There are some of us that are sensitive about spending our money & always find ways to save money, we may come out with creative ways to save it or we have been having different habits to save our pennies. Some of the ways & ideas can make sense to some of us while some ways are definitely out of this world. In one of the videos that I watched recently by Uncle Roger on how this particular lady is working towards saving her money, she has gone to extreme measures to actually save money. I am not going to spoil much for you until you watch the video but in my opinion, the extreme level that she took to save money will actually affect her family & her health with the way that she is trying to save money. Although the video is entertaining but what we are witnessing is actually the wrong way for someone trying to save money.
What I am trying to emphasize in today’s post is how can we look into the big picture instead of the smaller picture on how can you actually save money. I am sure that we have family members or friends that always tell us that there is a good deal at this place where it is 1 hour or 10km away & the amount of money you can save is maybe 10-20%. For more expensive items then yes perhaps it is understandable but if it is for savings that are between RM1 to RM20, driving to a place that is 1 hour or 10km away is not worth it when we factor in the petrol & time wasted.
We also have people that are willing to park at illegal parking spots or pay cheaper rates for parking whenever they go to a mall. Parking at illegal parking is free but if you are caught doing so, the fine that you have to pay after that may cost you even more than paying for paid parking. For those who like to go to Mid Valley or The Gardens, there are 3 parking sections within the radius where split under normal parking, premium parking & valet parking. I personally will always opt for premium parking especially during weekends since I don’t have to waste my time to find parking or even queue for it. Premium parking will always have more parking lots available at an extra cost of RM5-RM10 extra. By paying that extra amount, not only am I able to spend more time shopping rather than waiting for parking, but I can also save petrol by driving less. Most importantly, I get to save time.
To save money over the short term, some of us buy cheaper furniture for our house, service our car at an independent car service center, avoid seeing doctors or opt for cheaper solutions for things that we are able to save. I’ve done all that before & it did not end well for me. The cheaper furniture that I used to buy for my house tends to damage compared to more expensive furniture. Servicing my old car at an independent car service center has resulted in more issues with my old car. Going to a non-certified traditional therapist vs an actual physiotherapist or chiropractor has resulted in more injury to my body. To save over the short period of time, I actually spend more over the long term.
Some people tend to overlook the long-term effect on their body & health by consuming unhealthy food such as instant noodles or cheaper versions of fast food or canned food. Yes, some food can help you to save over a long period of time but what is more expensive is the expenses that you may pay in the long term. Hospital bills are not cheap & not eating healthy meals will cause your health in the long run. Personally, changing the way I eat has resulted in a healthier body which I can feel the difference compared to the past & it has also allowed me to perform better during my workout. More than 10 years ago, I was part of a group where we would drink on regular basis & we were all smokers as well. When I decided to be serious in my martial arts journey, I decided to stop drinking regularly & stop smoking completely. That group of friends of mine is still in the same lifestyle & some of them have suffered from numerous health issue & yet they are still doing it. Imagine me in my early 20s, I have a huge belly & I never felt healthy. In my mid-30s now, I feel so much better & my belly is way smaller than me in my early 20s.
Saving money is definitely important to every one of us to have better financials for our future but we have to factor in a smarter plan in order for us to do it right. We have to think of long-term ways to save and not just short-term ways as saving a penny may cause you to spend thousands in the future. If you are willing to start, look at what you have been doing currently to save money. Is your current way to save money will have the possibility to affect you in the future such as more money spent, health issues, or more time wasted? To prioritize what is more important to us compared to money, I would say it is definitely time & health. By prioritizing both of these, I can effectively save more money over the long term.
OSS!
You can also check out my latest YouTube video on Why Do You Need Financial Planning?
