My Bi-Monthly Budget for January 2018 | How To Budget Your Money | Aja Dang

I'm Aja Dang and this video is my very first bi-monthly budget for January 2018. Ever since I shared my student loan debt video, I've been inspired to continue to share my financial journey and show you how to budget your money. I don't really know how to budget, but everyone has to start somewhere right? Even though I listen to Dave Ramsey, his zero based budget doesn't work for me since I freelance. But using his teachings, I'm hoping to save money and pay off all my debt in 8 years (hopefully sooner though). Hope you all enjoy this video.
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[@califlorican]

After watching your newest video about paying off all of your debt, I’m rewatching your oldest budget videos. Your description says you were hoping to pay off your loans in 8 years. You did it in less than 1/4 of that time. You are amazing 🙌🏼

[@kiriyoplay]

this is the first time i've seen a youtuber (or anyone, really) sharing their budget with real numbers. thank you for being open and real. it makes things so much more relatable. inspired me to start my own budgeting. this is real helpful as im self employed and freelancing too. we always have stuff we don't want anymore that we can sell for some cash. i read that apparently on average, we have like 2-3k worth of stuff lying around our house that we can sell. i have a rough idea when sales happen throughout the year so i buy stuff then, especially beauty products. i also save a lot buying 2nd hand stuff especially things like books and certain electronics.

[@viritrilbiaslayerofargus.6691]

Hello Klieo I had the same thought.

[@UpperCaseX]

type budget in search, youll find a ton

[@queens6583]

Hey Aja, I am no expert but sometimes little things add up. Try buying stores brands for things like paper goods, frozen veggies, canned goods, snacks ... Also maybe a few less movies per month, cooking at home more and maybe skipping eating out one month here and there. I don't have dogs but is $ 200 in a 2 week period a lot? Are they big dogs? It's hard to deprive ourselves of things we want or things that make our lives easier, but sometimes that's what we have to do. Someone once told me to always live below your means and I have found that has served me well. Good luck and I think this is a great thing your doing to allow others to see what other people do to get by in this very expensive world we live in. I live in New York which is expensive too.

[@cynveronthica]

Wow...ok so this is by far the best "adulting" video I've seen thus far. This actually helps with my current financial situation. Having credit card debts is probably the worst thing to have and I hope to implement your budgeting technique this year. I know dining out is a guilty pleasure but perhaps lowering your dining out budget and cooking more at home in larger portions would help you save money to pay for your car/student loans. Just a thought! Love your videos, and I'm so stoked for your merch! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@suzanasu]

Yeah, $400 for groceries to last 2 weeks it’s too much. There are many videos on KZbin on meal prep for a lower budget. Also, try reducing dining out and going to the movies that often. The secret to save money is lowering your lifestyle standards for a while. Then you will be able to pay your debts earlier than expected. Lastly, you will notice that many things one believes are essential are actually fear of missing out and even insecurity. I’ve been trying some homemade stuff such as making my own vegan milks and even toothpaste. I like to think that regardless of how much money I have, it will never be enough considering that the money we make now it’s for the future (buying a house, raising children, emergency in case of illness and even retirement). So in addition to saving money to pay a debt, every extra money you can save and earn must go to a fund. Then you won’t need to worry if you don’t get paid this month and feel less stressed about being a freelancer with variable income. Hope you can fix your finances and reach independence soon!

[@pangiefam5394]

After watching this, my husband and I wrote down all our bills and expenses and found out that we spend way too much 😳 so I think the envelope system, i will try to do. I think it’ll be great so thank you!!! ♥️

[@imaniasiadacosta4770]

Thanks for sharing this budget. There’s definitely a few things I noticed that you could cut back on. 1) the movie outings and 2) grocery shopping. I love to go out to the movies as well but my boyfriend and I have settled for Netflix, Redbox or on demand movies to save money. Also, I live in NYC which is just as expensive as LA. I personally feel that 400 on food every two weeks is INSANE!!! That’s wayyyyyyy too much for a household of 2. I have a budget of $65 max a week and that’s more than enough for us! Trader Joe’s is super affordable. ( 3Lbs of brown rice $2.99, brown rice pasta $1.99, carrots 89 cents , mushrooms $1.99, bag of baby spinach 99 cents, sweet potatoes $1.99 for 1lb, gluten free waffles $1.99... that’s just a few to name) also, I would recommend bulk shopping... I buy chicken breast , salmon and shrimp from Costco so it can last for the month. Those come up to about $60 more or less. I hope this helps!!!

[@AjaDang]

thanks for the tips. I thought about Costco. You guy your protein from Costco and then freeze it until your ready to cook it?

[@imaniasiadacosta4770]

Aja Dang yeah we freeze it! Buying it fresh would be ideal but btw work and school, its hard to find time! This way allows us to save time and money!

[@DalenaVo]

One way to reduce the spendings on groceries is to buy it in bulk! For me especially I get a lot of my protein at Costco and freeze the rest for later use. A whole pack of chicken can last up to a good 3 weeks for me! Also Trader Joe’s has affordable, good quality organic food compared to Whole Foods.

[@WillStinton]

I’m on the Dave Ramsey plan too. I’ll tell you, I’ve cut Uber/Lyft and I ride my bike (I live in Long Beach) and I’ve cut all takeout food and cook at home and eat on $300 a month. All that saved me hundreds a month. I’d try doing that too if I were you. I also think you need to find a creative way around your parking situation, maybe get dropped off and picked up? Maybe include parking fees when you bill clients?

[@AjaDang]

that's a good idea, to bill clients for parking fees.

