I second people saying $100/week is a lot for a food budget. We've been feeding 2-3 people on approximately that. Maybe $100/week for the first couple weeks, when you still need to buy staples like rice and salt and flour; after you've got things in your pantry, you can aim for a lot less. If work is too intense to justify a lot less, that's probably okay too, as long as you're getting by.
My teachers' union did a really good job of making saving money easy and obvious. Take a small amount out of your paycheck automatically each month, pre-tax, and you won't miss it. Otherwise don't mess around with CDs or other complicated things until you've got enough money set aside for 6 months rent or first/last/security if you had to move. Unless your employer really doesn't have retirement accounts or something.
The first year is the most expensive. I somehow burned through $53K my first year on startup expenses and the initial savings account and a fair amount of out-of-town travel. Since then I've had smaller salaries (low 40s) and it's been fine, but having a bed and furniture and a computer and dishes helped with that.
I've found it useful to have a credit card for expense smoothing, but you have to be really careful to use it responsibly, and not put more than a month or two's disposable income (minus rent, utilities, etc) on it at once.
Depending on how professional you need to look, thrift stores can still be awesome. You just have to beeline for the boring stuff. My proefssional wardrobe's still part Goodwill, part Target, and part gifts from family members who shop at real stores.
Get renters insurance. It's generally insanely cheap, like $80/year for the whole apartment, and in the event that something awful happens, you'll be glad.
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My teachers' union did a really good job of making saving money easy and obvious. Take a small amount out of your paycheck automatically each month, pre-tax, and you won't miss it. Otherwise don't mess around with CDs or other complicated things until you've got enough money set aside for 6 months rent or first/last/security if you had to move. Unless your employer really doesn't have retirement accounts or something.
The first year is the most expensive. I somehow burned through $53K my first year on startup expenses and the initial savings account and a fair amount of out-of-town travel. Since then I've had smaller salaries (low 40s) and it's been fine, but having a bed and furniture and a computer and dishes helped with that.
I've found it useful to have a credit card for expense smoothing, but you have to be really careful to use it responsibly, and not put more than a month or two's disposable income (minus rent, utilities, etc) on it at once.
Depending on how professional you need to look, thrift stores can still be awesome. You just have to beeline for the boring stuff. My proefssional wardrobe's still part Goodwill, part Target, and part gifts from family members who shop at real stores.
Get renters insurance. It's generally insanely cheap, like $80/year for the whole apartment, and in the event that something awful happens, you'll be glad.