Student Money Story: How I Managed my Finances as a Student

Hi! I’m Zed, a Grade 12 student. Unlike the usual success stories you see online, I haven’t launched a business at a young age, nor do I have a revolutionary get-rich-quick scheme to share. I’m just a simple, humble teenager who enjoys spending on hobbies, food, and gifts—just like anyone else. But beyond indulging myself (like making myself happy in buying these things), I still dream of achieving financial stability, or at least reaching a point where money is the least of my worries. People say, “Money can’t buy happiness”. But for me, true happiness is knowing that financial struggles won’t hold me back from living life the way I want.

For the longest time, I had a habit of spending money as soon as I got it. With a daily allowance of ₱200, I would often splurge (meaning, gastos so much) on milk tea, snacks, or unnecessary impulse buys. I never thought much about saving because, after all, it was just my allowance, right? But then, I started noticing a pattern. By the end of the week, I had nothing left. If a friend invited me out or I suddenly needed money for school, I would scramble—sometimes even borrowing just to keep up. That was when it hit me: I wasn’t managing my money; I was letting it control me.

Determined to break free from this cycle, I made a simple plan to save ₱100 a day from my ₱200 allowance. Instead of buying food at school, I started cooking my own meals and bringing them with me. It wasn’t easy at first. Waking up earlier to prepare food and resisting temptations at school took discipline. But as the weeks passed, I started to see results.

By saving ₱100 daily, I was putting aside ₱500 every week. At first, it didn’t seem like much, but after a month, I had ₱2,000. After six months of consistency, I looked at my savings and realized I had ₱7,000. It felt surreal. For the first time, I saw how small changes in my habits could lead to something big.

This is when I started carefully count the money I have saved over the past months.

Of course, saving money didn’t mean cutting out everything enjoyable in life. I also had to consider many things, such as setting realistic budgets, prioritizing needs over wants, exploring cost-effective alternatives, and finding a balance between financial responsibility and personal enjoyment.

This journey taught me more than just how to save—it showed me the value of discipline, patience, and self-control. I no longer felt guilty about my spending because I knew I was making conscious decisions. Now, when I want to reward myself, I can do so without regrets, knowing I have built a strong foundation for financial responsibility.

I used to think that financial freedom was something only adults with full-time jobs could achieve, but I realized it starts with simple choices—even as a student. Looking back, I’m grateful I made this change early. Because now, I’m not just saving money; I’m building a habit that will stay with me for life.