[@journey2debtfreedom936]

Great ideas. Do you cook everyday?

[@kkhan9726]

Will Stinton Long Beach!!!! 🙌🏻

[@madasusual498]

My family of five spends no more than $100 for groceries per week , meal planning helps alot. We buy protein based on sale price. It doesnt mean you sacrifice the quality, you can still do that. And you could always buy protein in bulk and freeze it.

[@sarahtanyaofficial]

My husband and I went through FPU with Dave Ramsey and it completely changed our lives and our marriage! God bless you for doing this I am so excited for this journey!

[@chiantellenicole]

Thank you for this video! I also get paid bi-monthly and because I work part-time, I'm trying to figure out ways that I can save/budget efficiently and effectively while doing some more freelance work on the side so this has been helpful! I hear you about groceries/food purchases being the major spending! I'm still working on it but so far I've noticed three things that have helped me so far: 1. buying in bulk (especially for nonperishables and the staples) 2. buying in season. Things are a lot more affordable when they're in season and there are so many ways to preserve food to enjoy it year-round. Ie: pickling, freezing, etc. 3. stray away from prepackaged goods. I found that the produce that's already washed and packaged are waaaay more pricey than buying the ones that aren't. Convenience though so it makes sense. Oh and! Frozen items at some places are an exception because it's actually more affordable and nutritionally, sometimes it's better because it's frozen at peak season. 4. coupons. This one I'm wishy-washy with because it can get a bit time consuming and overwhelming looking for different deals but it helps!

[@TaylorRaee1]

Hey Aja, i love these types of videos because i am a budgeter myself! I live off 100$ biweekly. I am a student and i do pay rent. Last year it allowed me to save up and go on 4 trips which was a huge expensive but so worth it! For me it is kinda fun but i know other people its more stressful. But now that im so used to budgeting i save alot more than i used too. Its a great safety net! People dont think they have money to save but they do! They just have to cut out unnecessary things.

[@AjaDang]

$100 a week? Wow - I definitely feel excessive now.

[@TaylorRaee1]

Haha trust me its not always easy!

[@MsAshleyOlivia]

I love this! You were so open and honest. So many people don’t talk about money and it makes it hard to maintain perspective when you feel like you can’t get rid of your debt! Very inspiring :)

[@AjaDang]

sharing my journey also help keep me accountable towards being more responsible

[@CHOCOxBAR1]

Great video! Love how transparent you are about your expenses and how practical you are about how you spend your money. A few tips: - For your groceries and life needs (like toilet paper and cleaning supplies), buy in bulk if you can. If you know you eat chicken, buy a pack of like 12-15 chickens, separate them out and freeze them. I find that if I buy in bulk, I know I always have something in the fridge or freezer to cook, even if I didn't necessarily plan a recipe to follow ahead of time, so I don't feel the need to order in or get takeout 99% of the time. - Avoid the produce in packages. I shop at Whole Foods and don't actually find it that expensive compared to most large supermarkets because I don't by the pre-cut veggies and fruit in the plastic packages. If you grab carrots or brussel sprouts or green beans from the box where they're all just hanging out freely, it's way cheaper and you can control how much you're getting. Same goes for things in the bulk bins in the back of Whole Foods like bread crumbs, oats, grains. Get yourself some mason jars and just fill up what you need so you pay by weight, instead of for the plastic and packaging and brand. - Have a grocery list on your phone before you go into the grocery store. That way you stay focused and don't end up getting like 80 snacks. - For entertainment: Get MoviePass! it's $9.99 a month for basically unlimited movies (up to 1 a day). Who knows when it might fall apart because it's not making money but I watch a movie a week and it's really worth it. - Don't get discouraged when you dine out instead of cook. It's important to treat yourself so that you stay focused when you're actually trying to be disciplined. BUT don't get the extra coffee drink out or random breakfast bagel if you don't need it. Also I would say planning meals can be really fun if you have recipes you want to try. Get like 1 cookbook for 20 bucks and just work your way through the recipes (so that you're never at a loss of what to cook). A few food blogs I love are Smitten Kitchen and iamafoodblog.com for inspiration. - If you can, use a credit card that gets you points, instead of cash. I know you said cash prevents you from spending over your limit, but it's a little unsafe. Even the free credit cards have points that you can earn for travel or cash back. You basically earn money by spending money you already know you're going to spend. If you can pay a yearly fee, go for the cards that give you more points, especially if you know you're spending a lot of money dining out or on Lyfts. Good luck! Budgeting is hard but once you get a few months in, it'll become second nature :) Love your videos.

[@zebramilktea]

You should get the movie pass! It’s $10 a month and you can see as many movies as you want (only once every 24 hours though) and it works at just about any movie theatre! I have it because I loveee going to the movies. 😊 if you use it once a month, it basically pays for itself!

[@AjaDang]

Our friend has it and you're right, it totally makes sense. Wish I thought about doing that sooner

[@kathynguyen9304]

Hi Aja. I applaud you for this video, thank you for sharing your budgeting journey with us! I suggest working with much less when it comes to: groceries and entertainment. It really helps if you pursue a frugal lifestyle with your bf/life partner so you keep each other accountable and treat budgeting as an adventure that will motivate both of you to be creative and resourceful with a small budget (explore minimal recipes where flavor does not rely on ingredients but in cooking technique; coffee shop open mic nights/board game nights/afternoon picnicking instead of the usual eating out and going to the theater, etc). That way it will feel more special when you actually go out for dinner or go see a film on the big screen. :) Thanks again for being a positive influence on your subscribers. I will pray that you maintain your momentum in your journey towards a debt-free life. Happy 2018!

