How to dress your new age!

So now you are out of college, with a closet full of clothes from Hollister and Abercrombie that push your boobs up and out. You are suddenly at a new stage in life and need clothes to match this stage. This is a blog that may help with your decisions when you get up in the morning. As you go shopping, try to pick out clothes that you can wear day to day and at work. This would mean less laundry and less clothes- less money! Also, I do not have the best fashion sense, so do not base your wardrobe 100% on your blog. This is just what I am going for. Here are two fashion on a budget blogs I follow: The Budget Fashionista and The Budget Babe. Also, Shop Style is a great website for style. It has a lot of clothes that are several hundred dollars, but if you adjust your search results you will find some great bargains! 

• Tops: Button up shirts are definitely more grown up. A satin button-up blouse paired with dark wash jeans and black pumps, or a white button-up blouse paired with dark wash skinny jeans and brown boots look great. Also, slight hints of lace are nice. Such as lace on the shoulders. Guys have it a little easier. Day to day guys look fine in a nice t-shirt. But going out at night, once again a button up shirt. The photos below were taken from forever21 (female) and hudson belks (male).

• Bottoms: Dark wash jeans are always great (at least in the past few years). You ladies should have some skinny (for boots) and some flair (for heels). Also, destroyed jeans have been fashionable for awhile now. On men, tighter (not like cowboy tight, but not sagging) slightly destroyed jeans look good. Now, the jeans that I am describing are the jeans that are $100 plus. I bought a pair of big star jeans that start at $90 and only go up for $45 from plato's closet! Go check out here, especially for jeans! The female stirrup jeans (great for boots) are from wet seal. The other two are from buckle. 
  

• Shoes: To me, the most adult shoes for women are heels. There are great heels that aren't very high. I would say at least get black pumps. It takes awhile to get your feet, back and knees used to wearing heels all the time, so don't wear them to the mall your first day. I would actually suggest breaking in new shoes while drunk. I would also suggest brown boots. Beyond this, be careful! Color shoes take practice. Luckily, flats are very in style right now, so wear these as much as possible! But I still like my heels (there is a reason guys like them: they make your butt and boobs stick out the way they make you stand). As far as guys, no more tennis shoes! Never! Always dress shoes. The women's shoes should be simple enough, but I have included a pair of nice mens day to day shoes below from Belks (although I believe this may be a North Carolina based store). 
  

• Make-up: This is only for girls (sorry, you emo boys may be attractive to some girls, but in my opinion, not the sign of a mature 20 something- to each his own though)! Natural. I cannot say this enough, go natural! By this I mean don't wear bright blue and green faded eye shadows unless you want dollars in your g-strings. Use browns and blacks, earthy tones. Use light to medium browns during the day, and light, medium, and dark browns and a little black at night. The smokey look is very in right now. Here is an example of great smokey eyes. Tone it down during the day, but this is great for night. And don't expect for it to look perfect the first time! Try it out on your own, and tweak it until you create a look perfect for you! 
• Nails: This is for girls and guys! Keep your nails trimmed, or at least smooth. Do not bite your nails! Let's get specific: Guys: your nails should be trimmed, below or at the end of your finger. You don't need a manicure, but it is nice to keep a manicure kit hidden away. This goes for your toes, too! Clean your feet! Trim your toenails! Girls: Don't have those crazy long nails! It's not hygienic or professional. Or crazy nail colors! Natural nails or fake keep them just past the tips of your fingers, and keep your colors nice. Reds and pinks, or french tips. Either way, you wear nice clothes, clothes that could get pulls and runs if hang nails get snagged. Always carry a nail file, because you never know what happens! 
• Don't forget! Accessorize! Putting thought into your outfits will show maturity and professionalism. Not only necklaces and earrings, but the appropriate shoes and belts. And even jackets. Just because it's 50 degrees outside doesn't mean you can't wear a nice jacket over it. If one item in your outfit is nice, all the items should be. As you buy outfits plan them out, don't just hope you will find something that goes with it, because you may not! It's better to regret buying something for a season than to buy something and run out of money, and then never even wear it!

