1. Figure out where your money is going.
The first thing you need to do is find out how you're spending your money. Do you buy Starbucks every morning? Do you go out to lunch often? Do you shop a lot? Does your bar tab tend to get out of control? Knowing where your money is going is half the battle- if you don't know how you're spending it, you won't know where the problem lies. Mint is a great website where you can sync your cards so your usage can be tracked. You can even set limits for yourself and receive alerts when you have exceeded those limits.
2. Take advantage of your meal card!
I have to leave for work every morning at 6:30, so I never get to eat breakfast in the cafeteria. Odds are you don't have to leave that early, so use your meals- you've already paid for them! Instead of going to Starbucks on the way to work, get your coffee from the cafeteria- they brew Starbucks AND I believe the basic brews are cheaper.
Another great option is the Meal Swap. The UC cafeteria has a lit display in the corner containing an array of sandwiches, fresh fruit, and salads- it's a great way to cut your lunch budget and eat healthier! For the cost of one meal, you can take the following:
- One sandwich
- A fresh fruit bowl or a salad bowl
- A 20 oz bottled drink
- A bag of chips
- One piece of fresh fruit
Odds are that you don't use the 14 meals you're entitled to each week, so you might as well get some free lunches out of it!
3. Set a spending limit at the bar
It's so easy to set up a tab at a bar and drink for the entire night..until you see the bill and notice you've spent more than you wanted to. The solution here is to have a spending limit and carry that much cash on you. Only want to spend $30? Fine- only carry $30 on you and pay for all of your drinks and cover with cash. Once you run out of money, you're done. If you need to take a cab home, feel free to use plastic.
4. Shop with a Wish List
If you can't afford it, don't buy it. If it's not something you urgently need at the time, don't buy it. If it's not something you can get outside of Chicago, don't buy it....yet. Shopping in Chicago is a pretty intense experience in and of itself, and getting wrapped up in the atmosphere is enough to make you want to buy everything in sight. Keep a cool head and ask yourself if it's something you can't hold off purchasing until later. In case you have to get it after you leave Chicago, make sure to get the item number so you can reference it later. Even many of the smaller Chicago stores have online stores and/or can process purchases by phone. Just throw the item on your Wish List for the time being and get it later!
5. Find it on the cheap..or free
The boom on Groupon has made it so easy to find high quality goods and services for a fraction of the cost. Groupon and its competitors always have deal on concerts, movies, sporting events, haircuts, and day spas- just to mention a few. Before purchasing something at full price, check out Groupon Chicago and see if you can find what you're looking for at a ighly discounted price.
Also check out free events through Metromix Chicago, Not for Tourists, and TimeOut Chicago- if your wallet is light, they're sure to have suggestions!
With just four weeks left, it's important that stay afloat financially. There are plenty of great events still to be announced, and we'd like for you to attend as many as you can!
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