How to Afford Living Independently in Metro Manila

Adulthood won't be complete without learning to live independently. The experience of living alone, having your own space to yourself, managing your own house hold and living expenses is one of the biggest step-ups you can accomplish in your grown up life.

As rewarding as moving out of your parents' house can be, living alone means shouldering the monthly unit rent, bills, and food expenses on top of your usual lifestyle upkeep. In Metro Manila, the cost of living alone can come at a price especially if you don't manage your finances wisely. But living alone comfortably and becoming financially independent is not impossible. Experience is the best teacher so there's no time to learn and establish your independence than now.

However daunting the road to independence in the Philippines can be, there are smart steps to take to keep the cost of living at bay and be able to afford living on your own. Survive living alone with these hacks!

1. Find a reasonably affordable and accessible unit for rent

One of the costs you have to consider would be the home you'll be moving into. The first step would be to look for an apartment or unit in the city that will not exceed 1/3 of your monthly salary. Be patient and don't rush or settle for the first one you'll find. Keep in mind to balance affordability and accessibility.

A rental unit farther from the city may be cheaper, but it won't be worth it when you're spending all your energy on 3- to 4-hour commutes. An apartment or condo closer to your work place is always recommended because this will save you the time, energy, not to mention the transportation expenses that Metro Manila is infamous for.


2. Lessen utility expenses

Familiarize yourself and budget monthly for the following utility bills: electricity, water, and communication expenses (Wifi or any Internet connection). The goal is to allot allowance for these priority expenses and pay ahead of time whenever you can. You don't want to be behind on paying these bills otherwise they will only pile up. Some great hacks to keep utility expenses down are:

• Investing in energy-saving appliances such as LED TVs, air conditioning units and refrigerators that use inverter technology can be friendly on your monthly electricity bills.
• Use a bucket and pail instead of the shower. Get used to cold baths if you can since turning off the heater once in a while can save you money.
• Use the timer installed in your appliances so you don't go using up the electricity when not in use.

3. Cook your own meals more often

Now that you have your own kitchen, take advantage of it and cook a major portion of your week's meals. Food can take up most of your week's allowance if you order online given that you have to pay for delivery fee. To avoid splurging on over prized food on delivery apps, allot time during the weekend to prepare meals ahead. Cooking 2 to 3 types of ulam for the week will help you save money and help you eat healthier too.


4. Cut down on unnecessary subscriptions

You don't have to miss out on movies or on the new episodes of your favorite TV series. Subscribing to streaming apps are okay so long as you don't subscribe to all of them. A monthly subscription may only seem to cost less than a hundred but when you look at what you pay for annually, it actually accumulates to a substantial amount that could have been used to pay for your year's supply of water.

5. Be mindful of "self-care" and "retail therapy" expenses

We're all for self-care, of course, but telling yourself that you "deserve this" all the time, might do serious financial damage on your monthly income. It's okay to treat yourself once in a while but there should be a fine line between your needs and wants. Prioritize your savings, utility bills, and emergency funds per month. Only after seeing through those important expenses can you set aside money for your monthly "budols" and "luho."

6. Live within your means

Avoid living from paycheck to paycheck. Surviving the solo life is all about being financially secure. Practice creating a budget and having the discipline to stick to it. Remember to spend on your necessities first and to prioritize building an emergency fund. Becoming financially independent and secure is the goal.