Wish ‘IPON’ a star!: Saving guides that will help you reach your goals

The earliest you start saving, you will have more money by the time you retire. It doesn't matter what age you are in. In your 20s or 40s, you must stash some money for rainy days or retirement. The earlier you start saving and investing, the more your money will grow with the compounded interest the better you can prepare for your future.

Union Bank of the Philippines' Wish "IPON" a star! can help you achieve that goal.

Clearly, you must save often and early to enjoy the benefits of life's opportunities and retire with fewer money worries.

While looking up in the skies and fervently willing our dreams to come true is lovely, there is something to be said about actually doing something to make your goals materialize finally. All it takes is one word: Saving.

Yet for all the saving tips on the internet (and unsolicited advice here and there), it can be pretty intimidating to start. So here are some tips on how you can jumpstart a better mindset when it comes to saving:

1. Pay yourself first. When you get your salary or income from a side hustle, you should first set aside money for yourself. Do this before you pay your bills or spend. If this feels daunting, remember that you are not removing the fun from your life and are paying yourself first to achieve a goal. Tip: create a separate bank account or automate your salary where a certain amount is separated as savings. The money you don't see and easily access can be easier to save.

2. Be aware of where your money goes. Why are you buying what you're buying? Is it possible to set aside some money and include "savings" in your budget? What can you spend less on? Do you have things you're not using that can be sold and turned into savings? So many question! It's all part of knowing your money and helping you plan your finances better. Remember to budget for fun stuff, and a reward for being on the right track in money matters.

3. Challenge yourself with different saving hacks. It can be as simple as setting aside P2,000 per pay period for a 52-week challenge, saving all your coins (Hello, P20 coins!), or adding a fun component like a raffle or bingo to determine the amount that goes into your 100-envelope challenge. You can also start with a No Spend Challenge, where you only buy the necessities. Try your best to stick to whatever you choose and unlock it like an achievement.
We wish you luck on your saving journey! Do you have any more saving hacks or tips to share? Tell us! We're here to make saving super easy for U!