These are tips for yuppies (and not so young) in the Philippines to save money in the simplest ways possible. These are really realistic ways that you CAN do in a developing country like ours without being a cheap and an impractical person.
1. Pack lunch.
I started on meal prepping recently, the one you prepare all your food for the next 5 days during Sundays, and I only spend 55-70 pesos per day for my lunch. A balanced one actually, thank you very much. I know that there are meals out there that cost the same as my packed one and more convenient to buy but are they healthy *ehem*Jolibee*ehem*7-eleven*ehem*?
2. Walk.
End of the day, you just want to lie down in your bed THE.FASTEST.WAY.POSSIBLE. so tap your Grab or Uber app. If you live close enough, think twice before booking because you can save up to 120 pesos a day if you walk and you will at the side, shed some pounds.
3. Brew your coffee.
Whether you brew your coffee at home and bring it to work or you bring your own coffee maker at work (I have seen this), it is much more practical than buying at the coffee shops.
4. Avoid going to the mall.
Those clothes, bags, shoes, techie stuffs calling out to you... need I say more? Additionally, avoid going to an e-mall. And by that I mean, online shopping stores. Who needs a voucher to a buffet that will be forgotten and eventually expire anyway?
5. Magnify.
120 pesos a day for a cab ride is a small thing but, that's 3,600 in a month, 43,200 in a year. You could already buy a decent smart phone with that. Think about this for that small amount you spend everyday or on a regular basis, it is lifestyle-changing.
UPDATE:
6. Use your credit card to earn money.
If you have a reward or cash back credit card, the company will give you points or rebates when you purchase using their card. So what I realized is that, credit card is not bad if you use it to your advantage. Say use your credit card to pay your bills. These are expenses that you really pay monthly, so why not use your credit card to do that. But be sure to pay it immediately.
More on that here.
For any additional tips, please feel free to comment! :)