Updated: September 13, 2023
It’s hard to change from being a reckless spender to a practical saver. I’ve been there before, and I can honestly say that it is a struggle.
It’s not easy to live every day when you’re always torn between enjoying the present and preparing for the future, to choose between spending your money today and saving it for tomorrow.
Fortunately, after several years of living a life of frugality, I can say that saving money eventually becomes easier. Moreover, life seems to become less complicated and surprisingly more enjoyable. Here are some other things that will happen when you’ve been a money-saver for a long time.
You learn to be patient.
Have you ever been stuck in a traffic jam? Some people I know stress themselves unnecessarily whenever this happens. They curse the pedestrians, they blame the government, they fault public utility vehicles, and they sulk in self-pity.
Whenever I’m in a similar situation, I just listen to music and sing along. Sometimes, I observe the people around me and think of stories about them.
I learned this kind of patience from waiting for my piggy bank to become full as I fed it with coins every day for several months.
You can afford better things.
I love gadgets, and most of the tech stuff I own are premium brands. While they’re more expensive than the lower-end models, I choose to buy them because I can afford them. I can afford them because I know how to save for the things I truly want.
I don’t buy them on credit and go into debt. As with all luxury expenses, I just patiently save money every month until I have enough. And from experience, premium brands have better quality and longer durability, which saves me more money in the long run.
You can keep your calm when unpredictable expenses occur.
If you own a car, then you know it’s almost impossible to say when something needs repair or replacement. A worn-out battery, a busted light, a broken fan belt, a flat tire, and many other things can happen at any time.
Unlike some people I know who would worry when such things happen, I am able to avoid unnecessary stress because I have an emergency fund. Additionally, there’s no need for me to scrimp on low-quality brands or second-hand parts.
You’re not burdened by debt.
In 2010, I wrote an article here entitled “What Happens If I Don’t Pay My Credit Card Debts?” That post has more than 500 comments, and it’s still going up until today.
Check out the responses, and you’ll see a steady stream of people sharing their debt stories, feeling lost, and sick of worrying about what they’ll do.
It’s really stressful just to read them, and it’s a powerful motivation to become a saver because I don’t want to live a life like that.
You’re better at taking financial risks.
A lot of people are afraid to invest because they don’t want to lose money. Fear prevents them from taking the necessary steps to grow their wealth fast.
While it’s a fact that all investments have risks, I have fewer concerns about losing money because I know that I can always just save more.
When the money you’re investing comes from a sudden windfall or your salary bonus, you’re afraid to lose it because it’s not often that you receive those.
But if the money you’re investing comes from patiently saving every month, you’re more confident about taking financial risks because you know your money-saving habit will again produce surplus funds next month.
You become less attached to material stuff.
Keeping up with fads and trends is an expensive hobby. Fortunately, this becomes less important when you have a frugal mindset. You feel less envious when others have more than you and people who own expensive things don’t impress you anymore.
When you live simply and spend less on stuff, you’ll begin to appreciate and treasure more the few luxuries that you choose to have.
You don’t feel stressed anymore about missing out, and more importantly, you lose the need to impress others with material things.
You value people more.
I used to go bar hopping with my friends every weekend. Sure, we’d have a good time, but at the end of the day, I’ve come to realize that the best part of the night was our conversations and not the alcohol, the food, or the ambiance of the club. We had fun because we were together.
We still go out today, but only if there’s an occasion. Most of the time, we just go to someone’s house and talk over coffee and cake or beer and chips.
We’ve learned to value each other’s presence more than being seen in the latest hotspots in the metro.
How about you, how long have you had the habit of saving? What other things have changed in your perspective about life ever since you started? Please share them below in the comments section.
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Photo credit: sequoya
Nice post!
I lost the wanderlust part of me, gained more confidence to say no and I value my health more than ever.
I still like travelling but not because I saw or heard someone has been there so I like to go to. Basically, I’m not afraid I’ll miss out because I have money to go to places when I want to.
I am not saying yes just because I might need their help one day and they won’t help me because I said no. Of course, I still need help but on the financial front, I’m not dependent even on little things anymore.
I spent almost all my emergency fund lately because of health reason and it hurt to see it went down but I am grateful I have money when I need it. Vice versa, it made me value my health more.
It is true that very hard to practice when it comes to savings. But I personally do it now, because if i don’t want to wait long time before i will start.
