Is there a website, resource or template out there that can help me, a ...

Q:Is there a website, resource or template out there that can help me, a college student about to transfer to New York City, help manage my personal finance budgeting? How do I go about beginning to administer my money and my values in an agreeable way?

It?s great that you?re thinking about this before your move. ?Good job on that.

However, there are a couple of problems with trying to adhere to a strict budget in your situation. ?First, how are you going to stick to a budget if you aren?t sure what things actually cost? ?NYC is a pricey town, and you may be surprised to see how much something like bottle of shampoo can cost there. ?Second, budgets are like fad diets. ?People rarely stick to them, and often find themselves in a worse position after they fall off the wagon.

If I were moving to a new town, I would simply adopt a ?only buy what I really need at the lowest cost I can find? mentality for a month or two. ?This will help you establish a mindset for how much money you need?earn to maintain your minimal lifestyle there. ?So many people focus on how much they?re spending, but you should really be focusing on how much you?re earning first. ?If you have any money left over after those first couple of months, you?ll know that you can loosen up a bit.

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