In a small rented room in Cau Giay ward, Ha Thu Huyen's evening (character's name has been changed, 22 years old, from Lao Cai) often starts with a shifting keyboard.
The young girl has just finished her shift at the company and took the opportunity to pay orders for her small online shop.
I started working in my first year of college, initially only selling evening shift at a convenience store. When I was third, I applied for an internship and was immediately accepted. Now my salary is about 15 million/month, plus my income from online shops, I get about 6-7 million more per month, Huyen said.
At the age of 22, Huyen already had a savings of 100 million VND, a small number, but for her it was the first peace of mind in her life.
Currently, many young people have gone to work part-time since their first year of university, but the number of people who proactively save the money they earn is not much.
For Huyen, earning money early is a way to train herself, not just for income.
She carefully calculates each spending amount: gasoline 600,000 VND/month, meals 1.65 million VND, accommodation 1.8 million (parents have a part of a subsidy); gym, cosmetics, clothes... combined with less than 2 million VND/month.
"It sounds strict, but I'm used to it. I still go to coffee, still buy beautiful things, just choose what is worth buying. In the world of luxurious reviews and lifestyle check-ins, saving sometimes makes me feel a little "missed".
But when I saw my account gradually increase, I realized that what I was pursuing was not wealth, but a sense of initiative in life, Huyen added.
Three years ago, Bui Thi Minh (26 years old, from Phu Tho) came to Ho Chi Minh City to work. Currently, she is the manager of a private clinic, earning 80-90 million VND/month, a dream number for many young people.
I find it suitable for the pace of life here, dynamic, has many opportunities and also many challenges, Minh shared.
Every month, she sends her mother 10-20 million VND, and gives gifts on special occasions. I dont spend much, just invest in extra classes and short trips to recharge, she said.
Minh once went through a period of "death anniversary" because of waste when Nam had just started a business. But after a few empty-handed times before the salary, she began to learn how to manage finances, divide her income into fixed amounts, invest long-term and maintain spending discipline.
"Now, I still enjoy life, but I am no longer afraid of running out of money. Having a reserve money makes me feel much more secure, Minh said, with a light but confident smile.
Many young people today are struggling to find a balance between enjoyment and accumulation.
On social networks, the trend of "YOLO = you only live once" is still popular, travel, brands, luxury coffee shops... become a measure of joy. But more and more young people are also choosing to live with a plan, both working, saving and enjoying.
Mr. Nguyen Hoang Minh - a personal finance expert - said that one of the methods to help control finances effectively is to manage cash flow according to the portfolio, clearly identifying which items are necessary, which items can be reduced or eliminated.
"People should practice recording their spending to know where the cash flow is going. This makes it easy to detect unnecessary expenses for timely adjustment, said Mr. Minh.
Saving money is the first step to ensure stable finances, but to increase asset value, investment is needed.
Reasonable spending, smart savings and effective investment are three key factors that help each individual control personal finances optimally.
Cash flow management not only helps avoid financial risks but also opens up many opportunities to increase assets.
A methodical financial plan will help gradually realize personal goals, from buying a house, investing in education to building a source of passive income.
