Managing a budget is not a walk in the park, and one of the reasons is the temptation to spend will always be there. And not being able to resist buying has put many individuals and their families in hot water.
Actress Neri Naig Miranda has been getting her fair share of people reaching out to her to ask for help with their money problems. We assume they are doing so because of her celebrity status, and she has been vocal about her entrepreneurial pursuits, sharing her aspirations and challenges.
In a series of Instagram stories, Neri recently shared that she's been receiving posts from people asking for money to help pay for their debt. The "wais na misis" shared that while some genuinely needed help, there were those who are in serious debt because of how they mismanaged their money.
In a blog post, the new mom acknowledged how difficult money management can be. "Kung nakikita nyo ngayon na wais na misis na ang peg ko, maniwala kayo, bago ako matutong mag-budget at mag-ipon, malala ako sa pera, baka mas malala pa ako kaysa sa inyo."
"Ang pera sa akin dati ay feeling ko hindi mauubos o pag maubos man, may darating din naman," she wrote referring to the days when acting was still her primary source of income.
"Mali ako dun. Maling-mali," Neri admitted.
Neri emphasized what a difference it can make to save a portion of your income each month. "For example, kung ang sahod mo ay Php20,000 tapos ang budget mo (expenses) sa isang buwan ay Php12,000, 'yung Php8,000 itago mo na agad. I-banko, time deposit para 'di mo talaga magastos agad," she said. "Magugulat ka na lang sa ipon mo sa banko.
"Pwede ka ng bumili ng sariling kotse o bahay," Neri added. "Ang sarap kaya ng pakiramdam ng nakakaipon na ako! Parang ang mature mature ko na tapos wala akong utang. Nakakahinga ako!"
You can look at Neri's formula for saving this way: Income - Expenses = Savings. There's another formula that a banker-mom recommends, which is putting aside the savings first before the expenses: Income - Savings = Expenses. (You can read more about building your savings here.)
If you put your savings first before expenses, you have a clear picture of whether you can afford an item or not. Unfortunately, it's also how people end up borrowing money.
Neri observes social media is one of the reasons why people ask for a loan. She writes in one of her Instagram Stories, "Maluho masyado para lang ipagyabang sa social media pero baon na baon ka na nga sa utang pero panay gala mo at de eroplano pa."
She adds in her blog, "Ang tunay na mga kaibigan, marami ka mang pera o kokonti lang, wala silang paki dun. Ang mahalaga yung kabaitan. Ang tunay na mga kaibigan, nagtutulungan, hindi nagpapayabangan ng feed goals."
Neri urged her followers to learn to be smart about money. It's not too late as she herself only learned her lesson at the age of 30 with the help of husband Chito Miranda, Jr.
"Maghanap ng mapagkakakitaang marangal. Kahit ano pa yan. Kahit mag-tinda ka pa. Ako nga nagtitinda ng tuyo, tinapay, at ukay. Kinahiya ko ba?"
This story originally appeared on Smartparenting.com.ph.
* Minor edits have been made by the Femalenetwork.com editors.
