Quote Originally Posted by olstyn View Post
How often do you and your GF go out to dinner? It costs a LOT more to go out than to cook for yourself. When you do go out, drink WATER - soda, beer, and mixed drinks are pure profit for restaurants. It is not worth $2.50 for a glass of soda or $5+ for a beer.

Gas is expensive - make sure your tires are properly inflated and that you're not carrying any unnecessary weight in your car and you'll use less of it.

Cigarettes are expensive - if you smoke, quit. Not only will you save money, you'll cough less, smell better, and not get lung cancer/emphysema. (Assuming $5/pack and 1 pack/day habit, quitting saves you $1825/year!)

Alcohol is expensive - if you drink a lot and/or you go out to bars, reduce the amount you drink and quit going out to bars. For the price of a beer at a bar, you can get a 6-pack to drink at home.

Basically, it amounts to figuring out what you really NEED, and what you just WANT. Cut the budget down to only the needs, see what's left, money-wise, and then assess which of the wants you can and can't afford while still saving at least a little bit of money. Even if you're only putting away $50-100/month, it'll add up quickly. (Good on you for postponing the tat until you can actually afford it, BTW.)
Good points. Also idk about other states but the CHEAP cigarettes in CT are like $7 a pack. Newports are like almost $9 a pack i think lol.