How to keep your budget!

New mascara or make up? Your nail polish is looking old and there is this new type of skirt on sale as well.  Have you ever been in a similar situation ?

Being a teenager  is hard in times when trends are advancing at tremendous speed and colleges are getting more expensive every year.` Here are some tips on how to keep your budget, keep up with fashion trends and still save some money for future needs.

 1. First become conscious of what you spend your money on each month . Make a simple list of what and how much you buy, what it costs and what you need it for. Then decide what things are of your greatest interest and which ones you can substitute for or live without.

Get creative! The secret is not to buy into every new trend, but to be able to make it on your own. For instance, why would you buy a short skirt if you are capable of shortening up your longer one?

2.Decide on the type and amount of clothing needed in each category based on the pieces you already have that are still usable.

3.  Watch your bank account.  If you don’t have one get to a bank and open one.  Seize  control of it, add some from each paycheck or allowance.

4. Decide on the type and amount of clothing needed in each category based on the pieces you already have that are still usable.

5. Find out whether you parents will provide you with things you necessarily need, if yes how much they will give you to spend?  Base your budget around that figure.

6. Whatever you are buying, wait for sales. They are going to happen.  Don’t be impatient!

7. Try to buy your clothes out of season, think of one perfect item you want and  plan to purchase the other ones on sale for the next season.

8. Plan your budget! Take your income, divide by 12 so you know the amount to spend for every month, subtract the amount for necessities (the amount you find out from your list you have made before) such as gas and snacks from each month. The rest is your budget! Put away your savings and then you will enjoy spending the rest knowing you can afford it.

9. You might want to wait few months until your savings grow and then you can buy something more expensive or, if you are a big shopper who simply just can’t walk out of the store with one thing, that way you would be able to buy more things at once!

10. Gas is expensive, don’t just drive around in your car.  Try to restrict your mileage, spending less on gas will give you more spending money.

Are you seeing the picture yet? Keeping down your spending and increasing your savings and you will be on your way!