[WVU alpha phi]

I've always been borderline obsessive about money, so I watch my spending and cut costs anywhere I can.

-Track EVERY penny spent. I have a notebook that is broken down monthly into categories (bills, gas, groceries, going out, food [not groceries], miscellaneous). I write down the date I bought something, what I bought, where I bought it, and how much it cost. I total everything up at the end of the month. It really keeps my spending in check, the first month I did it I realized I had spent $300+ eating out, so I've kept that around $100 since.

-Coupons and grocery shopping at WalMart. The closest grocery store to me is a Harris Teeter a mile away, and WalMart's about 10 miles, but HT is WAY too expensive. I save atleast $20 each time I go to WalMart.

-Entertainment book. It's worth it if you eat out a lot, like me and my boyfriend do. We get to try new restaurants and get good deals at the same time- we each got Italian Ice last weekend for only 43 cents!

-Packing my lunch versus going out. I bring a lunch 4 days a week and eat out one, and on that day I always go to Firehouse Subs for their employer appreciation day (you get free chips and a drink, saves $2).

-Going out one night a weekend. We do a lot more renting movies/drinking wine nights. Trader Joe's has $3 bottles of wine.