Well, that’s it, ladies. My last week. I did it. I budgeted. And I learned a lot about myself and my spending habits in the process. It was sometimes difficult, but definitely worth it. Looking back at the experience as a whole I can definitely say that. So instead of recapping this last week for you (which was actually kind of boring) I thought I’d take some time to just go over the finer points and the important things I picked up this month.

1. My online shopping is often a result of boredom. You know how some people Facebook stalk when they’re online with nothing to do? Well I visit online shopping sites. I tell myself its just to check out the latest trends, and maybe it is, but then I want to buy the latest trends and that becomes a problem.

2. I AM A STRESS SHOPPER. Big paper due?  Boy problems? Fight with my BFF? Do I pull out the chocolate? No — well, yes actually, that too — but I first pull up piperlime.com. But I need to find a new way to channel this energy. Like exercising. To work off that chocolate I’m not eating.

3. Those cappuccinos really add up. For years my father has been telling me that I’m overspending by buying my coffee at Starbucks and I just nodded my head and continued on. I always knew he was right, but I didn’t realize how quickly that added up until I actually started adding it up. I won’t be handing in my Starbucks card anytime soon but maybe I’ll switch from a venti to a grande.

4. The Kindle lending library is my friend…something I discovered when I was desperate to buy the sequel to The Hunger Games, but didn’t want to shell out the money for it. Apparently Amazon prime members are allowed to “borrow” books form Amazon’s Kindle Lending Library. That’s right, free books, people. Free books! (Not nearly as exciting an idea for some of you, I know.)

5. Going off the map every once in a while is okay. It’s not so much about not shopping or spending as it is about shopping and spending smartly. At the right time. With the right sales or coupons or price. Because giving up shopping all together would be impossible. 
Okay. That’s it. That is all I have. Go forth and spend smartly!

Jenn is a communications grad student and social media fanatic who spends her free time reading, writing, watching too much tv, and shopping for shoes she can’t afford. You can follow her on twitter @jenninzetta. 

Okay, okay! I admit it! I went off budget this week! I shopped! I bought an item of clothing that I did not need and probably will not use for quite some time! But it’s useful! I swear! And I will use it…just probably not until next winter.

I bought a winter coat, which was on sale. Which really isn’t all that big of a deal if you don’t know the fact that I have a lot of coats. Leather. Wool. Down. Denim. You name it, I have it. But what do you want from me? I live in New York City, the coat capital of the world! With every season represented and plenty of excuses to buy lots and lots of coats. And so I do.

It was just a slight slip up. I was on my way to CVS when I passed one of my favorite stores with a big, huge, sale sign in the window. I had some time to kill, so I figured, why not? I’ll just browse. And then I got to the coat section. There it was: a belted, black, mid length coat. On sale.  And it was just my size. I tried it on, and yes, I bought it. But the damage wasn’t that bad. The coat which was original $200+ was on sale for $50. And although I probably won’t be wearing it this season, I will be able to wear it next winter, and the one after that, and after that, because it is, in fact, a timeless piece. And it’s better I buy the coat now then next November when it’s at its original price, isn’t it? You see how good at rationalizing, I am?

But no, seriously, while I didn’t stick to my original goal, I do not think this week was a complete failure. I bought an item that I will most definitely use time and time again. And I bought it on sale. It was a smart purchase. And at the end of the day, that’s really what I want to begin doing: making smart purchases. Assessing the value of what I’m spending my money on before I spend it, and making sure that I can control and keep track of my spending habits.

So for now, I’ll just chalk this week up to a learning experience.

Jenn is a communications grad student and social media fanatic who spends her free time reading, writing, watching too much tv, and shopping for shoes she can’t afford. You can follow her on twitter @jenninzetta.

So after this week, I’m actually feeling a little bit guilty.

But probably not for the reasons you’re thinking. No, I didn’t go on a major shopping spree. And yes, I did actually manage to balance my checkbook. I’ve even been keeping track of my purchases, but the thing is, since it’s winter break post-holidays and high school reunions, I’ve spent pretty much this entire week watching Netflix, reading The Hunger Games, and sleeping until noon. So I haven’t actually been spending all that much. And it’s made for a pretty easy week. I didn’t even have to buy the sequel to The Hunger Games because Amazon prime members can now borrow digital editions for the Kindle for free. (Have I mentioned how much I love Amazon lately?)

