The workforce population in Qatar rose sharply during the last few years with approximately 85% of the entire population composed of expats who are either an employee of a company or of freelance nature. Regardless of their employment status, they still share the same great mood every end of the month—as pay slips usually arrive at this time.
Unluckily for some, 30 days are a little too much for their salaries to cover up even their most basic needs. The majority of young professionals in Qatar usually end up going broke halfway through the month just because they're not handling their finances well.
Well... if you're part of the greater number, then we're glad to tell you that you're in the right place as we've listed in this article some pro tips on how to survive the last few days—or weeks—while waiting for payday!
And consider yourself lucky too because these hacks were rigorously accumulated from a cross-section of employed expats in Qatar and you surely won't read their life stories anywhere else!
Food is the very foundation of a human being making it a topnotcher to every expatriates' monthly expenses list—and they usually occupy the largest chunk of it too! A 25-year-old Lebanese lady who's working as a marketing strategist said: "As much as I would like to cook my own food, I just can't do it because of my accommodation's not-so accommodating kitchen area plus I don't really have the time to go to the grocery due to the demands of work and all that. This is the reason why I still end up eating outside—a habit that's costing me a lot of money."
Our suggestion is, try having a fixed meal plan and wake up earlier than usual every morning to personally prepare it. If you're an office person, you can pack three healthy meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner altogether in just one cooking session!
To know the Top 5 Smoothie Spots in Qatar, click here.
The truth is, the offers and promotions you see in malls are tailor-made to suction every remaining Riyal that you currently have. And they're not really pocket-friendly as these 'Sales' are at most times misleading and if you shop impulsively, chances are the stuff that you bought will just be stuck in your closet or backyard since the only reason why you bought them in the first place is that they're cheap. Don't buy something if you don't really need it especially if you're an expat—we can't stress this enough! You don't want to leave Qatar with all these unnecessary material things without enough savings under your belt.
Since Qatar is starting to become a start-up-infested nation with all these unique Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) mushrooming in the four corners of Doha, it's quite worth noting the efforts of companies like Urban Point, The Entertainer, and even Uber to provide us useful discount codes which Qatar residents can rely on when the going gets tough. Uber, for example, drops unique discount codes through SMS every week and it gives its users up to 30% off on rides within Doha! How cool and convenient is that?
To know the Top 10 Most Useful Apps in Qatar, click here.
A Filipina procurement assistant who chose not to be named said that when it comes to frugality, one wise way to fight the urge to spend money during the weekends is to stay home and just invite friends over. Doing so won't require you to take a taxi to and from your destination, won't tell you to pay a restaurant bill, and won't make you swipe your credit card for a 'fancy' dress that you don't really need. And if you're the usual host, you have the comfort of your home and all you need to do is to make your friends comfortable to at least appease your friends who paid money for the taxi just to reach you and the groceries—which you can later recycle or reuse.
To know the Top 5 Non-Beaches Summer Destinations Outside of Doha, click here.
Even if it kills you to reject an irresistible movie premier invitation, you just have to get used to saying NO as this habit can greatly help you become a better performing grown-up in the long run. The benefits of secluding yourself every once in a while may not show in an instant, but the lessons and discoveries that you will gain by doing so are more than enough to keep your finances on track if done regularly.
To have an idea of the Cost of Living in Qatar, click here.
Still related to numbers 4 and 5, being friends with yourself has its lifelong effects when observed the right way. You don't have to stay at home during the weekends or say NO at times in order to follow this tip. All you need to do is to have a clear mind and you're on your way to self-productivity! The satisfaction that will follow is miraculous, and you'll surely thank yourself big time as it's not always that you spend one whole day reading a good book or finishing your journal or scrapbooking without spending anything!
For a better understanding of depression, click here.
No, it's not what you think. This advice is not supposed to be funny. Of course, we don't pray to wish for an earlier-than-usual payday. Instead, we kneel down to utter our thanks that despite the waiting game, we're still doing good and there are friends who are willing to help us during these tough times. But really, the best prayer to say the next time your salary takes too long to arrive is this: "Thank you for all the blessings. I wish for a more economical version of myself next month."
This leads us to our last and most efficient saving hack!
"Being a highly-organized spender, I keep a fixed list of the expenses that I need to pay for the coming month and stick to that for one whole year or more. The only changeable thing about this list is my loose change which I can use in case there's an emergency. But as much as I could, I really try to stay loyal to this cheat list. It keeps me in track and I never go broke."
These were the exact words of an Indian expat who's been in Qatar for more than 5 years now. If we will just follow his attitude on wise spending, then there'll surely be no more stories of bankrupt expats in Qatar again.
Always remember: Keep your financial situation constantly fresh in mind.
For your ultimate pre-salary meal, click HERE.
Is your salary for this month taking too long to arrive? How do you usually deal with the waiting game that comes with it? Drop us a line in the comments below and also, don't forget to like and share this article—it keeps us going!
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