Financial expert shares 3 fun ways to start your ‘ipon’ this year

Many of us know that saving money isn’t the easiest thing to do. But it has to be done, especially with the coronavirus pandemic bringing uncertainty in many aspects, including financial.

Luckily, there are many fun ways to start growing a reasonable sum at home.

All you need to do is set clear goals and start 2021 with some self-discipline.

“Kailangan, pag nag-iipon ka, always remember: Ano ba talaga ’yung goal mo?” financial planner Christine Ong explained on “Unang Hirit.”

“Ano ba ’yung gusto mong ma-a-achieve? Is it for your children’s education? Is it for an investment ng family ninyo? Gusto mo bang mag-travel? Lifestyle ng family? Kailangan clear lang tayo goal na iyon, and we have to determine exactly how much it would take to achieve that goal,” she added.

“Especially right now, new year, ito na ’yung perfect time to start your year with your goals so i-determine natin yung number na ’yon and, of course, with all these things, kailangan meron tayong discipline to follow through.”

1. Frugal Fridays

“Thank god it's Friday,” right?

According to Ong, simply saying no to your usual Friday treats is a good way to save money.

For example: If your “special” food and drinks on a Friday night usually cost P200, opting for four mellow Fridays can save you as much as P800 a week—that’s a lot of money.

2. 30-day Ipon Challenge

Since we love taking on each and every online challenge that comes our way, why not challenge your family and friends to a “30-day ipon challenge?”

Here’s how it works: Instead of thinking about how much you should set aside per month, try not to spend anything on stuff you don’t really need, whether it’s a small amount on extra snacks or a once-in-a-blue-moon premium cup of coffee.

“’Yung mga little things every day, nag-a-add up in the long run,” Ong explained.

3. Invisible Money Challenge

You can’t spend money that you don’t have, so why not make your existing money “disappear?”

The best part about this is you can start small, setting aside small denominations like P10 or P20 that you think you can commit to every single day.

“Depende sa kita mo, depende sa status mo, depende sa income,” Ong said. “Ang importante lang naman kasi dito is ’yung habit. Ma-develop din ’yung habit of saving.” – Margaret Claire Layug/RC, GMA News