How a College Student with Discipline Budgets Her Money

Budgeting is not exactly what you would assume it to be in most scenerios. Budgeting barely exist in America anymore, but thats beside the point. I am a college student in Maryland at Towson University. I am a full time student with major goals and some money but I have learned the easiet yet most difficult way to survive in college.

First let me explain my situation,basically in summary the way I budget myself every school year. I received about 20,000 dollars in financial aid money plus loans for the whole year. I paid my tuition fee with 5,000 dollars. Leaving 15,000 dollars. OK ...when you are in college you pay tuitions per semester in case of those who are not aware. So I have stored 5,000 dollars for the next semester bill in my school account....Ok ..You are wondering what happens to the other 10,000 dollars after I paid for my tuition.

Well, like I said I am a full time college student; who is a active member of many organizations on campus and I do not live on campus or drive. With these conditions it is almost impossible for me to work. So here is how I spend my 5,000 dollars per semester (the exciting part). Okay I do not live on campus so I rented a studio apt in downtown Baltimore by myself. This apartment cost me $545.00 which includes the water bill so I have to pay gas and electric. Basically I budgeted this to be about 650 dollars total per month. Note: I have 4 months in the apt per semester. Therefore I need to multiply 650 times 4 which equals 2,600 dollars. Now I have 2,400 dollars left for this semester. I have a medical insurance and a cell phone which equals about 500 dollars a month equaling for 4 months 2,000 dollars. So I have 400 dollars left out of my 2,400 dollars. I save 300 dollars for emergency leaving 100 dollars for me to spend for four months. This 100 dollars is for my bus transportation for the four months and remember I only estimated money in whole number meaning I have some extra change left here and there...this I use for food and necessary items for my apt.