Ever feel like you’re trying to save money, but it just keeps slipping away? 😩 You’re not alone! Today, I’m sharing 3 unique tips to help you manage your finances better — tips that are different from the usual methods you’ve seen before.
1️⃣ Spend Last Month’s Income, Not This Month’s
Here’s a trick that actually works: when your salary hits your account this month, don’t touch it. Instead, spend money from last month’s income.
Here’s how I did it:
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Keep your current salary in one account (let’s call it Bank A) untouched.
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Use a separate account (Bank B) for all your monthly expenses.
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Each month, transfer only what you need from Bank A to Bank B.
Why does this work? It trains you to spend within limits. Back when I was a doctor with a variable income, I applied this system. Even with salaries between £2,500–£3,000, I only spent around £1,800 per month. Slowly, my savings account grew without me even thinking about it.
2️⃣ Calculate the “Work Hours Cost” of Every Purchase ⏱️
Instead of looking at the price tag, try calculating how many hours you actually need to work to afford it.
Example:
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Monthly salary: RM3,000
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Hours worked per month: 160
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Hourly wage: RM3,000 ÷ 160 = RM18.75 ≈ RM20/hour
Buying RM400 sneakers? That’s 20 hours of work—or about 2.5 days. Ask yourself: is it worth spending 2.5 days of your life for those shoes?
This simple trick makes you think twice before splurging and instills better spending discipline.
3️⃣ Challenge Yourself 💪
Gamify your finances! Set personal challenges like:
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Don’t eat out for a month
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Limit dining out to RM20 per meal
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Hit a step count goal every day
Here’s what I did in 2019: my monthly dining-out expense was over RM1,500! I challenged myself to spend no more than RM20 per meal. At the end of the month, my spending dropped to under RM1,000!
The key? Add a reward & punishment system. Treat yourself if you succeed, or enforce a small penalty if you fail. This keeps it fun while building good habits.
💡 Summary:
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Spend last month’s income.
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Convert money into “work hours” before spending.
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Introduce fun challenges to save smarter.
These tips can complement my famous Three Bank System or stand alone if the other methods don’t work for you. The goal is simple: manage your money better and grow your savings.
Fun fact: Over 50% of Malaysians struggle to save even RM1,000 in the bank (Bank Negara Malaysia data). So these tips aren’t just nice to know—they’re essential!
Ready to Level Up Your Savings? 🚀
If you want to grow your money while practicing these tips, check out Versa, a smart wealth management app by AHAM Asset Management Berhad.
✅ Easy to use
✅ Expert-managed investment products
✅ Get RM10 reward when you sign up with my referral code!
Here’s how to start:
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Download Versa: https://download.versa.com.my/1bAf/referral?deep_link_value=UAVR6K5X
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Sign up with my referral code: UAVR6K5X
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Complete onboarding steps
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Make your first cash-in of min. RM100 into any Versa product
💰 Let’s save smart and grow together!
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