Before You Spend That Bonus, Read This

💸 How to Be Ferocious With Your 13th Month Pay

Treat It Like It Never Existed

Every December feels like a small financial high. Your 13th month drops and suddenly everything seems affordable. The temptation is real. And honestly, most people give in, not because they’re irresponsible, but because bonuses feel like “extra money,” and extra money is easier to burn.

But if you want your finances to actually move next year, you can’t treat your 13th month like a holiday allowance. You need to be a little ferocious with it. Aggressive. Protective. Almost like the money never existed.

In today’s edition, we’ll go over:

• How to manage your 13th month pay

TLDR;

The Bottom Line

• Your 13th month pay is not “extra money.” Treat it like it never existed and let it work for you.

• Follow a ferocious priority order: debt → emergency fund → investments → insurance → one intentional reward.

• Skip the small, forgettable splurges. If you’ll treat yourself, choose one meaningful thing.

• The goal is not deprivation but to make sure your bonus moves your finances forward.

The content

Small Rewards Add Up Fast

The problem isn’t the big purchases. It’s the small ones. Three semi-lavish meals. A few random knicknacks. Some impulsive Christmas shopping. Suddenly, half your bonus is gone and nothing in your life actually changed.

If you want to reward yourself, do it intentionally. Buy one thing you’ve been putting off — a gadget, a trip, a workshop — something that either improves your life or feels genuinely meaningful. Not five different small purchases that feel good for ten minutes and then vanish into the void of your bank history.

🧱 The Ferocious Priority List

If you’re serious about using your bonus like an actual wealth-building tool, start here:

1. Debt
High-interest debt eats your money faster than any investment can grow it. If you can wipe it out now, do it. It’s the best return you’ll ever get.

2. Emergency Fund
If you don’t have at least one month saved, your 13th month should go straight here. No debate. Life is unpredictable and being unprepared is expensive.

3. Investments
If you’re debt-free and your EF is stable, send the bonus to your MP2, stocks, mutual fund, or any investment you’re already committed to. Treat this as a head start for next year.

4. Insurance
If you’ve been putting off a premium or you don’t have any protection yet, now’s the time. Start with health insurance. (or read our previous issue about insurance)

5. Intentional Reward
One reward. Just one. Pick something you genuinely want, not a stream of little purchases that drain your money without giving you anything to show for it.

My intentional reward: I’m buying tickets for a Taiwan trip next year!

Final Thoughts

Most people treat their 13th month like a temporary boost. But if you handle it with discipline, it becomes a reset button. 

Being ferocious with it now means you’re not repeating the same financial loop next December.

Like this issue? Let us know if there’s any topic you want us to write about!