I really, really want to answer this question confidently, but the truth is, I can’t. Within the three years that I’ve been working professionally, I don’t recall a time when I actually set aside a portion of my salary and kept it as part of my “savings” (mind the quotation marks). But I don’t think that’s totally true. Maybe I had set aside some money but I have no doubt that just a few days after that the money still found a way to convince me to release it to the wild. It’s as though it didn’t want to stay confined inside the walls of the bank but rather it longed to join the fun in the money circulation outside — figuratively speaking.

Fine. I know the problem is with me and not the money per se!

Two years ago when I was in my first job, I had this colleague who was a few years older than me. She told me to relax and not let myself get worked up too much about saving money yet. “You only just started working, enjoy the fruits of your labor first. Worry about setting aside a portion of your salary when you’re already in your second year of employment.” It made a lot of sense at that time and I did heed her advice (although I didn’t get anything much out of that, I was only receiving a meager pay!). And now guess what? It’s my third year, but the moolah is still vanishing faster than Harry Potter can say “Expecto Patronum!”

It’s true what adults (And by “adults” I mean those who are older than me) say: As your salary increases, so does your expense. It’s like there’s a universal rule for that kind of thing. The only person I know who’s disciplined when it comes to her finances is my friend Anna Grace. She strictly tracks her earnings and expenses — from the pair of Havaianas she buys down to her bus fare, she’s got them all listed down in this little notebook of hers so she knows exactly where her money is going. And she’s consistently saving a percentage of her salary too. She’s really awesome. Oh when will I be able to adopt her ways? lol.

If I have to take into account all of my expenses I am just gonna get a big fat headache. So no, I’m not gonna do that. Besides, my personality is not fit to do something like that. It’s a good thing I haven’t got an OCD! Or at least I don’t when it comes to that kind of stuff — alongside keeping my room tidy and my office desk organized. :D

It’s a bit of a surprise too because the money I receive from work is not really spent on stuff for myself. I only buy a book or two occasionally (Fine — Twice or thrice a month!), I rarely shop for clothes, shoes, bags, or whatnot (honest!), I don’t have expensive obsessions or hobbies (Internet connection doesn’t count)… You would think that with that kind of mentality I should be able to save a certain percentage of my salary but no. Most of my pay goes to my parents. I don’t want to sound like I’m bragging or what but that’s the truth. Sometimes I resent the fact that I have to give (Ma, Pa, am I not the youngest in the family??) but most of the time it does feel good to be able to give, especially to my own flesh and blood. Besides, they really have no one else to count on. My older brothers are already somewhat planning on settling down with their girlfriends. Oh the horror!

So what are ways that we can save? Does NOT having a credit card help? Definitely. I think that if I had one I would be tempted in more ways that I can imagine (thank you, credit card companies, for not approving my applications!) What about those discount / privilege cards like the SM Advantage, what do they really do? I have one but I honestly don’t know what the benefits are or how exactly I can get them. And how about this MySavings thing online? Their Web site says that you can get free samples and printable coupons and enjoy free product samples of health and beauty products, food, make up, cosmetics, perfume, baby products, and diet pills. It sounds great but I think that’s only for selected countries.

Good thing there are ways to earn some moolah from the Internet. If you have just started blogging, don’t stop. You can actually earn from your blog when the time comes. Then you can probably choose to set that aside for your savings. :)

But I think the most effective way of saving money is giving. Yep, it sounds ironic but I swear it works. Helping others (who deserve it!) is a very good “investment”, and of course there’s giving back to God.

If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use in giving–large or small–it will be used to measure what is given back to you. (source)

So how much do I save from the salary I receive at work? The answer is none. They go to my parents and my expenses, but I don’t mind. Whatever happens to me and my family, I acknowledge God and I trust Him to do the provision. If only my Mom and Dad would stop worrying…

But of course, I will still do my best to spare a portion of my salary so I can have something to dump into my so-called savings account every month. Hah! Good luck with that!

How about you? How much do you save every pay day?

Related Posts: Liz’s Yuppie Lifestyle, Tina’s Let Talk About Money, Jireh’s Saving for Rainy Days