Save up money for old age or enjoy life now?
By chiyochan
@chiyosan (30184)
Philippines
July 21, 2018 11:49pm CST
I have always been told by my mom as she was told by my grandparents to make sure to have a money save up for old age. It is best to have your own money when you are old so as not to wait around from your relatives to help you or expect your children to shelter you when you grow old.
I am in between this thought, actually. Seeing how my grandpa save up his money only to die and leave them all to his oldest son - he was not even able to enjoy all his hard work and someone else sure is enjoying it now.
So now, I am saving an amount for my old age, only enough to get by i guess when the time comes... but I am not the type to hold back when I want to buy things for myself now, or to use a couple of those money for travel. I mean, when I die and leave this world I won't even be able to bring all those savings to wherever I will go right? I can't even be sure if I would reach a certain age (if you know what I mean). I just do not want to be on my death bed one day and flashbacks coming to me and I have no memories of travel or enjoyment coming to me... only working my *ss off to save those money I won't be able to use...
So what's your opinion of this?
20 people like this
26 responses
@allen0187 (58444)
• Philippines
22 Jul 18
I do both. I try to enjoy my life now while saving for the future.
3 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
22 Jul 18
It's always about maintaining balance. Can't spend it all, can't save it all.
2 people like this
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
23 Jul 18
@JohnRoberts Oh right! haha a good balance indeed
1 person likes this
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
22 Jul 18
Thank you Lady Di. haha I just really think that saving up money for my old age should be done but I should also know how to enjoy and put some of it to use while i still can. =)
Eating good food and travelling is a good way to enjoy the money you earned. after all, its not really easy to earn money right now, right?
1 person likes this
but we just have to do our best to balance everything 
@Missmwngi (12927)
• Nairobi, Kenya
22 Jul 18
I think finding a balance between the two is the wisest thing to do
2 people like this
@Missmwngi (12927)
• Nairobi, Kenya
22 Jul 18
@chiyosan Yeah atleast you will not miss out on any
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
22 Jul 18
It's never too early for saving money. Not just for old age but for emergencies.
3 people like this
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
22 Jul 18
Thanks to you too for sharing how you do it. I mean yes it is possible to do both anyway why not save and enjoy at the same time. priorities can be set and then some fun and enjoyment can also be met if we do have extra money time to time. =)
1 person likes this
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
22 Jul 18
It is wise to have money in case of an emergency because you never know when one will come along. Therefore I advise has an emergency fund which some people call a rainy day fund. Travel is important to me and I go on lots of trips. The government can take away money from old people that need a care home. Then in that sort of case don't have too much for them to take.
1 person likes this
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
23 Jul 18
Thank you I will keep in mind about the emergency fund too. this is one thing I have purely neglected. I think about saving for future, but never really thought that some emergency cases might arise and may need to use up some money for it too.
I do think of travelling as important as well But i cannot go on regular trips as much now. But when a chance arise i sure try to make it all worthwhile.
@annierose (18926)
• Philippines
22 Jul 18
I understand you. My mom is like that too. In fact, when I told her I want to travel, we got into a lot of arguments. She does not want me to travel because for her, it is just a waste of money. She told me that instead of using my money to travel, I should invest it. She has her point and I don't say she is completely wrong. But I have my own life and I don't want to reach the age where I have lots of money but cannot travel anymore. So, my advice for myself is to enjoy life and at the same time, save money as much as I can. Because its not practical to splurge all money into leisure and don't save anything for emergencies.
1 person likes this
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
22 Jul 18
Hi Curlan! thank you for your response. I think your mom is right to some extent and that is to grow your money and invest it. But as my mentors always tell me too, you invest your money when you have basically a lot of extra cash on hand. Investments sometimes need time and they are not money you can easily withdraw during emergencies. Savings are different too... they don't earn much interest in the banks but they are much easier to collect anytime you need them.
I would also like to tell you that you of course have to get some time to enjoy your time now. Youth is something that will pass us by and when we are older but have much more money in our pockets... and have restrictions in our diet... it is just too bad or sad not to have tasted all the good food we could have tried, or see the places we could have seen in our life too. experiencing different culture and countries is also like an investment in it self. it helps us grow too... emotionally and opens our mind. =)
1 person likes this
@annierose (18926)
• Philippines
22 Jul 18
@chiyosan Very true! I just hope that my mom sees the importance of travelling the way I see it. I am a stubborn child so I did still travel for 3 times now. Mom wanted me to travel locally if I want to travel but I long to see foreign countries. At the moment, I do not travel because I need to focus on my study and invest on it. I miss travelling now but I cannot do anything on it. My priority is to finish my graduate study first and save money.
1 person likes this
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
22 Jul 18
@annierose It is so great to be adventurous when you are young, but studies are important too. hehe listen to her for now and finish your studies. travel soon again and share with us your adventures! =)
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130066)
• India
22 Jul 18
There is no reason why anyone should hold back their dreams just to save up for old age You can live well and also save wisely. We have done that.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130066)
• India
23 Jul 18
@chiyosan That is how one manages one's finances efficiently
1 person likes this
@Letranknight2015 (51523)
• Philippines
22 Jul 18
I thought about that now but most of the times, it's just hard to motivate myself. maybe that's what I will be saving from now on.
1 person likes this
@Letranknight2015 (51523)
• Philippines
23 Jul 18
@chiyosan this really got me thinking since I already reach the age of 30.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
22 Jul 18
Do both. Save some and spend some on fun. Life is to short to sit and do nothing when you have plenty of money
2 people like this
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
22 Jul 18
Hahaha not that I have plenty of money but I do get to splurge once in a while if our company rewards us with bonuses sometimes. I agree with you; we never know when we are to leave this place so it is still best that we get to enjoy our lives (of course within our means).
@Swayamsiddha (4358)
• New Delhi, India
22 Jul 18
I save mondy for old age as well as enjoyment
1 person likes this
@chicnthin (3031)
• Philippines
22 Jul 18
I think you should do both. Enjoying life while you're young is also needed. We're not sure when our lives will be taken away from us. You don't have to spend all of your money for enjoying. You can still save.
1 person likes this
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
22 Jul 18
@chicnthin extra income via online is good too. I think what we do here is also good at least we get to discuss and still earn money. it is the best we can do with our time instead of just browsing and reading fake news on facebook. heheh
1 person likes this
@chicnthin (3031)
• Philippines
22 Jul 18
@chiyosan yeah, I'm actually trying to save money, the reason why I want to earn online in such a young age.
1 person likes this
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
23 Jul 18
Very good advice! It is important to be able to save up, and enjoy life but yes your word "waste" is noted. One must not waste time, effort, money and all for useless things but at least make sure whatever you spend on will benefit you in the end and that it sure made you happy.
1 person likes this
@AnneLee2017 (5)
• China
22 Jul 18
you are so lucky! i am a poor college student, i want to own money and allocate it properly. i am attend the financial class and the professor told us how to use money and save money, maybe you can learn something about finance. it will be useful for you and GDP.
1 person likes this
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
22 Jul 18
We all start somewhere! you will not forever be a student and soon enough when you graduate and find a job your life will be much more comfortable. I have also had hardships when i was in school. It was a tough life and even I am surprised right now how much our lives improved. with hard work, everything will eventually work out fine. I wish you good luck with your studies! =)
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
22 Jul 18
Thank you for sharing your opinions. oftentimes when I chat with my brother who has the same opinion as yours, he always tells me when are you going to enjoy your hard work? why do you even try so hard if you are only going to wait for your old age? is that it? what if it never comes and who will just all those money you saved up and never got to enjoy when you are gone?
