Since I have actual bills to pay now - car insurance and health insurance to two different providers plus student loans - I need a budget. I still want to save money so I can move out and not blow my entire savings doing it, so I'm going to keep it simple. One paycheck is my budget, the other goes into savings. I think this is realistic post-move-out model too. Cause even on two jobs, i'm sure rent and utilities would take up the rest of my paycheck anyhow.
It'll be tight but I'm learning. Today I took inventory of all the food and drinks I had on hand, and discovered I have a lot more than I thought I did. Most of it can either be a small meal on its own or at least contribute part of a meal. I've got a lot of rice and pasta and a box of mix for pancakes. I can use the sandwich stuff for my meal at work. Breakfast is taken care of for a while to come so i don't need to worry about that. The ramen and rice by themselves won't make a meal though so what I am going to do is buy eggs and frozen vegetables after work today. It sounds unconventional and I think it is but its a meal. I want to try a variety of ways to have vegetables and see what I like best.
I still have to do a few things before I find out what my actual student loan repayment amount will be. I'm just going to try to put down 100$ per month now until the grace period ends, at which point I'll start paying whatever it is I will actually need to pay per month. I'm going to try and get it adjusted for income so my monthly payments are lower. The only reason I can afford to eat on my new budget is cause I have food stockpiled.
It'll be tight but I'm learning. Today I took inventory of all the food and drinks I had on hand, and discovered I have a lot more than I thought I did. Most of it can either be a small meal on its own or at least contribute part of a meal. I've got a lot of rice and pasta and a box of mix for pancakes. I can use the sandwich stuff for my meal at work. Breakfast is taken care of for a while to come so i don't need to worry about that. The ramen and rice by themselves won't make a meal though so what I am going to do is buy eggs and frozen vegetables after work today. It sounds unconventional and I think it is but its a meal. I want to try a variety of ways to have vegetables and see what I like best.
I still have to do a few things before I find out what my actual student loan repayment amount will be. I'm just going to try to put down 100$ per month now until the grace period ends, at which point I'll start paying whatever it is I will actually need to pay per month. I'm going to try and get it adjusted for income so my monthly payments are lower. The only reason I can afford to eat on my new budget is cause I have food stockpiled.
