Money saving tips
THERE is an object in this world that befuddles and enriches. An item that plunges us into chaos, the root of all evil yet necessary for our modern survival.
The object that has no actual value but one that we human beings hold dearly. Confused? Don’t be.
I am talking about the thing that many have declared that the more of it we have, the more problems we will simultaneously receive. Hashtag, money.
Holding my savings container, I have asked myself: “Just how good am I with cash?”
Money has always been important to me because I see it as a device for success.
However, in no way do I think that it is the most vital necessity to own in the world. It is only a stepping stone to easily procuring what the world has to offer.
When it comes to spending, I am usually a mix of impulsiveness and rational thought.
After careful measurement, I would say the scale is heavier toward the rationality side.
This is because, in most cases, I will properly assess whether I actually need a particular item I have set my eyes on.
What this means is that when presented with the things I could buy, I will evaluate whether the product is worth the money.
For instance, when I have the choice between an RM5 plate of rice and an RM2 doughnut, I will stand back and evaluate the situation.
Is it better for me to spend more on something that will make me feel satiated, or will it be more beneficial to save a few ringgit and go with the unhealthy option?
This back-and-forth questioning usually determines whether a transaction will occur.
Of course, this method does not always work. The impulsive side takes over from time to time.
Now when this happens, I have an out-of-body experience. I know very well what I am doing but I am helpless in stopping it from happening.
What this means is, I end up buying things I never actually wanted in the first place and paying, quite literally, the consequences.
Back in 2013, I attended a leadership camp at a resort in Nilai, Negri Sembilan. On my last day there, I walked into a gift shop.
My eyes bulged at the myriad of beautiful items available on the shelves. After surveying the whole store a few times, I bought an RM50 shirt for my brother.
But when I arrived home and showed my mother what I had purchased, she looked me dead in the eye, and asked me why I had bought it. It was then I realised that I had no real reason for purchasing it. Deservedly, I was treated to a free opera featuring my mother as the lead vocalist.
Thankfully, on most days, my impulsiveness does not overpower my rational side of thought.
So, just how good am I with money? The answer is largely positive, as long as I can keep my impulses from overpowering me.