Our nanays have long been recognized as experts when it comes to handling household budgets. But lately, economic pressures have been piling up: higher fuel prices, rising electricity costs, and more expensive everyday staples are making it even more challenging to keep daily expenses in check. With summer here – the perfect time for family bonding – Filipino moms are pushed to get even more creative in stretching every peso, as the end of the current crisis has yet to come.
This Mother’s Day, CIMB Bank Philippines, Global Banking and Finance Awards’ Best Digital Bank in the country, gives a well-deserved salute to every household’s master budgetarian like you by sharing practical, real-world ways that can make your money work even harder amid today’s uncertain financial climate.
Here are simple but effective habits that can help ease everyday spending pressures:
Maximize free community resources and activities
When looking for summer bonding activities for your chikitings, check first if there are free ones in your community before splurging on an outing. Barangay- or village-led events, community programs, and nearby public spaces provide entertainment and recreation at little to no cost. Tapping into these resources helps ease household spending while still meeting family needs.
Check unit prices, not just the total price
Since it’s summer, it’s common for the entire family to be at home on most days. With schools on break, companies shifting to work-from-home setups, and the heat driving us all to retreat indoors, the general consumption of household items increases. Staples such as shampoo, soap, snacks, and condiments may disappear quicker than usual, so it pays to be smarter when restocking them. Looking beyond the price tags of these items can help you identify their real value. Try to compute for the price per unit, kilo, or liter of purchases to identify the better deals and, whenever possible, refill items instead of replacing them as well. Refill packs for essentials often offer meaningful savings.
Schedule errands together to save on gas or pamasahe
Instead of going on multiple trips throughout the week, grouping errands into a single route can help reduce transport costs and save valuable time – while also limiting unplanned purchases along the way.
Start new mini-traditions that can also help lower electricity bills
Having everyone at home is a great time to create new traditions to bring the family closer together. Depending on your interests, try activities that fit the season like daily early morning walks with the entire family. This activity is not only good for your health but also allows households to switch off appliances like air conditioners and fans for at least an hour. Consider indoor options as well, such as good old boardgame nights or pretend play, to have some offline time which would ensure more engagement with the whole clan.
As we honor mothers this season, CIMB Bank PH encourages not only gratitude for your care and sacrifices, but also recognition of your everyday financial leadership – an important foundation of household resilience.
To know more about CIMB Bank PH, visit cimbbank.com.ph