Christmas is the season to be jolly, and to some people, it may also mean needing to budget better this holiday season.
GMA Integrated News asked several Filipinos about their tips for tightening the belt without losing the Christmas spirit.
“Kung maghahanda naman kayo, siguro ‘wag ‘yung masyadong magara. Siguro ‘yung sakto lang sa inyo,” said Journey Salamat.
(If you’ll have a little gathering, maybe don’t be too lavish. Just prepare what’s right for you.)
For picking out Christmas gifts, shopping in affordable markets is the way to go.
“Mas maganda doon kayo sa makakamura—sa Divisoria, Baclaran, at Quiapo. Kung anong meron lang, sapat na ‘yun,” Mary Ann Escobido said.
(It’s better to buy where it’s affordable like in Divisoria, Baclaran, and Quiapo. Whatever fits your budget.)
Another budget-friendly tip for Christmas gift-shopping is to try buying in bodega sale or gifting usable secondhand items.
“Mamimili lang sa mga bodega sale. Mas mura siya. Ayun lang ang kaya ng budget natin—mga secondhand,” Carissa Abillon said.
(Buy in bodega sale. It’s cheaper. That’s how far my budget can go—secondhand.)
Instead of material gifts, quality time with loved ones is what matters the most, especially during Christmas, Abillon added.
During the Christmas season, many Filipinos joke that ninangs and ninongs hide from their godchildren to avoid giving them gifts.
But for Connie Arca, it may help to gradually lower the amount of the “pamasko” gifted to “inaanaks” as they grow older.
“Kung dati namimigay ako ng P200, ‘yung mga sumunod naging P100 hanggang naging P50. Ngayon, pababa na. ‘Pag malalaki na, hindi na binibigyan,” she said.
(If before I gave P200, and then later on, P100 until it became P50. Now, it’s gone lower. When they’re already grown ups, I won’t give them anymore.)
Another budgeting tip for the Christmas season: Save or spend wisely your 13th month pay and Christmas bonus.
“Mga importante lang binibili namin. Hindi pwedeng ibuhos lahat ng biyayang matatanggap natin ngayong Christmas. Paano naman next year?” Abillon said.
(We only buy what we need. We can’t pour all our blessings this Christmas. What about next year?)
Arca, meanwhile, said most of her Christmas bonus is already allotted to pay their bills and necessities.
“Kaya ‘yung natira, dahan-dahang ginagastos. Kung ano ‘yung nandun, ba-budgetin talaga. Pagkakasyahin,” she added.
(We slowly spend whatever’s left from that. We budget it and make it work.) —AOL, GMA Integrated News
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