Tips for Organizing Your Pocket Book

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keeping your finances organized and in check can be a serious challenge, especially when nordstrom's semi-annual sale is calling your name and that trendy new restaurant down the street just opened. but as a frugal college student or recent grad living on a limited income, it is important to remember the reality of life's expenses. the best way to make sure you don't end up in the hole is to know how much you are spending, what you are spending your money on and how much you are making. from there, you can create a budget making sure you don't miss out on dinner with friends at that new restaurant and ensuring you can splurge on a new top every once and a while (especially when nordstrom's semi-annual sale is on :)

check out my template to make tracking your expenses easy.

even better, have the internet do it for you. mint is a great free and secure program that syncs your credit card and bank accounts.

to get you started, here is a list of things you should be tracking:

• Necessary Expenses
• things like rent, electric/cable bills and groceries
• Personal Expenses
• things like shopping and eating out
• Income 
• track what money you are bringing in and where it is coming from

i also like to keep and want | need list. this helps me keep my purchases in perspective and prevents me from blowing my money on something i don't really need. 

**please note i am no sort of financial expert, i just wanted to past on some of my observations from personal experience. hope it helps!**

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"i've never been a millionaire but i know i'd just be darling at it." --dorothy parker