Since I now appropriate almost 80% of my weekly allowance towards credit card payments, I try to budget a thousand pesos (US$23) for 7 days. Of course, all my other bills are being taken cared of, that money is just for my personal expenses. Is it possibe to live within that amount in a week, considering my previous lifestyle? Well, the answer has been a resounding yes, and for a 3rd straight week, I have been trying to rid myself of all my desires and keep my life simple. This is how I did it:
1. Prioritize gas. Since I go out everyday, my biggest weekly expense is gas. My weekly budget is normally 1100 pesos (US$25), so I plan my car trips carefully and make sure I don't stray too far from my home so I can save on gas.
2. Culling unnecessary texts. I limit by 'load' per week to just about 300 pesos (US$7). I limit these texts only to my Myx votes and a few texts to friends.
3. Eating at home. I used to eat outside almost every day. By eating at home, I have saved a big portion of my allowance, which now go to paying my credit cards.
4. Read newspapers and magazines online. I used to spend 10,000 pesos (US$227.8) per month on magazines and foreign newspapers. That was last year. This month, I curbed my urge to buy a magazine so my budget has been reduced to nil these past two months. Instead, I do my reading through the internet. All newspapers and magazines have websites anyway.
5. No buying of sweets. This actually works because Vic does all the buying for me. From M&Ms to popcorn to Filipino delicacies - I munch them all - but I still wait for Vic to buy it!
6. Appreciating cable TV more - I have stopped watching movies in the moviehouse and instead, I check the TV schedule in HBO or Star Movies. Just tonight, I saw 'Gossip' and 'Mirrors' at HBO and Star Movies. I only fully appreciate cable TV now, now that I'm in a state of budget!
