7 Financial Wellness Tips to Empower Every Woman

Financial wellness is something every woman can achieve at any age or salary bracket. It’s not about how much you make but what you do with it. Having a healthy relationship with money and material things means not allowing them to define you and your worth. Here are seven tips to help build your financial power and be at peace with what you have.

Your mom taught you to budget early for good reason: resources are never infinite and needs are not created equal. Having a weekly budget versus a monthly one gives you a more realistic view of how much you spend and save. Sometimes planning too far ahead, especially with groceries or meals, can lead to poor decisions. You may buy more than you need or scrimp to a fault. 

Don’t wait until you have extra cash to save. Factor savings into your budget and make it non-negotiable if you want to see your funds build up. Setting some of your earnings aside regularly, whether P500 or P5,000, can boost your financial power and confidence. Start with 20% of your salary. Seeing your savings grow may motivate you to up the ante and save more. 

Set aside an emergency fund and reserve it for emergencies. It doesn’t have to be massive – just enough to tide you over in case you get sick or your dog needs to go to the vet. These days, it would also help to stock up enough money in case you get laid off. Generally, having three to six months' worth of living expenses can cushion that kind of blow and give you a sense of financial wellness.

Debt of any kind is scary but also an unavoidable part of adulthood. Most people need to take out loans to buy a house, or a car, or send kids to school, and it's okay. What’s not okay is backburning the responsibility to pay them. It helps to schedule your payments and add them to your monthly budget. Prioritize more urgent loans and don’t try to get rid of them all at once. While it may feel good, it’s not easy on your budget either.

Making sure you pay your dues on time is enough. It’s one of the best examples of financial wellness.

Living beyond your means is all too easy these days. You hardly lift a finger to get an overpriced coffee. Designer bags are just a click away. Buying clothes in bulk (even if you only need a pair of jeans) seems to make sense to save on shipping fees. All these things add up. Before you know it, you've spent more than you can afford.

Living less doesn’t mean depriving yourself of happiness but having the discipline to pursue it in moderation. Here’s a neat trick: schedule a quarterly spring clean to see what you have and don’t need to buy.

Be mindful of those moments when you’re just bored, doom scrolling, and adding to cart. Impulse buys can be costly and add up to significant amounts when left unchecked. If you have a buy-now-pay-later option, use it when necessary, like if a home appliance suddenly breaks down or if you need to stock up on specific items. While convenient, these payment schemes also incur costly interests that can be more difficult to pay off later.

If skin and hair treatments are essential to you, go ahead and include them in your budget. A shampoo that suits your hair type, a good skin care treatment, and oral care products are must-haves.

Try Sunsilk Smooth & Manageable Shampoo, which makes hair smoother, shinier, and tangle-free – so you can save on styling. POND'S Bright Triple Glow Serum is a nifty product if you want an all-around treatment that addresses uneven skin tone, dryness, and hyperpigmentation. Finally, invest in your oral health with closeup Red Hot Toothpaste, which keeps your smile healthy and your breath fresh.

Let’s be honest. Shopping is fun; budgeting is not. However, only one of these things can help bring you closer to financial wellness. Knowing your value – and how it’s not attached to any material thing – can help curb your shopping impulses. A 2018 Personality and Social Psychology Review study states that focusing on personal development can lead to an improved sense of well-being and self-worth.

The road to financial wellness may be fraught with challenges, but the rewards are priceless. It takes you one step closer to feeling empowered and having your day-to-day in order.