How to curve spending

[b3nx]

I have always enjoyed spending and having fun, but I am a 22 year old nurse who won't graduate until I am 25 I spent my younger younger years in retail managment, now I ended my relationship because she was too demanding and was costing me a fortune, I have an income of 800 a week as I am getting paid to study for 3 months then I will have to work partime around my studies, I just love spending and I don't have much debt just my car loan, I never owned a credit card ever and have about 1500 saved just in case, I worried that wasting my money I setting up a savings account but I still want to enjoy my life or should I be more strict?

[Phatphoeater]

Since I'm new here, I hesitate to give any specific advice. However, having been a professional student until a few years ago, the single biggest personal finance skill I learned was to live within my means. I think you are starting from a strong place if you don't have credit card debt as that seems to be the major hurdle folks fresh out of college often face.

I think the first place to start though is with an emergency fund which should have enough to cover 3-6mos of necessary expenses. Once you've got that funded, then the real fun of figuring out what to do with your money begins.

[disneysteve]

You need a budget, a spending plan. Without one, you're driving blind, and that's never good. List your income and expenses, breaking those down into wants and needs. Included in the needs column should be savings, ideally 20% of income. Don't save "what's left" each month because nothing is ever left. Save first and spend what's left. Do that and you'll be fine.