•    HOME   
•    NEWS   
•    BUSINESS   
•    INTERNATIONAL   
•    TECH   
•    SPORTS   
•    LIFE & TIMES   
•    OPINION   
•    MY JAKARTA   
•    BLOGS   

The Bitter Truth: Saving Money Is No Fun

(Reuters Photo/Beawiharta)

One of the hardest things to do in Jakarta is save money. At the beginning of each month, you always vow that this time you’ll spend less and save more. But sadly, that noble mission never eventuates — the temptation is just too great.



Financial advisers suggest putting 20 percent of your monthly salary in your savings account. You confidently promise yourself that this time, you’ll put the money away. But of course, your pledge doesn’t last long.



One day after payday, some friends ask you to join them at a fancy new restaurant just around the corner from the office. “Come on, let’s hang out for a cup of coffee,” they say. Remembering your goal, you politely refuse the invitation. “I’m sorry, but I have an appointment with someone,” you lie.



Determined to prove to yourself that you can make it through the month without spending money on trivial things, you pull out all your best lines to turn down invitations from friends: “I wish I could come with you, but …” you say.



One week passes without too much hassle and you start to feel proud of yourself. But as the second week approaches, the temptation grows. It’s no longer your friends’ invitations that you have to defeat, but your own materialistic itch.



Just when you are enjoying your meal that your mother cooked for you while everyone else is at the office canteen, a friend tells you about a clearance sale at a big mall. You try to refuse the invitation, but your friend insists that you’ll be missing out. “Are you kidding? This clearance sale is different, it has all the branded work clothes,” he says.



Still determined to stick to your mission, this time you come up with one of your most lethal excuses: “Look, I wish I could, but I really have to save some money this month.” You may have good tricks, but your friend has better ones. “You’ll regret it if you don’t come, trust me,” he says. “I’ll tell you what, let’s go to the sale today and you can tighten up your budget next month.” Suddenly, you’re trapped into going.


Once the pattern is broken, things get really messed up. Next time you see that a new movie is being shown at the cinema, you won’t think twice about buying a ticket. You’ll even call up your boyfriend or girlfriend, saying, “Honey, I’ve bought two tickets for us tonight.”



And when you walk around the mall with your loved one, a friendly waitress will greet you, holding out a colorful brochure. She’ll tell you about the promotion they’re having: A 50 percent discount with a minimum payment. “Oh really? Oh, OK then, I’ll give it a go.”



Just when you realize that your pocket money is running low, meaning that you’ll have to pull out the trusty credit card pretty soon, you find that there’s something wrong with your car. You have no choice but to take it to a mechanic right away. You’d better hope you don’t have a heart attack when the mechanic announces the repair cost.



Things get more complicated when one of your best friends invites you to her birthday dinner. You know you can’t just walk into the restaurant pretending to be dumb enough not to bring a present. And this is happening when your credit card is about to reach its limit. Facing this situation, you’ll wish money hadn’t been invented in the first place.



Your circle of friends significantly influences your ability to save money. So if you don’t want to be easily tempted, it’s better to avoid those who always seem to spend their time at coffee shops and fancy restaurants. Remind yourself that what you do is for your future. And if you don’t think you can say no to your friends, I suggest you wear some dark glasses the next time you head out to the mall.

Jakarta Jungle follows the stories and views of individuals from every walk of life in our maddening, bustling, and colorful city.