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Week 2 (Day 8-14): "Lock housing + cashflow"
Build a bare-bones budget for 60 days (rent, food, transit, phone)
Your first month is expensive can be deposits, furniture, unexpected costs. It's time to build a budget. Spend only 30% of your money on rent. Shop at ALDI, Walmart, or Lidl for groceries, you can eat well for $300-380/month. Buy staples: rice, beans, eggs, frozen vegetables. They're cheap, healthy, and last forever.
Your first month in the U.S. is very expensive. You have to pay deposits and buy furniture. Week 2 is the time to plan your spending so you don't run out of money.
- Try to spend only 30% of your money on rent. This leaves enough for food and fun.
- To save big, shop at ALDI, Walmart, or Lidl. These stores are much cheaper than "fancy" ones like Whole Foods. In 2026, a single person can eat well for about $300–$380 a month by shopping at these discount stores.
- You can buy "staples" like rice, beans, eggs, and frozen vegetables. They are healthy, they last a long time, and they cost very little.
Free Resource: Healthy Grocery List
Resources
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