Dressing your age is very important. At 23, trying to be an adult also means looking like an adult. If you are anything like me and do not look your age (I am constantly mistaken for a high school student, college at best) it is even more important to dress my age. Not everyone feels like dressing up everyday, I constantly have days where I run out in sperry's and a t-shirt, but the way I see it, you never know who you will see that you want to impress (your boss, an attractive member of the appropriate sex...) so it is important to dress the way you want to be perceived. These are just suggestions based on the fashion I see and I like, but fashion is different everywhere and with everyone. I would suggest not dressing totally for someone else, you should always be comfortable and confident in your clothes! 

Relaxation!!!

After a long day of work, or a bit of drama, everyone needs to relax. Increased or constant stress can harm us, and it is best to find something to do that will help us relax. 

• Exercise: If anyone ever angers you, either at work, in a friendship or a relationship, having it out with them when you are still angry can only cause more problems. If they are trying to talk to you, explain to them that you are angry, and are afraid of what you may say. Then go take your frustrations out on gym equipment that won't take anything out on you. 
• Television series: If you have a very stressful job, think of something you can look forward to. Record a tv series every day and then when you come home turn it on. It will give you something to look forward to every day! I watch Desperate Housewives on Lifetime. At least where I'm from it plays at 12 and 1 everyday. It's already several seasons in, so you can either wait for it to start back over, or rent them to catch up.
• Movies: Have a good stock of chick flicks (or action movies, depending on your preference. You could always rent a movie, but having one already at home is easier. Target and Wal-mart often have dozens of movies that they switch out that are only about $10, but these movies are usually a few years old. Go home, put on a comfy outfit, pop in your dvd and watch a great movie.
• Books: Get a good girly book (Nicholas Sparks is great and constantly writing) and curl up and just read. Movies are great because they take us away from reality, but books do the same! And they take longer to get through. A good movie takes a few hours to get through. But a book usually takes days, sometimes weeks to read. You get more connected with the characters. 
• Bubble bath: Take a lovely, candle lit bubble bath. Put some candles on the side of the tub and around the bathroom. Put some bubble bath in. As far as scents, lavender is very relaxing. Get a washcloth, wet it and put it on your forehead. It will cool off quickly and it will feel really good. Play your favorite slow songs (create a playlist). Afterwards, get dressed in something comfy and play your favorite girl empowering songs and dance around! 
• Clean! Often time when you get mad at people or a situation, you don't feel as though you are getting anything done. If you clean, you will feel very accomplished and empowered once you are done. Getting something done will help clear your head and may help with the original situation. 
• Eat! Everyone has a comfort food, usually expensive and fattening fast food. Do what you want (EAT!) because holding yourself back will only cause more stress. But, make it yourself, and alter it! Making it yourself with save money, and it will give you a sense of accomplishment. Alter it so that it is less fattening! If you really like burgers, get a George Foreman grill that drains the grease- healthier! If you like asian cuisine, learn how to make it yourself. This stuff can get really expensive, but I love it! So I will be posting recipes that cut the costs! 

Relaxation is very important! Stress can cause harm on your body and it is important to relieve the stress. If you are ever fighting with a friend, coworker or significant other, explain to them that you don't want to say something you don't mean, and then do one of these for a little while. Or if you just have a hard day at work, give one of these things a try! 

A fresh month

It's getting to be the end of January, we are all about to begin February. Think of this as a fresh start. Think of each new month in this! I know it is only the second month of the year, but I have read studies that say that the majority of New Year's Resolutions have already been given up by now. Don't wait for next year to make new ones. You could do so much damage by waiting around for the next time for resolutions. Make new ones at the beginning of each month! Here's some of what I'm talking about

Budgeting!!!! 

• Credit Cards! I know I have said they are great in the past. Let me clarify how to use them in a good way. Get a credit card with a low limit!!!!! like $500 low. Pay this off every few days and write these amounts in your registrar!!!!!! Don't get a huge credit card unless and carry it around for emergencies, then on a shopping spree! 
  
