Effective Ways to Help Save Money in the Philippines
Photo credit: ckwr.com
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Some people say living in the Philippines can be very inexpensive. We have to realize, though, that our wallets will cry for funds when we spend too much no matter how cheap prices are. Yes, it always makes us feel good when we spend for ourselves, but there is a thin, thin line between smart buying and sick buying when items go on sale.
And yes, this means we have to save money.
Saving money in the Philippines is not as different as compared to saving money in other countries, but let us help you sort the methods out. Here are some basic but very effective ways to be thrifty in the Philippines according to a Filipino employee’s perspective.
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The Lunch Box Method
Going to work every day is already a form of expense. Every day, you deal with your transportation fees. Buying lunch is another form of expense. Bringing a homecooked meal for lunch is one way of saving a minimum of P65.00 peso daily.
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Needs vs. Wants
Your needs and your wants has a huge difference. A need is simply a necessity that you can use everyday while, a want is just something you crave for. To understand it better, here is a simple example. Every day, we need food to nourish our body but we don’t need to eat in an expensive and high-end restaurant to survive the day. Cheap eats are enough to supply energy to your body…or do the Lunch Box Method instead.
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Setting a Daily Allowance
Setting an allowance for a day also gives you the discipline to avoid spending too much. You just have to utilize what you have. Once you’re used to it, increasing your expenses to your allotted budget will be too hard for you to bear. Also, from that allowance, you can also take out a part of it and make it as your savings. A PhP20 or PhP50 saving per day is enough which may result to a PhP100-250 worth of savings in a week. Not bad, right?
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An Expense Schedule
Hanging out with friends is part of our lifestyle. Who could resist hang outing with people you really like once in a while, right? If you know that you’ll be spending on a Friday for a party with friends, you can work up an expense schedule to avoid overspending by controlling your expenses days before and after partying out.
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Plan, Plan, Plan
You save money because you have a goal. Dream big and make it even bigger. Slowly achieve your goals. You’ll soon realize that your wondrous sacrifices is only one grab away and you’ll soon realize that you are reaching your financial freedom.
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Article by Camille Nunez
