-I'm a college student so I'm basically poor I try to save money where I can. Budget of $20,000 a year

-Rent 1 bdrm $545 I get a 5% discount for being a student

-Utilities electric about $50- I'm hardly home but everything is electric in my apartment and it's cold right now so my heater is always on.

-groceries for myself I do well on about $150 for the entire month, I pack a lunch for work or school and I don't eat out often. i shop for healthy stuff . bananas cheaper than a large $5 bag of Doritos. I cook and will eat leftovers saves me a lot of time and money

-Transportation my car saves me so much on gas it's a standard vehicle. Right now gas is $1.80 as opposed to the $3.85 we were paying in the summer...OUCH! I drive quite a bit too. I have to drive 40min to an hour to the other side of town for work sometimes or to visit my family. I moved closer to work and school but sometimes I have to commute to the other side of town if i am scheduled in that office.

-Out to eat fastfood you're looking at $5-7 for a combo meal A decent restaurant... I like Olive Garden's lunch special $20 for 2 people

-cellphone $50 I have Cricket, no contracts, no suprise going over minutes and I get unlimited text, picture txt, long distance. Only thing is if I go out of town the service may not be available in certain areas.
Fortunately where I go I always have service...Las Cruces N.M., San Diego, CA., Phoenix AZ

- Internet $40

-Insurance for my car I get minimum coverage $30

-Entertainment I watch movies online . I have a hulu account and its free. Movie theater entrance fee $8 a tub of popcorn and a drink $10, I can buy a cute shirt with that money.

Iceskating $7 it's fun, it's exercise, well worth it, hiking $7 entrance to the park all day entertainment.
-Drinking i spend $20 on drinks the entire night, not a big drinker and I like Guinness not Bud lite I go out drinking once every 3 mo.

-I don't have Credit cards and I don't write checks, i don't like the idea of paying an extra $30 on top of my spending if I accidentally go over my limit. I work too hard for my money to give it away like that.

-Health I see the Dr on campus, free except for lab work and medication but I get a discount at the campus pharmacy.