• Pay off Credit Cards! Let's say you have already maxed out several credit cards, as I'm sure some people have, and are thousands of dollars in debts. Or let's say you are in debt because of school. The simplest piece of advice would be to take it one day at a time, and set aside as much as you can. Get professional help if you are far in debt. The more professional, the more expensive, but the more they can help. But even if you are making enough to live a fairly cushy lifestyle, cut your expenses significantly, budget wisely, and pay off your payments fast to get a better credit score! And don't forget! Those minimum payments may only cover your interest, you may not actually be making a dent in what you owe! 
• Budget week by week! Set aside the right amount of money for your set expenses in the beginning of the month: rent, utilities, insurance, payments... The rest is for your changing expenses: food, clothes, entertainment... Divide the money into 4 (for four weeks in a month) and spend this amount each week, but no more. If you have problems (like I do) try withdrawing this money and spending cash each week. Then once you run out, you run out and don't spend anymore. 
• Keep looking! Keep the cost of all your bills out, and their due dates! Make sure they are all paid in full on time. Some you can even pay in advance! Make sure you have enough for all of your bills, because this is the most important thing. You may be living paycheck to paycheck for a few years (hopefully you then get that huge promotion, or that huge wedding ring...) and you can finally move up in life. But you can't if you have bad credit. 
• Save! The economy :-(. It's not doing well, as everyone hears about daily, but it's the truth. I have heard that it should be doing better by the summer, but you never know. Keep your portfolio and resume ready just in case. And keep some money set aside to get you through if something does happen. It is wise to keep at least 2 months saved up, of daily living expenses. I've heard as much as 9 months should be saved up. But do what you can. Because once your income goes, you can't really do anything. 
• List! Make a list of everything you WANT! This is help you save for these things instead of blowing it on spur of the moment small purchases! Put on there your barstools, and those hot $150 jeans your dreaming of! (Or maybe this is just my list) But make a list, and maybe put pictures up in a few strategic places to entice you to save up! 

Health!

• Exercise! It's never too late to start exercising! Don't be ashamed to exercise. What's the worse that could happen? People make fun of you? No one will! Esp not in a crowded gym! They would get their butts kicked by all the in shape people! You fall off the treadmill? I've done it! Maybe that hot nice guy will see you and realize you're human and check to make sure your ok! Its better to do it now, than 20 years and 40 pounds later! 
• Eat healthy! It's cheaper first of all! Think about how much you spend at McDonald's or Moe's everytime you go. Then think about how much you would spend on a casserole, and how many servings you would get out of it. Also think about how much healthier this is. Everything for lasagna is about $30 (this one is a bit expensive). I usually get about 8 servings out of it, this is less than $4 a serving. And most of the things that go into it you already have! 
• Vitamins! Take a multivitamin everyday made for women (or men if you are a man). This will give you an extra boost that will help you out. It only takes a minute to take and you will feel much better! 

Personal

• Job! Now I'm not going to tell you to quit your job, esp in this economy. But I will tell you to do something to improve it! If you don't like your position, think about what you could do to get a promotion. If you actually dread coming into work, begin putting your portfolio together so that you can be ready if another position comes up. But stay realistic. Don't expect to become the CEO anytime soon if you just graduated from college. 
• Relationships! This goes for both romantic and friendship. Relationships are a two way deal, each side has to give and take. Make sure you listen to all of your friends! And make sure they are listening to you. If you think you aren't getting what you deserve, talk to your friend. It's better than blowing up at them down the road. Getting your feelings out may create a tense situation, but think about how tense a situation would be if you blew up at her during brunch because she's going on and on about her stupid dog (not a real life event hopefully) 

Think of each new month as a new beginning, and do what you can to improve yourself. Most peoples New Years Resolutions don't last but a few weeks, an average of 3. Think about if you did this for 3 weeks each month. If you ate well, budgetted well, and exercised for 3 months out of the month? That's 3/4's of the year you would be doing good, instead of 3/52's. Who knows, it may even become a constant habit! 

How to go grocery shopping

Grocery shopping is something everyone has done by the time they are our age. Most of us have done serious grocery shopping by now. This blog will give you more tips and tricks to going grocery shopping effectively, and hopefully not have to make another trip out an hour later.

