Budgeting for your college apartment can be intimidating.
However, it is important to keep track of spending and make sure that you have enough to pay your rent. You wouldn’t want to run the risk of overspending in other areas and not having enough left over. And you still shouldn’t worry too much and stress yourself out.
Keeping track of your budget shouldn’t be an overly complicated thing. Subtract your monthly expenses from your monthly income and everything left over should be used for your living expenses. You’ll also want to make sure to leave yourself a buffer just in case you have some unexpected expenses.
You want to make sure to consider everything you spend your money on when planning your budget. Don’t forget things like groceries, gas or entertainment. If this is your first time paying for your own apartment it can be a little scary to think of all of these expenses along with your rent. But it’s much better to feel unsure than to not think about these things and not have enough money to pay your living expenses.
You’ll also want to remember pets or other expenses you would have to pay for. You could have extra expenses in your rent that may not be explicitly listed when you originally find your apartment. These kind of hidden expenses aren’t something you can let get the better of you.
Changing your budget, later on, is also an option if you realize that certain things are more or less expensive than you thought they were. Being aware of how much you’re spending is very helpful in avoiding not having enough money. If you just spend whatever you want without keeping track of your spending, it can quickly get away from you.
Keeping track of your budget and rent doesn’t have to be so scary. As long as you take note of what you spend your money on and give yourself enough of a buffer you should be safe. If you’re responsible you should have no problems.
Have any advice for keeping a budget? Let us know!
About the author:
Kathryn Hill was born and raised in Houston, Texas. She is a senior English student at Sam Houston State University. Kathryn has written for the blog and social media of the educational website Curriculum café.
Equal Housing Opportunity
