HOW I BECAME AN ADULT WITH MONEY

In second year of university, I went into my overdraft waiting for the new year's student loans to drop. I got a gruelling reality check when my sister who was barely a graduate had to pay back my overdraft for me. Even though in hindsight it wasn't an absurd amount, 800 GBP, having been a graduate once, this was a huge pressure to put on my sister and to this day I haven't forgotten the shame that surrounded me when I realised how easily it is to get into these situations without realising.

That year I got myself a zero hour contract job in the student union. I was grateful that I was able to earn whilst maintaining a social life, two leadership roles for societies, and my studies. That was also the year I started obsessively tracking every penny, where it came from, where it went, and how much can be saved. I started prioritising my money, mainly according to values instilled in me by my mother from a young age: money spent on education, experiences, sports, and anything to do with health is always guilt free, but anything that didn't fit into these categories, required budgeting and negotiating over a longer period of time.

Little did I know, the negotiation with myself when I want to make an "irresponsible" purchase like electronic upgrades, clothes shopping or the rarity where I want something non-functional, turned into friction for wanting those things. This meant sometimes I would be forking out over 100 on gym membership, and yet use a free promotional tote bag to carry my gym kit in.

A budget is simple. There are two variables and one equation: money in - money out = budget.

If your money in is limited, then your money out is equally limited.

Emotions aside, you can either spend time to max out your money in, or spend time to figure out where you can cut your money out, but the money out variable has a limit, therefore, the rational decision is to always invest in maximising your money in.

So, to save your time in minimising money out, I have a check list that I have collated over the years, that are by no means exhaustive but are easier things to do to save money:

• Connect uber app with avios

• Get an amex gold for free for the first year and use the benefits (threaten to leave after the first year sometimes can get you it for free again)

• Max out your ISA as it's tax free

• Max out the percentage contribution of your pension to match the employer's

• Change bank accounts to one that has interests on current accounts (I'm on Lloyds, referral link: )

• Region specific but I order all my groceries on Mondays via Deliveroo (5 off from amex gold, 50% off fresh produce offer)

• Fix your energy bills (usually works out cheaper over time)

To truly be good at budgeting, there is a mindset shift that everyone has to go through. You have to own your budget, make it yours, and yours only. So download the template, use it, change it, heck, delete it and rewrite it if you need to.

You own it, so the outcome is on you. These are harsh words, but I'm not trying to chatGPT you here, I'm speaking to you, human to human. Budgeting takes real commitment and ability to be completely candid and honest with yourself and your spendings.

Now, the kinder words I can give is that, one month's failure does not mean life failure. Let yourself loose once in a while, and then marvel at how loose you went (I once overspent by 2k, which was not detrimental but that was done in a single day…and I had 28 days to go in the month…), let the stress in for an hour or two, and then tell yourself it's ok, because you have a budget, and as long as you keep tracking, you will get back on the right path.