[@clemontinediva]

Go Aja! Looks like you're on track to eliminating a big chunk of your debt this year - rooting for you every step of the way, it may be frustrating but it'll all be well worth it in the end!

[@KathyReyes612]

Hey Aja, noticed your expense of entertainment for movies was $150, there's a debit card subscription that's $10 a month, unlimited movie screenings, usable at any theatre (IMAX or 4D is the exception). Look up Moviepass (my friend is a film student major at Cal Arts and he's a big movie buff, so it comes recommended). For meal prepping, joining a CSA ( the ones in Culver City are my favorite) or getting to know some local farmers in person helps greatly when it comes to buying your proteins. My farmers have given me quality meat at a fraction of Whole Foods prices, you just have to cultivate those relationships, so that takes time.. For a more immediate way to save up on proteins, buy chicken thighs (organic & in bulk) they're much more versatile than chicken breast. I've been meal prepping since I was 21 (am now 27, turning 28) and a biiiiiiig help for me is actually Pinterest. Visually seeing what I may eat within the next coming week excites me, so I never have "Food Fatigue." In addition, in the past I've also planned meals according to flavor theme, say for instance I want to cook Asian food for the next week, there's a lot of crossover in terms of ingredients, so in the end I still have options but I'm not spending twice as much on ingredients. I hope you found these tips helpful! Slay like Bey ! Love you!!

[@AjaDang]

the flavor theme is a really great idea. That is my problem, I buy a lot of different food/flavors and end up wasting it. Maybe I should start doing that. And where did you meet local farmer? At a farmers market?

[@indieconquers]

You should use Imperfect produce instead! $20 a week at low end and get to experience all kinds of veggies from local farms.

[@livliv]

It's so refreshing to see a budget with real numbers! First step is making a plan, so big time kudos. I think if you meal prepped for lunches, that would cut a lot. Try looking at channels like "Fit Couple Cooks" for ideas and see if that helps :)

[@sannatran]

You can always buy mini divider folders for your money rather than carrying the envelope. It's more convenient, and it costs like $1-3 either at the Dollar Tree or Target. Good luck!

[@JenniferJChung]

Hey Aja! Looooooove that you're sharing this with your viewers! Seeing this video reignited my fire to finish paying off my student loans. lawdddddd. My husband and I are both freelancers so we always budget what we got in the bank the month before. We also created an excel sheet so that we can always just input the numbers to do the math for us and have it all in files for our records! YOU GOT THIS!!!

[@JenniferJChung]

ALSO! www.moviepass.com -- have you considered it for $9.95 /month for theaters btw?

[@remusdreamus]

I love how honest this video is. $400 for groceries seems a bit much. I buy mostly organic, I don't buy meant but I don't skimp on the things I do buy so I've also had to adjust my grocery store/ cooking/ eating out habits and they probably run around $250 bi monthly. As far as saving money, keep a small ledger where I write down everything I spend. You could maybe do this on your phone but I feel like it's to easy to move around an app and a physical thing like a book helps me to keep the habit up better. I don't include anything recurring. mostly I will stick the receipts for the day in the back and write them down when I get home that evening. Part of it is remembering to ask for your receipts. I find that what this does is makes you reflect a little on what you spend money on. This would also cut out needing to carry the envelopes with you but I do think it's a good idea to keep the money on hand as spending cash is psychologically different than using a card. If i bought something to eat I may even note down what that was and i will keep receipts from the grocery store. I feel like "Food" ends up having so many subheadings and breaking it down helps. This will help you figure out something like, " oh, its costs me $20.00 to get lunch at this place and I go there 3X a week." Then you can be more aware to bring a lunch with you. Okay! so get out those receipts from the grocery store, these will help you spot patterns in your spending. Maybe there a few items you buy a lot of and could bulk buy and save. I eat a lot of beans and have switched to buying dry beans. I keep about two tins as back up instead of the 15 I used to have in my pantry. I'll also do things like make hummus with the beans. This will also touch on the topic of meal planning. I'll have the tahini for the hummus (of which I made a big ole tub) and I may make something like this; tahini, miso, sesame oil, ginger, turmeric, some water, olive oil.. this will be a salad dressing, a dressing for vegetables, a base for a sauce (Add coconut milk), quick sauce for some rice and peas, etc. Basically, buy ingredients that can be versatile. My girlfriend will get me to get those Annie's frozen dinners so she has something to eat while I'm at work.They are $4. Three of those a week, that's $48 a month. I love to cook and I love to cook a lot at once, the next step is bulk cooking. Also, look up what things freeze well. When I found out how well butter froze I realized I could buy so much Kerrygold butter (vegan now though) (it's still good though) when it was on sale and just chuck it in the freezer. Other thing, if you are someone that buys organic, look at EWGs clean fifteen and dirty dozen. www.ewg.org/foodnews/clean_fifteen_list.php You will save by buying conventional when you can and also be aware of what you should absolutely buy only organic. Also! bottled water is a big one. My gf loves bottled Pellegrino. We could have definitely bought a good undersink filter and a soda stream with what we've spent on Pellegrino.. PS. I'm not some crazy budget queen, these are all small habits I have implemented slowly over the course of years, through diet changes, money changes, changes in kitchen equipment, ups and downs of life (

[@Ztravelsinpumps]

I loved these video!!!! So great and honest. Not only did it motivate me to keep budgeting but now I’m thinking I need to freelance of some sort cus I want to make more money! LOL happy new year, Aja! ✨✨✨✨

[@ashleyclements5021]

Dang girl...I don't think anyone else I follow on KZbin/social media would have the balls to be so open about their finances, thank you for always being so real. I just wanted to tell you I used the debt snowball and the envelope method to pay off my debt, it was hard at times, but I would listen to Dave's show every day to stay motivated. I know it's been said already, but definitely get a Moviepass...it will save you so much money! Something else that helped me was only shopping once a week...I would make a list of groceries and any other necessities and would only go into stores that one day and if I forgot something it just had to wait until the next week, otherwise if I was going to the store daily, I would go with the intention of buying one thing, but then would always stumble on like five other things that I just had to have.

