budget stretching

15Feb10

photo image from http://www.flickr.com/people/smaku/

Today is payday.

When living on your own and depending on no one, there are so many sacrifices to be made when it comes to spending. Since you live from paycheck to paycheck, every centavo of your spending counts and you have to be wise with your spending and your budgeting skills gets tested all the more.

For this, internet banking becomes the most visited site and is on top of my Favorites list. It’s the quickest way to check on my financial status. Every withdrawal made is checked to ensure that I’m still within my spending limit. Next, my budget tracking spreadsheet is revisited so very often to check and balance my spending. My wallet gets filled with sales and ATM receipts as I account for all spending by the end of each day.

I am in no position to do whimsical spending as before. I am still estranged with my credit cards as these will for sure complicate things if I start living beyond my means. For now, to make ends meet, certain sacrifices have to be made starting with my internet connection. As I write this blog, I’m perched at the corner of the mall to take advantage of their free WiFi. I do the groceries but I only buy what I really need– food, toiletries and house cleaning stuff. I’m hungry but it gets to the point that instead of splurging in the mall because I get hungry I’ll opt to walk home and cook.

It’s hard as it is but all will be well. Things will get better.

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Tags: 2010, budget, everyday talkies, february