• Make a list: Through the week write down things you need as you run out of them. This is most easily done on a dry erase board you can keep on your fridge, or somewhere else easily accessible. Then, on your grocery shopping day transfer this to your list! As for the rest of the list, it would be best to plan out your menu for the next week, to save gas on multiple trips a week. Write down all the ingredients you may need and buy them then. 
• Make a menu: At the beginning of each week write a menu for the rest of the week. Add these things to your list. Include, or don't include, date nights. I listen to Cosmoradio on Sirius, and they talked about one girl who would arrange her dates in the beginning of the week and then write her menu to save money. 
• Take your list! Make sure you make a list and take it with you! Otherwise, you may forget something. Organize your list based on your grocery store, to avoid having to double back. 
• Coupons!  Before you go, gather up your coupons. Check expiration dates, and pick up staple items that are about to expire even if you don't need them. I'm talking about paper towels and tissues, not chicken broth. 
• Eat! Don't go to the grocery store hungry. At least buy some fast food on your way, if you really have no food at home. Otherwise you may buy things that look good, but that normally you wouldn't actually buy.
• Check prices! Buy the less expensive brand, unless you really like a certain brand and are willing to pay extra. But things like rice, buy the store brand. 
• Check expiration dates! Before you buy something, check the expiration date. Think about when you plan on using it, and try to figure out if it will be used before the expiration date. 
• Double check your list! Before you leave, run back through your list and check for everything. Make sure you got everything you needed. 
• Pull out your card! I usually save dollars, as much as $10, just on food for me between my coupons, and my membership card. They usually don't sell your info (I have about 10 different cards and have never gotten anything, but I have heard some do), they just want to know what you buy. So make sure you have one to every grocery store you may shop at.

Make sure you bring you list everytime you go shopping! It will be your life saver. And if you don't know what you want to get because your new to grocery shopping (like me) base it on what you have coupons for. 

Decorating on a Budget

Since writing this post I have had a lot of new experiences in decorating and a lot more advice. In addition to this post I would encourage you to read other posts such as Making a House a Home for additional information on decorating on a budget.

When you first move out on your own, you often have only what you used to decorate your dorm or prefurnished apartment in college, sometimes you childhood furniture. But this is usually not enough to decorate an entire apartment. On top of having no decorations, you generally have no money. This blog will help you in your quest to create a comfortable place to live that you love showing off to your friends!

• Roommate: If you have a roommate, you have an additional income, but also additional taste, that hopefully matches. But it would not be wise to purchase a major item to decorate the common areas of the apartment without consulting your roommate, or without a returnable receipt. Also, make sure all the items you purchase you really do like, and don't just go with this decorating theme, because once you two separate, which will happen one day, you have to decorate your next apartment or house with these items.
• Paint: Few things will make your apartment more unique and comfortable than painting it. If you can, getting a professional painter will be best, but make sure the carpets are covered if you do it yourself. Also, check to make sure the apartment allows this. At mine, if it's a dark color I have to put a layer of primer before I move out, but many complexes repaint the walls anyway before the next tenant.
• Stores: There are a lot of stores out there that sell a lot of decorating items geared towards people our age that are less expensive (and often less quality). Target is one. Target is constantly changing what's on their sales floor. But they have everything you may need. Some more are Bed Bath and Beyond, and Linens N Things (if one is still open around you, they are going out of business). What would not be suggested is to order furniture online. The S&H would probably be $100 plus, and you could go to a nice store and buy really good furniture for the price of this S&H. I would suggest going to the stores and picking it up yourself, maybe even renting a UHaul for a few hours and driving it yourself if you or a friend don't own a big SUV or truck. Great furniture stores would be IKEA, Ashley furniture, and Rooms to go. Especially right now, many places have low or no interest for a long time.
• Second-hand: Much second-hand furniture is second hand for a reason, because it is no longer stylish, but there are things to be done about this. Goodwill and other stores have furniture for very low prices. Also try yard sales and flea markets. Sometimes you can find antiques that look great. And you can often haggle with these guys. To spruce up wood, try painting it, especially white. If it has doors that are missing glass, or the glass doesn't look good, take the glass out and put lace in instead. As for couch's and chairs, buy slip covers. If you are not a smoker, smell it very closely, because a smoker may have owned it previously and it's nearly impossible to get that smell out.
• Creativity: Getting creative is the best way for you to decorate on a budget.
• Hang your necklaces on the wall. It's easy storage, and it decorates your bedroom. Add a mirror and write on it using dry erase markers.
  
