The term ‘soft life’ – a lifestyle of ease, intentional living, and financial freedom – may have crossed your social media feed lately. According to Forbes, this mindset is all about being intentional with one’s time and energy and encourages making conscious decisions that align with one’s values, bringing peace rather than succumbing to external pressures and expectations.
A soft life doesn’t equate to avoiding responsibilities altogether, rather it encourages knowing one’s limits and committing to what is feasible and manageable to avoid being overwhelmed or stressed. This applies to finances as well. To understand how financial freedom can help you live a soft life, here are some tips from CIMB Bank Philippines, The Asian Banker’s Best Digital Bank in the Philippines for 2025:
Adopt a budgeting system you can stick with
Pay-Yourself-First, Cash Stuffing, 50/30/20 – there are many methods when it comes to budgeting, and it can get overwhelming. Instead of stressing over methods that do not fit your lifestyle or spending habits, take the time to try out different ones to see which one is more realistic and works for you. Make sure it’s a method you can stick to without stressing over it, as consistency is important when following a budget.
Follow financial advice that works for you
From things your lola taught you about money to tips from your business-savvy kabarkada, there is no shortage of financial advice out there. This can be stressful, so establishing boundaries around who you listen to can help you live a more peaceful life. If certain financial advice does not ring true for you, seek other sources that you can get behind and that align with your values.
Check if your expenses align with what you value
Envision what a soft life looks like for you, then take note of your usual expenses. List all of them down and see if any of them do not bring you joy or are not aligned with the life you want to achieve. For example, if you continue paying for a streaming service to watch that hip show everyone is talking about but did not particularly enjoy, don’t hesitate to unsubscribe and save yourself hundreds of pesos per month. Be more intentional with where your money goes to achieve your goals while adding joy to your life.
Go for “automatic” savings accounts
When living a soft life, anything that can make daily life easier is encouraged and appreciated. With the goal of financial independence in mind, making your ipon dreams come true can be made even simpler with things like the new Own My Goals (OMG) feature on the CIMB Bank PH mobile app. OMG can help you create multiple savings goals that you can easily track and work towards, while setting up its auto-save feature can help you make automatic transfers for your different financial goals. Coupled with CIMB Bank PH’s consistent high interest rate offers, not only is saving made easier, but it also makes it more rewarding for you as well, adding even more value to your life.
Start living the soft life today – sign up for Own My Goals through the CIMB Bank PH app and take the first step towards financial freedom.