I'm 21 and i just moved into my first apartment. do you have any tips on how i can strech my dollar?

Question

it's more expensive than i thought it would be to live on my own. the little things add up after a while. any help would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

1. Don't go crazy at the grocery store. Only buy what you need. Try to buy things on sale, use coupons if you can.  

2. Try to limit going out to eat, ordering in food etc. Allow yourself to do it but just make it more of a treat not something you do several times a week.

3. Pack your own lunch, don't buy lunch out.  It saves a lot over time.

4. Exercise a little more restraint when you go out shopping for clothes or whatever.  Do you need it? What will it add to your wardrobe etc.?

5. Don't buy coffee out everyday. Really adds up.

It's hard to give up cable tv. I don't recommend that if you've had it before because then you feel deprived and that's no fun.

Hope this helps. I had to save to buy an apartment and I had to really watch what I spent.

Answer 2

If food is on sale that can be frozen and you have freezer space, STOCK UP. I save a lot of money that way!

Answer 3

It never hurts to earn some extra cash. You should check this out and come on board and make money using the internet. A very simple business and no upfront cost to get started.

http://www.projectpayday.com/go/1407394/...

Answer 4

Limit your purchases. Ask yourself if your purchase is really necessary first.

Pay yourself first out of your paycheck and build up your savings account.

Shop for groceries using a sales circular. Plan your menu for the week or weeks and you'll be least tempted to buy anything off your list when you are at the store.

Limit the use of your air conditioner/heat in the winter.

You may have to cut out those little extras until you get more financially stable.

If you are comfortable with using coupons, you can find printable ones at these sites:

www.boodle.com

www.smartsource.com

www.redplum.com

www.coolsavings.com

www.couponmom.com

You'll lower your grocery bill and if you shop at stores like Rite Aid, Walgreens, and Target. They will take their own store coupon and a manufacturer coupon. I usually buy my basic health & beauty items at Walgreens using this coupon policy. It allows me to buy these items for mere pennies or actually getting them for me. That leaves me with money other stuff.

Answer 5

check this site it will change ur life if u follow the system.

Answer 6

all i have to say is Dollar store Dollar store Dollar store....most dollar store's hold name brand foods and items....Also for groceries try like Korean markets or Indian stores if there is any...you can save a lot on like fruits and vegetables...If water is not included in your rent...you can get  an empty half of a gallon milk jug...fill it with water and put it in the  toilet bowl in the tank....its sounds crazy but it saves a lot of water when you flush......also get the low energy light bulbs they cut your energy bill in half and they last for 5 yrs....Try to budget like I get my phone internet & cable from the same company and my bill is only $120 a month. try to get a cheap fan and open windows instead of using the a/c all the time...umm thats about it for now...  

Answer 7

Cut down of the frills...cable tv, cell phones, dvd movie rentals, wasting utilities, and giving things away at the parties you want to have...make it BYO.

your not a rich person, so act like your stone broke and you will get a handle on your expenses, then you can expand to make yourself comfortable and live it up.

Answer 8

I'm still trying to do that. lol. I've been keeping tabs on my purchases & it’s amazing how much money goes on food. So, I'd say cut that down. $2 for coffee in the morning, $6 for lunch. Five days a week $40. In a month $120!!! So go grocery shopping! lol. Also, you could buy non-name brand cleaning supplies.  

Answer 9

eat pasta meals... they are cheap