• Buy some fabric you like and hang it as curtains. Hang panels of it! Borrow a sewing machine from a friend and simply fold over the edges to keep them from fraying. Then take scraps about two inches wide and about six inches long, fold the edges, and then fold them in half and sew them along the top to actually hang with.
• Buy posters, and then buy really inexpensive poster frames and hang these. From a distance they look really good.
• Keep it simple, but use color. Having things everywhere looks tacky. Putting a picture frame or two on a side table, a candle set on your coffee table, just a few things makes it look put together. But decide on a theme, and try to stick to this theme.
• Look up apartment websites such as Rental Decorating Digest and Apartment Living for more ideas. These ideas will cater to apartment living, with non permanent decorating ideas.

I hope this helps in your quest making your apartment your own. It is very important to feel at home once you get home. It helps you unwind from work or shopping. Do everything you can to decorate your apartment the way you want to, but don't go out a max out your credit card. You may have a relaxing place to live, but that will change once your bill comes!

Organize your life

I have spoken with some friends and have come to discover that one of the most frightening things about being independent involves organization. Many people are afraid that there will be issues paying bills, and also organizing doctors appointments. The key to each of these is organization!

Bills

• A desk! Have a set place to pay your bills. A desk would be best, but a plastic drawer set beside your dining room table would work as well. Just make sure you keep everything together. You need several things around here:
  
• Bills: You need a special place to put your bills. I have a divider at the corner of my desk that holds my bills, and as soon as I walk in (and open to look at the damage and due date) I put them here. As soon as you get a bill go ahead and pay it so you don't forget. Make sure you also have stamps here, because bills do not provide them.
  
• Due dates: If you think you'll forget to pay your bills, post a list of due dates and the cost of your bills. I have mine on a dry erase board on the wall beside my desk. I have the bill, the cost (or the last cost for thing such as electric) and the due date. Then I write the date they were paid to make sure I got this months and it has been paid. 
  
• Save them! Once you have paid your bills put the invoice and anything else that came in the envelope back in the envelope. My checks come with a carbon copy and so I save this in here which has the date and amount. I have an accordion folder and I keep all of my bills in here. 
  
• Savings: As you do your bills, think about a savings account as another bill. When you pay your bills, transfer a set amount of money (maybe just $50 or $100 a month) and put it away for unplanned things, such as a car accident or medical bills. If you can't do this, get a credit card just for these. You will have to pay interest, but you won't have to worry about being indebted to someone else, just a credit card company! But don't keep this card in your wallet. Hide it, and only take it out if you have an EMERGENCY! (And a $500 dress on sale for $300 is not an emergency)

Appointments

Most people who live with their parents, have the luxury of simply being told when a doctors appointment is, not having to actually call the doctor, and remember a doctors appointment is coming up.

• Appointment book! Make sure you buy an appointment book, or use your phone to consolidate. Write down all of your appointments! Your work appointments, your friends appointments, your doctors appointments. Anything you say you will do needs to be official. It will help you remember appointments, and also look forward to fun appointments.
• Here is a list of when you should visit your doctors:
• Dentist: every 6 months
• General practitioner:  once a year
• Gyno: once a year
• These do not count if you have a special condition. Ask your doctor (or your parents who have been scheduling these appoints) and write these down as well.
• Also, if you get sick and don't get better, go to a doctor. If it is just a sore throat that won't go away after a week or more, go to urgent care. If it doesn't go away after you see urgent care, or if you have more serious symptoms, go to your general practitioner. Don't run to the doctor everytime you get sick. Most things can be fought if you give it a few days, just manage the symptoms with meds when you need them. Also, health insurance goes up the more you go to the doctor. 
• I would suggest writing down the date of each of your last visits, and the approximate date of your next visit, or else schedule it in advance. Write this down in your planner, or post it on a bulletin board at your desk.

