A few months ago, I went on this strict budget to save a lot of money. When I say “strict,” I mean the restricting and constricting kind. I wouldn’t let myself spend ANY money. I even sold a $15 gift card to a coworker for $10, just so I had money to splurge on lunch, without dipping into my savings. Crazy, huh? I soon realized this is not how to start a budget and stick to it.

About a month later, I completely broke out and went on a shopping spree. (Let me just end that there and not mention how much I spent.) I’ve learned a few things since that time in terms of important components for a successful budget:

Be Reasonable

This is the main key to how to make a budget you will stick to. Take it from me, restricting yourself too much has negative effects. Here’s what I do:
 

1. I calculated how much money I had left after clearing my monthly must-pay bills.
2. I gave myself an “allowance.” This is based on how much I know I can’t help to spend & how much I’m willing to let myself spend. It’s a bit tricky – you have to be completely honest with yourself.
3. Then I gave myself a leeway of $20.

That’s my process on how to set up a successful budget. It involves really understanding your own finances, which might be scary for some people. But it’s necessary to building a solid budget that you will keep.

Go Shopping

You have to reward yourself. Remember not to restrict yourself too much. I try to save as much money from my “allowance” as I can so that I can buy more without going over my budget. But I make sure to cut costs while doing it comfortably. Here are some tips on saving money without really noticing you’re doing it:
 

• Make Your Own Coffee – I keep a container of instant coffee in my drawer at work. This saves me about $7.50 each week, more or less. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but it adds up!
• Always Have Granola Bars - So, they aren’t chocolates, but they do keep your hunger under control. Plus, there are different types – sweet, salty, nutty, chocolate-covered, etc. I can give into my cravings without having a daily meeting with the vending machine (which is only 30 seconds away).
• Carpooling - My friends & I usually drive to places together. This definitely saves us gas. Plus, if it’s paid parking, we split it evenly.

So my main tip on how to start a budget and stick to it is to find your comfort zone. I haven’t broke this new budget plan once since I started, and I hope it works for you too!

Fiona

New online coupons added today:

• Michael Stars - They’re known for their fitted tees, but you’ll also find sweaters, dresses, bottoms, activewear and more here. Enjoy free shipping on any order over $150 thanks to Michael Stars coupons.
• Online Fitness - Take a step on the healthy path! Online Fitness carries home fitness gear, supplements, camping tools, sports equipment and other fitness essentials. Top brands include adidas, Burton, Columbia, Oakley and more. Apply Online Fitness coupons for free shipping on orders over $75.

If you’ve seen The Rock, Bullitt or Dirty Harry, then the steep streets of Nob Hill will look familiar.  Whenever a film calls for a car chase in Frisco, it usually ends up in Nob Hill.

Resist the urge to go bombing downhill – you’re going to want to slow down and enjoy the view.  From the top of Nob Hill, you can see all around the San Francisco Bay.

But it’s not all pretty views – Nob Hill also boasts some of the top hotels in town.  Make your reservations through Orbitz and get the guaranteed lowest rate on your stay.  Plus, take an additional 10% off with Orbitz coupons for Nob Hill San Francisco hotels.

InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco

• Electronic communication system puts temperature, lighting & housekeeping at your fingertips
• 24-hour fitness center with flat-screen TVs & DVD players
• On-site restaurant serving uniquely Californian cuisine

Fairmont San Francisco

• Every room features a marble bath, pillowtop mattresses, MP3 docking stations & opening windows
• 2 restaurants & 2 lounges on-site for greater variety
• Penthouse Suite available with balcony for a stunning view of the Golden Gate Bridge

The Westin St. Francis San Francisco

• Tower Rooms boast large bay windows, while Historic Building Rooms feature high ceilings & chandeliers
• Spa treatments available in your room
• Garage parking available with in & out privileges

Tell Me What’s Going On

The Story at San Francisco Playhouse (March 18 to April 25)

Nob Hill’s own San Francisco Playhouse hosts the West Coast premier of playwright Tracey Scott Wilson’s The Story.  Based on a true story, this play takes audiences on a reporter’s quest for the ultimate scoop on a murder story that may cost her more than her life.

If you miss out on this limited-run event, don’t worry: Barnes and Noble sells paperback copies of the play.  And if you enjoy The Story, explore other intellectually stimulating avenues of expression such as Art House films.  Get 40% off hundreds of Art House DVDs with Barnes and Noble coupons!

I’m single.

And know what? I’m OK with it. The only part that isn’t so fun is budgeting. It’s tricky trying to juggle rent, car payments and groceries on one income, but I’ve got a few tips up my sleeve and I’m ready to dish.

Cooking meals for one is a little tricky. So don’t! I like to cook for two or three then freeze the leftovers. Leftovers also make excellent lunches, so it’s easier to fight the temptation to eat lunch out.

But if you love the variety of different meals, look for cookbooks catering to cooking for one person. Use Indigo Books & Music coupons to pick up a few at a discount. Check out titles like Simply Single: No Fuss Recipes for Single Cooks by Pamela Le Bailly. She goes beyond just the ordinary can of soup and offers some creative ideas for leftovers.

A great tip for a seasoned single shopper is to make a list before you set foot out the door. Food shopping for one takes planning if you want to save coin. Flip through the flyers to see what’s on sale, and remember to stick to the list. Those extra bags of cookies and frozen pizzas you buy on the fly can sure add up.

Don’t buy lots of perishables – they’ll just go bad. Instead, try frozen veggies, rice and low-priced protein like eggs. These ingredients are inexpensive, healthy and you’ll be surprised how far a bag of rice can go!

And remember: the best part about cooking meals for one? You get to make what YOU want. Yums!

When I was growing up, my family and I would plant strawberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, and all sorts of flowers in our backyard. It was a joy to watch them grow from seed to flourishing plant. And I’ll never forget how good those tomatoes smelled and tasted! Mmm!

Try your hand at reaping what you sow, and pick up everything a green thumb needs! Save money using the free Gardener’s Supply Company coupons until April 16 to get 10% off orders of $75 or more!

Here are Atomica’s picks:

• Seascape Strawberries - Whether you use them in shortcakes or sprinkle them on cereal, they’re delicious & add a nice punch of color
• Columnar Apples - Make the most of small spaces with a fruit-bearing tree that grows narrow & tall
• Blushing Bride Hydrangea - Beauty marries purity in a blossom match that is heavenly

And these are great garden additions that make it easier on you:

• Super Slim Lightweight Hoses - Stop lugging around those big ones when this weighs approximately 50% less
• Lawn Aerator Sandals - These are for your heels what Wolverine’s blades were for his knuckles. Simply walk with these to loosen up compacted soil
• Super Shovel - The serrated edge resembles shark teeth to help you dig deeper even quicker
• Eco-Smart Work Gloves - These tough (yet comfy) gloves are made from recycled soda bottles, so they’re good for the earth & provide great protection for your hands
• Beneficial Bugs - Instead of using harsh chemicals to control pests, introduce ladybugs & praying mantises that help manage aphids, beetles, spidermites & more

Create a visual masterpiece in the backyard or just plant practical veggies with the help of Gardener’s Supply Company. No matter what you choose to do, at least you’re digging up the dirt in the garden instead of digging up the dirt on pretentious celebrities.