Many people say they want to save money, but don’t know where their money is going. Before cutting any expenses, the most important thing is to review your personal spending.
Step one: Divide your expenses into 2 groups
- Essential expenses: basic food, rent, utilities, transportation, studying, and work-related costs.
- Non-essential expenses: snacks, shopping, going out, entertainment, overly frequent beauty services.
Nowadays, most banking apps automatically categorize transactions such as shopping, entertainment, dining, and bill payments.
You just need to pay attention to which category each expense falls into when you spend. At the end of the month, open your banking app and review it—you’ll clearly see the unnecessary expenses that are quietly “eating up” your money every day.
From clearly tracking my cash flow, I started cutting the following 5 expenses—and in reality, my life didn’t get worse; it actually became more comfortable.
Snacks and drinks
We tend to spend money on cakes, milk tea, and snacks because we think “each time isn’t much.” But over the course of a month, this actually becomes a large non-essential expense.
When you gradually cut down on snacks and sugary drinks:
- Your spending decreases noticeably
- Your body feels lighter and healthi
- You become less dependent on fast food
Cutting back on snacks doesn’t mean living poorly—it’s simply returning to a simpler, healthier way of eating, something people used to do very naturally.
This becomes much easier when you know how much you can save each month by limiting these habits. I’m sure that dividing your expenses into the two groups mentioned above will help reduce this significantly—I’ve been there myself.
Hair expenses
When people first start working, many tend to frequently perm or dye their hair to look more mature. Each visit can cost a few million VND, not to mention additional costs for washing, styling, and aftercare.
In reality, hair doesn’t last as long as we think. After just a few months, the color fades, it becomes dry and damaged, and needs to be redone.
When switching to:
- Keeping a simple hairstyle
- Limiting perms and dyeing
- Taking care of it yourself or dyeing it at home when needed
You can save a significant amount of money while still looking neat and well-groomed every day.
Ready-made food
Prepared food outside is convenient, offers many choices, and often comes with discounts. However, eating out too frequently not only costs more but also affects your health. Cooking at home can save you a considerable amount—not just for your wallet, but also for your well-being.
When you switch to cooking at home:
- A small amount of money can cover multiple days
- You have control over ingredients and portions
- Your diet becomes healthier
Bringing home-cooked meals to work is not outdated. On the contrary, it’s a smart and sustainable habit—good for both your finances and your health.
Clothing expenses
Many clothes are bought and then left unused, sometimes never even worn. When shopping, think about when you can wear it and how it can be matched with items you already have—so you don’t end up “buying another top just because nothing matches this skirt.” You can prioritize items that are:
- Basic in style
- Easy to mix and match
- Neutral in color
- Suitable for frequent use
Instead of buying more new clothes, we can:
- Restyle old outfits in different ways
- Prioritize quality over quantity
- Buy less but use them longer
You don’t need a lot of clothes—just ones that suit you and can be worn often.
Social relationships
Eating out, hanging out, and socializing frequently can make each meet-up cost a few hundred thousand VND. It feels fun at first, but over time it creates financial pressure.
As time goes by, we start to realize:
- Relationships aren’t maintained just through meals
- You don’t need to spend money to please everyone
Instead of spending too much time and money on meet-ups, focus on studying, working, and improving yourself. The relationships that truly matter will naturally stay.
Conclusion
Cutting unnecessary personal expenses doesn’t make life worse. On the contrary, it helps us:
- Feel less stressed about money
- Live with more control
- Focus on what truly matters
Everything starts very simply: open your banking app and review how you’ve been spending each month. Just doing that consistently can change your personal finances more than you expect.
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Linkachu – Someone who has battled weight for nearly 20 years and is currently exploring the “eat fully, still lose weight” method.
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