Don't only write down your work and doctors appointments, write down everything! Write down your fun appointments with friends and significant others, it will give you something to look forward to. 

• Friends: Make sure you see at least one friend a week. In the beginning of the week schedule this day so that you will have something to look forward to. But as the new person at your job, you are often very busy. But make sure you make time each week to see a friend. If you are tired, simply sit around and watch tv with them. Or go to a bar. But make sure you write this down in your planner to make it just as official as work. And don't let anything else come in the way (although things do happen).
• Love life: Just like your friends, make at least one day a week for your significant other, or a potential significant other. Even if you have been dating someone and are past the honeymoon stage, make at least one day a week to spend alone in or out doing something special. Make this day just as official by writing it in your schedule. 
• Home life: Spend everyday cleaning a little bit. I have written a previous blog about keeping your apartment clean called How to Clean. Basically, you need to clean as you go. And spend a little time each day doing detailed cleaning. For instance, clean your counter each time you cook, but also run in and spend five minutes on the toilet on Mondays, then five minutes on the shower on Tuesdays... 
• Pets: I don't have a pet, because I can barely take care of myself, but I grew up with a dog, so I may be able to give a little advice. Make time for your pet each day. Write down everything that needs to be done (feedings, walks, potty breaks) and write down a time for each (with breakfast, after work...) Then, when you are winding down in the evening, or getting ready in the morning, sit down with your pet and pet it as you pick out your clothes. Talk to it as you brush your teeth or shower. Give it treats as you cook. 

Organization is the key to getting everything done. In order to pay your bills you have to have a set way of doing it. You have to know where your bills go, when they are due, and a guesstimate of how much they will be. You also need to write down every appointment you have, not only work but also friends. 

Fashion on a budget

Most people want to look their best anytime they leave home. Most people want to stay up on the latest fashions, but not everyone can afford the latest fashions. There are entire blogs devoted just to this: staying fashionable on a budget. This blog will talk about some tips and tricks, but if you want more detailed information, google fashion on a budget and follow some of those blogs.

• Online Codes: Especially during economy lows, stores are constantly passing around codes for their online stores. There are websites devoted just to giving you codes to get discounts. Whenever you order something online, check some of these out first. A great one that I have mentioned before is www.retailmenot.com. Before you buy something online again, be sure to check this website out and you may be able to get free shipping, or an overall discount, and you can buy more! 
• People.com! This website is in connection to the gossip magazine that is found in grocery and drug stores. But it does have a section in which it shows where to buy less expensive versions of celebrity clothing. The exact website is: www.peoplestylewatch.com/people/stylewatch/shopping. 
• Shop! There are some great stores out there that have very fashionable clothes at lower prices (and lower quality). But if you are the type of person to wear an outfit that is in style for a single season, buy less expensive clothes, even though they may fall apart after a few months. Forever21, Wet Seal, and Charlotte Russe are some of my favorite examples. 
• Department stores! Department stores have great clothes a lower prices. Most department stores have a large section of well known and expensive brands. Instead, go to the juniors, petite or women's section and shop here. They often have great sales and great looking clothes at lower prices.
• Second hand stores! While some great things can be found at Goodwill for just a few dollars, and these should definitely be checked out, I'm more talking about Plato's closet. You can take your old clothes here and get money, and then spend it on clothes. Many clothes were simply grown out of and are still in style. They are also very picky (so don't expect to be able to sell everything) but this also means that you will find fashionable clothes. 

It is always important to look your best, and dressing fashionably is always a plus. But unfortunately, this can sometimes be expensive. I hope this helps you look your best while staying within budget. And if you want more detailed information, be sure to google fashion on a budget to find entire blogs devoted to this subject.

How to be independent!

I can't speak for every girl, but I don't want to be the type of girl who has to call a guy everytime I order furniture from IKEA (with "some" assembly required), or I want to hang something. For major repairs, I usually call apartment maintenance, or a repairman later on in life, but for basic repairs, it is good to be able to do it yourself. Here are some tips and tricks that will allow you to be more independent.

