The Quarter Life Living 1.0

“Money. The cause of and solution to all of life’s problems.” – Will Rogers

Oh and here is a good one…

“For I don’t care too much for money,

For money can’t buy me love.” – The Beatles

Few truer things were ever spoken. Bills and bucks are all necessary elements and/or evils to everyone. When you add the components of these scary economic times and the old war fiscal mantra adage of bullets or butter…well you get the idea.

Wampum hard to come by and harder to keep!

The quicker you learn how to handle your almighty dollars the sooner you will be on your way to a happier and healthier quarter lifestyle and eventual transition to something resembling adulthood.

Most young 1/4s need to save money and pinch a few pennies. Yet most newbie professionals, semi-established or fresh off the campus feel the “need” to live large and subsequently outside their means. We are not talking ramen here, just a few hints to keep the debt low while the times high. We are also not putting out advice on your 401Ks, retirement pensions and big time serious dinero stuff. Like most things in life it is the little, simpler things which make all the difference.

Fees

There are fees for everything. ATM. Paying by phone. Paying by Internet. Shipping and Handling. General Oxygen Use. Obama’s latest Robin Hood scheme. And after they screw you over, only then do you get the KY lubricant fee. Per transaction another bank’s cash cow adds up quick.

Impulse Buying

Make a list when shopping for groceries and other needed items. Stick to it. Oh, never go on a supermarket run when you’ve got the munchies!

Tickets

In a study conducted at Texas Transportation Highway Institute, the average person will get eight parking tickets during their life time. And to boot, (no automotive legal punishment pun intended) the average Joe or Jane will be the lucky recipient of five driving violations. Now consider this: the study also showed one speeding ticket is about $130 bucks or more. Then there are the points on your license. And now the mega increase in insurance. For the next five years you will pay $20 or more per month for the same insurance. That is if they do not drop you altogether. This adds up to mucho bucks! Slow down. Pay the parking garage. Don’t just run in and run out to return to a ticket under the rain wiper. And mind the handi-man signs.

Infamous Buying Sprees

In college, there was a t-shirt to match every significant event. Contrary to your own self-sense of the pressing need for that outfit or that video game or the microbrew or Bagley Mischa shoes or the NFL package pay per view, you do not have to have a t-shirt for such moments. Thus the comparison tool is used to show ya, if that impulse or unneeded buy is not t-shirt worthy, don’t bother handing out the cash.  If you need a T so badly, go give blood. You also get a free cookie and some orange juice.

A New Me!

This advice is a little biased, for mostly girls only. Buying new stuff every time an opening in the drama or crisis or revelation worlds shows up in an attempt to renew yourself…not a good thing. Be you and not your stuff.

Computer Envy

If your machine does the job for what you need and it is not a Commodore 6400, you are in good shape. Let it go.

While at the Office Avoid Prolific Snack Bar and Machine Use.

These are just caloric and money slot machines. Put a few snacks in the old backpack.

Credit Cards

The bane of all young people’s existence. It is all right to get a couple of cards to start developing a good credit history and not a future bankruptcy. But be careful. On the other hand, the way out of the global recession is easy. If the gov’t would pay off all our credit cards instead of paying off failed CEOs and execs…we would go out, buy like crazy and ring up the credit limits pronto. Thus, propelling consumer spending and confidence to new highs. And to think I was not tapped as Sec of Treasury. But, another sum up – No matter what meds you are one, I don’t have to tell you it is real money that plastic represents. And though all the credit card banks get a bail out…rest assured you will not.

Gas Cards

How 1990’s. If you still have one. Use them for gas only. How quickly the  .99 cent mega gulp and $4.00 bag of chips turn that monthly billing statement into a scream for help.

Night on the Town

Take it easy…on your body and checkbook. Cover charges? Do you always have to go to the newest, trendiest clubs or raves, as well as pay the over priced entry fee? Find someplace where you can be you and not have to sell your soul to get in? Sex and the City was a TV show. You don’t have to drink yourself to a bloated waistline or tab bill. And dudes, the Hooters girls are not going home with you. Your beer charm can never overcome your pricey pile of Habanera picked clean bone leavings.