So tracking my expenses hasn’t been all that difficult. But something tells me that next week, when classes start up again, and I’m doubling my caffeine, going out with friends who are back in town, and walking by stores on my way to and from class, my tracking of expenses will become a bit more strenuous.

But for now, I just seem to have to resist the temptation to not go online shopping binges. This week has made me realize that it’s more of a habit than I thought it was.

Bored? Let me check out piperlime.com. Oh look, zappos.com sent me a promotional coupon. What’s that? A LOFT ad in the magazine? That top is cute! I wonder if it’s on sale. Oh, I wonder if there is a cheaper version somewhere else. What? They’re having a sale…like they have every week. Well, it’s smarter to buy during sales isn’t it? But wait — is that a preview of their new spring collection. Oh stripes! I like stripes! And floral prints. And hey, those wedges they suggest to go with it really do work perfectly….

And one hour later I’ve filled up three separate carts with hundreds of dollars worth of merchandise. Now, normally this would be the time where I would sift through it, get rid of the doubles, and the extravagant pieces, and the one-time-wears and buy a few items I’d actually use. But this week, after doing that, I went back and actually looked at the purchases I had left. And no, I didn’t need any of them. So I emptied the cart and logged off, largely because I thought about how I would explain that purchase to you, my dear readers.

Not a monumental moment, but at least a step in the right direction, right? Right.

Jenn is a communications grad student and social media fanatic who spends her free time reading, writing, watching too much tv, and shopping for shoes she can’t afford. You can follow her on twitter @jenninzetta. 

I have a confession: I’m sort of obsessed with lists. Whether it’s a shopping list, top 10 list or to-do list, organizing the things in my life into lists keeps me sane. But making lists really helps me out: I find if I don’t write out everything I have to do (errands, school work, chores at home, etc.), I’ll forget.

I’ve recently discovered a new way to help me organize all the things on my to-do list: Clockblock. Clockblock is a site that aims to help you manage your time better by prioritizing your to-do list.

What’s great about Clockblock  is that it’s quick and easy to use. Unlike other to-do list or calendar programs, Clockblock just asks three things when creating a list item: what is it, when is it due, and is it important? The site then sorts the list for you, based on due date and importance. Important tasks are in larger boxes, and the tasks due soon are nearest to the top and lightest in color, making it easy for you to see what needs to be done with just a glance.

You also have the option of creating a number of different lists, so you can have one per class or maybe one for school, one for work and one for home. It’s a great way to keep from getting overwhelmed by having too many items on one list. Plus, you can choose a different colored theme for each list, which can help you keep track of which list is which.

I love how easy Clockblock makes it for me to keep track of everything I have to do. And it also makes it hard for me to procrastinate with the bright colors and large boxes showing me what’s urgent. I can see myself becoming more productive already!

Most of the time, I’d like to think I am a pretty diligent person. I know how to take control of a situation, to figure out the problem and fix it. And I know how to do all that in a neat, orderly, color coded and filed sort of way. I don’t ignore things and I don’t have other people handle my problems for me. I take control and I get things done…with one notable exception.

My finances.

Maybe it’s because I’m the daughter of an investment banker. Maybe it’s because I had a job that paid well throughout my college career. Maybe it’s because I’m more of a words person than a numbers person. Or maybe it’s because I just can’t resist the urge to splurge on a new pair of boots, but financial matters have never been my thing.

Now, I’m not in any crazy sort of debt (unless you count looming post-grad school loans). And it’s not that I spend my money that irresponsibility. I just spend without thinking. And I spend without needing. So I don’t always know where my money goes. I know I have it, and then I don’t, and I have a rough idea of where and when it disappeared, but I’d like to change that. I’d like to keep track of my money and my spending habits and also take control of them. I want to figure out which ones are good, and which ones are…not so good, which ones I should keep, and which ones I should cut out. And I’d like to do so before I move onto a job that doesn’t pay by the hour.