[@AjaDang]

it's just money. Better to talk about it then avoid it

[@candiceleong2896]

Just finished watching your latest covid-19 budget video and was thinking, wow I am alive (and doing well) today because of this video. I got kicked out of my house just 2 weeks before this video, and went back to this today to express my relief and gratitude.

[@AmmyWolfable]

A quick tip for anyone who uses Lyft or Uber. Use Uber for long trips and Lyft for short trips. Uber is almost always been cheaper for longer trips by at least 3 dollars and Lyft will be cheaper by 2 at least for shorter trips

[@samanthakida]

Dunno if me having an accounting degree is worth anything here but... For misc expenses, invest in Moviepass instead of buying movie tickets. Bring snacks instead of buying stuff from concession. Do you guys have a Costco/Sam's membership? I feel like that would help lower the grocery expense. $400 seems a lot. Also try budgeting on Excel. It is a very useful tool. They have already made budgeting templates. Look into Quicken as well. It's a personal finance bookkeeping tool. Since you have 5 bank accounts, do you have one account set for all your automatic payments? That might be easier to track expenses too :) Hope any of this helps! You got this girl!

[@AjaDang]

hmmm... I like the idea of having an account for my automatic payments. That's a great idea.

[@Remember_Baker]

Basically paying the minimum or barely over the minimum is doing nothing because with interest you will never get ahead. Step 1: Learn Excel Step 2: Cut out basically 95% of all entertainment trips/restaurants/vacations, your life will suck for a while, but its 100% worth it. Step 3: PBJ and oatmeal Step 4: Profit Went to a large university and paid of my student loans less than 3 yrs after graduating.

[@evee1233]

I appreciate the amount of transparency in this video! So many people on here, don't disclose their income making it hard to really appreciate and understand where they come from during budget videos. Thanks so much for your honesty!!

[@HeyHeyItsAlex]

From one freelancer to another: include a time frame for payment in your contracts, and charge a fee if it's late. This has made getting paid promptly much easier. I'm a designer and I tell my clients that I will watermark their items if they can't pay within 7 days of project completion. Works like a charm.

[@crystalflores2502]

You may already be doing this, but I would recommend that you track each individual expense under each category, so at the end of the month you can really evaluate what was a want and what was a need. & with that, I would also recommend adding up your (necessary) expenses for each category at the end of the month and seeing how much you went over or under so you can adjust your budget for future months according to what you actually spend. Just because in the beginning people might allot too much money to a category, which is extra money that could be put towards debt, or they may allot too little money for their true needs, which will lead them to constantly go over, which can in turn be discouraging when budgeting.

[@bryanacamillebraxton4770]

I agree. I appreciate you sharing your actual budget with numbers. Thanks for keeping it real Aja! And Advice for budgeting on groceries, meal planning helps a ton. Plan out what you going to have for almost every meal. (You can plan to eat out 😉) see what ingredients you have and only go down the aisles with ingredients you need.

[@linneathijssen2942]

Hey Aya! I'm a Swedish uni student who pays my own dormrent, buys my own groceries and cook for myself on a tight budget. Groceries you can easily save up on by skipping animalic protein and only sometimes eating fish or lean meats. Red meat I only get when occasionally eating out or it being served at a friend's place. I bulk healthy carbs (quinoa, durum-couscous, oats etc) spices and fats (oliveoil, coconut oil and butter) when I need new and only buy greens and fruits when shopping food. Do alot of portions of vegetarian soup or stew on local grown and in season vegetables and you really save a lot of money. Leftovers you can make another dish out of and then you wont need to throw away food you've paid for. Then you can spend money on quality fish without financial anxiety. An ish-vegeterian Mediterranean way of eating works good for me. I'm sure you could do the same with Asian cuisine since a lot of dishes there are meatfree. I love your channel and send greetings from Sweden.

[@giddyxtine]

this is how i first did my budget when i started writing them down. it took me like 2 months to realize that i really need to take away and sacrifice HUGE if i want to have a little more money and more money going towards debt. Side expenses like beauty/chiropractor/beauty subscriptions monthly had to be cut off until i paid off all my debt. it made a huge difference. Dave Ramsey's idea is to make big sacrifices now and get your debt out of the way faster so that you can enjoy the victories after. doing things like meal prep and keeping a meal prep organization on a whiteboard or journal can precent you from going out. slow cookers are amazing for this. i fully support you and we're all on the same boat of paying off our debt. good luck and have a wonderful new year :)

[@tessroxas4145]

I really appreciate how real you have been getting and the fact that youre not afraid to be honest !

[@disguy1801]

A lot of respect for being open and honest about the numbers. This’ll help a lot of people trying to better their situation.

