JR Biggaw
Do you sometimes find yourself, like no matter what you do – you still cannot seem to save any money? It can be a little bit frustrating to work hard every day, and still not be able to make ends meet. Maybe, there are things you seem you don’t realize you’re doing that can actually help you start saving boatload of money.
I have listed few things that may help you find – why you still find yourself a bit struggling when it comes to saving.
Avoid smoking – You need understand that smoking is not only expensive, but potentially deadly too. If you want to add more years to your life and save a shipload of money – cease smoking. My mom taught me not to get into this kind of habit because it’s dangerous, worthless and uneconomical – “Sayang ang pera- sinusunog mo lang” – she’s right after all.
How many people dies every single day because of smoking and how much do you spend everyday to satisfy yourself with this kind of vice. For sure- It can’t make a big difference in your daily basis, but if you sum up all – it does make a big impact! – How much it can cost you if you buy a pack of cigar – it’s about 70 pesos – 80 pesos or how much do you spend on buying a stick of cigarette everyday – it’s about 5 pesos per stick – if you puff 5 sticks in a day, that’s already 25 pesos for the whole day, 175 pesos for the entire week, 700 for the entire month and 8,400 pesos annually.
Take Public Transportation – If public transits like jeep, bus or train is available near you. Take it – instead of driving your own car or booking a cab on your mobile. For sure! It’s thrice cheaper than what you are expecting. You wouldn’t even worry with other expenses like gasoline and parking fee or consuming your mobile internet data.
Avoid drinking session – when I was new in BPO industry – It was a habit for me and my colleague to go out after work. Drinking session had always been a routine for us twice in a week. I made myself believe – this kind of habit is a way for us to pamper ourselves from a stressful day of work. Maybe it was! – Now, I can see the difference – I had to spend around 200 pesos everytime we go out, 400 pesos in a week and 1,600 in a month and 19, 200 in a year. – If I could have saved the money back then – I could have put up a trendy business or have a good investment by now. It’s not bad to go out and drink with your friends or colleague once in a while – but if you do it habitually; twice or more in a week – list down how much is your outlay with this kind of leisure, you’ll see how much you are wasting.
Avoid coffee shop – Many of us love to stay at a coffee shop – maybe because it’s cool and cosy, free Wi-Fi or maybe because other people find you “Yayamanin” in colloquial term. Practically speaking, this kind of addiction is something that you can frugally cut back. How much it costs you if you drink your Starbucks coffee or coffee bean coffee three times in a week- 140 pesos for your Starbucks Frappuccino Tall.420 pesos for the whole week, 1,680 pesos for the whole month and 20,160 for a whole year.
Avoid fast food – Instead of eating out in a fast food restaurant during your lunch time at work. Why don’t you take your own pack-lunch? – If not every day, then at least a couple of times in a week. If you have leftover foods for dinner or breakfast, have it packed for lunch instead of feasting your money out in your pocket with those processed foods – Your co-workers may not understand your desire to save money, but that’s their problem – not yours.
Avoid The Mall – Mall might be a cool place especially if you are a bit stress at work. You can do some activities there; watch a movie, play at recreational zone, eat at the food court or maybe walk for shopping \ window shopping. Undeniably, Mall is packed with temptations – that is why should avoid the mall unless you actually need to purchase something. – Trust me; window shopping when you’re on a budget can be torture. Unburden yourself and find something else to do when you need some entertainment. A walk outdoors, board games, or a good movie can easily replace your regular mall shopping activity.
Start a Garden – if you have an idle backyard. Till up and keep it weeded with vegetables like tomato, eggplant, ladyfinger or herbs like basil, peppermint, tarragon or rosemary. This definitely helps you – to avoid buying veggies and herb the time needed to cook your recipe – This can be a lot better that those in the market because you’re pretty confident that you have grown healthy organic ingredients.
Final Though
It takes a lot of courage and discipline to be able to save boatload of money. Sometimes, you need to sacrifice other things that we get to use to – to cut back your daily expenses, downgrading your lifestyle in order to save part of your monthly wage.
You may not be able to save tones of penny in one sitting drastically, but you starting being vigilant to where small amounts are going, cutting back or reducing all small amount expenses and putting those into your piggy bank- Time comes and you’ll see, those tiny amounts will make a big impact into your life.
