Take five... & have fun!

Ever heard of the $5-rule? Some of us may not have and I must forewarn: this can be addictive!

As bored as you are at work or in school now (that's why you are reading this), I recalled someone introducing this to me a long, long time ago: "each time you get a $5-note in your change, keep it in your left pocket and put it into a piggy bank when you get home".

This is how it goes: when you purchase some items and the bill comes up to $14.50, and you gave the cashier 2 $10-notes. In return, the cashier got you $5.50 change. As most cashiers will want to have small denominations of money in their drawer, the chances of getting back a $5-note as part of your change is rather high. Now, you have got a $5-note in your hand and this is what you should do: start observing the $5-rule!!!

Very simply and with no hesitation, take the $5-note and stuff it into your left pocket and forget its existence until you get home. DO NOT use the $5-note to pay for any purchases subsequently through the day. And when you get home and empty your pockets, you will then put the $5-note(s) into your piggy bank. Keep doing this each time you receive a $5-note and stick to the rules.

Now, the rules of this are: 1) You MUST NOT use the $5-note to pay for your purchases subsequently through the day, 2) You SHOULD NOT go to any cashier and request for an exchange (ie, exchanging a $10-note for 2 $5-notes) to accumulate, 3) You do NOT steal or rob for the $5-note(s), 4) You CANNOT take out the $5-note(s) once you put them into your piggy bank (unless it is an emergency.. be truthful to yourself!), 5) Observe this rule for at least 4 weeks, with discipline and integrity!

I have been doing this and I have to admit I am addicted and I do get excited each time I anticipate receiving a $5-note as I go about in my daily life. I shamelessly enjoy the triumphant feeling you get when there is a $5-note in my hand and at the back of my mind, I know the dollars in my piggy bank just increased! I strongly encourage you to join me! At times, I may even think that the $5-notes in my piggy bank are calling out to their own to come together into my piggy bank. Wealth attracts wealth, doesn't it?

Well, I do this out of fun and as another technique for me to save money. Truth be told, this little fun I'm having have helped me cut down on unnecessary spending; there were times when I was craving for a cup of bubble tea and I only had a $5-note left! And so I curbed my cravings and took to the healthier option of drinking plain water! Stay healthy, be happy!

Of course, this $5-rule technique can help those who are saving up for something: a vacation, a gadget, a ring and maybe even a deposit for a new car! For me, I put it into a bank at the end of the 4th week, irregardless of the amount.

I want you to start today, RIGHT NOW, and stick to the plan for 4 weeks. Trust me, you will be happily counting the number of $5-notes at the end of the 4th week!

Now who said saving money is boring?

Psst... drop me a comment about how you feel completing the 4-weeks $5-rule! Don't forget to like and follow @MenschSGP on F.I.T.!

#wealth #financialeducation #savings