Make the Most of Your Twenties Without Breaking the Bank

Wouldn't it be sweet if real life was more like a reality show? You could spend your summers in an oceanfront home, drink like a fish, go clubbing 24/7 and still have money left to buy tons of new clothes. Unfortunately, if you are like most twenty-somethings, this type of "reality" has very little in common with your life, where every decision you make seems to have a domino effect. For example, if you go out for a friend's birthday, you might not have enough money for rent. Or if you decide to buy that jacket you've been coveting, it could mean that you'll be eating ramen noodles for a week.The good news is that you can enjoy the good life even if you are on a budget. It means being a little creative, being resourceful and avoiding wasteful habits. It may also require giving up the little things in order to get a bigger prize at the end. Skip a latte a day, for example, and you might have enough money at the end of the month for that jacket you've been dying to buy.

The Wheel Deal

America has a car crazy culture. But if you live in a big city with excellent mass transit options, and your auto spends more time as a driveway ornament than it does on the road, then it might be time to get rid of it. Selling your vehicle means no more insurance, upkeep, parking or payments. For those times you really need a vehicle—can you say road trip?—you can always take advantage of a car sharing program such as Zipcar.Of course, if you live in a rural or suburban area, it's not always practical to rely on mass transit to get around. Just make sure that your vehicle is appropriate for your budget and situation. Don't, for instance, waste money on a gas-guzzling and money-sucking sports car just for image's sake. If you own one now, sell it and purchase a more economical used vehicle through a reliable source. For example, you can find SmartWay certified used cars at DriveTime.com for further gas savings. The money you save on insurance, gas and monthly payments could be substantial.

Dating on a Dime

Most women are more impressed by the effort and thought that is put into a date than they are by the amount of money that is spent. If not, then it's always good to discover that a woman is a materialistic wench before you get too far into a relationship.So how do you create a date that is memorable for all the right reasons? Think a lovely picnic with an inexpensive bottle of wine and tasty vittles or a nice grilled steak dinner with candlelight and romantic music.If you really want to take your date out to a nice restaurant, consider purchasing a coupon from social media websites such as Groupon or Living Social. Just make sure to take the waiter aside when you want to give him the coupon and let him know to keep it on the down low. It would be considered poor taste to whip out one of these coupons on a date, especially if it is your first time out together.

Dressing Like a Superstar

Fashionistas and fashionmistas have it good today. A number of retail stores, such as H&M and Old Navy, sell fashionable pieces at bargain prices. If you are, however, into name brands, try shopping at consignment stores like Plato's Closet. Another way to save money on fashion is to shop at Because I Shop Too Much. You can often find name-brand items with the tags still on them on this site.