Frugal Living: What Habits Help You Save Money?

[glenn manikis]

Bro I generally agree with this statement, but I have some reservations.

For example, I want a new dSLR. Di ko naman ikakahirap, so I buy one. Then, I realize I want nice lenses. Again, I can afford the lenses so I buy them.

Then, a month after, I realize I want to try biking. Again, di ko ikahihirap yung pagbili ng mountain bike, so I get it.

Then I want an iPhone, then a Macbook Pro, and so on. In other words, an endless cycle of giving into these "wants", with the reason that I can afford them anyway and buying them won't make me any poorer.

But at the end of, say, 1 year, the total cost of these toys would have been enough to cover the downpayment of a condo.

It's true that the act of buying any single one of these wants did not make me substantially poorer. But the mindset of buy-what-i-want-because-yolo meant that I pay the opportunity cost of being able to make bigger investments and purchases.

Yes, you only live once. But on average, that one life will last you 3/4 of a century. If you want to be comfortable for your entire lifespan, you can't just live for now, you have to prepare for the medium and long-term as well.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating that we should all live like paupers in the present so that some time in the future we can splurge all our savings and investments. Rather, I prefer to try and avoid the root of excessive spending - materialism.

Admittedly it's very difficult to try and be happy with little. I myself find myself having moments where I just want to buy this and that. But you can keep it in moderation - perhaps set a maximum budget for your toys instead of a carefree spending attitude.

Of course, if you're just forcing yourself to be thrifty, but deep inside you want to splurge, sooner or later you'll wallow in self pity and unleash a spending spree. Which is why I go back again to focusing on moderating your materialism instead - be happy with little, focus on more important aspects of life (relationships, experiences, a sense of purpose).




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Agree Ako dito... Ganyan ang nangyayari sakin, I can afford to buy things pero, Pwede din naman kasing Wala.. Like a new Phone, SUV-- It's within my means, pero if something new comes around, should I always buy it.? Of course not...

Kaya contentment is the key here... Learn to be contented with what you have..

Buy only when it needs to be replaced...

[_Cathy_]

Only applicable for people where money is not an issue or rather how to spend it is the problem like EQ and shadow

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[EQAddict]

My dad told the same thing shadow posted. He said it many years ago. I remember the exact situation: i was struggling with the decision to buy a decent compact camera to take pictures of my kids. Long story short he said those words to me. And i havent regretted the purchase ever. The literally tens of thousands of pictures it has taken (as well as movie clips) are priceless. I still use the camera and havent ever found the need to replace it. Its a mirrorless sony nex-7. Outdated by todays standards but excellent performance nonetheless. Good quality aces the test of time.

But moderation syempre.

[minicarph]

My dad told the same thing shadow posted. He said it many years ago. I remember the exact situation: i was struggling with the decision to buy a decent compact camera to take pictures of my kids. Long story short he said those words to me. And i havent regretted the purchase ever. The literally tens of thousands of pictures it has taken (as well as movie clips) are priceless. I still use the camera and havent ever found the need to replace it. Its a mirrorless sony nex-7. Outdated by todays standards but excellent performance nonetheless. Good quality aces the test of time.

But moderation syempre.

Bill ka na neto. Nikon 360 action camera



Nikon | I AM KeyMission 360 - YouTube

[shadow]

My dad told the same thing shadow posted. He said it many years ago. I remember the exact situation: i was struggling with the decision to buy a decent compact camera to take pictures of my kids. Long story short he said those words to me. And i havent regretted the purchase ever. The literally tens of thousands of pictures it has taken (as well as movie clips) are priceless. I still use the camera and havent ever found the need to replace it. Its a mirrorless sony nex-7. Outdated by todays standards but excellent performance nonetheless. Good quality aces the test of time.

But moderation syempre.

Funny how,I also got it from my parents. [emoji16]

Ganun din. I was having a second thought of buying something.


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[EQAddict]

We need a 'best-of' OB quotes.

Im loving it!

[badkuk]

i'm not saying don't take up any hobbies, or don't spend on anything you want...just get your priorities straight. And make *and* save more money than you spend ;)

[cast_no_shadow]

Yes.

