I’m looking forward to my latest cost-cutting and expense recovery project’s positive effects on my disposable income. (25 Images)

~ Wednesday, September 20, 2023 Blog Post ~

Indulging in pistachio gelato (Sheena Ricarte, September 2023) — Image 1 of 25

My blog is about my personal finance journey and lifelong interest in everything related to finance. At this point, I am very much looking forward to the favorable impacts which my latest cost-cutting and expense recovery project will have on my disposable income.

My disposable income is what I refer to as “fun money” or “entertainment allowance.” It’s the money I have left after settling all the monthly utility bills and stashing away the funds in the bank for my savings and investments.

Indulging in pistachio gelato (Sheena Ricarte, September 2023) — Image 2 of 25

Two years ago, I had myself photographed with my fun money. I can say I had more disposable leisure cash that time than what I have lately. Now I’m using that picture as my motivation to recover all the money I have spent these past couple of months.

I’ve been thinking about the causes of my fun money’s depletion in the past months. I noticed the following factors caused it:

1. Ordering fast food weekly

Pizza and other restaurant-bought foods are such great comfort foods. I realized I have been into “stress eating.” I spent a lot of my money engaging with the online food ordering and delivery platform.

I recall that I would tap on the application on my phone and order fast food I’m craving for the day. This expensive habit was such a convenient method to purchase my favorite fast foods, yet I realized it cost me a lot.

2. Inflation

The price of everything has gone up lately worldwide. But since I do not have any children or dependents, I can control what I buy or pay for weekly. I usually just spend on food or grocery-shopping.

I don’t shop for clothes, bags, shoes, and other things I don’t really need to be always new and in fashion. Therefore, my typical bills are just the fixed costs like telecommunications, and variable costs like energy and food, that is, food from the supermarket and not fast food or restaurant-bought food. I’m fighting my fast-food habit.

3. Hosting a friend or family member for coffee or dining out

My outings can be expensive. Nonetheless, I found a remedy: I will only dine out when I am with a friend or family member. That’s it. I will neither drink Starbucks nor have fast food or restaurant food when I’m by myself. So, for the whole week, I will not eat anything except those I bought from the supermarket.

In my latest cost-cutting and expense recovery measures, in which I’m dealing with my disposable income, I believe these practices will have a positive effect on my savings and investments for the long term and my secure financial future.

Being a frugal cost-cutter for most of my life, I’m 100-percent confident I will succeed in my new savings project. Additionally, I’m interested in my latest personal finance experiment’s outcome and its benefits on my finances and overall health, since I won’t be eating fast food often anymore.

Heartwarming Chinese dim sum and congee for my Sunday lunch (Sheena Ricarte, September 2023) — Image 3 of 25

At Panda Express (Sheena Ricarte, July 2023) — Image 4 of 25

Having Hokkaido milk tea and mozzarella cheese sticks on my free time (Sheena Ricarte, July 2023) — Image 5 of 25

Having Hokkaido milk tea and mozzarella cheese sticks on my free time (Sheena Ricarte, July 2023) — Image 6 of 25

Relishing grilled pork and pork barbecue with java rice (Sheena Ricarte, September 2023) — Image 7 of 25

Enjoying stone-baked cheese pizza after relishing Filipino buffet lunch (Sheena Ricarte, August 2023) — Image 8 of 25

Relishing Filipino buffet lunch (Sheena Ricarte, August 2023) — Image 9 of 25

At the mall on Mother’s Day 2023 — My Mommy was not around though (Sheena Ricarte, May 2023) — Image 10 of 25

At the mall on Mother’s Day 2023 — My Mommy was not around though (Sheena Ricarte, May 2023) — Image 11 of 25

At the mall on Mother’s Day 2023 — My Mommy was not around though (Sheena Ricarte, May 2023) — Image 12 of 25

At the mall on Mother’s Day 2023 — My Mommy was not around though (Sheena Ricarte, May 2023) — Image 13 of 25

At the mall on Mother’s Day 2023 — My Mommy was not around though (Sheena Ricarte, May 2023) — Image 14 of 25

At the mall on Mother’s Day 2023 — My Mommy was not around though (Sheena Ricarte, May 2023) — Image 15 of 25

At the mall on Mother’s Day 2023 — My Mommy was not around though (Sheena Ricarte, May 2023) — Image 16 of 25

At the mall on Mother’s Day 2023 — My Mommy was not around though (Sheena Ricarte, May 2023) — Image 17 of 25

At the mall on Mother’s Day 2023 — My Mommy was not around though (Sheena Ricarte, May 2023) — Image 18 of 25

Sunday afternoon (Sheena Ricarte, September 2023) — Image 19 of 25

Sunday afternoon (Sheena Ricarte, September 2023) — Image 20 of 25

Sunday afternoon (Sheena Ricarte, September 2023) — Image 21 of 25

Sunday afternoon (Sheena Ricarte, September 2023) — Image 22 of 25

Pistachio gelato on a Saturday afternoon (Sheena Ricarte, September 2023) — Image 23 of 25

Saturday afternoon (Sheena Ricarte, September 2023) — Image 24 of 25

Gelato / Saturday afternoon (Sheena Ricarte, September 2023) — Image 25 of 25