While I have always been conscious of my spending habits, throughout college and my first year in the ‘real world’ my budgeting plan was more of a grey area than a specific ‘stick to it and go without’ regiment. When I’d spot something I wanted, or discovered I was craving sushi, I’d splurge a bit and get it. As long as my final totals of the month came out in the black, or at least close to it, I was happy.
But now the potential of a new job, for less pay but greater rewards in the long run, has me taking the time to seriously consider how I’m going to survive with a $300 a month pay cut. Netflix? Buh-bye. Cable until tornado season? Toast. Cheaper internet connection? Welcome!
Now, to cut my food budget from an average of $80 a month down to $50. There are several big challenges to this.
First and foremost, I’m lazy. I’m not an extreme couponer by any means and every attempt to do so results in boredom and the desire to bash my head against solid objects. Secondly, my new job will require that I bring my own lunch, whereas my current job lets me buy a bowl of soup each day for $1. Thirdly, nowhere on the internet is there a pre-made food list of generals that isn’t ridiculously complicated (who cares about eating homemade fruit parfait for breakfast when a bowl of cereal is WAY cheaper??) and is within my budget. Most single people apparently can’t survive off of less than $100 a month.
And so, to help with every poor college student and struggling artist out there, I will develop and reveal a monthly guide of easy foods that will stay, roughly, at the $50 mark.
