***This post was contributed by Evyan Durham. For her contact information, check out her bio at the end of this post. To submit an article, click here***

Saving money is something that is fairly foreign to me although it has been preached to me ever since I landed my first job at the tender age of 16. Payday rolls around and you've already spent your check in your mind the day prior. It's so easy to do and so hard to resist. ALDO is having a "sale" and those suede boots you've been eyeing are literally screaming your name. Who are you to deny those boots a proper home on your perfectly manicured feet? Whatever your weakness may be with your money just know that we've all been there. It's so easy to say that you're going to make a budget and stick with it but at times this is easier said than done. I know I've failed miserably at trying to manage what little money I do have and save up for the future.As a young adult with no means of a steady income, I'm currently dependent on my parents as my "source of income". I don't have time to juggle school, cheerleading, studying for the MCAT, and a job right now so I don't have one. Any money that I do receive from them is spent on food and rarely anything else. However, I sometimes find myself in compromising positions with money. A few people I know have the good fortune of coming from families that are upper middle class with have parents who will throw cash their way like Oprah at a charity event. Then there are those who think credit cards are pills and just swipe their lives away and bury themselves in debt. It's these people who are always spending money and want me to come along for the ride. I've quickly learned that I can't afford to waste the money I have just because others around me are in a position to play Russian Roulette with theirs. If you know you aren't in a position to go to the Cheesecake Factory and drop $20.00+ then speak up! I've had to bow out of a few outings with friends because I simply couldn't afford it. If you have true friends, they wouldn't pressure you to always be out with them spending money you don't have regardless.Writing your expenses down is a sure fire way to ensure that you don't spend too much as well. Although I don't necessarily practice what I'm preaching, I'm working on it. My mother religiously, I mean religiously, writes down everything that she buys. No matter how small the amount it is guaranteed to be penciled into her check book. It's so easy to spend money, forget what you spent it on, and find yourself $232.83 short a week later. I used to think that spending in small amounts without writing them down was fine. I spend $5.00 here and $10.00 there, I'll remember that. Wrong. Those little numbers can add up faster than you think and before you know it you've spent $100.00 in less than 24 hours. It's so easy to let go of a small bills and hang on to the larger ones. You don't see the magnitude of your spending because you think that these small bills equate to you spending wisely. Wrong again. Spending smart is spending smart no matter how small the amount is. Seeing your spending habits on paper will show you how frugal you really are.If you want to start spending wisely here are some ways I've devised to keep yourself on track. Please keep in mind that I'm just as clueless as you are about saving my money, I'm not a financial consultant, and that what works for me may not necessarily work for you.Step 1: Track your spending habits for a week or two. At the end of this period, find out what you needed and what could have been a better use of your money.Step 2: Create a weekly budget. I've found that monthly budgeting is far too broad for me especially since I basically live from week to week with the money I do have.Step 3: Set money aside for emergencies. Don't have every penny alloted to a certain expense. Emergencies do arise and when they do you're going to want to have some "rainy day" money to pull from.Step 4: Regularly check your bank statements. I actually ran into some financial bumps when I found out that I was being charged for a service I did not ask for. Always be abreast of what is going on in your account because no one else is going to do that for you.******

Hello all! My name is Evyan (yes, like the water but without the "i") and I'm currently a Junior at the Mecca, Howard University, majoring in Sports Medicine. I currently cheer for my beloved Bison but my heart shall always lie in track. I'm 1.5 years into the natural scene and I'm loving every kinky curl! I'm so excited to be joining the Think and Grow Chick family, you'll be seeing and hearing from me often.Blog: http://bedspringsandbookbags.wordpress.com/Twitter: http://twitter.com/afropetiteFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/edurham