So I’m starting now. Right this moment. I made my last overpriced purchase a few days ago. I made my post-Christmas returns at the mall this morning. I’ve double-checked my online banking statement. I’ve downloaded the Mint app. I know exactly what money I have and where I have it. And I intend to keep it that way, keeping track of how much money I am spending each week, and what I’m spending it on.

This month I am taking control of my finances.

And if you’re up for it, I want you to join me. Because whether you’re in a position that requires you to keep track of your finances or not, it won’t hurt to know how and why you’re spending your money. Who knows? You might even learn a little bit about yourself in the process.

I’m going to start by balancing my checkbook.

Wish me luck.

Jenn is a communications grad student and social media fanatic who spends her free time reading, writing, watching too much tv, and shopping for shoes she can’t afford. You can follow her on twitter @jenninzetta. 

The semester is winding down. Soon there will be papers to write and finals to study for, which means cutting out the procrastination and cracking down on the studying, which isn’t always easy. But fear not, our resident Web Spy has done her research, providing CollegeCandy readers with ten surefire ways to get organized and start studying.

1. FellowUp will get your organized.

2. With a little help from Evernote.

3. Then RescueTime can show you exactly what you’re spending your time doing.

4. So you know exactly what to tell  Keep Me Out to help you avoid.

5. And then Soshiku can help adjust your scheduling, and reorganize your life.

6. While ReQall keeps track of your notes.

7.  Of course, in the midst of all of this you’ll be registering for classes , which won’t be so bad with CourseRank.

8. And StingyCampus will help you take care of your other issues like finding campus housing and looking for jobs.

9. Afraid you won’t wake up in time to take the final after pulling an all nighter?  WakeUpDialer has got you covered.

10. And when you really just need a break there’s Dear Blank, Please Blank.

It’s a new year, and you know what that means; it’s time to start working on those New Year’s resolutions. But before you start jotting down those promises take a minute and really think about this. New Year’s resolutions almost always involve giving something up, and making sacrifices. And that negative approach makes you all the less likely to keep them. Not fun  and definitely not productive. So instead, I’m offering you something a little bit different. Ten New Year’s resolutions that are actually attainable.

And even better, ten New Year’s resolutions you’ll actually want to keep.

10. Be more organized. In order to make any of your other way more interesting New Year’s resolutions happen you should probably commit to this one. Get a planner, or if you prefer, use a Google calendar, or your BlackBerry. (Or I’m sure there’s and iPhone app for that.) Keep track of dates. Make lists. Write down your goals. If you know what you want it’s so much easier to make it happen.

9. Do something you’ve always wanted to do. Everyone has a bucket list, something they’ve always wanted to do but have never had the time, the nerve or the money. This year, make it your resolution to make it happen. Get a tattoo. Learn to speak French. Have sex in the stacks. Whatever it is you’ve always wanted to do, make it happen.

8. Enjoy your family and your friends. We college girls live pretty busy lives, and that makes it difficult to stay in touch with people, even some of the people that matter most. This year, try not to let that happen. Make an effort to do more than just Facebook comment. If being in the same pace at the same time isn’t an option, try a Skype session. Or something they use to do way back when – a phone call.

7. Step outside of your comfort zone. I’ve already told you to do something you’ve always wanted to do. Now I’m telling you to do something you’d never thought you’d do. Grab a friend and go sky diving, or you know, skip a class if that’s more on your level. Just do something different.

6. Make healthier choices. Every year women makes resolution after resolution about losing weight, cutting out the carbs, and exercising every single day. But crash diets don’t work, and denying yourself something only makes you want it more. That doesn’t mean you should live off of Cherry Garcia and Raman noodles either, though. So start small. Exercise three times a week. Switch to whole wheat breads. Limit your ice cream intake to one night a week. Just make simple, healthier choices.

5. Stop counting calories. So now that you’re making healthier choices, one of the best resolutions you can make is to stop counting calories. It’s tedious and impossible to keep up with and takes all the enjoyment out of going for drinks or eating out. So stop with the calorie counting. You’re making healthier choices and that’s the more important thing.

