treats can prevent burnout. Furthermore, establishing a routine and reviewing monthly expenses periodically can reveal spending patterns, enabling you to adjust goals effectively. Engaging in community forums on budgeting, like #budgetingforbeginners or #spendingtracker, enhances your journey as you share experiences and gather tips from others. Empowering yourself with information and resources can transform your financial landscape into one that promotes stability and growth.
