Saving money does not need to come to the point that you deny yourself the things you love to reach your financial goals. And there is one thing we need for pocketing a few cha-chings— discipline.
We know saving is difficult, but it does not mean it has to be boring, right? That is why it is essential to devise clever ways to save money. But first, why is keeping difficult for us ordinary people?
It is difficult because we are all used to giving in to our wants and desires. We get so accustomed to buying whatever we want, and when it comes to saving money, it takes discipline to say no to those things that make us feel good but can also be expensive. It will take some time, but saving. Money is not as hard as you think! Just remember that what matters is your budget and not whether you have enough left to buy something expensive or not.
The first reason is that our brains are wired to avoid pain (like when we get an electric shock). Our brain cells feel pleasure and excitement when we see something shiny new. The pain-pleasure axis starts working hard to keep us from getting hurt. And this makes sense—we wouldn't want the pain of losing all of our stuff at the hands of thieves!
But here's where we run into problems: once the shiny thing that caused us so much joy is gone (a new car or house), it takes time before we feel content again without it—or even worse, sad at having sold it. Off! So then, what do we do? We start looking for something shiny and new to buy, and the cycle continues.
We want to avoid the pain of lost rewards, but we also want to avoid losing what we value. So we're motivated to keep our current habits, even if they aren't helpful or sustainable.
To break this cycle, researchers have found that it's important to make saving fun and to turn it into a game that you can play with yourself. You can do this by making saving something that you get to do every month instead of something that happens once every few years or so. You can also try giving yourself rewards for saving—like getting an extra month's worth of rent!
Here are clever and creative ways to save money in 2022:
1) Try the 500 Peso trick
One of the best ways to save money regularly is to be aware of your spending habits. The P500 bill trick is one of the best ways to do this.
Every time you receive a P500 bill, put it in a jar. Every month, take P100 pesos and put them in a different pot. This way, you'll have a jar for every occasion (or, if you're like me, multiple jars!) and can see exactly where you're going overspending. You might also want a separate pot for bills or other essential expenses but not necessarily "fun."
The original version of this money-saving trick is called the "$5 bill trick," and one woman figured out how to make it work. Chardine Taylor-Stone says she's saved about $140 million in the last two years by using this simple trick. She told CNN money: "It's just a matter of going through your daily life and ensuring you're not spending any money unnecessarily."
2) The Classic Piggybanks
Piggybanks is one of the classic and brilliant ways to save money, and this is also the easiest method to teach children how to save and budget their own money. They come in all shapes and sizes, but they all work in the same way: the child puts an amount of money in the bank, and when they want to spend their money on something, they pull it out and pay with it. This can be fun for kids as well as parents!
3) Challenge Yourself to Quit an Expensive Habit
If you want to save money but don't know how (or if you're just too lazy), challenge yourself to quit an expensive habit. For example, if your practice is eating out at restaurants all the time—say once per week—try cutting that down to once per month. Or if you buy coffee every morning, try only drinking it on the weekends. Even if you don't go cold turkey, making small changes like this can help reduce your spending over time.
4) Open a Savings Account
You may have heard that banks are evil—and they're not entirely wrong about that—but opening a savings account does have its benefits. First of all, it's great for teaching children about saving money; second of all (and more importantly), it helps keep your money safe from thieves! Banks are required to keep your money safe from thieves, and they're also required to give you access to your savings or money whenever you want it. If you lose your wallet or someone steals it, your money is still safe—and no one can take it away! This is especially crucial for college students who may not have a lot of extra cash lying around; if someone steals their wallet or backpack full of money, they won't be left out in the cold.
5) Finding a Condominium to Invest In
Another clever way to save money is through real estate or condo investing. Condominiums are crisis-proof investments that increase in value over time, so you can rest assured that your money is safe and sound.
Condominiums are also an excellent way to save money because they often cost less than rent. If you want to rent an apartment, try finding one close to work or school. Or, if you're going to live in the city, check out apartments near public transportation stops like subway stations.
If you're interested in purchasing a new condominium, consider looking at Kizuna Heights by Vista Residences is one of the best pre-selling condos in Taft because of its unique Japanese lifestyle interior designs. The development's location at Taft Avenue, Malate, Manila, also makes it easy for residents to access the nearest educational institutions, such as De La Salle University, St. Scholastica's Manila, Arellano University, and College of St. Benilde. It is also very accessible to cities nearby, such as Pasay and Makati City. Kizuna Heights is also within walking distance from the Mall of Asia, Greenbelt, and museums such as the National Museum, The Upside Down Museum, and Manila Ocean Park.
6) Save Money While Helping the Planet
With cycling being the most environmentally friendly method of commuting, it's essential to ensure you do it in the most efficient way possible. By taking your bike on public transport, you are wasting energy and emitting pollution into the atmosphere that could otherwise be used for other things. By cycling instead, you will be able to save money on fuel costs and reduce carbon emissions.
Clothing is one of those things where we just can't help ourselves when it comes to spending money. Instead of spending money on new clothes each time they wear them out, why not buy them at a thrift store? You might look for something that fits perfectly and makes you feel good about yourself!
If you want to save money on energy bills, reduce the time spent in front of the TV by turning off lights when no one is home and turning down the temperature in rooms with no one present (such as bathrooms). You can think of creative ways to save money in 2022 and, at the same time, help the environment.
7) Screenshot Advertisements instead of "Adding To Cart."
When you see an item on a website or in an app that you want to buy, take a screenshot of it instead of adding it to your cart. This will help you avoid buying things you don't need, and if you change your mind about the purchase, later on, you can always return and get it.
For more information on Vista Residences, email info@vistaresidences.com.ph, follow @VistaResidencesOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, or call the Marketing Office at 0999 886 4262 / 0917 582 5167.
