Can you live comfortably with a 20,000 salary? With proper budgeting, yes. It’s enough to cover your essentials, build savings, and even enjoy small luxuries—if you manage it wisely.
Why You Still Need a Budget at 20K
Many young professionals or fresh graduates earn around 15,000–25,000 per month. At this level, it’s tempting to spend freely—but without a budget, it’s easy to:
Live paycheck to paycheck
Accumulate utang (especially via BNPL apps (Lazada, Shopee ) or credit cards)
Miss out on savings or investments
Sample Budget Breakdown (20,000 Monthly Salary).
Category
Amount
Percentage
Needs (Rent, food, utilities, transpo)
10,000
50%
Wants (Netflix, dining out, load, leisure)
6,000
30%
Savings / Investments
4,000
20%
Now let’s break this down further.
Detailed Breakdown
Needs – 10,000
Item
Amount
Rent (bedspace/studio/shared)
3,500
Food & groceries
3,000
Transportation
1,000
Utilities (electricity, water, internet)
1,000
Load / Mobile Data
500
Essentials (toiletries, laundry, meds)
1,000
Wants – ₱6,000
Item
Amount
Eating out (1–2x a week)
1,500
Subscriptions (Netflix, Spotify, etc.)
1000
Shopping / Clothes
1,500
Leisure / Entertainment
1,000
Gifts / Events / Extras
1,000
Savings / Emergency Fund – ₱4,000
Item
Amount
Emergency Fund
2,000
Savings Account (GCash, Maya, MP2, Tonik)
1,000
Investments (Stock market, crypto, digital banks, bonds)
1,000
Smart Budgeting Tips
1. Automate Your Savings
Use GCash Save, Maya, or Tonik to auto-save part of your salary.
Pag-IBIG MP2 is a good long-term savings option with tax-free dividends.
2. Grocery Hack: Buy Bulk + Meal Prep
Buy rice, canned goods, and non-perishables in bulk from Dali, O! Save, palengke or Puregold.
Cook in batches and reheat for the week (sulit at tipid!).
3. Commute + Walk When You Can
If you’re working onsite, use jeep, bus, or MRT.
Walking short distances saves money and boosts your health.
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