[@jts404]

Hi Aja, great video as always. I have a couples tips that may help, I'm not a freelancer (yet), so hopefully, this still helps you. *1. The 50/30/20 rule:* A big mistake I made when I first started to pay down debt, was work within the budget I had already created for myself, instead of asking, can I afford to spend what I'm currently spending. I used a slight modification to Elizabeth Warren's 50/30/20 rule calculation to find the answer. 50% of your income should go to your needs (housing, electric, etc.) 30% should go to increasing your net worth (saving and paying off debt), and 20% is for fun (the movies that Brian likes :). I built my budget into those categories. It helped me realize that I was spending too much on my needs (i.e., housing), and not enough on increasing my net worth. That's where I got the extra money to snowball my debt. *2. Business vs. Personal expenses and Taxes:* You spend a lot on your business (great). If you have a company, you can deduct the equipment you are purchasing, and if you section off a portion of your apartment/home and use it for filming, you can deduct that too. Don't forget health insurance and contributions to retirement accounts. I suggest making two separate budgets. One for the business and one for your personal. I'm building an app with an old coworker to help couples get financially fit. If anyone is interested signup for our beta here: www.zetahelp.com/

[@DahGreen]

Love your videos Aja! For groceries: what I prefer to do is look at the freebie grocery store catalogues that are sent to your mailbox to review weekly sales and compare pricing between your favorite grocery stores. This helps me to save money on things I typically buy by purchasing at stores that have them on sale. I'm vegetarian and my husband is not, but we normally consume more fruits and vegetables because it is cheaper than purchasing meat. He eats meat probably once a week.

[@amandashines]

I just implemented the envelope system for my gas and groceries. I'm excited to see your journey. I'm definitely on the same path. Car to be paid off by May, then credit cards, then my mortgage student loan debt. Keep it up.

[@laboheme125]

I'm so loving this series. After reading Dave Ramsey's "Total Money Makeover" I finally conquered my fear to tackle my student loans. So I've loving this series, it's been such a motivator to keep going. Best of luck! You've got this!

[@pumpkinqueen64]

So this is awesome! I too have student loan debt and i'm about to go into law school and have been racking my brain on how i'm going to pay off my credit card, and make a dent in my car debt. This video gives me a launching pad thank you so much!

[@clarenegus8238]

So helpful Aja! When it comes to groceries and spending less on food, yes veggie meals are way cheaper than meat-based meals. I also hard boil a bunch of eggs on Sundays and have them in the fridge to add to salads or eat on their own. If I'm exercising early, just peel one and top it with some spice mix (I use a super cheap Japanese red pepper mix) as an easy breakfast. It'll feel so good when your student debt is paid off!!! Keep at it!

[@SarahGolde]

Hey Aja, this budget planning is pretty good for your first one! I think one way of helping your budget, is to find a bank that won't charge you fees. Even if it's just $25, it's still $25. For groceries, my boyfriend and I will go grocery shopping twice a month. That way, we take turns paying and with going out to eat and stuff too, our groceries won't go bad in that time. I fee like grocery stores now have apps where you can look for BOGO's and stuff. Couponing is life. love ya girl!

[@darkcharri008]

This has given me very good adulting 101 advice because i just recently graduated from uni and i seriously can pull my life together, your videos has been a great help. :) love you so much! keep inspiring people.

[@glittergirl2342]

For groceries, I buy whatever is on sale or in season. Sprouts has bulk bins and the freshest veggies for a reasonable price. Also experiment with less expensive cut of meat. For ex, chicken drumsticks and thighs are cheaper than the breast. I also go to the grocery store weekly. If i don’t finish everything in my fridge, I don’t go to the store one week. Costco is handy for canned/frozen goods. Make a list of staple foods that you can make multiple meals with. Mine has tomatoes, bell pepper, cucumber, romaine lettuce, onion, yogurt etc.

[@stacyh4969]

If you don’t want to plan your meals but have time to shop and cook, Cooking Light magazine has a “1 list 3 dinners” feature averaging $30-40 for groceries and each meal serves 2-4 people. Meals are healthy and easy to prep/cook.

[@roxannaberardi]

Loved the video! A ferry good budget tip for groceries, is that I prep al my meals and get every thing at the beginning of the weak that you need(write a list and stick to it). this way you wont go to the shop daily which means that you wont get extra things that you dont need when you are going shopping.

[@SarahNicholls]

Really useful video, thanks for being so open and honest about your finances! My boyfriend and I did our first ever budget for the year. We looked back at our 2017 bank statements and it was incredible to see how much we wasted on items we don’t need when we could be saving that money for something more meaningful like a big trip or a new property. Thanks for making this video!

[@emmatessier600]

my tip: question everything, as you do budget after budget, each time try reducing a different category with half the normal amount and see if that is something you could keep doing. personally I would not go out to eat every two weeks congratulations on the budget( and remember you have the income to pull this off, you can do it :)

[@SimplyHerpes]

Goal: Pay off a total of $193735.60 with combined 3% interest rate in 8 years or less. Payment required to reach goal: $2272/month or more Start with that payment and then start budgeting what you have left over for the month/two weeks. Not the other way around.

[@17marcilla]

Aja this is a good start. An area I see you can really improve is cutting the dining out budget and like u said plan for meals. Dining out is unnecessary but maybe once a month you guys can. Also I noticed that you budget on things that you are apprehending, adding extra here and there, as you progress in this plan it is good to cut those extra spending money and throw that to your debt. Sinking fund is a good idea

[@wamsaldon]

This is the first budget type video I can relate to as I get paid twice a month but don't know exactly how much it will end up being! I get paid hourly, but my hours are weird so I never know how much it really is. I've guessed the last few times when doing my budget and I still feel like I'm not getting anywhere, this video gave me some insight and the comment section definitely helped me out too! Thank you for this video!

