"Petsa de peligro" is still a thing even when you're working from home. You may not be spending on transportation, but you still get to shell out some cash for basic necessities such as groceries and bills. The cost of our utilities have skyrocketed due to the delayed readings caused by the previous Enhanced Community Quarantine, and we may also find ourselves stocking up on food, cleaning items, and toiletries from our grocery trips.

Do you find yourselves browsing online retailers and hitting the "add to cart" and "check out" buttons more than ever? Unnecessary spending can reduce the amount of your salary, and not leave much room for your necessities.

Here are some ways to curb unnecessary spending during this ongoing lockdown period this general community quarantine. Ask yourself these questions:

1. Do I need it?

We usually see something we like and decide to add to cart. But ask yourself if that lipstick tube, pajama set, or sticker packs for your journal is a necessary purchase at this very moment.

2. Do I want it?

Of course, we want to indulge ourselves from time to time, and there's nothing wrong with that. Online shopping at this moment is a stress reliever especially for ladies. We shop to feel good and to get the things we want. Admit it, we all keep our eyes peeled for the latest deals when those monthly sales are around the corner!

But if this is just a spur-of-the-moment kind of want, you can choose to delay gratification, and wait until you have the extra means to spend.

3. Can I afford to buy this item right now?

If you answer questions 1 and 2 with a "yes", and you have some cash on hand, you can finally check out! But wait, here's another question coming.

4. Will I still have some money left?

Budgeting our salary means setting some cash aside for groceries and bills. If you find out that you will have little to none left after your online purchase, it's best to put it on hold until the next payday.

5. Do I already own this similar item before?

Ladies like us love to hoard and collect! So if you were able to answer questions 1-4 with a resounding "yes", think whether you already got a similar item like this purchase. You might have bought one from the last monthly sale, or you probably have something like this tucked away or stored in the farthest corners of your drawers or cabinet. It's best to utilize what we already have, instead of collecting similar items and forgetting that we already own one.

These five questions can help us curb our quarantine spending habits. Rewarding yourself with a nice item is okay, but don't make it a habit. Make sure to have something left in your cash so we can always be prepared for whatever happens next.