• Buy a toolbox! Don't just throw your random tools in a drawer or anything. Buy a small toolbox and some of the staple tools. You don't need anything huge, because you don't need every tool. My toolbox has a hammer, nose pliers, regular pliers, a double ended screwdriver, a battery powered screwdriver, and various sizes of nails and hooks and a small kit with nails and screws and hooks. The screwdriver (especially a batter powered screwdriver) is the most important if you plan on buying furniture that requires assembly.
• Learn how to use your tools, including the proper name. Get a guy friend to help you with this one day. Learn how to properly drive a nail and screw a screw. Once you learn the basics, you should be able to do any simple thing (don't attempt to build a new armoire with a few pieces of wood.) 
• Buy a step ladder! If you need to change a lightbulb, especially an important one, you don't want to have to wait for a guy friend or maintenance. Get a ladder so that you can fix it immediately yourself. Sometimes just a chair will work. But if you have 9 foot ceilings and are about 5'4" the ceiling will not be reachable with just a chair.
• Buy a book! The Bad Girl's Guide series is a great book that is very helpful. There is one about the open road that includes travel tips, such as how to change a flat time (although AAA is the best way if available). This is an entire series, so check out the rest and see what you find.

It's great to be independent. It's much easier to be able to do things for yourself (but this ability can be hid to make you man feel like your savior). You can get things done much faster and you will feel empowered when you are done. Take these tips and do your best to become independent so that you will feel more confident and more powerful! 

Having Fun on a budget

Almost everyone just out of college are living paycheck to paycheck, without much room for error. Especially in the days before the next paycheck, many early 20somethings are hoping to have enough for food, not really thinking about entertainment. You need to spend as much time as you can through the month on free activities, in order to have more at the end of the month. Here are some ideas that may allow for some fun to be had throughout the month. 

• Free concerts. Many cities have concerts by lesser known bands throughout the summer months, that cost no money. They are often sponsored by beer companies, and so overpriced beer will be sold.
  
• Drink beer! Beer is much less expensive than mixed drinks. My bartab is usually around 20 with tip (but I am about 110 lb and I only go out 1 every week or every 2 weeks). I would suggest pregaming at home, and then going out and drinking beer to maintain your buzz. Maybe a shot. Also, think about if you want to use cash or a tab. With cash you can keep an eye on your money easier. With a tab, you usually only tip once. Also, go to bars without a cover charge. 
  
• Book club! Do any of you or any of your friends like to read? A book club doesn't have to be about insightful books. You can read the latest Nicholas Sparks and similar books. Then get together once a month to talk about the books and anything else on your mind. These events will keep you busy reading, and will give you something to do one night a month. Mine is potluck. The person holding it makes the main dish, and everyone else brings the sides. 
• Pamper yourself, yourself! Target, and many other similar stores, have items that allow you to give yourself an at home spa day. You can give yourself a facial, or a foot scrub and pedicure. If you are addicted to having great looking nails, think about how much you spend. If you get an $8 manicure every week, think about what you can do to do it yourself. If you get acrylics or silk wraps, think about how many times a week you get a fill, and how much it costs. I can tell you that I used to get acrylics. I had to get a fill at $25 each every other week. Now I have gels, that are $35 a fill, and I get them about once a month. Also, keep them short, this will reduce the chances of them breaking. Also, if you get your eyebrows down at every sign of a new hair, don't do this! Only get them done professionally once a month. Touch up the main areas (don't get too close to what you want to keep to avoid over plucking) and then after about a month, your eyebrows will start looking nasty, so get them done professionally
• Rent a tv series! Use netflix or the blockbuster mailing service. With these you can pay a small amount and have a number of movies out at a time, but rent as many as you can through the month. With this you can watch an entire series of a show, which could take up several evenings a week. You may feel like a hobbit doing this, so try doing this with a group of friends. 
• Potluck dinners! If you meet up with a group of girlfriends for a meal every week or month, consider doing it potluck. This can be any meal, breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner. Choose someone's house to host and this person can make the main dish, and everyone else can bring a side. Choose a theme each week, Mexican, Italian... And don't forget the drinks!