Noet Ravalo is back, and in his latest column, revealed that he and his family “dissaved” over the holidays. Check out his column on the real point of saving for the future.
Here’s an excerpt:
Over the holidays, my family and I dissaved. We took an unplanned family vacation to see relatives and friends we have not seen in over 10 years. My family thoroughly enjoyed it.
We always stress the virtue of saving because what we save is the treasure that we bring to the future. But what we often forget is that saving, in practice, does not mean that we should stop spending.
The point of saving is not only to accumulate but also to save for something. We cannot minimize for the sake of minimizing. Ibenizer Scrooge was a miser until the three ghosts put cause-and-effect in perspective. He had that privilege; some of us may come to that conclusion too late.
Think of this when, next time, your more good-looking and more popular younger brother visits you and you want to lecture him about saving for the future! Nyahaha.
Seriously, I wouldn’t even dream of stopping to take annual vacations for the extra money it will add to the retirement kitty. We all must save for the future. As my previous blog post says “no one can afford NOT to save.” But it’s a balancing act between now and that distant year ahead.
Having said that, here are some moments of frantic frugality I have observed in myself and some people around me. Perhaps you can add yours, in the interest of sharing and humor:
1. Clipping coupons from the newspaper. Do you also have those McDonalds coupons in your wallet?
2. Waiting for more than 30 minutes to withdraw from my bank’s ATM machine when another one close by doesn’t have a long line
3. Using a National Bookstore plastic bag – yep the red one – to cover a book (seriously, I saw someone do this)
It may take awhile to remember those moments, but I’m sure you can come up with one or two. 
February 2nd, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Omski! I try to do number one as often as I can and tell myself that I lose a few pounds that way.
For number two, I want to add that it’s much better to learn how to do that yourself than pay someone to do it for you all the time.
Number three, when planning your house, add lighting in consideration so that you maximize natural light from the sun.
Four, just make sure you don’t get sick from the pollution!
Five, I will try this this year! Great tip
Six, STICKING to it is the operative word. I mean, its extremely hard for me to enter the grocery and just buy bread! Can you guys do it???
Seven, better yet use bayongs! Read this article: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080131-116057/Bring-bayong-shoppers-told. It says 430,000 gallons of oil were used to manufacture 100 million plastic bags, most of which end up in the garbage. Ouch.
Natuwa lang po sa mga tips ninyo hehe.
February 2nd, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Pinoy investor, you’re too shy to say and yet you said it, hahaha. Katuwa ka talaga. Maybe I should meet your aunt someday to learn words of wisdom from her. Sige na pede?
February 2nd, 2008 at 4:46 am
In the past, I remember shining my own shoes hahahaha. It’s so funny and ironic that I buy expensive shoes, not one, not two, I lost count already but I don’t want to spend P20-P30 bucks per shoe for the shine. Mr Quickie is even more expensive so I just buy Kiwi and brush and do it myself.
I don’t withdraw from other bank’s ATM because I don’t want to pay the transaction fee.
hehehehehhehehe
February 2nd, 2008 at 2:39 am
even if i knew how to fine tune my car, i send it to those whose very livelihood depends on doing it. the same for repairing or painting a part of the house, for doing the laundry and every little things that i knew about.
i possess the skill for which i am greatly rewarded; i just have to be a channel of blessings for which i have to pass on if only to be a good steward of heaven’s riches.
February 1st, 2008 at 4:05 pm
i always save for something like an upcoming vacation. need to relax and escape once in a while (though I do it more frequently)
seems you avoid ATM charges so much, there are many ways to avoid it if you got used to it.
covering a book with NBS plastic bag? i remember in high school i don’t have a book but borrowed one even if it’s older…no money then to buy pricey new ones