Let’s be real, you’re not gonna sell a kidney to be able to afford one of those Coldplay tickets. The pre-selling of seats started two days ago and you must be panicking that it’ll be an instantly sold-out show.
Take it easy and calm down, you still have enough time to set aside your 13th month pay and/or convince your parents and friends to lend you some money so you can enjoy a good concert view. Saving money is a Herculean task nowadays, especially when shopping comes easy with a click of a button.
But you want that concert ticket, right? And you’d probably want to experience that once in a lifetime night spent under a sky full of stars and psychedelic lights, singing your heart out to “Yellow,” “The Scientist” and “Magic.”
Coldplay ranted in a song that “nobody said it’s gonna be this hard,” but we’re telling you straight up that the next few weeks would require determination, discipline and a whole lot of effort. But trust us, it’s all about delayed gratification.
Here are some tips to load that piggy bank right up:
- Start apologizing to your friends and family for not giving holiday presents this year.
You’re totally excused this Christmas, and your loved ones would understand it if you break your streak of gift giving. You can tell them that their consideration is the best gift you can receive this season.
- Have a savings target.
As you stick to your daily budget, you must also keep track of your savings progress. Have a daily countdown till your last day of saving and write how much you’re spending and saving daily, so you’d know if you have to adjust some things to reach your goal. Install Daily Savings Goal Tracker or My Savings Tracker on your phone to make things easier.
- Collect your spare change and loose bills at the end of the day.
All those coins and 20-peso bills should go straight to your piggy bank at the end of the day—yup, every single one of them. Not only does it make your coin purse lighter, but it easily helps you save without you making much of a fuss. This writer easily saved 460 pesos in less than a week with this trick.
- Collect debt.
Do people still owe you money? Now there’s no need to be ashamed to ask for it back. These words will work like magic: I need my money back for Coldplay.
- Get yourself dozens of “raket.”
It’s time to test your time management skills because you may have to bite off more than you can chew. Sign up on Upwork, a freelance website, and work on projects that will add as much as $30 each to your concert fund. And remember all the things you used to do for free—like editing a friend’s thesis or photographing a marketing campaign (or anything for “exposure,” really)? It’s time to put a price tag on them.
- Sell stuff online.
Do you have clothes that you haven’t worn in two months? Are there books (with plots that you don’t like) that are just collecting dust on your shelves? Maybe you have a few extra gadgets that you haven’t touched in a while. Is there a hobby or collection you’ve outgrown? It’s damn time to make money out of these!
- Unfollow all online shops on Facebook and Instagram.
Easy—less temptations, less problems.
- Do the 200-day challenge.
You may have read the online article about a woman challenging herself not to buy anything new for 200 days straight, only this time, you can’t apply the loophole she created. Second-hand goods are still considered as “new” if it’s your first time owning something. Of course, restocks of necessities are exempted.
- Say goodbye to the foodie in you.
Keep out of newly-opened restos and say no to meals that are worth a day’s worth of your salary. Ask yourself if you also need that cup of third wave coffee before you line up. Taking in lesser calories also mean you’d look awesome in your future concert photos!
- Don’t be late.
Most commuters tend to hail cabs or book Ubers when they’re running late for work or hangouts. To spare yourself of the additional expense (and salary deductions), always try to be on time in your daily commute. Also try not to ride cabs unless your trips could be reimbursed. And if you’re going to noncommuter-friendly places, use Uberpool instead.
- Join the lottery.
For P20, why the hell not? You may end up with more cash than you need.
You may feel deprived, or maybe overworked for a long while, but don’t wallow in self-pity. Always try to remember that come April you’ll be treating yo’ damn self to para-para-paradise.