Thursday, January 19, 2012

Living on a budget...


The phrase "saving money" has never been something I have ever taken so seriously before in my life until now. It's true that when you are a kid you don't really take spending money as seriously as we do when we are grown ups.

I have been so extremely fortunate in my life so far that my parents have supported me through almost everything that life has thrown at me, and most times they have always been there to offer financial support or backing if I needed it.

Now more than ever I am starting to FREAK out about my finances. Today I officially got enrolled in my Graphic Design uni course (YAY) after multiple conversations with my uni since October trying to get enrolled properly. I have rented myself a cute (and very tiny flat in Wagga Wagga) so I can live and go to uni and now that things are starting to unfold and the beginning of semester one is looming I am really having to think very hard about my finances and how I am going to go about saving (and making) money while I am at uni.

"Save your pennies" is going to be my new mantra.



I'm not going to lie though, I do have a bit of a shopping problem!

PLUS, ever since I got back from my trip of a lifetime to Europe last year I have not thought about anything else than to travel again. I'm already looking up flight prices back to London at the end of this year providing my finances can help me get there!!

I decided the best way to learn about living on a budget is to Google it, right?! (Where in the heck would I be without Google?! Seriously people! lol).

Here are a few things that I learnt during my Google research:

1. Saving money is one of the hardest things that any one person will have to do in their lifetime. (No sh*t Internet!) - Savings Guide.com.au

2. Some good tips for saving money, from here: Cook at home often, brown bag lunch at least a few times a week (as in, make your own lunch in stead of buying it), instead of buying books borrow them from a library, ride a bike or try to carpool as much as possible and plan vacations ahead of time.

3. I found a really handy "Budget Planner" online from a Government website! Its actually pretty handy once you add in all of your own expenses and things. I've still gotta work it all out but it looks pretty handy to me!
Check it out here.

4. Also on this same website there is a link to a "Savings Goal" calculator which helps you work out how long it will take to reach a certain goal (i.e another expensive overseas trip!)

How do you save money? Or what are your handy tips to living on a budget?
Fill me in on any secrets you may have in a comment below!!!

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5 comments:

  1. Funny you should bring up this comment Ellie... Mum and I were only having this exact same converstion yesterday. A little phrase Mum liked to use during this conversation was 'Watch your pennies and the pounds will look after themselves'. Me? I find it so hard to save money, as soon as there is a decent amount in the acount, a bill comes or a car expence... think I might suss out that Budget Planner. Hope all is well with you!

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