As a breadwinner, you’ve most likely encountered some problems with budgeting and saving. There’s a certain pressure on you to be able to provide for everyone in your family. On most days, you probably forget about your own needs and forgo your own wants. With the cost of living skyrocketing today, saving money may feel impossible. Don’t worry – it isn’t!

 

Here are some things you can do to start building your savings plan:

1. Check the expectations of family members.

Filipinos are usually shy when it comes to money matters. However, communication is necessary when planning a realistic and efficient budget. Having regular healthy discussions with your family can help you manage each other’s expectations of what you can bring to the table.

Creating an open culture will remove tension amongst family members and keep everyone in the loop. So, if bunso needs a costume for her project in school, a couple of other people in the family will know that they must adjust within the available means.

Voice your needs. Don’t be afraid to let them know how you feel or what you think about the family’s current spending habits. After all, you deserve to set aside or spend some of your hard-earned money for yourself, too.

2. Create a budget.

To have an overview of how much money comes in and out of your wallet, you must keep track of your expenses. List down the most common elements like housing, food, utilities, and transportation, to name a few. Allocate enough funds for each and meet these consistently as best as you can.

Once you have a record of your most common expenses, you’ll be able to see where your money goes. If you’re spending too much on food and you notice that you frequently have leftovers in the fridge, rework your budget, so you don’t spend more than what you need.

3. Cut spending as possible.

In line with plotting your budget and expenses, you’ll be able to see which areas you can save on. If you’re on a tight budget, you can avoid common temptations such as ordering food in the office, shopping during sales (if you don’t need anything!), and so on.

Those little things can add up in the long run. Before giving in, make sure you are fully aware of the consequences of your spending habits!

4. Never spend beyond your income.

Live a comfortable yet frugal lifestyle. When making a budget, plot it in such a way that you spend less than you earn. This is one of the ways you can maintain your budget and not go overboard.

It’s all about compromise. If you can pass up on that pretty dress at the mall or say no to that barkada trip you have next week in favor of the thing you’re prioritizing to buy; you’ll achieve your financial goals much easier.

Choose when to splurge and make sure you have room for it. Don’t make an impulse buy today that you may regret tomorrow.

5. Use your savings for medium to long-term investments.

There are ways to grow your money without you having to work extra for it. This is great because your money grows, and you’re not solely dependent on your monthly paycheck.

Investment Juan suggests attending financial seminars and reading finance websites so you can educate yourself about the different types of investments. The most popular kinds are stocks, small businesses, and properties. Discover which of these can work best for your budget.

Investing in one thing will lead you to other kinds of investments in the future. Financial literacy is a good skill to have!

6. Use online tools or mobile apps.

To make tracking easy, you can create spreadsheets or download mobile apps that can help you consistently log your cash flow. Remember to include debts too, whether that’s money you lent or cash you borrowed from someone.

Doing a quick search of “budget apps” on your phone will instantly give you lots of choices. Having a mobile app will help speed up your accounting process and remind you that you must log each purchase. It takes a lot of discipline, but the results will be worth it in the end!

 

Organization and planning go a long way in helping you save up adequately for the future. In the event of a financial emergency, you can easily apply for a loan online with Cashalo. With flexible payment terms and only 4.95% fixed monthly interest rate, this convenient way of borrowing money may come in handy.

Register for Cashalo today and experience the ease of borrowing money right at the palm of your hands.