As food, transportation, electricity, and other everyday expenses continue to climb, many Filipino families are finding practical ways to make their income last longer through careful budgeting, smarter spending, and consistent saving.
For Mohammad Rajhi M. Guro, a licensed forester and Environmental Management Specialist II at the LGU of Ditsaan-Ramain, inflation has changed how he manages his family's finances.
"Even though my salary is around ₱40,000 a month, it doesn't stretch as far as it used to," Guro said. "I now budget more carefully, avoid unnecessary spending, cook meals at home, and save five to 10 percent of my salary as soon as I get paid."
His family also plans grocery trips in advance, minimizes food waste, conserves electricity and water, and regularly discusses monthly expenses to stay on track financially.
For Richard S. Ybañez Sr., a father, accepting that prices will continue to rise has helped his family focus on what they can control.
"Para sa amo, dili na gyud malikayan nga mosaka ang presyo sa mga palaliton. Imbis nga magreklamo, nag-focus na lang mi sa pagtipid ug pag-budget og tarong sa among kwarta aron makaya gihapon ang adlaw-adlaw nga panginahanglan," he said.
To cut costs, his family limits unnecessary travel, avoids non-essential purchases, and sets aside whatever they can for emergencies.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) encourages households to strengthen their finances by creating a monthly budget, prioritizing essential expenses, avoiding impulse buying, and building an emergency fund—even if savings start small.
What you can do
While rising prices are beyond anyone's control, you can ease the impact by tracking your expenses, planning grocery purchases, cooking more meals at home, reducing utility consumption, avoiding unnecessary spending, and saving a portion of your income as soon as you receive it.
Even small, consistent financial habits can help your family stay resilient during challenging times.
