My Save-Money-without-Suffering Tips

I love the good life! As much as I love rummaging through the discount sections or haggling at the Flea Market and going backpacking with tent in tow or cooking a delicious meal to avoid the high cost of eating out, I also love splurging on expensive clothes, shoes and accessories, staying in hotels and resorts and the more than occasional fine dining. Here are my “scrimping” ways to avoid bankruptcy.

On Fine Dining
I always want to try more than one item on the menu. And I don’t usually follow fine dining etiquette especially if I’m with people I’m really comfortable with or just myself. I usually have everything delivered at the same time, whether it’s a salad, two appetizers or the entrée. So when I’m in my order-almost-all-I-want mood, I skip on drinks and just ask for the restaurant’s free water. Drinks can add unwanted bulk on the bill and I go to restaurants to feed myself, not quench my thirst. And I don’t fall for the all-you-can drink offers, either (except for the alcoholic stuff, that is), especially when I’m in it for the buffet.

On Shopping
I usually grab everything I want at flea markets as long as they fit me, my mom or my siblings. Unfortunately, I can’t apply this uninhibited way of shopping inside the mall, where everything is so much pricier. So whenever I find something I can’t take my eyes off, I give myself a night or two to think. If I’m still losing sleep over it after two nights, then I go back and buy it. If it’s no longer available, well, I guess it wasn’t meant for me and I just try hard to a. find something as similar as possible b. scour other shops for the same item or c. forget about it and move on (after mentally kicking myself for not grabbing it as soon as I had the chance).

On Staying in Hotels or Resorts
If the place is known for great food, then I have all three meals in there. If not, I just ask for hot water and make do with instant soup and noodles or else just go somewhere near to eat. However, beverages, especially the alcoholic ones, can be hysterically expensive if purchased inside the hotel or resort. So if there’s only me or just a few of us, we smuggle the drinks inside. If there’s a truckload of us, we usually pay for the corkage. Either way, a lot of cash is saved.