What are your top tips for managing your budget?

I like to use the envelope system for my monthly budgeting. Each envelope represents a different category (eg: rent, groceries, transport, entertainment, savings etc) and at the start of each month, I will put aside designated amounts of money for each category and spend accordingly. I record my spendings daily according to the category as well and at the end of the month, I will tally up what I have left for savings or what was insufficient in each category and re-budget for the next month. This will help me see clearly what I have spent, what spendings were necessary and what I could be managing my money better on.

My BIGGEST advice would be to cook your own food because eating out in Auckland can get expensive….but if you still choose to eat outside, do check out the uni social media pages for discounts that are offered to students and plan your meals according to when the offers are available!

1.Prioritize essential expenses such as rent, groceries, utilities, and transportation fee. 2. Shop smart. Comparison shop for major purchases and look for deals and discounts to save money.

I recommend setting up automatic payments for your main expenses, timed with the days you get paid. This helps to make sure those are covered immediately before planning out where the remaining funds should go

Save money by cooking going grocery shopping and doing your own cooking. You could even plan meals with your friends! If you need meal ideas, there are lots of recipes online to get you started. You may even learn how to re-create your favorite meals

Lastly, be sure to check out the local markets. You can find some really good deals there, and it can double as an outing with friends! I like to go to the Britomart Saturday Market to buy fresh fruits and vegetables for the week. It's a great way to explore the city and meet other locals