Broke Girl Budget Starter Pack: How to Start Your College Budget

(Because we can’t all marry rich)

So you’re broke. Me too, bestie.

At least you’re self-aware enough to click on this post instead of buying a $14 candle “for your mental health.” Welcome to your unofficial starter kit for figuring out how to not blow your entire refund check in week one.

This isn’t a financial advice column. It’s more like me showing you how I barely survive college without ending up on a reality show called “Venmo Me, I’m Poor.”

Let’s go.

1. Track Literally Anything

You don’t need a spreadsheet. You just need a vague idea of where your money is going.

What I do:

• Open Notes app

• Title it “Where My Money’s Going (God Help Me)”

• Write down every time I spend money for a week

No judgment. You’re just collecting the receipts (literally and emotionally). Once you realize you spent $92 on sushi and delivery fees last month, your brain will auto-adjust. A little.

2. Pick a Weekly Money Limit and Pretend It’s Real

Forget the categories. Just give yourself a weekly spending number and try not to go over it.

Mine is $65. For everything.Groceries. Coffee. Target damage. Random club cover.

It’s not science. It’s vibes and vibes only. But it helps.

3. Create a “Broke Girl Grocery List”

If your fridge currently contains one slice of cheese, a lemon, and a Red Bull, let’s fix that.

Here’s the base list I live by:

• Pasta

• Rice

• Frozen veggies

• Eggs

• Canned soup

• Peanut butter

• Tortillas

• A little treat (you deserve one)

If it can be turned into a bowl, a wrap, or a panic meal, you’re good.

4. Stash a Tiny Emergency Fund Somewhere Stupid

You know that moment when you check your balance and it’s $0.41?

Hide a $20 bill in your sock drawer. Or your phone case. Or Venmo yourself $50 and don’t touch it.

This is not “savings.” This is emergency Uber or desperate coffee before a midterm money. You’ll thank yourself later.

5. Cancel Something. Anything.

If you haven’t used it in two weeks, it’s gone.I don’t care if it’s Duolingo, a gym you “might go to,” or your 17th streaming service.

Log in to your subscriptions and hit cancel on one thing. It feels incredible. Like yelling into the void. But productive.

6. Make a “Do Not Buy” List

This is unhinged but life-changing. Mine includes:

• Hair masks (I have 5)

• Aesthetic notebooks I’ll never fill

• That one drink from Starbucks that’s always $7

Write it down. Look at it before you shop. Repeat.

Final Thoughts from Your Broke Bestie

No, you don’t have to have your money figured out. Yes, you will probably still buy something dumb next week. But at least now, you’ve got some sort of a college budget and a vibe shift.

This is your starter pack. The rest we’ll figure out together.

PS: I made you a free Broke Girl Budget Tracker you can actually use. No spreadsheets. No math. Just vibes. Find it here.

XOXO,

Broke College Girl