Three years ago I wrote about how I manage my finances and how I use Google Docs to do so, and that system still works for me. 

However, somewhere along the way, I knew I needed some automatic tracking to see where my everyday spending money was going. I've tried a few different apps, including Mint, but when I discovered TrueBill, I knew I had found the perfect app for me.

I wanted an app that I could hook every account up to, easily switch categories, create my own categories, and have a nice visual to it. I wanted something that was easy to understand and had a good user face. That is everything Truebill has to offer.

I've been using the app for the past two years, on and off, but recently got back into it so I figured it was time to talk to you all about it!

After teasing this post for a solid week since I decided to stick to this low buy, I'm finally putting pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard I guess.

I've been toying with the idea of a 2020 low buy or no-buy for a while but it wasn't until I watched this video from one of my favorite Youtubers that I decided I was going to go on this journey.

For the entire year, I will not buy anything frivolous without some parameters around it. This includes not buying beauty products, accessories, clothes, home goods -- basically anything that isn't food or personal care like body wash, face wash, etc.

My shopping habit had gotten out of control, as I've been very open with here. It hit me in November that I really needed to get a grip on things, start saving money and acting like an adult. I have been working for 5+ years and have nothing to show for it.

I also realized that my anxiety stems directly from money. I thought not shopping gave me anxiety but I realized watching the number in my bank account decrease and not having enough money to put on my Metrocard or grab a Starbucks coffee really stressed me out. Seeing money in my account and not being restricted help me immensely and it was at that point that I knew what I needed to do.

There also came a point where I looked around my room and was completely overwhelmed with the amount of stuff I have. I had too many books, too many bags, too many knick-knacks. It stressed me out and I felt like not everything had a place. It was at that point that I knew I had to stop accumulating so much stuff which is another point for this low-buy... I don't need anything else.

I will most likely write another post about my declutter... it's not anything substantial but I feel great after getting rid of a lot of stuff and reorganizing everything.

I'm hoping that this year will bring me clarity, help me save money and really kick a bad habit. Let's get into the nitty-gritty.

Photo Credit

The Rules

My rules for the low-buy are pretty straight forward and are as follows:

• No impulse shopping
• I would like to purchase myself a new iPad and a new Stoney Clover Duffle Bag this year. I am saving up for them in the Qapital app instead of buying it at once. Whether I go through with the purchases or not is still up the air.
• One purchase under $100 allowed each month
• To me, this is the easiest way for me to not go cold turkey. It will be one item/one purchase that is under $100, not multiple purchases to add up to $100. If I see a new lipstick I want, I am allowed to buy it but that is it for the month.
• Occasions do not count
• I have a Bachelorette party and three weddings (one being in Mexico) this year so if I need an outfit, a dress, or a new pair of shoes I will allow myself to buy them.

Exceptions

If you are new here let me fill you in on a secret.

I'm pretty sure I have a shopping addiction.

At this point, I don't even know if I can consider it a 'shopping' addiction because I think it's more of a 'spending' addiction. It's gotten better over the years but whenever I seem to have a dollar in my pocket, I have to spend it. My online shopping habits were once so bad, I was buying things at least once a day and if I didn't stop, I started to get nervous.

It got to the point where I knew it needed to stop and being 27 years old, still living at home, I should know that I need to save my money.

I kind of had an epiphany within the last two months that the spending was out of control. I have real things to save for now: weddings, destination weddings, and bachelorette parties to be exact. I would like to be able to take a real vacation one day, save up for my own wedding and eventually a house.

The thought of real, true adulthood started to loom over my head and I realized that I was more anxious when I was spending money than when I wasn't. When I have more than $100 in my bank account, I actually feel more secure, who would've thought?

This epiphany hit a bit of a snafu when the holiday shopping season rolled around but I'm happy to say that I've purchased more gifts than I have for myself and usually it is definitely the other way around.

