Have you experienced a payroll falling on a great monthly sale and after purchasing that item you’ve always wanted and deducting all your expenses, the next thing you knew, you just see a skimpy three or two digit on that bank account?
Welcome to the #AdultingWorld!
Where you think you only earn enough and with all the money-managing that comes with it, it’s really hard to keep track of where each centavo goes. Every cash is on an outflow, and aside from your once or twice a month income, nothing comes in.
The famous Warren Buffet once said “Don't spend what's left after spending, instead spend after you invest or save”. But usually, it’s frustrating how it’s always the other way around. There’s a comforting little voice inside your head that says you can always save the next time but lo and behold, several months have passed and there’s still nothing significant in value left on that account.
The hard truth is, working to earn money is also as hard as deciding where to put it. Do not worry – we totally get you! It’s never too late to fix your financial habits. Here are five (5) tips on where to put those little money to get you started—
1. Try the Cookie Jar Approach
One of the easiest ways to start building your savings is through this approach. This is a traditional way of saving money wherein you designate different buckets for separate purposes and allocate your funds for each purpose. Sample buckets might include your emergency funds, rental expenses, food and travel allowance, and savings for your dream car. In the long-run, you may use this approach as well for your financial and life goals.
2. Open a Savings Account
Another way is to put your hard-earned money in a Bank. Aside from your funds safely kept, you also earn interest. There are also auto-fund transfer features on Online-Banking applications which you can utilize so you no longer have to do it every cut-off manually. You might want to try RCBC’s OneAccount - a savings, checking, and time deposit combined in a single account where you can earn higher interest than other regular RCBC accounts. What’s even better is that you have an option to choose a zero-maintaining account and customize it with add-ons such as life and personal accident insurance, ATM card protection and waived withdrawal fees at any Bancnet ATM.
3. Start Your Little Business
If you have extra money and time, you might want to try to venture to a little business of your own. You can start to bank on your passions such as baking, painting, sewing, or even your love for planting (#PlanTita). You may also sell items which are relevant these times. Now where everyone is at the safety of their own homes and almost hooked up with their mobile phones, online-selling has truly become a hit.
4. Place in Unit Investment Trust Funds (UITFs)
Investing and a little bit of risk sounds good to you? If yes, you might want to open a UITF. UITFs are highly affordable investments that pool your money with other investors who share similar goals, financial resources, and risk preferences. What’s better is that you have a professional fund manager to do this for you while you just sit back and relax. Try RCBC's Unit Investment Trust Fund (UITF) and start investing for as low as Php 5,000.
5. Place in Time Deposit
For those who want a secure and safe place to park their money for the long-term while earning interest, placing in a Time Deposit is the right saving strategy for you. Time Deposit entails placing money within a fixed period of time with a corresponding interest, in such a period you may not be able to withdraw your funds. RCBC offers a Time Deposit for as low as Php 5,000 for a minimum placement term of 30-days.
Nothing is big or small when it comes to saving and investing. Little by little those funds you’ve set aside will compound in value so you better start today. After all, time is our greatest ally if we start young and it is better to save some than none at all.
So the next time your paycheck falls again on that great sale, transfer a portion of your money first to your savings and think long and hard whether you really need that item or not. It’s never wrong to reward yourself, but it will surely benefit you in the long run if you have funds you can easily hold on to in case of a rainy day.