4. Find some fabulous female role models. Nothing against, LiLo and co. but most of the women that are in the spotlight these days aren’t exactly role models. So start searching. Find some old school actress, some kickass women in the political sector, some awesome business women. Or even someone you already know. (Hi, Mom.) Get inspired by their accomplishments and set your own goals to work towards.

3. Splurge on something extravagant. Well, maybe not so much splurge, but rather save up for it. Instead of spending that hard earned money or that quickly pocketed holiday cash on little things, save it up for something substantial. Then, three months, six months, nine months, or even a year from now you’ll have the money saved when you really, really want something. Like those cute boots, that new i-Pod, or if you’re really ambitious, that new laptop. So save first, and then splurge.

2. Focus on you. A little shallow? Maybe. But also just a little bit necessary, and completely attainable. Stop the distraction and make sure you indulge in a little me time every now and then. Go for a manicure. Take a bubble bath. Shut off your cell phone for an hour. Everyone needs a little time to recharge. And after some rest and relaxation it will make it so much easier to focus on everything else that needs to be done.

1. Enjoy yourself. All the time. Alright, so the “all the time” part might not really be all that attainable. (I mean, you can’t exactly be expected to enjoy yourself during a three hour lecture.) But you should try to enjoy yourself whenever you can it. Be a little irresponsible. Do things you probably shouldn’t because you’re in college and you can. It will be over before you know it (Spoken as a second semester senior.), so enjoy it while you can.

What are your resolutions this year?

[There are over 100 million sites on the Internet. 100 million! You might think you know about all the important ones (CollegeCandy, Gmail, Google, TFLN…), but there are thousands of other sweet sites out there (like Grooveshark, Ebates and Keep Me Out) and more showing up every day! We get it – it’s not easy or fun sifting through the crap and porn to find those gems, so we’re gonna bring the gems to you. Just sit back, kick up those feet and allow us to introduce you to the diamonds in the internet rough.]

My desk is cluttered with post-it notes of things I don’t want to forget about, magazine clippings, receipts, class notes, and more.  The mess, plus being occasionally scatter-brained, drives me crazy and sometimes (OK, more than I’d like to admit) even causes me to forget about important events or due dates. I used to try to figure how I could keep it all organized in a way that would make it all easy to access and find what I need – but now Evernote does all that for me!

Evernote will help you remember anything – whether it’s the due date of an assignment, a random thought, the name of that awesome beer you had at your friend’s party, or anything else – and it’ll help keep it organized!  It’s so easy: simply create an account on the site and start adding notes!

There are about a zillion different ways you can submit something to Evernote.  The most basic way is to simply log on to the website and type in a note manually, but you can also send an e-mail to your account (an e-mail address is created for each account, and can be found on the account settings page of the site), send a text or picture from your cell phone (to your account e-mail address), enter it through one of the smart phone or computer desktop apps, clip something directly from a webpage through their browser add-on, or even send a tweet.  Plus, there are tons of websites, products, and mobile apps that you can connect to Evernote with, and more are being added all the time!

And if helping you remember everything wasn’t cool enough, Evernote gets even cooler: it also helps you stay organized!  Once you submit something, Evernote automatically saves it for you in a “notebook.”  You can create as many notebooks as you want (one for food, one for school, one for shoes….), and can organize everything you submit accordingly.

Some ideas: a digital shopping list with pictures of cute clothes you see in stores and online that you want to buy, a to-do list with tasks and assignments you don’t want to forget about, or web clippings of research for your upcoming term paper.  The uses for Evernote are endless!

All your Evernote notes are also searchable by the note’s title or keywords in it.  Evernote can even recognize text and handwriting in images!  You can also add tags to notes to make searching even faster and easier.

Evernote is going to put an end to the post-it wall over my desk (thus saving many innocent trees)and the hundreds of poorly organized bookmarks on my browser.  I never thought I’d say this, but I think I’m finally going to get organized.

God, the Internet is such a wonderful thing.

[There are over 100 million sites on the Internet. 100 million! You might think you know about all the important ones (CollegeCandy, Gmail, Google, Zappos…), but there are thousands of other sweet sites out there (like Party School Texts, Daily Burn and Musicovery) and more showing up every day! We get it – it’s not easy or fun sifting through the crap and porn to find those gems, so we’re gonna bring the gems to you. Just sit back, kick up those feet and allow us to introduce you to the diamonds in the internet rough.]

