My favorite time of day used to be getting my mail. When I was a freshman in college it seemed as though my mother had enlisted her entire address book to send me mail. There were fun cards and letters, and I always got a weekly envelope with newspaper clippings  from mom.

Now that I’ve entered the "real world," getting my mail has lost its luster. I still have the same anticipation when I lift the lid of my mailbox, but what lies inside is usually a letdown. Among the 0% financing offers (asterisk usually included) and special introductory APRs, there they are—utility bill, trash bill, phone bill, credit card bill. The only bill I like to see is my precious little kitten, Bill.

When you start earning a steady income, it is difficult to remember that most of your paycheck is already spoken for. Budgeting is a big deal when you are in college but an even bigger deal during your first years in the workforce. Instead of buying the things I want. I’m trying to save for the things I need (do you hear my parents' voices in your head, too?).

What seems to be the easy answer is lying next to the bills—another credit card. Usually, quick solutions are never the best solutions. And that is definitely the case when it comes to this situation. While I could apply for those credit cards thinking it would ease the weight of my finances, I know it would eventually catch up with me and I'd be paying even more in the long run.

Even though it's hard, I've succumbed to the idea that I'm living like I'm still in college  for the next few years. Then, my cushion of savings can help with the occasional want, like those season tickets to musicals—I've managed to stop weeping about not being able to afford them.

How do you budget for your needs while sneaking in a couple of wants?