<prompt> Human: So I have been keeping a very detailed budget for 2015 and what I have discovered so far in two and a half months:1. I spend far more on grocerieseating out then I am comfortable with. I literally look at the numbers and want to kick myself in the ass, not that I am a super lavish eater, but just that my assumption of how much I spend was so out of whack with reality. 2. Every month there are ALWAYS unexpected expenses. Some surprising, others surprise me because I never accounted for them and they are so obvious. Haircuts, oil changes, dentist appts.3. In some areas being super aware has made cutting back very easy. No stops for a tea, no random 2-3 purchases of gum or convenience items. 4. Budgeting has also made me think ahead and spend money now to save money later. I buy a toy a month to donate at Christmas and I also give out kickass small toygame items at Halloween. There is a chain of stores going out of business and I wiped out their toy sectionparty gifts that had clearance items that were further discounted. I spent just under 100 and bought just over 500 worth of items. Enough for all my donations for the year, as well as Halloween gift bags with 6 items in each, for two years! 5. Finally writing down exactly what I buy in groceries has made me super conscious of what foods I am eating and I have been cutting back significantly on anything that is not a whole, healthy food.I realize I am still new to budgeting, but in the short time I have been doing it I have made a number of changes to my lifestyle and spending. Happily, I am spending a little less each month and making a little bit more. My goal this year was to pay off 15,000 of debt and save 10,000 for any emergency fund. Currently I am down to 9077 in debt and I have 1160 in my emergency fund. I only make 45,000 plus any side work I do, so I think I am doing pretty good!Edit: Ok this blew up way more then I was expecting. I am trying to answer everyone, but it might take me a bit. Thanks for all the input and conversation, this has been very educational for me!Edit 2: My inbox has gone crazy. To clarify a couple of points I have been asked a few times. - 45K is certainly more than enough for one person. - I have been supporting myself fully since I was 17. - Paid for university and college on my own student loans were paid in under 10 years - I own my own house put 30 down payment at purchase bought for a lot less than I was approved for- own my car, its a 2002, needs to be replaced and I will be buying a modest used car for cash- The 15,0000 I did owe was due to being sick for going on 2 years now. I had to miss quite a bit of work.- Im sorry if any of this comes off as bragging, that was not my intention I was trying to be completely open and forthright about my situation in the hopes of getting good advice which i did and maybe helping someone else out. - the gum thing was just an example of mindless spending why is everyone stuck on the gum thing- I did do a month of budgeting in December 2014 as well, so technically three and a half months.  <response>: Try to overbudget for bad decisions. You cannot. 