100 Simple Ways to Increase Savings (PART 1)

There are more than a hundred ways to increase one’s savings. Some of these are so simple to do everyday but some of us are just plain too lazy to do it. I’m one of those. Haha.

For this blog post, I will start to enumerate hundred simple ways to save money. I cannot list all of them for now, so this will just be the first part. I’ve decided to divide this into twenty (20) blog posts. So now, I’ll enumerate the first five now.

1. Save that lunch money. Bring packed lunch. This would give us a super big savings after a week.

2. Skip those acidic drinks. Yep. Sodas are not good for the health. So skipping these drinks will not only help lessen sugar and acid intake, it will also give u a healthy and happy pocket.

3. Switch to veggies. Meats nowadays are highly priced. Switching to vegetable meals or ingredients for cooking family meals could highly increase weekly marketing savings. This would also give us the same result as no. 2, healthy hearts and pockets. ♥

4. Walk. And walk. J Yes. If you’re on your weekend window shopping mode, walk the distance between the malls that you wanted to go to. Walking will also give us happy and healthy hearts and pockets. ♥

5. Reuse. Recycle. How many plastic bags do we normally consume when we do the weekly marketing? Always carry a plastic bag from home or a reusable bag like the one that SM started when going to the markets. Though plastic bags cost only P2.00 or P3.00, accumulating these coins could increase savings to P288.00 in a year. (If marketing schedule is once a week, P3.00/plastic bag x 2 pieces x 4 weeks x 12 months) Reusing those plastic bags at home can not only give you an annual savings but it can also make Mother Earth happy. ♥


All I’ve listed above are very easy to do. But yet some of us just lack discipline. So let’s start practicing these first five simple ways and give our piggy bank the chance to be happier and healthier as well.

On Credit Cards, Money and Discipline

One of the famous adages says, “It takes two to tango”. Yes, it definitely needs two persons to be able to enjoy a tango dance just as it takes two living beings to create life. In handling finances, money and discipline goes together. To be able to maximize the benefits of money in our life, we need to be wise and disciplined in spending and investing as well.

I have always been blessed financially. I was even given the opportunity to own four (yes four, as in F-O-U-R) credit cards. But because I don’t know how to control myself, I drowned in credit card debts that until now I have not even started paying. I don’t have any plans of abandoning my debts. I have plans to settle one or two cards this year.

Credit cards really need discipline just like in spending cash. I realized that it’s better to pay in cash rather than charging everything to these tempting little cards. But sometimes, credit cards just come in handy if only coupled with discipline and self-control. Credit cards can become one of our best friends if we know where and when to use them.

Cash or card. It doesn’t matter how you pay. Everything about money really needs discipline. It’s one of the traits that one needs to have to succeed in life not just financially but in all other aspects of life. What do you think?

Honesty: Always the best policy

My 2010 was one of the worst years I ever had in my life. From financial disasters to family crisis, it was one roller coaster of emotions.

My 2011 started out with a very big responsibility to handle. I got promoted, I got married and we (my hubby and I) moved out from his parent's house. We opted to rent because we believe that privacy is priceless. :)

As I've mentioned earlier, I've experienced financial problems last year. I have always been so stupid in handling money. It has always been my weakness. But I believe that I'm gonna get over it. I believe I can save enough for our future and for my mom as well.

Earlier ago, I took the courage to tell my husband that I am once again in a very freaking kind of financial disaster. Yes. I am. But I believe that I can resolve the issue. It only takes discipline and the will power to change.

My husband was not surprised at all but he was so disappointed. But in the end, he managed to forgive me and helped me re-align my financial goals. So, I listed all my payables and set the goal to settle at least 50% of it by April 17, 2011.

One step to move on from a financial mess is to be honest with your family members and with yourself as well. I've learned that no matter how I try to fix my financial problems, I end up having more and more debts. It's because I have always been in denial of the real situation.

I believe I can move out of debt. For now, I will settle all personal debts. By the second quarter, I pray that I can start settling my credit card debts.

I believe I can.