93celicaGT2 wrote:The 1st year isn't hard. The 2nd year is hard, because then you've gotten comfy with "hey, this isn't bad, i can afford this!"
Keep your place CLEAN. It does wonders for your mood.
Save some money, get back to the basics for entertainment. Play music/movies ALL the time.
Cook.
You'll be dumbfounded when you find out how much extra time you have working a 40/hr week. Try not to spend money when you're bored. That was always my biggest problem. "Hrmm... what should i do? I think i'll head to Fry's and check out electronics. Or maybe i'll start perusing Ebay."
Some good advice there. Especially on the CLEAN part. After nearly 10 years of near neglect, I was forced into cleaning my house around the end of the year. While I'm not done, just looking at the place makes me much happier now.
Definitely do NOT go shopping when you're in a bad mood. The Dark SIde, does that path lead...
Oh yeah... just say NO to Ramen noodles... maybe once in awhile, but they really shouldn't be a staple. The sodium content is staggering... and were likely a main cause of my recent kidney stone... and trust me, you do NOT want one of those.
Right now I have no TV (cable) and no interent access at home... I just listen to the radio... cook.. clean... read... try to play my guitars again... hoping to start exercising more and will work on the cars when the weather warns up a bit.
+1 on the book Joy of Cooking. My copy is 3 years older than I am and was a wedding present to my parents that was left behind. Amazing that book was first published in the 30's. 
