Money Sense

Tips for grocery shopping on a budget

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 14:53:58 +0000

Tips for grocery shopping on a budget Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 10/03/2024 - 08:53

Before you go grocery shopping, here are some tips to help you stay in your budget, maximize your time and eat healthy.

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4 ways to avoid overspending

Anonymous — Thu, 30 May 2024 16:27:24 +0000

4 ways to avoid overspending Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 05/30/2024 - 10:27

Health and Wellness Services

If you struggle with shopping, overspending or living above your means, you’re not alone. Here are a few tactics to reject consumerism and stop overspending.

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Low-cost date ideas on and off campus

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Feb 2024 19:44:59 +0000

Low-cost date ideas on and off campus Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 02/08/2024 - 12:44

There are many ways to have fun on a budget. Check out these low-cost date ideas for options both on campus and around Boulder.

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The college student’s guide to gifting on a budget

Anonymous — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 18:04:31 +0000

The college student’s guide to gifting on a budget Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 12/05/2023 - 11:04

Hope Muñoz

Hey Buffs, it's gifting season! Many college students have to budget their spending money, and this can be particularly challenging during the holiday season. Here are some ways to let your friends and family know you love them—without breaking the bank.

Photo album

A picture tells a thousand words. Show your loved ones how special they are by printing out some of your best photos and creating either a scrapbook or photo album. You can even caption the photos with a description of the memory.

Easy peanut butter cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar
1 cup peanut butter
1 egg

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Mix ingredients in a bowl.
Roll mixture into 1-inch balls and place them 1 inch apart on an ungreased, lined baking sheet.
Flatten each cookie with a fork, creating a criss-cross pattern.
Bake for about 10 minutes, or until cookie edges are firm.

Find the original recipe here.

Baked goods

Regardless of your own baking skills, getting a homemade treat is always appreciated. Visit your local grocery store for some boxed cake mix and frosting for a simple but delicious treat.

Or if you’re really feeling adventurous, challenge yourself to bake something from scratch! A simple recipe to try is three-ingredient peanut butter cookies.

Coupon book

Do you know anyone whose love language is acts of service? Coupon books are a classic way to give the gift of favors. Each homemade coupon can be redeemed for a special reward. Need some ideas? Here are a few suggestions:

One free late-night drive
One free movie night
One free venting session
One free study session

Handmade card or board game

Making a personalized game for you and a friend (or friend group) is a great way to bond over something customized and meaningful. Make sure to incorporate all your friends’ best qualities, references and inside jokes. Show your people how well you know them!

Friendship bracelets

Taylor Swift once said, “So, make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it.”

Whether or not your friend is a “Swiftie,” friendship bracelets can show how well you know them. Each piece of jewelry can be designed with a unique friendship in mind. You can use their favorite colors for beads and words that remind you of them, or them of you. Matching bracelets are also a great way to always stay connected.

Make a Spotify playlist

Were you excited to check your Spotify Wrapped this past week? Gift your friend a specially made Spotify (or Apple Music) playlist, just for them. When crafting their playlist, add in songs you know they love, think they may like or some that just remind you of them!

Your green gift guide

Non-traditional or reusable gifts can help leave a positive impact. Here are a few things to consider for a green holiday season.

Hand-written messages

Giving someone a hand-written note or letter can be a really heart-felt sentiment. Some ways to do this are:

Writing a poem
Giving them a story
Telling them all the things you love about them in a letter

If you want to go all out for your loved one, you can write in your best cursive and decorate the margins with glitter, doodles, stickers and whatever else your heart desires!

Painting

If you’re artistically inclined, making a work of art for someone you care about is a great gift to give. You may already have the supplies. Not a painter? A beautiful drawing can also suffice. You can even include their favorite colors, symbols and more into your masterpiece.

Write a song

Put your musical skills to good use by giving your companion a tailored song, written just for them. You can send it to them as an MP3 file or even perform it live, when the time comes.

