Don't Lend to Anyone and Use Free Medicine: Financial Rules of a Girl with an Income of 7,000 Rubles

«At 18, I invented a system and still use it today»

— At 14, I didn't even know how much bread cost. But by 15, I had to completely manage my own budget — from buying trousers to restocking tea supplies — it just happened that because of my studies, I left my parents early.

First, my older brother and I lived together for a while. He taught me how to make pancakes, cook soup, and also how to put money on my phone and monitor utility meters. A little later, he left, and I was alone. My parents gave me a certain amount, but they didn't control my spending at all.

Павялічыць

Of course, at first I spent a lot on sweets and crisps, bought everything that was once restricted in the family (and rightly so!). Sometimes, by the end of the week, I didn't have enough — I survived on pasta, saved only by the '15-in-1' seasoning. I lived in this rhythm roughly until university. During summer holidays, I worked part-time in a shop. And with my first earnings, I bought dresses, concert tickets, decent cosmetics.

I lived without precise planning until about 18. But one day, after simply spending my entire scholarship in three days, I started to think. I felt sorry for the wasted money. At that moment, I devised a system that I still use today.

It's very simple — the entire budget is allocated for the month. There are three main categories:

• mandatory expenses (non-food) — utility payments, phone, installments;

• food and small pleasures — for example, going for brunch or a cinema ticket (now it's 35 rubles a day);

• small and big desires — a new dress, holiday tickets, massage.

And when I allocate the main categories at the beginning of the month, I always have a little left over, about 5-10% of the total amount. I immediately put this money aside in foreign currency. This is how my safety net is formed.

In 10 years, I've dipped into it twice: when I was jobless and when I had to pay a large fine. For me, this amount is sacrosanct. Now there's a little over 6,000 dollars in my piggy bank.

Twice in my life, I was unemployed. In such moments, I mobilized, reduced food expenses, completely removed the 'big and small desires' category, cooked soups, and sorted through my wardrobe. And I tried not to be idle — I immediately looked for part-time work.

From experience, I can say that such situations really activate the brain and communication skills, removing all fears. I simply went and negotiated for things I might have been too shy to ask for before.

I do everything to ensure my income grows every year. I work full-time, plus always one or two side jobs. I rent out my grandmother's apartment. And if in 2018 I earned about 300 dollars a month (half of which went to pay for a room), now about 6-7 thousand rubles come to my card each month.

Where the money goes

I don't rent an apartment; I live with my boyfriend in his one-room apartment. Expenses are approximately as follows.

Over these 10 years, I've developed several rules based on my own experience:

• work well and rest well;

• not to depend on a single source of income;

• even if the income is very small, save at least 20-30 dollars;

• not to lend money to anyone and not to apologize for it;

• not to save on health — no cheap pasta and synthetic socks;

• roughly plan the menu for the week and go to the store with a list;

• cook at home, but sometimes don't deny yourself a cup of coffee and an overpriced croissant;

• sort through your wardrobe once a season, buy genuine leather shoes and quality durable items;

• ride a bike from March to November, call a taxi only in the most extreme case;

• go to the district library for books, not bookstores;

• use free medicine — this includes tests, check-ups, and ultrasounds;

• find your ideal care products — and buy them in large packages;

• help loved ones from surplus — make mom happy, give a little money to godchildren, buy a gift for my boyfriend when I truly have extra money.

Павялічыць

Thanks to this approach, by the age of 28, I have visited 22 countries, bought all the necessary equipment, including a good smartphone and quality headphones, and built a safety net.

Павялічыць

I gradually help my parents and prepare for new challenges: together with my boyfriend, we dream of a bigger apartment and start talking about children.

I really want to visit expensive countries like the USA, Australia, the Netherlands. I hope all goals will be achieved in time.

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