Twitter, Texting and Talking in Non-roaming Areas at all Times of the Night.

Get’s expensive and you need to get a life.

Get Involved

A sure way to be large and in charge of your life whiling saving a few bucks, padding the resume, impressing both sexes with your big heart, and generally being a better human being, is to join up in the volunteer thing. There is always a club, non profit, helping hand organization and subsequent people and cause you can help. There is also the time put in for a good cause, sense of satisfaction, and a potential group of future friends out there just for you. This involvement has so many benefits…one being a much cheaper form of instant entertainment.

Nickel and Dime You to Death

“Before everyone leaves. We need $5.00 from each of ya for Cathy in the mailroom’s birthday.” Oh, and you know it never stops there. Someone has to buy a card, put in some cash for the pizza. Girl Scout cookies, dollar shamrocks you sign and put up in the local stop-and-rob, the neighborhood kiddy school candy bars, beer run money, spending limits of gifts that never quite come up to the total, etc, etc. Spend money on what you want to…not what everyone tells or pressures ya for.

Turn the Computer Off

Go outside and live. Not that it will save you six figures in utility bills, but pealing your Cheeto stained ass cheeks off the computer chair, removing Warcraft from your hard drive equals more exercise and real people to interact with.

Acme Corporation

I once new a college buddy that spent at least an hour a day sending letters and emails of appreciation to various companies explaining how much he enjoyed their products. These companies in turn would then send him free coupons for their wares.. He got everything from free tires to French manicures. The total on freebie pizza alone was twenty-six pies. Give it a shot. Some Customer Service Rep at Acme Corp needs to justify her job somehow!

Coupons

They are marvelous little devices for saving money…clip, keep and use.

Pizza

College is behind you. Stop the madness.  The Hut, Inn, Papa and Mr. Domino love you guys and your cash. Watch your wallet and your step on the scale day.

Décor

One word. SLOW. You do not need the Pottery Barn lifestyle within six months of moving into your place. Again, SLOW.

Student Discount

You still have the school ID? Use this little privilege as long as you can and in any circumstance that allows you to. The next time you get to have such rights is when you are over 65 and then it is cheap cafeteria plates and Gold Bond Powder.

Hamburger Helper

It does help the pocket book…you decide if it helps the intestinal track. But, to add a bit of sophistication to your dining pleasure, try a nice merlot with the Cheeseburger Mac. They compliment each other perfectly with a hint of fine cave aged artistry.

Stock Up when Parents in Town

If possible, never ever let this privilege of parental visitations fad into adulthood. If they are willing so should you. Bring on the mom and pop credit card.

Dating

Dinner, movie and dessert used to be the way to go. Not so much nowadays. That is if she is not on the laptop and actually a chick. And dudes, gals appreciate diversity and imaginative dating. In these more enlightened times there is also the notion that boys don’t have to always pay. Girls put in your share as well or split the check.

Read!

There are these things called libraries! A rich dude, who would make Billy Gates look like overpass poor, Carnegie, built a few. Instead of Border and Barnes and Nobling it, or hitting Amazon…go get your reading pleasure for free. And no it is nothing like MTV’s moronic show “Silent Library.”

Wheeling and Dealing

Used books, CDs, DVDs, donated blood, resale clothes. You name it. Someone will buy it. This is fast cash for the willing.

Change Can be a Good Thing

You would be surprised what you can buy with the change you find. Make a game of it.

.99-cent value meals

If you can buy food with the change in your car seat of ashtray, then go for it! See above.

This is just a smattering of ways and means to save a buck or two while having your first run and a quarter life. Half the enjoyment of these years in your life is learning to deal with the splurge and Spartan lifestyle balance. Life is hilariously serious. Managing your money is an equally important topic, tool and lifetime endeavor. The greatest snippet of advice I can give for both? Just remember, the best things in life are for free.