[@hanak.7906]

I like how you are more practical with what needs to be spent and satisfying your wants. I am also an avid follower of Dave, but can’t imagine having the beans & rice diet that he preaches, plus zero fun. It’s really hard and miserable to be so extreme so I too have been somewhat flexible like you. You’re snowball method of paying off the car first is a great idea and a definite confident booster. Best wishes :)

[@janewiseman]

I took the DR class and was able to pay off my car while taking the class and actually started seeing a way out of the month to month grind. I never get down to zero either but I add in another 'bill' I need to pay myself that serves as my buffer. For food planning, I would say start getting savvy with the coupons for your protein items and the other things you know you can't compromise on. Good luck!!!!

[@trng5169]

I have some tips that might help conserve money. Ask trusted friends or family to pet sit your dog(s) to save yourself from boarding expenses and perhaps buy a gift on the trip to give to your friend(s) or family members to thank them for pet sitting. I feel like dining out really drains my money, especially since you’re expected to tip so I try to cook as often as I can. I would cook large batches of a meal like congee, rice & pasta dishes, etc. so I can always heat those leftovers up quickly or even bring to work for lunch. Keeping readily snacks like steamed veggies, fruits (freeze dried/fresh), as well as nuts/oats can also help restrain yourself when you’re tempted to dine out. Just some tips that really helped my boyfriend and I out when we first moved out and had to spend a lot. Love the video!

[@Sarahtlopez]

Hi Aja, please please please keep adding to this video series. I am currently £5k in debt and im starting my debt free journey this month. Watch ing your open and honest experience with debt is inspiring and motivating. Love from england 💕

[@maribelroman218]

Hi Aja This is my first time commenting on your channel. I just want to say, using envelopes is a big help and it does work. I've been doing this For years. And good for you for budgeting in 2018. You are a young woman with a good Head on your shoulders.

[@ashlyash63]

You're doing great by the way! I started my debt free journey and I still am struggling because I keep buying things I don't need. And yes to planning meals!

[@andieszabo3360]

It's awesome you're out there sharing this with your 200,000+ followers! I love Dave Ramsey's plan. I'm currently in law school and will be able to graduate debt free. Congrats on starting the budget life. I actually find it gives me permission to spend sometimes as well. Which is kind of a nice break from not budgeting where I felt like every $10 I spent on something I didn't need was too much. Meal planning helps SOOOO much. I mean, I probably spend less than $200 a month on groceries. With a little work you can definitely get that number down. Good luck!

[@ejstaychill1]

This was really great to see! I hate working with numbers so my Husband does most of the budgeting breakdowns. He use excel to create spreadsheets and use formulas that automatically breaks it down for you and I enjoy not doing much work. But your video help me see the thought process of saving and breaking it down to the simplest so you don’t have to worry towards the end and actually using money wisely. I hope you accomplish and pay of most of your loans this year! 🙏

[@christinedoan909]

Couple of things I do/cut out to save money here and there: 1. I hardly go to the movies and stream everything online (I know I’m bad for that but it’s the truth lol) 2. I don’t pay for cable and just have internet instead cause you can just watch everything online 3. I don’t get car washes you can save money by washing the car yourself lol or just not get one 4. I cook at home often 5. I make a need/want list for shopping (for things like beauty I usually buy value sets from Sephora or only buy make up during their spring and winter sale) 6. I love to travel a lot and I only have one credit card which I use for travel rewards and points on all purchases 7. I never buy drinks at the bar/club lol I just pregame at home 8. Picnic dates are a nice way to go out without spending a lot of money Maybe moving to the suburbs will also help save a lil bit of money also. It took a lot of self discipline for me to save money. I used to shop a whole lot and realized I spent a lot of money on things that I didn’t really need. I also like to have a set amount to put away each month for buying a house. I hope some of this might help but this was what worked for me.

[@samythecondor]

I’m sure someone has mentioned this, but doing Meatless Monday’s can help!I think as long as you have your staples, budgeting for groceries shouldn’t be expensive all the time! ;) I took a break from alcohol for a month which was eye-opening and it’s just a nice little cleanse. I’ve been enjoying all of these financial-related videos you’ve been putting up! It’s so nice to see a KZbinr go through the same things we are and that we aren’t alone. I’m interested in Dave Ramsey but I’ve also been watching The Financial Diet YT channel! This was encouraging and looks like you planned your budget well. Thank you and you got this, Aja!

[@xoxjelloxox]

Enjoyed this video. It really really helped me get a better picture of spending and expenses because you put numbers to it!! One tip for groceries is to buy in season (larger harvests mean lower prices) and usually more minimal grocery stores have cheaper prices. Also you can buy in bulk and put the portions you don’t plan to use in the freezer (ex. Meat and even bread)

[@tomsiodlak6060]

I need to budget in 2018. I make almost all my own meals so that’s one area I am saving money. Thanks for this and being so open on KZbin 🙌🏻

[@jayyjuice]

I seriously admire your transparency through this!! I have so so much respect for financial honestly and being public about it takes GUTS girl. Mad love.

[@Niesh2k10]

Thank you for using actual number values for everything! So many people do budget videos but cover up literally everything so I get confused on their budget plan! You did great!

[@ChanelChase]

This is so awesome to see someone budgeting with real numbers and breaking it down. I love you being realistic and showing people real numbers.

