Money is a significant factor in the lives of seafarers. It is the main reason why they work tirelessly, leaving their families behind.
Money is the tool that keeps their life moving, especially in today’s world. However, using money irresponsibly can lead to pain and hardship, which is why seafarers must learn to save and spend wisely.
These tipid tips will help you do just that.
As the proverb goes,
“Many bricks make a castle. Small leaks sink ships.”
This holds true in life, as most significant events happen as a result of small choices we make every day. Seafarers must realize that even small expenses can accumulate and lead to significant financial losses.
Therefore, it’s crucial to focus on the small things, the “bricks,” that build up savings.
Competing Expenses
Training, reviews, food, clothing, shelter, entertainment, cars, insurance, gambling, vacations, expensive hobbies, and many others compete for a portion of our income.
When we come home after a nine-month contract, our hard-earned money often flows freely out of our pockets.
If not controlled, we could lose it in just a month or two. It doesn’t matter how much the salary we accumulate but how much is left after the day ends during vacation.
Seaman Tipid Tips
It is important to check our financial impulses regarding the way we use money. Here are some tipid tips designed specifically for seafarers.
1. List all of your expenses
List all your daily, weekly, and monthly expenses up to the last cent of each transaction. Your spouse should be able to do this even if you are on board.
And seafarers should do the same including their slop chests and shore leave expenses. There must be no secrets. Compare your expenses at the end of each month. This will be helpful in the second step which is to…
2. Create a budget
Depending on how you spend your money on the first step, your budget is also reflected here.
A healthy budget is composed of Operational Expense Fund, Emergency Fund, Investment Fund, and Tithe Fund. Sometimes, the Vacation Fund is helpful too.
3. Avoid negative debts
Negative debts are any form of debt that does not help you put more money in your pocket. It could get you a lot of trouble if you start running into them. Keep in mind that they are disguised in many forms.
Credit cards, buy-now-pay-later products, loans, installments, borrowings, and three-month payment schemes are some of their fancy names.
4. Track your expenses
Note how much is coming in and going out of your pocket. Money is a limited resource. Once your contract is finished, so does your income. So it is vital to keep a proper lookout for where your money is going.
As you go through your budget, it is important to identify which purchases you can cut in order to save more money and what sidelines you can do to earn.
5. Learn to say “No!” to debtors (mangungutang)
Sometimes, a friend asks you for money because of her financial trouble or some form of emergency. It would be very difficult for us to directly slam the door to them without giving any good reason to do so.
The best approach would be to scrutinize why and how her problem came up in the first place.
If it has been a recurring problem, then think twice before giving her money. Here’s my proven and effective approach to how I respectfully decline lending money. It also helped me avoid potential scams in the thousands!
6. Track your training
Note how much training you’re going to undergo on your next vacation. Write it on a piece of paper and set aside a portion of your money for this every month.
Also include your everyday fare, snacks, pocket money, and boarding house if ever you need one.
Don’t worry about its accuracy. A rough estimate is enough as long as you have something to follow thru.
7. Tuition fee is not an emergency
Your emergency fund should be used for emergencies like unexpected longer vacations, a family member getting sick, a calamity that ravaged your home, or any other unforeseen event that requires money.
Fortunately, tuition fees are not one of them.
8. Consider side hustles
Explore sidelines or business for your wife. Most seafarers want their wives to stay at home and be a full-time mom.
There’s nothing wrong with that but consider her earning potential for the family. While taking care of your children, she can engage in some online freelance jobs.
She need not go to an office since everything is done over the internet using her free time. Facebook and other social media is also a wonderful tool for starting a small business.
9. Control your urges for gambling
Gambling is permitted as long as you set a stop maneuver for it. This limit is usually stated on your budget plan.
If you can’t control your urges to gamble more after losing, all the listed tipid tips are useless. You may need to hit rock bottom before you stop. Betting your house and losing it would be a good lesson.
10. Faithfully follow through with your budget
At first, it would be very difficult to adjust your expenses if you are following your budget. You may feel like your freedom is reduced.
But that is not the point. It may seem uncomfortable at first but remember that you are doing this for the future of your family. Stick to your budget as honestly as you can. Once you get used to it, amazing things will happen
Tipid tips rewards
Before you spend, analyze how it will affect your financial life. Braving against the crowd is difficult but pays very well in the future. Notice what some people say like,
“Pera mo yan. Dapat bilhin mo ang mga bagay na gusto mo,”
and see how their life runs. If they are better than yours, that may be good advice. If not, think twice about spending your money.
The reward for saving money is often underestimated or overlooked. It is during the “I don’t know where my money went” moment that we truly realize its importance.
You can help our fellow seaman by sharing your insights on this matter. Are you focusing on the small leaks that sink ships or the bricks that build castles? What are your top Tipid Tips for saving money while on vacation?
May the winds be in your favor.
Very valuable advice indeed that every seafarer should know!
Thank you sir. Hope this reaches out to many seafarers. More importantly, may it help them in any way possible. Bless you and safe sailing!