I just recently talked to a young women who was learning to live on her own. She asked me for advice about learning how to budget. I told her that the first thing she needed to do is find out how much is coming in per month and how much is going out, and where to.
Well to make a long story short we both discovered that she was spending more than she was bringing in. We went down the list of where her money was going to see what she could eliminate or cut back on. As we went through the list we cut back on the overage. One of the items remaining on her list was an outrageous cell phone bill.
The bill included a lot of extras that were not included in her plan. She explained that she needed all of those extras. I countered that she doesn’t need unlimited texting and internet, downloaded ringtones, etc. I explained that these things were not essential to her existence (this could also include the cell phone itself). Elimination of these items could cut her bill in half.
She refused to give them up saying that she would get a second job to cover her extra expenses; which is commendable if she does. However, what ever happened to prioritizing. I don’t see a benefit so large in having those extras that would warrant the time and energy of working two jobs. When did we stop teaching the basics? I guess she’ll have to work that one out on her own.