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Aneth Ng-Lim, Paying it Forward

Aneth Ng-Lim

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/171376614704220230525-rain-dog-manila-JC-3.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="&#x27;Express Your Pride&#x27; is a collection of stories from the Filipino queer community to mark Pride Month."/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(51, 51, 51);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:pre-wrap;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none">A woman shares her umbrella with her dog as they walk under a sudden drizzle on May 25, 2023. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></span><em> </em></span></span></span></div><p>If you’re reading this in sweltering heat, you may find it easy to dismiss the advice but one thing we all know too well, it’s that we can’t control the weather.  And after the summer months and the (very) dry spell we’ve been having, we can only expect the rains to come.</p><p>When we say saving for the rainy days, it usually means setting aside something, not necessarily money, for a time in the future when we would need it.  Most people who follow the advice would save up cash for their emergency fund, or even for their retirement years. </p><p>These are all good, but this article is a bit more practical – reminding you that living expenses tend to become more expensive during the rainy months.  Here are some of them that workers and parents spend for when the rain comes pouring down.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>#1 Getting around</strong></div><p>For commuters, rainy days usually mean tougher times to get to anywhere.  We also become victims of taxi drivers asking for extras, or paying for surcharges when we book other ride-hailing services.  If you are okay with walking or taking the jeepney or the bus during the summer months, the rainy months would normally force you to switch to cabs simply because the jeepneys and buses tend to be full, and somehow seem fewer.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>#2 Impulse dining out</strong></div><p>The sun will shine in the morning, and then the skies darken in the afternoon, and just when you’re ready to head home, the rains pour down.  You could risk it, or as many do, stick around in the office waiting for the rains to stop.  Sometimes, this means having to eat dinner out, which would have been cheaper (and possibly healthier) if you ate at home instead.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>#3 Then impulse shopping</strong></div><p>If you took shelter in a nearby mall, impulse shopping can also hit you.  The sale signs can be tempting, or you see something you’ve wanted but did not have the chance to buy before.   It’s there, you’re there, and that’s another damage to your wallet.  Stuck in traffic?  Avoid browsing online apps as studies have shown that online sellers enjoy more sales during this time of year.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZhAYsByjJ-Y?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span>Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(60, 151, 255)" target="_blank">iWantTFC.com</a>. Watch hundreds of Pinoy shows, movies, live sports and news.</div><div><strong>#4 Is that a new pair of shoes?</strong></div><p>Something about rainy days are harder on our feet, or our shoes.  Work shoes that are perfectly fine in the summer months don’t survive the amount of rain we get from May to June, to July, even lasting through the end of the year.  You may not mind getting a new pair, but you can also consider overshoes or shoe covers, but they too will cost you.   </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>#5 Vitamins or Vaccines, or both?<br/></strong></div><p>It’s flu season so take your poison, I mean vitamins or vaccines, or both.  Some companies offer free vaccination programs, not just to their employees but even to their immediate family members.  This is a welcome relief to your wallet.  Other local governments do the same, so before you make your arrangements, check what you can get for free as a valued employee and a tax-paying citizen.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>#6 Home repairs<br/></strong></div><p>After I complained 3 times about a roof that was repaired and kept leaking, our contractor told me it wasn’t their fault – we just get too much rain!  Apparently, even foreign engineers have been baffled by the amount of rain we get when they are asked to design buildings here.  Now is a good time to have your roofs checked, and pay for repairs, if any are needed.  Otherwise, it will not only be more expensive during the rainy weather – you may also end up with other repairs, like water damage to appliances, floors, and furniture.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>#7 Car repairs</strong></div><p>Get the tune-up you need now, so your car, if you have one, will service you well during the rainy months.  Auto shops tend to offer summer promotions to take advantage of people going on road trips.  If your car is due for a check-up, set an appointment now and save yourself the headache later.</p><div><br/></div><div><em>ABOUT THE AUTHOR</em></div><div><span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none"><em>Aneth Ng-Lim returns to writing after more than two decades of working as a communications specialist in the government and the private sector. Her advocacy for financial inclusion and personal finance began when she served as head for Consumer Education during her stint at a multinational bank</em></span></div>

<p>After the summer months and the (very) dry spell we’ve been having, we can only expect the rains to come.</p>

After the summer months and the (very) dry spell we’ve been having, we can only expect the rains to come.

Start saving more money because rainy days are coming

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Start saving more money because rainy days are coming

Aneth Ng-Lim

Published Apr 22, 2024 02:23 PM PHT

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Updated May 29, 2024 01:47 PM PHT

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