[@adriennemeagan]

Yes!!! More budgeting videos!!! I really have to get it together. Baby on the way, he’ll be here anytime now! So I’ll be on maternity leave/disability for awhile practically cutting income in half. And the bills don’t stop just cause you have life changes! Your video was so helpful and for some reason I didn’t realize there’s tons of resources and ideas/types of budgeting on KZbin! Sooo helpful!

[@traceylee87]

So brave to be so open and honest. You got this girl!

[@cassandrasunshine6352]

My resolution for groceries is to buy just what I need for two weeks, and I plan at least 2 big meals and the rest are staple items. My biggest rule is to not buy any groceries until I've depleted everything in my fridge from my previous grocery trip. With this rule in mind I'm buying enough to last two weeks, but less enough for me to be able to finish it in time for my next grocery trip. This is helpful to me, because so much of the time I buy groceries and don't finish them and most of it just goes to waste. Given this, I buy just for myself and I have a plant/grain based diet.

[@vesnaplavsic3604]

Advice to save money on food : Dont buy groceries with planning every meal with small packages! Fill up your fridge with meat,vegetables and other watching on store discounts while buying and cook every day with combining what you have. Freezing and storage can save you a lot of money.

[@ballroomkitten]

Hi Aja! With respect to groceries, i think you are budgeting a reasonable amount. My rule of thumb is $100/person/week. I'm able to keep my costs lower because I eat vegan at home. If you already don't eat a lot of meat, you might consider keeping your grocery shopping completely meatless to save money and then you can enjoy a high quality, expertly-prepared dinner with meat once or twice during your 2 weeks using your dining out budget! That has helped me a lot. Best of luck to you!

[@AshleyCherie22]

Something that helps me is tracking my income and then budgeting. I'm learning this too! haha Dave Ramsey really helps me believe I can knock out all my student loans. We can do this!

[@SeeKaysee]

This is awesome, Aja! Now I want to remake my budget. My boyfriend and I were able to survive off of $60/2 weeks (so $30 per person) for groceries. Cutting out meat REALLY helped with that as well as meal planning. Also making sure that you use in season veggies and to reuse those veggies in multiple meals. Granted, it did get boring - but it was a sacrifice we did for the extra cash. Considering that you live in LA, I think you could make do with that $400 grocery budget. Good luck girl, really looking forward to seeing an update from you!

[@AjaDang]

do you have any recipe suggestions? I know I need to stop making fancy dinners but then I get board and spend money eating out.

[@sinmiaraoye]

Please do more of this videos...I am a new subscriber and watching you makes me realize that I am not alone and that I can also be proactive about sorting out my finances.

[@TiffyVogt]

Aja, so happy for you!!! I love your videos but this one hits home with me because I am a huge advocate for the debt free lifestyle!!! Definitely rooting for you! If you ever need advice or have any questions always ask! Looks like you have a very passionate community on KZbin! ☺️

[@yagalterry]

thank you for this genuine video! not that im nosy about how much someone earns but it puts it into perspective as to how I should personally budget my finances (also realising im overspending and I really need to reevaluate my finances )

[@lionessofjudah1935]

I really liked this video Aja! I just graduated and I just started my first job, and I also have about 80K in student loan debt. I'm also saving up to move out so I appreciate this a lot !!

[@inner.aloha.matters]

wow get it girl! You’ve now inspired me to pick up a book and start budgeting... I’ve got student loans and I’m hoping to enter the nursing program so it’s going to cost more $$ but I definitely should start looking at my expenses to see where I over spend and where I can save money. Thanks so much for this video🙌🏻 I’m rooting for you!

[@matthewgarcia5567]

Great video. I just started listening but i love the debts free journey content. It really motivates me. I starting in January of last year and have paid off about 30k making 70k. And I should be done with my snowball in April. Thank you for more motivation. I think you will do great. The budget looks great. I assume you have a ton of friend so make sure you remember to budget in for birthdays. And don't forget oil changes or car registration and things of that nature. It took me 5 months to get the budget perfect. But you seem to be off to a much better start than me. Good luck. I'm rooting for you!!

[@itshistoryitspoetry]

Yes, please do more of these! I'm a recent graduate and figuring out finances is so hard!

[@1017cmc]

I just heard a tip from a friend that I'm going to try. She has a list of things that she is able to buy at the dollar store, i.e. paper towels, toliet paper, etc. I'm not sure how much this will actually save but I'm going to go to a dollar store this weekend and come up with a list of things that may work for me!!

[@velvet123]

Christina Davis that's where I get my paper towels, toilet paper, detergent (washing clothes and washing dishes). It helps a lot.

[@LyssaDiamond]

Dude trust me it's the best!

[@alexistompkin3024]

Movies in theatre are expensive. Between Netflix and Amazon Prime, you’ll have tons of movie options. My fam treats movie outings as a special occasion kind of thing. Love your budget! You can do it!!

[@pinkxiheart]

Groceries are really easy. Start with mostly produce and go to cheaper groceries (ethnic markets etc), don't have to go name brand and try different alternatives like couscous instead of quinoa. I love budgeting.

[@AjaDang]

ah interesting. You've noticed that Quinoa is more expensive than couscous? How about in relation to brown/white rice

[@emikamamiya6895]

Thank you for keep showing your real life and sharing the stories and struggles. I’m so inspired and want to grow like you ! X

[@MrsBrookaltimore]

The biggest thing I’d suggest is to give every dollar a job as much as you can. Those unallocated dollars can look like free money when they aren’t given a purpose. Build your emergency fund (which should be higher since you’re freelance), then give those extra bucks a job. Also make sure you’re checking where you are with that budget periodically so you keep to those limits or adjust as needed. Good luck! You can do it!

