It's been a while since I've talked about my budget and how things are going. So here it is: I have yet to meet my budget. I've been at school for close to three months now and I am still figuring this all out. But i'm improving! Last weekend was my cheapest trip, a total of $45. So here's what i've learned so far:
1. Plan
1. Plan
- -When I plan my meals, my focus is dinner. Every weekend I sit down and I pick one or two dishes that I am going to make that week and that I plan to have last me the whole week, whether I eat it for dinner or lunch.
- -For me, this has been key. Whether it's a bag of kale that I haven't finished or an avocado, I always find a way to incorporate it into my meals for the week. Leftover spinach? I'll sauté it with some olive oil and serve it as a side. Avocado? Put it on top of my veggie burger. By doing this, I waste less and make the most of my money.
- -Dinner is the only meal that I actually put a fair amount of effort into. This usually happens Sunday or Monday night. But for breakfast and lunch, I keep things simple. Breakfast is typically an easy bowl of oatmeal with fruit and cup of coffee. Lunch is either leftovers or some sort of sandwich, usually peanut butter and banana. Snacks are anything from a bowl of yogurt with fruit or a slice of banana bread. Not every meal has to require a lot of work!