I spend way too much money

[Jon Miller]

Originally posted by duke o' york
Why do you eat out?
Even if you can't cook, then just make easy stuff, or buy the nasty things in a packet. You'll save a fortune! Eating out is reserved for when you've got a worth hitting to impress, or if someone else is paying.
Also, why do you need to travel so often? If you're a grad student then I don't understand why you travel. That will save a lot.
Buy discount booze too, it'll taste rubbish, but have the same effect. The bible's premium contribution to world knowledge is that the Jewish weddings used up all the good wine first, when the guests still had some sense of taste, then shoved any old rubbish on after that. So maybe buy yourself a couple of bottles of premium beer, then any old toss to have after that.

I can't cook, and do just make the easy stuff

but that is sort of hard...

my new research requires that I travel to the lab real often.. but I will get reimbursed for that (and haven't included it in my budget)

also, I prefer whiskey.. and you can taste bad whiskey until the 8th to 14th drink, depending on other factors (if you have had any food that day)

JM

[Jon Miller]

I am going to go get some Taco Bell, which is cheap

I ate at home this morning

JM

[RGBVideo]

and KH is right, grad students are suppose to spend all their time studying.. except once a week or so where they go out and get really drunk off cheap booze

"students".

[Timexwatch]

You're lucky that you don't have a woman. Expenses skyrocket when you have a girlfriend.

[duke o' york]

So Jon, tough question I know, but why do you drink (at home, especially)?

[Timexwatch]

Does he need an excuse to drink?

[duke o' york]

No, but if he only drinks to get drunk then the best advice is to give up the expensive booze and try something loads cheaper. He won't enjoy the process as much, but the effect is the same.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Wezil
Mine runs $125-150 per month.

Ditto (Canadian)

The secret is to budget, plain and simple.

Maybe pick up Quicken or Money 2005 to help you

[Az]

For many people, credit cards are the culprit - for me, they're my savior.

I know exactly how much did I spend so far this month by making ALL my expenses go out of the credit card. I even withdraw my cash through the credit card, so that it's registered at the same list.All of this costs me around a buck (~5 shekels, if you insist), but I know exactly where I stand WRT my money at all times.

Oh, and DON'T TAKE LOANS TO REPAY THIS STUFF! loans to buy luxuries are a big nono. Same with buying stuff on installments, unless it's the 'normal', no price hike ones.

[mrmitchell]

Get some paper and a pen and write down everything you buy.

Try to cut your expenditures in half.

Some things you can't avoid like:

Rent
Gas (do you have a car?)

Some things you can't avoid but you can help:

Phone (use less cell phone minutes, find a better plan)
Food - look up recipes on the internet and find some that are super cheap to make.

Some things are just plain not needed:

3 MMORPGs!? Cancel cancel cancel!
Eating out - cut back or find cheaper place to eat out
Drinking - cut back and go to cheaper booze

Try to aim for cutting your expenses in half.

[Timexwatch]

Originally posted by duke o' york
No, but if he only drinks to get drunk then the best advice is to give up the expensive booze and try something loads cheaper. He won't enjoy the process as much, but the effect is the same.

Have you ever been drunk on cheap American beer? It's the worst goddamn buzz ever. I'd rather be sober. There's a reason why Jon pays money for the good stuff.

[Az]

I feel sorry for you.

Best cheap beer ever: Venus from Turkey - 2 dollars for 3 cans

[Jon Miller]

I don't drink to get drunk

being drunk is just a nice after effect of an evening of nice drinks

JM
(ok, occasionally I try to get drunk, by doing shots, but that is different)

[Jon Miller]

Originally posted by Timexwatch
You're lucky that you don't have a woman. Expenses skyrocket when you have a girlfriend.

yeah, I have thought about this

don't have any clue how I could afford one

I guess that is the reason people start caring abotu money

JM

[Dinner]

Re: I spend way too much money

Originally posted by Jon Miller
I was just talking to a freind...

we both make the same (about 20k a year)

we both eat out a lot..

he doesn't spend all his money each week, I overshoot for the year by about 8k

he buys only a couple video games a year, I buy a couple each month

I buy lots of extra stuff (like paintball guns, and new consol systems, etc), he does not

he has a few beers a month, I generally spend over 100 on alcohol per week...

How can I remain on budget?

Jon Miller

Make sure you write out your budget well ahead of time and STICK TO IT! The easiest way to save money would be to cut back on alcohol and this will also help you reach your fitness goals. You're spending $4800 per year on booze so if you drink half as much or switch to cheaper beer (or better yet learn to brew your own) then you could easily save a quarter of your sum there. Next two video games per month is around $1200 per year so try to only buy one game every other month and you'll save $900 per year.

Where does the rest come from? Learn to cook at home and instead of spending $8 per meal you can easily spend $2-$3 per meal and you'll likely eat less and eat healthier. All around these are pretty simple changes that can end up saving you a lot of you have the will power to see it through.