Hit the dollar section

The dollar section usually has a mix of weird things, but sometimes you can score things your friends are bound to love. The more effort and thought you put into a budget friendly-gift, the more it is worth. Start with a bag or basket, and grab a few items you know your friend will love. Go to a local dollar or retail store and fill up the container with some less -expensive items. Some examples include:

Candy
Socks
Chapstick
Gum
Pens
Stickers

No matter what goes in your basket, your friend is sure to be appreciative of the thought you put into their gift.

Budgeting your spending money can be particularly challenging during the holiday season. Here are some ways to let your friends and family know you love them—without breaking the bank.

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4 money management tips for college students

Anonymous — Fri, 13 Oct 2023 13:38:25 +0000

4 money management tips for college students Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 10/13/2023 - 07:38

While being a college student can be financially stressful, learning to manage your money can empower you to feel more in control of your budget and financial future.

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Money-saving tips for your spring break

Anonymous — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 21:04:24 +0000

Money-saving tips for your spring break Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 03/15/2023 - 15:04

Spring break plans can get expensive. But you don’t have to extend your budget to have a good time. Whether you have a fun trip planned or are staying in the Boulder area, here are a few money-saving tips to help you enjoy your spring break.

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7 tips for creating an effective budget

Anonymous — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 16:13:13 +0000

7 tips for creating an effective budget Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 02/28/2023 - 09:13

Health and Wellness Services

Budgeting can be daunting, especially if it’s your first time managing your own finances. Here are a few simple steps you can take to create an effective budget.

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4 ways to fight inflation at the grocery store

Anonymous — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 20:32:55 +0000

4 ways to fight inflation at the grocery store Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 02/14/2023 - 13:32

Health and Wellness Services

Feeling the squeeze of inflation at the grocery store? Check out these budget-friendly tips from the registered dietitian nutritionists at Wardenburg Health Center.

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Making a budget in 5 steps

Anonymous — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 16:24:22 +0000

Making a budget in 5 steps Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 06/03/2020 - 10:24

Creating and maintaining a budget is a great way to help stay organized, pay bills on time and save for unexpected costs. Here are five steps to making a budget.

Start with your income

The first step to creating a budget is with your total monthly income, after taxes and other deductions. If you receive tips or commission and your paychecks aren’t consistent, base your income on your lowest paycheck so that any extra money that comes can be used for other things, such as increasing your savings or paying off credit card or other debt.

If you don’t have income right now but have an emergency savings account you can draw from, you can create a monthly allowance based on your expenses.

Save what you can

Create a section in your budget for savings, and set an ideal amount that you can reserve for savings each month. Your savings will help if there’s an emergency or if one or more of your bills increase unexpectedly. If you receive more tips or commission than usual, save that for future months when you might have more expenses.

Think about your expenses

Make a list of all of your expenses to better understand where your money is going. This could include things like:

Housing: rent/mortgage and utilities
Phone and internet
Food: groceries and dining out
Personal care: clothes, medical care, toiletries, hair cuts, etc.
Insurance: health insurance, car insurance, renter’s insurance, etc.
Entertainment: streaming services, apps, social events, gifts and travel
Loans: personal and student
Transportation: gas, car payments, public transportation

Categorize your spending and include the amount you need each month to cover all of your costs.

Track your spending

Find a way to track your spending that works best for you. This can be done with a spreadsheet, notebook/budget journal or financial app.

Mint is a free app that links to your financial accounts to help manage your budget and track spending. After creating your budget in Mint, the app updates your budget based on your spending. It will also send notifications if you are overspending or have a bill due.

Review your budget monthly

Look over your budget at the end of each month and see where you can make adjustments. For example, if you consistently have money leftover in your food category, consider allocating more into your savings instead. If you find yourself overspending in your food category, try these tips to save money on groceries.

Creating and maintaining a budget is a great way to help stay organized, pay bills on time and save for unexpected costs. Here are five steps to making a budget.

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4 tips for eating healthy on a budget

Anonymous — Wed, 20 May 2020 15:37:10 +0000

4 tips for eating healthy on a budget Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 05/20/2020 - 09:37

Health and Wellness Services

Eating healthy doesn’t mean you have to increase your budget. Get tips to help you stay on budget and eat healthier this year, whether you’re shopping in-store or online.

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