Are you struggling to set aside money every month?
During Female Network's Usapang Pera session on Pinoy social app Calamansi, unit manager of SunLife Clarise Perez and unit manager of PruLife Michael San Roque shared some simple habits you can start practicing if you're having a hard time saving money. Check them out below:
1. Monitor your “small” expenses
Do you constantly get food delivered? How often do you order something online? As Clarise noted, "Maliliit yan pero 'pag cinompute mo na lahat, mahal na pala."
2. Pay yourself first
According to Clarise, many of her clients used to only save "whatever is left" from their monthly salaries—this is one of the most common mistakes people make when saving.
Before you pay your bills and spend your salary on whatever you need, "pay yourself first," she shared. "Whenever you receive your paycheck, dapat 20% of your salary automatic na tinatabi mo for your savings."
Based on the classic 60/20/20 budgeting rule, you should save 20% of your income, spend 60% on your living expenses, and spend 20% on your wants. "It’s okay to reward yourself as long as you save first."
If this budgeting rule doesn't work for you, don't worry. As Michael added, "You can start by saving 5% or 10% of your income. Ang mahalaga, every month, may masisimulan ka hanggang sa maging 20% na yung kaya mo i-save."
3. Have more than one bank account!
"Some of my clients only rely on one bank account," shared Michael. "Ito na din 'yong payroll account nila."
The only problem? When you don't have separate accounts, you won't have a clear picture of how much money you've saved for your different goals.
"Pag isa lang ang bank account mo, papasok yung commission at salary mo, so siyempre, mag ggrow siya kasi nag ssave ka ng money tapos pag nasa P500,000 or one million na siya, feeling mo kaya mo na bumili ng mga pinaka mahal na mga gadgets o mga bags tapos ang mangyayari, you're back to square one."
"Mag open ka ng isa pang savings account—ideally, it's under the same bank as 'yong sa payroll mo para at least mas madali mag bank transfer," he suggested. "So 'pag pasok ng salary mo, 'yong 20% nito, pwede mo na i-transfer kaagad. Consider your savings as a bill. If you can adapt that mindset, mas magiging successful ka sa 'pag grow ng savings mo."
*Answers have been edited for clarity.
