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One very basic way of saving money and staying healthy at the same time is to cut down on indulgences, said Mark Sisson, a former marathoner for the United States who now has his own blog, Mark's Daily Apple. Tightening our belts can be hard, but sacrificing some of our unhealthy indulgences is actually a win-win setup.

Have you ever thought of how much fattening whipped cream and sugar there is in a frappe, not to mention how much you spend on even the smallest cup of this drink? Despite the amount of calories in a cold frappe, we hardly seem to mind shelling out a minimum of P140 for it. For instance you have frappe on a daily basis: not only do you throw around P4,200 a month on a drink, you are probably putting on some weight, too. Just imagine how much money you would save and how many pounds you’ll lose if you were to have this indulgence, say, just once a month?

The same goes for smoking, even if you buy cigarettes per stick and not per pack. We all know about its harmful effects, not only on your lungs but also your skin, teeth, and overall wellbeing. Yet have you ever thought about how much you are spending on something that shortens your lifespan?

Right now, local brands cost about P35 per pack and P1.50 per stick, while imported brands can go as high as P65 or more. Say you consume a pack of cigarettes daily: that’s already P1050 per month at the very least—a huge chunk of money that could have been spent on something worthwhile and healthy. In the long run, smoking is literally like burning money that could have been spent on basic necessities like food, education, and health insurance among others instead.

We know it is hard to suddenly just quit on indulgences that we've allowed ourselves to enjoy for so long. So why not do it little by little? As Mark advises, you can start by choosing one thing to do without and finding cheaper yet great substitutes for expensive items. Remember: small efforts can go a long way, and every amount you save can make a lot of difference when you think about how much you spend in the long run.