No matter how big or small you earn , you must start saving now for your future. Keep atleast 10%-20% of your salary for your family future and for your retirements.
Hi Fritz,
We’ll, I read one of you blogs 3 years ago, and it’s been three years since I started paying myself first and being frugal.
Thanks to you. Everything is not scary anymore. I have my emergency funds for the uncertainty.
Keep it up sir.
Another great article, Fitz!
For us, it’s a total paradigm shift. We still splurge on food but no longer on eating out. Me and my husband used to eat out and try all the new restaurants every week, several times a week. Our goals used to be more hedonistic. Now, our goals are more concrete and financially oriented. We enjoy life now but also with thoughts on our financial future so that we can enjoy tomorrow, too!
” Put God first in everything you do. ” as our first priority in life. With Gods wisdom there is peace.
As we are learning financial planning me and my husband found out the importance of having health care fund ( HMO in Phils.) Term insurance and building emergency fund. Which we have already.
Thru our desire to improve ourselves and commitment to take daily steps toward our dreams… we found hope and feel that guiding Holy Spirit. Habit changed from spender to saver. Few years back our entertainment as family is going to the mall eat in the restaurant. Now we take more priority in going to Spiritual activity with the kids.
God loves us but He gives us free will to decide.
Our decision today will affect our future.
So grateful for the wisdom and thanking God for sending us helpful people as our mentors.
Desire to grow surround yourself with positive people.
Thanks sir Fitz.
I can relate so much with this post!
I guess the saving of money for the long term taught me to become really mature and value the time I spend with people who matter to me and myself more than the material things
Thank you Sir Fitz for another wonderful insights!
Ever since I subscribed to your blog, I’ve been more motivated and inspired to save. I was once a reckless spender, too. When my credit card arrived, I changed my spending habits and I now track everything down to the last centavo. I’ve been more careful with my money because of your posts, and I’ve started a habit of saving every week. Turns out, when I add up those little weekly amounts, I get a big chunk by the end of the year!
Hello Fitz,
It melts my heart again (chos), hehe. It seems like you are preaching us in person. Reading your blog while im in office (doing fetix, lol) is really worth the time. I really feel the heart in you and it reflects the emotions you have. This article is showing how good person you are and a great friend. Im proud that I met you many times (but the truth is- im stalking you, lol) and had a chance to take a picture with you. Im a FAN and I really consider you as my mentor”,). I pray that someday I can be successful as you are and have the contentment in life as you do.
Yes, its true that its hard to save in the beginning but if you keep doing it, it becomes a routine. I follow the 20% saving system, I will save 20% and invest and spend the rest.
I’ve been a money saver for 20 years now and I can assure you I’ve learnt to be patient thanks to this “way of life”. I’m also less nervous as I can rely on my savings in case of emergency.
There is no better life than being a saver, you have the back up, no need to panic if things get in to trouble, you can just simply pull out any amount but with limitation and caution if there are emergencies. And what is more fulfilling? You are steps ahead from those who don’t save.
Agreed with this one. You gain a LOT of FREEDOM when you learn to stop wasting money and have a lot of it saved and invested.
You don’t worry about debt because you save instead of maxing out your credit card bills.
You make better purchase decisions since you carefully consider the better alternatives instead of impulse buying on credit.
Lastly, you gain enough freedom to pursue opportunities since you’ve saved up resources for them (this includes mental resources – it’s hard to think of and see opportunities to grow wealthy when you’re too busy worrying about how to pay the credit card bills).
A rich article and SPOT ON! The commenters show that this group of folks really “get it. ” Another great benefit to saving up that pile of cash beyond covering emergencies is that you are ready to pounce on short term opportunities. An old saying from the US is “strike while the iron is hot.” The history of the saying is that of a blacksmith who had to heat the iron or steel white hot to work the metal on the anvil. Once cool, the metal would work harden and become difficult to form.
Sometimes, you can also help others while getting a great opportunity. My wife happend to be at a pawn shop looking for a specific item. She overheard a student almost begging for the staff to take his small devise. He said even P1000 would be OK. It was over their age limit and no deal was made. The lad badly needed P2000 to cover his school bill. My wife had cash and we also needed a small tablet for our budding computer expert. She thought the tablet was Ok at P2000 and gave that amount to the student. Problem solved for both parties. Sometimes, cash is king!