by Cheska Sarausad-Arcangel
It’s Day 15 of the quarantine in Metro Manila and a blanket of anxiety has taken over the city. Everywhere in the news you will hear about concerns about food shortages, safety and job security. It can get quite overwhelming. A lot of our worries stem from our lack of preparation, and this imposed stay-at-home directive presents a time to confront some of the poor financial habits we have been nursing. I’m sharing some lessons we must learn from experiencing COVID-19.
1. Build an emergency fund.
No one ever knew or expected a virus would put our economies to an almost-grinding halt. Those who do not have emergency funds (3 to 6 months worth of your basic living expenses) have added anxiety because they don’t know how long their stores will last, and if they can afford groceries in the coming months for them and their families.
2. Identify your monthly living expenses and map out a budget.
It is time to stop living paycheck to paycheck, my friends. Use this free time to take an honest look at your finances. Find the best way to allocate your income for your needs, savings, and wants.
3. Put your needs over your wants.
When it comes down to it, luxury goods do not matter. This one needs no explanation. This pandemic has humbled all of us who have been putting great importance on our image. These things are gathering dust in the closet. Identify your true priorities and always have savings tucked away for emergencies.
4. Prioritize medical insurance.
Know the ins and outs of it. Whether it’s an HMO for or an insurance, make sure you have some kind of coverage. Those who successfully recovered from Covid-19 spent around Php 600,000 for their testing, hospitalization and treatment. Use this break to educate yourself about financial assets that will protect you from medical expenses in the future.
5. Be greedy when others are fearful, and be fearful when others are greedy.
Compared to last year, our stock market has fallen around 35% (at the time of this writing). If you have money to spare, now is the time to invest. In 2002, we had a SARS pandemic and the stock market crashed to -30% and rebounded by 40% in the year that followed. Even when things look bleak at the moment, markets eventually recover.
We have weathered many medical crises before, and we will get through this one as well. We can use this time to learn a new approach to our personal finance so we can be better prepared for any other emergencies in the future.