Leave early
You save on gas (no traffic)
No morning unnecessary stress
Free parking
You can leave work earlier

Repeat.

We do that daily, kila esmi lang mga kasama niya sa work 200 whole day! That's 1K a week for parking alone. Some sa laguna pa umuuwi!

Toll gas and parking then kakain ka pa.


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[_Cathy_]

Yes.

Leave early
You save on gas (no traffic)
No morning unnecessary stress
Free parking
You can leave work earlier

Repeat.

We do that daily, kila esmi lang mga kasama niya sa work 200 whole day! That's 1K a week for parking alone. Some sa laguna pa umuuwi!

Toll gas and parking then kakain ka pa.


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OO nga. Ang dami ko na siguro natipid if only I could wake up early Minsan kung sino pa yung malapit ang bahay sa office, yun ang late. Nung Ortigas ako nagwo work, isa ako sa pinaka maaga na dumadating.

Kung sa Laguna nakatira yan, Sta Rosa na toll sa baba P175, Calamba P214, plus P25 pa pag dadaan ka sa bagong road. But I cannot imagine travelling that far for work. Yung Las Pinas nga hindi ko rin pinupuntahan hehe.

[cast_no_shadow]

OO nga. Ang dami ko na siguro natipid if only I could wake up early Minsan kung sino pa yung malapit ang bahay sa office, yun ang late. Nung Ortigas ako nagwo work, isa ako sa pinaka maaga na dumadating.

Kung sa Laguna nakatira yan, Sta Rosa na toll sa baba P175, Calamba P214, plus P25 pa pag dadaan ka sa bagong road. But I cannot imagine travelling that far for work. Yung Las Pinas nga hindi ko rin pinupuntahan hehe.

Ang alam ko southwoods yung isa, the other santa rosa. Naka SUV pa! Hanep kako expenses nila sa transpo monthly.

Sorry na OT!

BTT

Lately we try to buy/pay in cash. Lessen CC usage.

Iba talaga pag cash ang ibabayad mo, medyo pigil ka and visually nakikita mo na mawawalan/mababawasan ka ng pera. Mapapaisip ka hehe

Ang dali mag card, pag nakita mo yung SOA mo dun pa lang mag sink in sayo.


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[EQAddict]

But I cannot imagine travelling that far for work. Yung Las Pinas nga hindi ko rin pinupuntahan hehe.

It takes me 1.5 hours to go to work everyday. Thats one way. My kids study in Qc and my wife works there as well. Im the only one who works in makati. It was either my convenience or theirs. I chose theirs. In a sense that allowed me to save money too as the transport costs, maintenance costs and not to mention the cost of buying a place in makati were all avoided.

[_Cathy_]

It takes me 1.5 hours to go to work everyday. Thats one way. My kids study in Qc and my wife works there as well. Im the only one who works in makati. It was either my convenience or theirs. I chose theirs. In a sense that allowed me to save money too as the transport costs, maintenance costs and not to mention the cost of buying a place in makati were all avoided.

That's what a good family man would do (sacrifice his own convenience for the family). You could easily afford a house in Makati though. Magallanes is relatively cheaper. But since your parents live in Makati it's okay na rin not to buy. Hehe.

A bit OT, I saw shang in BGC and my dream is to buy a unit there (never gonna happen) My friend said its around 150 million. If only I had that kind of money for a condo. Wow!

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[EQAddict]

That's what a good family man would do (sacrifice his own convenience for the family). You could easily afford a house in Makati though. Magallanes is relatively cheaper. But since your parents live in Makati it's okay na rin not to buy. Hehe.

A bit OT, I saw shang in BGC and my dream is to buy a unit there (never gonna happen) My friend said its around 150 million. If only I had that kind of money for a condo. Wow!

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Thanks Cathy!

Haha I have this semi-irrational dream of living somewhere in makati. San lorenzo or magallanes. But the prices are crazy.
I'm saving and saving but every year the inflation overtakes my savings. Really can't afford those places unless I win the lotto.

Ot: the california powerball is at 800$ M already hehe.

