Daily Budget

I'm going to show you how I budget my money. It has helped me for the past 3 years to always have more than I need, without anymore having to dig deep into my pockets only to find some spare change, or run out of money before the month is up...

It started 4 years ago, I was living with my parents and relying on a disability check of the amount of $1,200/mo. that would run out before the month was half way up. I got tired of running out of money, my parents were tired of handing it out and my friends were tired of me never chipping in on things. Also, I was supposed to be saving a portion for a new car. One day I said I've had it! I went to my Mom and said, "Here's my debit card, I'm tired of running out of money, take this! From now on, I am going to spend only $10 dollars a day!"

I know what you're thinking, "I spend way more than $10 dollars a day! I hope you don't expect me to spend only that!" Well, the truth is, I am!

Back to the story...

I asked "Mom" to take out $300 dollars at the beginning of every month when my check came in and disperse $10 dollars daily. So that's what she did. Everyday, I would buy a pack of cigarettes and save $3 or $4 dollars for gas in the next couple of days. In five days I would have $20 dollars for gas. Time went by and I was saving a lot of money. I was able to pay rent as well. Then I started working again.

My friend got me my first kitchen job as a prep working with veggies and meats. By this time, it was six months on my journey. I stayed true to the budget. At my job I was getting tips so I had a little extra to throw in on things with my friends. Some time went by and I started to realize, "Wow, I really have a lot more than I intended." That's when the wheels started turning and I began to do some math.

Basically I needed a new budget, but I was so attached with the one I had I couldn't let it go. So, I included it...

I figured out all of my monthly expenses. Rent, renters insurance, electric, water, internet, health insurance, car payment, car insurance, fuel, any maintenance set aside, groceries, dining out and activities. I wanted to make sure I included savings as well. Then, I subtracted the amounts from what I made in a month and divided the left over sum by 30, or 30 days. Can you guess what that number came out to? $10 dollars/day!

Now, I don't worry about money. I just do what I have to do and save the rest. I honestly never thought that just $10 dollars a day would cut it, but I had to try something and take it seriously.