I don’t know how it happened, but I think spent over $3000 this semester on random incidentals. This for the most part does not even include tech cash and food (which my parents graciously take care of). There are some big ticket purchases (sorority dues, giant shopping trips), but it’s mostly just random $10-$20 expenses here or there–stuff that I don’t even think about, and in hindsight, can’t even remember.
I’ve never been someone who has tightly kept track of my money. As immature as it sounds, looking through my expenses usually makes me sad, so I just don’t do it. I log into my online bank account maybe once a month (so infrequently that they go through the long authentication process with me every time because they can’t recognize my computer -_-). At this point, everything I buy is stuff that I “want”. I have a fair amount saved up for a college student, a sad little 401K account, and I don’t have any credit card debt. However, I will have to look into taking out loans for grad school soon, because I don’t want my parents to have to pay my tuition after I finish undergrad. Perhaps now is a good time to start thinking more recessionary, and start managing my financial life.
Do you have any good techniques for budgeting? Is there anything I should be doing to be a more financially responsible person?
comme ci, comme ça 
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December 18, 2008 at 12:19 am
Wei
Hi! Never commented on your blog before; you write so well! 😀
What I like to do is budget, say, 10% of the money I make to a “fun fund”. This is money I can use for anything I want at all, provided that I do not spend *any* of my other money for wants. Other than that, I save around 35-40% of my money (deposit into my savings account), which is off-limits to spending except for emergencies. The rest are for essentials. This seems to work out pretty well.
December 20, 2008 at 11:41 pm
shanette
lol. I just wrote a sort-of related post.
I dunno…..nowadays, I always ask myself several times if I actually want or need something (which is why it takes me so long to shop or buy anything) and if I (supposedly) do, how often I’ll realistically use it.
I like figuring out budgets for myself — like, daily food budgets (~$10 – 15), shopping budgets ($30-40 per item, try to keep total spent at around $100-150) etc etc. Of course, you have to stick to it. And I guess I’ve been better about getting people to pay me back when I cover them haha (I have a spreadsheet now of IOUs). I guess maybe keeping a general record or what you’ve spent would help….before I buy something, I always quickly run through the things I’ve recently bought….and decide from there. good luck?