The Square Life

If you are scraping the bottom of the barrel at the end of the month, and the workers at the Plasma Donation Center know you by name, perhaps it is time to create a budget. Here are some helpful tips to keep that cash flow from becoming a slow trickle.

IDENTIFY YOUR INCOME: This includes all money that you make in a given amount of time. It can include your student loans, your wages from your current job, and if your lucky, the checks mom sends each month.

TRACK ALL OF YOUR EXPENSES: Don’t leave anything out. Include the basics, such as rent and phone, your credit card payments (if you don’t have any, you don’t need this article), but also account for the not so obvious, such as your hair roots needing a touch up, and your Café Rio fund. You can identify spending habits that perhaps you can go without.

RANK YOUR SPENDING PRIORITIES: Make a list of what essentials you have, what would be nice to have, and what are complete luxuries. (please note: the iphone is a luxury, not an essential) Pay your essentials, decide which ‘nice to haves’ you can do without, and save up for your luxuries.

PAY YOURSELF: Make sure you are putting money aside every month. Pick a certain percent of your income to go into a savings account. It is good to have something set aside for a rainy day.