1. No drink from fast food.... if I want, I bought it from somewhere else... Take out is the best.... Keep in fridge if you didn't eat it all...
2. Shopping is not recreation... Shopping is job.. I am always careful not to follow superficial necessaries.. Ask plastic sack (instead of paper) at grocery and reuse it for trash bin.... Never need to buy plastic sack...
3. I don't have car, mobile phone and cable TV... most students don't need those... You can also avoid phone line.. if your job doesn't need it...(you will find out that you can also save time a lot) Just have good internet speed connection... UTube, Skype,...etc.. you will save a lot
4. No balance on credit card... Use cash back... (never be tempted by reward gift cards which could lead extra spending).. Those are free money... But never use cash advance.. you are killing yourself..
5. Pay credit card balance online.. (no check.. no late problem).. directly from saving account (Note.. max. 6 withdrawals is allowed) ... just 5-10 days before due date.... $1000 in 5.36 APY (Amtrustdirect) per day is 14.67 cents.... "a penny saved is a penny earned"... If you get intro 0% purchase, pay min.. save the rest in saving account... until final due with interest..
If you use $1000 a month... (assume that you use linearly distributed through out the month... means $33.33 per day approx.) and pay back online after 10 to 15 days (20 days grace period)... you get about extra $4 in saving bank (5.36 APY)... + at least $10 cash back...
Extra.. Do not let your kids have a pet... Buy other stuffs regardless of expansiveness... believe me..
