Create a Conscious Spending Plan

We have a Filipino adage that goes, “Pag maiksi ang kumot, matutong bumaluktot”; translated it means that if you have a short blanket, you must learn to bend in order to fit in it.  And yes, the blanket is now short.  Crimping on expenses is a must.  Conscious spending sounds so good.  It’s not all easy, but it can be done. 

I’ve joked my friends saying this; “It is not fatal. I am Filipino…sanay ako bumaluktot sa maiksing kumot…pero wala akong balak ma-osteoporosis!!!!  (I am a Filipino…I am used to bending and twisting in a short blanket…but I don’t intend to develop osteoporosis!!!) So, I can scrimp on my expenses when necessary but I will not forever be scarce of money.”

Creating a conscious spending plan is all about, being mindful of what you spend your money on and how much you spend for it.  Truth is, there are many expenses we can cut a bit.  There are things that do not need to be as expensive as we have gotten used to doing so.  I’m learning this just a step at a time too.  Surprisingly, it is amazing to discover what honestly matters.  It has also become some spiritual journey for me too.

And for now, my small envelopes are ever alive.  This is a habit I’ve been doing for a very long time now.  I’ve been reading about it too.  The fact that other people also do this habit proves I’m not just OC (obsessive-compulsive) on this matter.  It proves that it’s a working system.  Now, I’ve identified and pin-pointed the basic expenditures in my household.  Set a fixed weekly, bi-monthly and monthly amount for them; depending on how frequent that expense needs to be shelved out.