Life can be pretty overwhelming sometimes: balancing classes, a job, and social life can sometimes be too much for one person. I know it gets hard for me to remember all that I have to do—especially schoolwork.  I have a regular planner that I carry around in my purse to help keep me organized, but I don’t always remember to look at it every day when I get home, which means sometimes I forget about a reading assignment or worse, a test… which doesn’t really help my G.P.A.  I know I need a better way to organize my schoolwork, but I haven’t found a way that works for me yet.

A few years ago, Andrew Schaper was a high school student with the same organization problems I have.  In order to solve these problems, he created Soshiku, a website that helps you manage and keep track of all your school assignments.

It couldn’t be any simpler to start getting organized.  First, register for a free account on the site.  Once you do that, you can log in, set up all the courses you’re currently taking and add assignments for each.  Every time you log in, you’ll be directed to your personalized homepage that displays all the assignments you have due that day, the next day, and in the coming week, as well as a calendar highlighting the days you have projects due.  You can add notes or upload files to each assignment as well, which helps you stay organized by keeping all your work in one place.

Soshiku’s most useful feature, however, is the option to set up e-mail or text message reminders of the projects you have due at the particular intervals you set (such as the day it’s due or a few days before).  How awesome is that? I mean, you may not check your planner every day, but I can guarantee you’ll check your phone.

You can also upload projects to your account via text message or e-mail so you can add them as soon as your professors assign them, which means less chance of forgetting about them.  There’s also an option to share an assignment with other users and assign tasks, which makes organizing group projects a breeze.

Thanks to Soshiku, it’s now practically impossible to forget you have a test or project due (unless for some reason you decide to ignore your texts and e-mails).  Using Soshiku will help even the most organizationally challenged change their ways!

Free Hugs, because the drugs ain't sellin'.

Tell me a word – any word you want -  and I will show you that the root of that word is Greek.

Let’s try, Philanthropist.

Not to be confused with “Full-On Rapist,” a philanthropist is a “lover of humanity.” A giver. A good person. A helping hand.

So what in the hell do you give someone who constantly loves to..uh..give?

Give the gifts that keep on giving! (And, no, I’m not talking about herpes. That is literally the opposite of a “Happy Holiday.”) Here are a few gifts that give:

The Visa GiveCard:
When your giftee is impossible to shop for, a gift card is really the only way to go. But instead of giving the generic gift card that takes less than three seconds of imagination, give them one that gives back.  The Visa GiveCard is a prepaid gift card where $5 of it is donated toward any of the 5,481 available charities your philanthropist buddy’s heart desires. The rest can be used as a regular gift card to anywhere accepting Visa.

M.A.C Viva Glam lipstick or lipglass – Every last stinkin’ cent goes to the M.A.C AIDS fund to help all people living with HIV and AIDS.  Your friend will look hot and feel good knowing someone else is benefiting from her beauty.

Lush Charity Pot-  This delicious (smelling…I haven’t tasted it. Yet.) hand and body lotion is made with sweet almond oil, fair trade cocoa butter and spritzed with a lil’ Ylang-Ylang, Geranium and Marigold oils. But not only is it good for Mother Earth (it’s made with 100% recycled plastic pots), every penny goes to the following organizations. Feeling buttery smooth and good about humanity? Double win.

Red iPod Nano- Dance tonight, revolution tomorrow? Up to 50 percent of total profits are donated toward help fund the AIDS program in Africa.

Portable beer pong table – Screw cancer.  Especially if it’s in your boobs. Or just play a little beer pong. This portable beer pong table + breast cancer awareness= the best gift ever.  I challenge you to think of something MORE AWESOME.

Volcom’s Dress for a Cause – Let’s be real: the first semester is almost over and your friend has probably raided your wardrobe and worn every last thing you own at least 10 times. Buy her something of her own – like a hot LBD – that not only looks good but also gives back. This little number from Volcom is perfect for NYE and benefits “Boarding for Breast Cancer.”