When the end of the month arrives, many people often have doubts about where their budget has gone. They haven't bought expensive items like phones or jewelry. The simplest answer might be due to the 'small, regular expenses' that we always overlook. It's comparable to a boat with many small leaks.
If you want to plug those leaks and start seeing savings, consider implementing these effective saving habits:
1. Change Your Food and Grocery Habits
For most people, the biggest monthly expense is food. This is where “money leaks” the most, and it's also the easiest area to adjust.
    A. Stop Eating Breakfast Out In the morning, we are often in a hurry, and buying a bowl of pork porridge or noodle soup outside seems like the easiest option.. This is not a small amount. Cooking rice to keep for fried rice, frying an egg with bread, or even simple porridge can save a lot of money. Besides saving money, you can also better control the hygiene and nutritional quality.
    B. Know How to Haggle When Buying Groceries This is an important skill, especially for those who go to the market daily. Many people, especially young people, might feel shy about haggling, thinking it's a small thing. But remember, a great saving habit of many housewives is this very haggling. Bargaining might sound small, but it can help you save more just by using a few words.

    C. Carry Your Own Water Bottle Buy a personal, reusable water bottle and boil water to cool or buy a large water container to refill it. This not only saves money but is also good for your health (helps you drink more water instead of buying sugary drinks or expensive coffees) and contributes significantly to reducing plastic waste.

2. Build Saving Habits at Home
Household expenses are also a big part. Utility bills are monthly expenses that silently steal money from our wallets. We often leave lights on in empty rooms, leave the TV on without watching, or leave fans running all day.
    A. Save Electricity and Water Start building simple habits: Turn off lights, fans, or air conditioners when you leave a room. Unplug electrical appliances (like phone chargers, TVs, rice cookers) when not in use because they still consume a little electricity even when off Standby Power. Also, don't leave the water running while brushing your teeth or shampooing, and fix leaking faucets quickly. These small habits will make your bills drop noticeably at the end of the month.

3. Try to Create Your Own Supplies 
This is the next step, which not only helps save but can also generate income.
    A. Grow Essential Vegetables at Home Even if you live in a small apartment or rented room, you can still grow some vegetables in pots or foam boxes. Start growing the vegetables you use most often, such as herbs, lemongrass, chili, spring onions, or pandan leaves. This not only saves money on daily groceries, but you also get fresh, chemical-free, organic vegetables for your family's health.
    B. Raise Chickens or Ducks (If You Have Space) If you have a yard or some empty land behind your house, even a small amount, raising chickens or ducks is one of the best ways to turn that empty space into a “food production machine.” You will have fresh eggs every day for your family without having to buy them from the market. If they lay more eggs than you need, you can sell them to your neighbors to create extra income.

These small expenses may not seem like much each day, but when summed up monthly or yearly, they are a surprising amount. Financial stability doesn't just come from earning a high income; it also requires smart “expense” management. Starting to practice these saving habits will help plug the spending leaks and let you see more money left over.