Things To Do By 30, Challenge 3: Learn to Budget

3) Learn to Budget.

I am not excited about this challenge.  Mostly because I shouldn't be doing it now, at 26.  Utterly ridiculous.   But, I will confess that I want a second dog, and I need to save up for puppy and our future hobbies and needs, and that's just not going to happen unless I start budgeting.  And I hear money management is part of adulting....which don't I need to learn more about in general before 30??

So I got a calendar and wrote down all the due date for all the random things I have lurking in my life.  Loan payments, gas, electric, audible, rent, etc, etc.  I found out these crazy things, like if you want to split the expenses on two paychecks you have to set some aside from one because there are more due dates on the second.  Who knew?!  Well, Sherman said he did, but probably only because he's so particular about Greenie stashes and when they are restocked.

I also got one of those little books they make for the cards.  The ones that look like a checkbook ledger.  And I write in it now, or save my receipts to fill in there within at least a couple days.  A clerk at Safeway complimented this little book, so I know it must be part of proper adulting.

Also, here's to two blog posts on the same day after almost a year of silence.  Good thing I'm feeling far too smug about card booky to note down any complaints on the topic...

-Em