Okay listen, money management tips are literally the only thing standing between me and total financial chaos right now, and I’m writing this from my tiny apartment in [redacted US city] where the radiator is making that weird clicking noise again.

Seriously, I’ve been broke, I’ve been comfortable, I’ve been stupid with cash, and I’ve clawed my way back. These are the things that actually stuck for me—whether you’re pulling six figures or scraping by on $2,800 a month like I did for way too long.

Why Most Money Management Tips Feel Like BS to Me

I used to hate all those glossy “budget like a boss” articles because they assumed I had a fancy app and spare cash to invest. Meanwhile I’m over here choosing between groceries and gas. But some stuff actually works—even when your income is inconsistent or low.

Here’s my messy, flawed American take.

Track Every Damn Dollar (Yes, Even the Coffee)

I started tracking my spending in 2023 after I realized I’d spent $187 on takeout in one month. One. Month. I was mortified. I used this free app called Mint at first, then switched to just a gross spreadsheet because the app kept judging me.

• Write down every single expense for 30 days. Even the $1.89 pack of gum.
• Round up to the next dollar. Makes the math easier when you’re half-asleep.
• At the end of the week, look at it and feel the cringe. That cringe is your teacher.

Pro tip: I once found I was spending $9.50 every weekday on oat milk lattes. I switched to home-brewed coffee and saved almost $200 a month. Felt like a small victory. Still miss the fancy foam though.

The “Pay Yourself First” Thing Actually Works (Even on Low Income)

I know, I rolled my eyes too. But hear me out.

Every time I get paid, I immediately move 10% (or $50 if 10% is impossible) into a separate high-yield savings account. I use Ally because their app doesn’t make me feel bad about small amounts. Even when I was making $2,800/month, $50 felt doable. After six months I had $300 for an emergency car repair and didn’t have to put it on a credit card. That feeling? Chef’s kiss.

Budgeting Method I Actually Stick To: The “Two Buckets” Hack

Forget complicated spreadsheets with 47 categories. I just use two buckets:

1. Must-have bucket (rent, bills, groceries, gas, minimum debt payments)
2. Everything else bucket (fun, eating out, clothes, random Amazon crap)

I figure out how much goes in the must-have bucket first. Whatever is left is the fun bucket. If the fun bucket is $37 for the week, then guess what—I’m eating ramen and watching Netflix. No shame.

This stopped me from pretending I could afford “a little treat” when I really couldn’t.

Kill the Subscription Creep (My Biggest Money Leak)

I did an audit last summer and found I was paying for:

• Hulu
• Hulu + Live TV (why??)
• Disney+
• Netflix
• HBO Max
• Spotify
• Calm app
• Headspace
• Adobe (I don’t even use it)

Canceled everything except Netflix and Spotify. Saved $108/month. That’s $1,300 a year. I could’ve bought a cheap used car with that money.

Anyway, point is—check your bank statements. You’ll hate yourself for a minute, then feel powerful.

Emergency Fund: Mine Is Small and It Still Saved Me

I don’t have 6 months of expenses saved. I have about 6 weeks. And guess what? That’s still huge. When my laptop died last month, I didn’t panic. I had $900 in the “oh shit” account. Bought a refurbished one for $620 and kept the rest.

Start with $500 if you can. Then $1,000. Then more. It’s not sexy but it’s peace of mind.

Make More Money? Yeah, I Tried That Too

Side hustles saved me during lean months. I did:

• DoorDash on weekends (hated it but made $200–300 extra)
• Sold old clothes on Poshmark
• Tutored math online for $25/hr

Not glamorous. But it let me breathe.

Final Thoughts (aka Me Yelling at Myself)

Look, I’m not a financial guru. I still buy dumb stuff. I still eat out when I shouldn’t. I still get stressed when the car needs brakes. But these money management tips—tracking, paying myself first, two-bucket budgeting, killing subscriptions, building a tiny emergency fund—actually moved the needle for me.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, just pick one thing from this list and try it for 30 days. That’s it.

What’s your biggest money leak right now? Drop it in the comments—I’ll probably confess one of mine too. Solidarity, you know?

Oh and here are some decent resources I actually use:

• The Financial Diet – realistic personal finance for normal people
• Ally Bank High-Yield Savings – where my emergency cash lives
• YNAB (You Need A Budget) – if you’re ready for something more structured