Living at Uni, and having barely any money teaches saving skills.
Basically, if you plan to spend money on something, allocate so much (eg, $50 for a night out, even though you don't drink), and
do not go over it.
As for food, shop at the supermarket that is the cheapest without sacrificing quality. Find a couple of dishes you know how to make, then look for differing ingredients that can make it cheaper.
Don't buy already prepared food, it is usually more expensive in smaller packs. Learn how to cook, even if it's only simple things.
It's good to learn when the specials are on at the supermarket too, like when the meat's about to go off, so they reduce it, you buy it cheap, then freeze it.
"Entertainment" doesn't fit into my budget (don't play/buy games, go to the movies, or any of that). Instead, I do free things. Like playing
frolf every day, or being a member of the Uni's
Ultimate Frisby team.
Simply kicking back with mates in their dorm room (or apartment) is enough. Chat, watch TV, tell some jokes, etc. You don't need to spend money to have fun
Internet here is charged by the MB, so I have to watch what I d/l.
Phone charges are never too high as I have gotten onto a pre-paid deal where I can call other phones on the same network for free. Talk for as long as I want to almost all my mates, and my parents.
Basically, just think about it.
You'll hit times where your fridge will be empty, and you can barely afford rent, but don't worry - as long as you can just scrape by, whatever it was that put you out of pocket can be taken as a lesson to avoid next time.
Oh, and if you can, build up a contingency reserve, so things like sudden car costs, or a doctors visit, etc, don't set you back too much.
That reserve level should be part of your normal savings money (so it's easy to get at), but always set yourself a limit of how much you want to have in your account, like for me, I have a $1000 set that I try not to go under (actually sitting at $2000 now, which I'm really happy about!).
[EDIT]
Oh, and extra money that you have/get is
not spending money. It is money that goes toward expenses, regardless of how 'under control' you have everything!