[@kayyayy14]

Hi Aja. Wanted to say thank you for making such a transparent video as well as your vlog about student debt! I started budgeting two years ago, started with a very manual process on excel then found Dave Ramsay's every dollar app. I didn't find that it worked the best for me since i had to manually enter each transaction and then i started using the Mint app (they also have a website you can use on your laptop). This integrates all your bank accounts, credit cards and investments. The best part is that everything is automated. Every single transaction shows up on the app except for anything you pay for in cash obviously BUT it will also show you your ATM withdrawals. I noticed that you were budgeting on paper so not sure if you're using an app for this. Creating a budget is half the work, the other half is making sure you don't go over it. The app keeps me in check, it sends me an email if i go over my uber limit for the month and you can set goals in it too which would be perfect for your student debt. I used it for all of 2017 and will continue to use it for 2018. I think it's worth checking out :)

[@AjaDang]

I do use The Every Dollar app but I think I might use Mint bc it is a hassle to post all your transactions (and if I don't do it immediately I forget to do it)

[@kayyayy14]

do it!! i think they have some AI technology built into it so it will start to automatically categorize your transactions based on how you categorize them too

[@PandoraLockhart]

I feed two people on about $300 a month and there's quite a few different ways you can cut down on grocery expenses. An example of this is that if you go to Jimmy John's everyday, they have what they called day-old Breads and they're generally anywhere from $0. 50 to$0. 75 for a whole loaf of bread. I stock up on those and freeze them. Additionally, if you go there towards closing they will give you the rest of their sliced bread for free. I highly suggest that every time you see a good sale on any meats or fish stock up and freeze them. I always highly suggest going for local butchers rather than store-bought meat because they tend to be a higher quality and they don't have any added filler. also, save your veggie skins and scraps and then you can boil them up and make homemade veggie stock. I freeze the scraps and then once a month make a whole gallon bag of Veggie stock cubes.

[@kndrkaye1]

I absolutely love that you are doing this. It's about time that social media influencers speak up about debt and being more financially responsible. Also, the APP "You Need a Budget" is FANTASTIC. Seriously look it up and their videos. It's been a huge part of my money mindset shift. It works great for people who freelance bc you can see EXACTLY the money you have and where it's allocated.

[@respectfullymama]

You go girl! I started a budget at the end of December!! Super motivated to snowball -payoff all credit debt this year, and live frugally! ATTACK THAT DEBT BABY! ;)

[@22ncm]

Love this video! I'm a college student, so I try to save wherever I can. For groceries, I shop at Aldi. It's so much cheaper than most grocery stores! Make sure that you keep food waste to a minimum, it's shocking how much cash goes in the trash! For entertainment, MoviePass is the way to go! It's $10/month to see one movie per day, best deal by far!! I'm also addicted to Groupon, especially when they have deals on their deals. Best of luck on your budget journey!

[@nadjajoergensen2692]

Paying in cash wasn’t going to work for me so i named my different debit accounts the different categories in my budget and made sure only to have the allotted amount for the month (or in your case 2 weeks) in there. Good job on getting started!!! You can do this!

[@salamandertoo]

Hey Aja, there's an app called "flipp" that keeps you updated on latest sales in your favourite drugstore/grocery/department stores. You can save so much on essentials by stocking up during sales, whether it's weekly sales or sale events like black friday and boxing day. I hope this helps! Good luck

[@AjaDang]

oohhhhh

[@lindale2396]

Is this app for US only? Or global?

[@salamandertoo]

Linda Le It's launched in Canada but I believe it's made available in the US as well. I'm not too sure if it's available elsewhere. Sorry!

[@rachelstappenbeck8219]

I use the walmart grocery app so you can order all of your groceries online and park and they'll load all your groceries up for you. That is my best budgeting tip for groceries because you aren't able to just grab something you see on the shelf that you don't need. It is much easier for cooking too because you can just order what you need for your recipes.

[@Robotomy21]

Hey Aja! Please make more budgeting videos. I'm also working on being debt free this year. One of my favorite youtubers for budgeting and overall finance advice is Frugal Chic Life. As for tips, like everyone else has said, moviepass is great (i use it and have saved so much), buying items in bulk, and meal prepping. When I meal prep I avoid pinterest just because there's so much and I buy too many things rather than stick to the basics. My favorite source for food inspo is this book called Budget Bytes. Great recipes and I can make a ton of meals with the same ingredients so I'm not spending too much. With that and eating more plant-based meals I save a ton.

[@lycinsg]

Have you tried moviepass? $10 a month and you get to watch a movie every day. That would cut the entertainment by a lot. Also, costco is great. Buy your food in bulk and freeze them. Saves a lot. Dog insurance if your dog is still eligible. Get a line of credit if the interest rate is lower than what you have for your student loans.

[@jleemkup727]

I thought you were rich but I guess I watching this it changed my mind. Thanks you for posting this because I don’t know how to budget and learned more about it. Can you please do more of these?

[@miahighfill922]

Hi! Fantastic video very helpful and real :) An idea about the groceries: you could buy food that can be used in lots of dishes like rice, pasta, beans, frozen veggies, etc. These you can buy in big quantities for pretty cheap. This might help bring the cost down and then you don’t really have to meal plan, you can be more creative with your recipes.

[@simonesmall343]

Thanks this came right on time. Can you keep us posted on your journey and new tips. I need to chill some debt away as well. Xoxo.