After a simple dinner, Ms. Bich sat and reviewed each expenditure item in a small notebook - a new habit formed from the beginning of this year when living expenses continuously increased.
Previously, the salaries of the two workers were enough to cover expenses and still saved a little. But since the electricity and food bills increased, if you don't calculate carefully, at the end of the month, there is almost no money left" - Ms. Bich shared.
Ms. Bich is a component worker in Thang Long Industrial Park (Hanoi). Her family has two young children in kindergarten. The total monthly income of the couple is about 16 million VND, of which the basic salary is only more than 6 million VND/person, the rest comes from overtime and allowances.
After deducting rent, tuition, food and incurred expenses, the amount of money that can be saved is only a few hundred thousand VND.
From the beginning of 2026, when goods and many essential services adjusted up, female workers' families began to apply a series of savings measures: sharing cars with colleagues, limiting the use of unnecessary electrical appliances, and buying food weekly instead of weekly.
Not only Ms. Bich, Ms. Tran Thi Hien - a worker at an electronics company also said - detailed spending planning has become a mandatory habit.
Ms. Hien said that each month her family has to spend about 5 million VND for food, 1.5 million VND for rent and millions of VND for milk and tuition fees for her children.
If any month I don't get sick, I can save a small amount. Otherwise, the income is almost used up," she said.
According to data from the General Statistics Office, the average income of Vietnamese workers in 2025 reached about 8.4 million VND/month, an increase of nearly 9% compared to the previous year. However, in large cities like Hanoi, high living costs still make it difficult for many workers to accumulate.
A survey on the minimum living standards of workers conducted by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor in 2025 with 3,000 workers in 10 provinces and cities. The results showed that 55% of surveyed workers said their salaries and incomes were just enough for basic family expenses; 26% had to be frugal and spend lavishly.
Income not meeting family expenses makes them have to "tighten their belts", borrow money to pay for unexpected needs.
This reality forces many worker families in the Capital to change their financial management methods. Instead of spending as usual, they start making monthly plans, dividing fixed amounts and setting aside a small portion as a reserve fund.
Ms. Hien said that currently her family sets a goal to save at least 2 million VND per month, although this is not easy at all. "I work as a worker, my income depends on overtime. If the company has few orders, my income immediately decreases. With savings, I can feel secure" - she said.
Not only to cope with rising prices, Ms. Hien believes that saving also helps workers' families be proactive in the face of unexpected events such as job loss, illness or children needing tuition fees.
