Spending 101

It's really hard to stop spending. When you get started, it's like a disease. You don't stop until it hurts. It starts with a couple of books, then you go on to make bigger and bigger purchases, and you don't stop until it really hurts. And only when we've been burnt that we learn -- you don't know what hurts until you feel it.

Now I mark the last day I keep spending. Starting tomorrow, I will track my spending and make sure I don't spend more than 100 pesos a day. That means I'll do my groceries during the start of the week and keep the food I eat per day under 100 pesos, stop eating the junk food, and start saving more money each month to put into an equity fund I already have money in. I vow to put in Php 1000 pesos a month to the equity fund.

Starting Monday next week, I will only drink water, will take my daily vitamins, and eat at most 70 pesos per day (that's 20 pesos a meal plus 10 pesos for merienda). I'll put in 30 pesos a day for other expenses: because I can walk from the office to my rented condo unit, I'll do that everyday. 30 pesos should go into the savings per day, which should give me 30x20 = 600 Php per month. Now I just need to make 400 pesos to put into the equity fund every month.

I know, you're probably telling me: good luck with that in Makati. That's why I've made it a point to optimize my spending to prove that you can live in Makati and live in a condo unit and spend only 100 pesos a day for comfortable living. Of course, I spend a lot on the board and lodging -- but I believe in living comfortably and not compromising on the living space. The current living quarters I live in is more than enough for my needs, and I don't plan on changing that anytime soon.

So join me in this quest for the 100 peso days in Makati, and I'll give it a month: I'll do a daily log on my spending so that I can let everyone know how it goes.

CHill...