[kimbon]

That's what a good family man would do (sacrifice his own convenience for the family). You could easily afford a house in Makati though. Magallanes is relatively cheaper. But since your parents live in Makati it's okay na rin not to buy. Hehe.

A bit OT, I saw shang in BGC and my dream is to buy a unit there (never gonna happen) My friend said its around 150 million. If only I had that kind of money for a condo. Wow!Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk

never ever buy a unit in Shang even I have extra funds instead of I will buy a lot, xx hectare looot. ang mga unit owner sa shang galit na talaga sa pera mga yan.

BTT - my dad is always reminding us until today every time we earned 100, save at least half or more of our income. Di daw habang buhay may earnings kaming mga sibling . some Filipinos asked me why are Chinese entrepreneurs successful, what's our secret? no secrets, just simply for every 100 earned literally, we don't spend 110. stay low profile lang.

[unmarked]

Talk here reminds me of my pop's friend who reported directly to the son of one of the richest pinoys. The friend bought a rolex in HK, showed it to his boss and his dad. The big boss then showed his rolex, sharing he spent a tiny fraction of the price bec he got it from.. none other than... greenhills tiangge. They all had a good laugh.

Big boss is JG. Son is LG.

Kung ako rin ganon ka yaman kahit pekeng lacoste sa divi suotin ko paniwalaan pa rin ng tao e hahahaha.

But on a more serious note, at the end of the day, just.. OWN it, period. people smell confidence and insecurity. When you know you dont have to have the bling to blend in, that's true happiness.

[badkuk]

Talk here reminds me of my pop's friend who reported directly to the son of one of the richest pinoys. The friend bought a rolex in HK, showed it to his boss and his dad. The big boss then showed his rolex, sharing he spent a tiny fraction of the price bec he got it from.. none other than... greenhills tiangge. They all had a good laugh.

Just imagine if that japeyks Rolex got sold/auctioned as JG's Rolex ^_^

[unmarked]

Just imagine if that japeyks Rolex got sold/auctioned as JG's Rolex ^_^

JG just called and wishes to tell you bigyan ka nya ng % pag nahanapan mo sya buyer hahaha! #whenOpportunityKnocks

[ronw123w124]

- paying credit card bills in full and on time
- paying real estate tax and assoc. dues early to avail of 20% discount

Yan ang naiisip ko on top of my head right now, misis ko ang magaling pagdating sa mga promo ng credit cards and grocery, isa pang natutunan ko sa kanila ng MIL ko eh pag bibili ka sa Mercury Drug its actually better to buy their GC's and use them for purchases later on rather than paying it with your CC, may ineexplain sila sa akin na at least for our CC's wala daw points yung pagbili ng medicines pero may points pag GC ang binili mo. Dunno how or why, basta tuwing may bibilhin ako sa Mercury binibigyan ako ng GC ni esmi. Misis ko kasi mabusisi when it comes to ongoing promos ng mga CC, early last year my mom was confined in the hospital for a major surgery since kami ang toka sa hospital bills inalam ng misis ko yung different promos sa mga CC's that we have, eh pinakasulit yung sa BDO-AMEX, for every 30k spent pwede ka mag avail ng P1k na GC sa SM, since we were in the hospital daily, nagbabayad din kami daily, tig 30k kami each time, minsan 2x a day kami magbayad. By the end of it, madami kami nakuhang GC sa SM that we didn't spend a single cent para sa mga inaanak namin this last Christmas

[unmarked]

^^ good job ke misis.
Very powerful ang CCs. Kung pwede lang kahit mineral water i cc ko sa 7/11 LOL. Basta babayaran ng buo.

Ung iba nga sa work related travel insist personal CC ang gamitin tapos babayaran nalang ng company sa kanya.

Then the guy earns points/miles/rebates sa sarili nyang Cc of course and that is essentially free flights/free money. Wais.

[ronw123w124]

^^

Ung iba nga sa work related travel insist personal CC ang gamitin tapos babayaran nalang ng company sa kanya.

Then the guy earns points/miles/rebates sa sarili nyang Cc of course and that is essentially free flights/free money. Wais.

Gawain din namin yan, lalo na nung kasagsagan nung promo ng HSBC na free ticket to HK for every
X amount spent