Budget for dreamers

What to do when you are broke and don't know what to do...

If you have to flip over every 5o cents a hundred times before you spend it, then practice  teaching yourself a few basic habits. Most people have been poor at some time in their lives. I have slept on a  wooden floor in a room with no curtains in a flat, with no fridge or stove, and no money. It has taught me survival skills that I cannot do without. Don't fall into depression because you are broke. Be smart- it is sometimes a matter of knowing what to do and staying honest that matters the most.

• When you get paid, pay your rent first…always. Look for the cheapest, the smallest and the safest place to rent. Don't worry too much about space when you are starting out. Use it as an opportunity to get yourself set up for something nicer, later. Really, your friends won't care if you use boxes for furniture. 
• Practice different ways of budgeting if you haven't learned how to do this. Some people start out putting a small amount into envelopes and keeping them for bills and essentials. Plan to have a tiny amount of spending money and don't spend it if you don't need to. The mistake people make when they are used to being broke is spending every cent in a few moments as soon as they get some: really, when you put some thought to it, would you walk around a shopping centre and just throw your money at anyone that looks at you then go home? No. 
• Spend a bit longer looking at shelves when you are shopping for food. Larger supermarkets often keep lower priced items on the lower shelves. Cheap bread can be frozen. Trays of chicken wings and legs are often cheap and can  be divided up into 4 or 5 packets and frozen. Bags of apples and bags of carrots are usually very cheap. When you see macaroni and rice on special, get a couple of packets. Forget the biscuits and forget the confectionary section.  

Many large food stores will sell some of their fresh vegetables cheap after 4.30 , especially if it is the day before a public holiday. Remember…rich people also buy "no-mame brands". Things like no name brand serviettes cost about a dollar; no one is going to worry about your tissue box; items like rice, bread, sugar and nappy soak are often much cheaper. You can empty them into other containers when you get home and no-one will know or care. The trick is to spread your dollar as far as it will go. New home owners, travellers and multi-millionaires do this all the time. 

• Stay away from booze and smokes….they are going to make you poor and they are going to make you sick. They can go on your lists when finances are better. When you can afford it, instead of more expensive cans,  a large bottle of beer is about $1.50 and can be kept in your fridge.  
• When making meals, let your food "go the distance". Noodles, rice, potatoes, bread: any of these will make food for one into food for five. 
• Let your family and friend's mothers know that you'll accept furniture and kitchen containers as donations if you are just starting out. There will be someone who would love to give them to you.
• If you don't have furniture, make your own cushions and cushion covers…big ones, small ones, it won't matter. A couple of giant cushions are great. Hunt for cheap fabric (remember, brightly coloured lining is often aound $3.00p/m and some cottons are often quite cheap). Calico (we used to ask for"K-sheeting") is raw cotton: this can be used for anything, including curtains. It usually costs anything from $1.99 to $5.00. If you don't have a sewing machine, just hand sew them at home while you are sorting out your budget. K-mart and Big W have small, cheap cushion inserts at about $1.80. Experiment and you'll be inspired.
•  Look in old second hand shops: a Burmese friend of mine bargains and somehow always gets a couple of dollars off. Sunday morning car-park marts or "Swap-meets" are sensational. They have treasures for a couple of dollars…I have come home with silver goblets and wooden bowls for a pittance. You may be able to source old sari fabric, curtains, wooden boxes, ornaments and small tables. Make an offer: often the sellers just want to make a sale; they don't want to pack up thousands of things when they are leaving.
• Ask a friend if they've got yesterday's paper. Read the news and look for events that have free entry. Most libraries have a newspaper room. Night clubs advertise what time entry is free and there are many, many free art moments.
• You don't need to go to Gym to get fit. Walking up every flight of stairs is a great cardiovascular work-out; telephone books and small, heavy items can be used for resistance training if you want defined arms. 
•  Have a list of 'things to do when I am broke and bored'.  Make things. It keeps you smart... Build a ship from matches or grow some little succulents from cuttings and then use them later for a cool centre piece on a box in your lounge. Get someone to paint a Toucan or an exotic butterfly on your lounge wall. 
• If you are starving and it is 2 days until pay-day, remember…make a huge bowl of salty popcorn. It is really cheap and filling.and it will always make you feel better when you are broke.