4 Financial Easter eggs for the Season of Lent

In the Philippines, most people follow the Catholic faith. The ‘Holy Week’, which includes Palm Sunday, Easter and Good Friday in Philippines are very significant holidays. Easter is a popular festival celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

The traditions of Easter (Bunny) as well as the ‘Holy Week’ will continue year after year. And I hope that I can also make you see a different perspective by pointing at the so many interesting similarities between our baskets, holy week traditions and our finances.

#1 Build your nest egg

If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Planning your holy week or Easter expenses, although unpopular but it is important nonetheless. I always say that your savings will save you. Some Filipinos will get a loan just so they can participate in the Easter traditions and celebrations. You can set aside money and plant for it in advance.

Putting aside 10% of everything you earn is a rule to live by for your whole working life. From there you can set aside either 5% to emergency funds and the remaining to a retirement account such as the 'PERA (Personal Equity Retirement Account) Fund', which is a tax advantaged investment.

And of course, build your spiritual nest egg too by setting aside another 10% for tithing. Or convert that into sweat equity instead (if you are really tight on cash) by volunteering or by helping your community.

#2 Easter egg hunt for cash

People who always ask me for ideas to make extra cash. My go-to answer is always: Go sell your idle stuff at home! If your income is barely enough for you to survive and you manage to set aside a very small portion of it for savings, then it's time to either increase your income or find additional income sources.

Because some Filipinos take the opportunity to clean house during these holy week, then let’s start your hunt in the house. You likely have money hidden all over your home in the form of clothing, electronics and other items you no longer want or need.

So if you’re going to do some spring cleaning in your closets, dusting your bookshelves and cleaning out your drawers, assess everything  while looking for items that you haven’t used in the last year. You can amass quite a collection of sellable objects this way.

#3 Get Moving

During this time, people go to church everyday and Catholics stop eating meat and start eating fish instead and the more devout ones go on a liquid diet all week.

Meaning, it is a great opportunity to assess your health and jump-start a healthier you through increase in physical movement and a shift in diet! You have plenty of opportunities to sweat it out through the various traditions of visiting churches, joining a procession, and the like.

#4 Celebration of growth

To many, the celebration of Easter equates to rebirth or resurrection. What Easter baskets and finances have in common is the fact that they symbolize the need for growth and diversification. This also holds true for our finances.

Although it is often not taught to us but the bible itself hold nuggets of personal finance wisdom too!

“A good person leaves an inheritance for their childen’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.” (Proverbs 13:22 NIV)

--

Vernon Joseph Go is a Real Estate Broker | Author of ‘A Lazy Investor’s Way’ | Online Content Creator