A student financial decisions.

This year has really been tough when it comes to managing and spending money. The prices of goods and services in the country have skyrocketed, and it feels like every week, something new becomes more expensive.

Adding to the stress is the fact that prices are so unpredictable. One day, you can afford something, and the next, it’s out of reach because the price has suddenly doubled. The country is becoming harder to live in with inflation hitting every corner of daily life. It feels like everyone is struggling to adjust, and I’ve had to become more disciplined with my money to make sure I don’t fall behind.

As a student, this has really been challenging because the cost of food has become nothing to write home about. Every visit to the school cafeteria now requires careful planning, and I’ve had to make some serious adjustments to the way I spend.

First of all, I’ve had to cut down my expenses. Normally, I would spend a lot of money on junk food because, honestly, I love eating snacks and small treats throughout the day. But with prices going up, that habit has become unsustainable. So, I’ve stopped buying junk food and now focus on buying solid meals that can last me from morning until night. These meals are more filling and cost-effective, and since I now eat just twice or even once a day, they help me stretch my budget and keep it in check. Before I go to the cafeteria everyday, I always do some calculations to make sure I’m only getting what I can afford without running into financial trouble later in the week. It’s not easy, but I’ve had to learn to prioritize what I really need over what I want.

Another big change I’ve made is learning how to save. Saving money has always been a struggle for me. I used to spend without tracking, and before I knew it, I couldn’t even account for where my money went. To fix this, I recently opened a separate bank account where I don’t have easy access to the funds. This way, I can put aside a portion of my pocket money without the temptation to spend it right away. I’ve also started keeping track of how I spend money each day, by writing down my expenses. This has helped me become more aware of my spending habits. Now, I know when I need to tighten up my budget or when I have enough money that has been left over for me to spend a little extra during the week.

All these changes have actually not been easy, but they’ve been necessary. The way things are going, I’ve realized that if I don’t get serious about managing my money now, it’ll only get harder in the future. I’ve learned a lot this year about prioritizing, saving, and being more mindful of how I spend, and while it’s been tough, I know these habits will pay off in the long run.

image is from Meta Ai