In addition to the fact that I need to save money, I'm really overwhelmed by the amount of stuff I have. I recently went through a huge clear out of beauty stuff and it felt so good. It made me realize that I hold onto makeup that I will never wear. Some of it was purchased, some from jobs, some I got in PR but no matter what, it was clutter and in the words of Marie Kondo, it wasn't bringing me joy.

As the year comes to close, I want to go into 2020 with a better mindset and a cleaner room so I will definitely be getting rid of more stuff whether I donate it, sell it, or honestly just throw it out.

All of that brings me to this:

How am I going to hit my savings goal in the new year? With the help of technology of course!

Apps to Help Save

I am by no means a financial wizard. I have been struggling for years to build up a savings account that satisifed me, and trying to control my spending habits.

Over the past months, I've gotten a lot better and I'm really proud of myself. I went a little crazy with spending last week but I've gotten back on track.

I don't have a good relationship with money and I've made that clear, but I do think that there are things that you should invest in/save for. What am I saving my money for? I'm saving for life... for an emergency, for an apartment, for an adult life.

I do think that there are important things we should all be saving for as we enter our twenties. It's definitely something to think of if you're entering your senior year of college. I wish I would've known this back then...



1. Luggage: I did not have a decent suitcase when I graduated college and shared with my mom. It wasn't until I started traveling for work that I knew I needed something serious. I needed a real, regular size suitcase that suited my personality but was also professional. I saved up a bit and bought this suitcase from Target. I also highly recommend these because they're everywhere and have a really good reputation.

2. Good Pillows: I HATE nothing more than waking up in the morning with a stiff neck. I am very particular about the pillows I sleep on and it drives me nuts when they're not just perfect (I sound very divalicious, don't I?) My pillows have to be soft but not so soft that there is no support and the last thing I want is a hard pillow. Good pillows are everything.

3. Investment Handbag: It's no surprise that I'd find a way to work a handbag onto this list because they are my everything. I have a lot of mid range handbags (Kate Spade, Tory Burch...) but I fully believe in saving up for a handbag that will last you your entire life, such as Louis Vuitton Speedy (which I got for my 16th birthday and it's still incredible). Having a tote like a Prada Galleria, or even a Louis Vuitton Neverfull, to me, is a good investment because it's a sturdy work tote that will be your go-to for job interviews, events, work days, etc. If you love handbags and are looking for something durable, I recommend saving up for something you love!

4. An apartment: I still live at home and I'm 100% ok with it. I don't feel financially responsible enough yet, and it's just me and my mom (my sister just moved out for her senior year of college) so I'm content here, but I have gotten the inkling recently, as more and more of my friends move out on their own, that I need to get serious. I highly recommend to start saving (starting with that graduation money) for your first apartment as soon as you get out of school. This would guarantee that you're ready to leave at a moment's notice, with a nice little safety net.

Learn from my mistakes and start saving now! 
xoxo
B

I'm writing this as I'm curled up in bed, coming down from a panic attack & watching Hocus Pocus, while eating apple pie.

Got a good picture in your head?

Well, I just hit rock bottom with my money situation. After a rather rough week, I've hit the edge and jumped off the cliff. I feel helpless and lost, and it's effecting me greatly.

I got crazy for a minute tonight, talked it out with my mom and sat down making 100 budgets for myself.

Do I feel better? Yes, but that doesn't change the fact that I need to stop spending money and need to save. I can't get 4 packages delivered to my house every other day. I have too much stuff, and it's not healthy.

It's not smart either.

I'm 23 years old and ruining my credit score, and my financial well being.

I've never been this frank and blunt about my financial struggle here, because well, it's a blog & you only show the good stuff. I show you what I buy, not why I buy or the buyers remorse that comes afterwards.

But right now I'm raw & real, and talking about the one thing that causes me a lot of anxiety and unhappiness.

I can't really form coherent thoughts about money right now, so I will leave you with this: