New Year, New Coin!– It’s a new year and the resolutions have begun. Everyone from your neighbors to your friends are trying to master the art of budgeting. Sacrifices will be made and tears will fall when we have to pick between the latest sneakers and the calculator that needs to be replaced for school. Just because we can’t splurge on a daily doesn’t mean we can’t have fun on a budget. Saving money is key whether you are saving for college, a new computer, or a new car. To help, include saving as an expense in your budget, try placing small amounts of money to the side to help with these future purchases.

Giphy.com

Holidays-The Month of Love!- February is the time to budget. Valentine’s day is lurking with chocolates, flowers, and cards waiting empty your wallets. Whether it is for a significant other or for your mother, keep in mind the cost. You can’t put a price on love, but you can put a price on the watch or Michael Kors purse that you bought. I recommend having a spending limit and especially encourage students without a job to follow this suggestion. So be realistic about your budget.

Tumblr.com

The Box– Everyone has heard the saying “Think outside the box”. This quote can simply be applied to your everyday life. There is nothing wrong with a little creativity if the price is right. For example, buying lunch at the corner store rather than the local diner or even making your own lunch. By switching up your resources you can save a lot of money. Just know the difference between want and need. If help is needed you could always find yourself a fairy god-budgeter, someone who mastered the art of saving money, to lead and inspire you to save and use your money wisely.

Giphy.com

Lastly, I want you guys to forgive yourself for small mistakes. Budgeting can be challenging. With this in mind don’t slack off, and start throwing away your money, but don’t beat yourself up for your slip-ups. It will get easier overtime and in no time you will be someone’s fairy god-budgeter!

By: Brynn Hutchinson, C.O.R.E Contributor

Ok, so I know all the preaching we do to you about savings your dollar bills, I know you wonder “well, can I even enjoy life??” And the answer to that difficult question is “of course!” Wait, Wait… before you bust out your debit card or bombard your parents for a ridiculous amount of money, take a breath and finish reading this full article missy! Ok, so yes life is about enjoying all your moments on this beautiful earth. The trick is finding the balance of having a ball in life without splurging every 2 seconds. Truthfully, if you are constantly in need to buy new things ALL the time, you may be in search for something much deeper that money can’t buy (that’s a whole different article though!). But back to the matter at hand how, what is and when you should create your wish list!

Hmm so you want to know what it is…Huh?- So what is a wish list?? A wish list is a list of all the items you want or all the things you want to do but just currently can’t chuck out the cash for it. You can either have a written list of everything you would want to do or visual pics of what you want. The key is to keep it in a place where you will see it pretty often. On your bulletin board, in your locker, on your ceiling …all awesome places for your list.

Why?? Why?? Why??-The next question that is sputtering from your lips is “Why do I need to create a list, am I getting graded for this??’ Well, since you asked I guess, I can spill the magic behind your wish list! A “wish list” is VERY useful because it helps you stay on your budget and allows you to focus on achieving one item at a time rather than trying to walk out with the entire mall. With any goal in life you focus, work hard, and bam! You achieve it! Well, it’s the same idea with savings! It will give you discipline. When you do get to cross out things off your list, you will appreciate so much more! It’s true, when you spend your own money, you’ll treat it like gold! Yes, GOLD!

But When??– Now…duh! Yes, at this very moment pick up a pen and a piece of paper and go at it! Create a list of 5 items you want or things you want to do and doodle away. Now the key is to save up from allowances and your part time gig to buy one of your wishes. Once YOU save for it (not your parents) you will get in a groove that you will have you saying “Hey, this is not sooo bad after all.” And will have you playing Fifth Harmony’s “Worth Harmony” on repeat! Go for it!