As an undergrad in the Genetics department at UW-Madison I've taken a lot of life science courses in my day. Some of them have been less than pleasant (here's looking at you OChem) and some have led me towards realizing my dream career in Clinical Operations. When registering for my last semester of classes I added a type of course I'd never taken to my enrollment cart: Consumer Science 321. If you're a Madison student, I strongly recommend taking this class. It covers all of the intimidating adult subjects you feel you should know but were never actually taught. The class covers everything from taxes to investments to buying a house. For a 1 credit course I can honestly say I learn something every single time I set foot in the classroom. One of the most meaningful parts about Consumer Science 321 is that it's making me more conscious about my money decisions. Last week we made a spending diary for 1 week to keep track of where our money went. I learned to be more conscious about how those store bought cups of coffee and grabbing little snacks in-between classes add up. The activity inspired me to make my own monthly budget. Now, don't panic. The word budget gets a bad rep. Yes, it means you're restricting where your money is going, but it doesn't mean you can't make room for fun purchases too. Having a budget doesn't mean you can't treat yo' self every once in a while. If getting that nice lunch or that cup of coffee is a way to reward your hard work, then leave a little room for it. Set a fixed amount to spend on on eating out and stick to it. Having a budget means being accountable for your money and when used effectively it can help you reach your saving goals. Join me by downloading a blank copy of the spreadsheet I made to get my financial life in order. ![]()
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AuthorEmma Neale: (young) adult, cat mom, and aspiring for adventure. Archives
February 2019
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