On Money

Note: This blogger is not rich, not earning like the rich, is paying a credit card debt, utilities, daily expenses and lives from pay check to pay check. This is her ugly truth on money matters.

It's takes discipline to become wealthy. I know how to save but only to spend it all for something that I've wanted for a long time. In the end, there is no savings at all. I have 5 different bank accounts under my name. One is for the salary, two different savings accounts, one savings account for Paypal that is of no use anymore and lastly for the brother's school money savings account. Living from pay check to pay check is sad. I know I've been lectured about this before and discipline is something I have trouble dealing with. Next to patience.

I recently opened the second savings account near the office because it's convenient. I know that I can just walk to it when the salary comes. But it doesn't happen regularly. I keep thinking about the credit card bill, cellphone bill and my house rent. Those get paid on time and I know that I should be able to save some money after all those responsibilities are done. But something has to happen and then I splurge. Tell me I'm just being too hard on myself. Or making up excuses. I'm human! ( Here I go again. Focus!)

I talked about living life the way I used to and how I was able to survive that. Working in what many considers a high paying job for me was supposed to be about being able to stand on my own and no more family support. Independence, yeah baby! I did that, had that and more. Now, I can't seem to get a hold of myself. I loooove to shop. ( Hehehehehehe.) Saving for rainy days now seem alien to me. It wasn't always like this. When I first came to Cebu and lived on my own, the rainy days was so inevitable and that scared me. So I prepared myself. Now, it's like, what the heck.

So, I decided to point out somethings that worked.
And did not work. But I still do them. Sue me!

1. Think about it for at least 24 hours. Ask yourself," Do I really need it?"

When I go shopping and I see something that I like, I check the price tag. If it's on sale and I really, really like it, I buy it. What can I say? I'm a cheapskate. Take for example clothes. I've learned not to buy the branded one's at first glance. Why? Obviously, it's expensive. Then, you grow out of it. It gets out of style. The most craziest splurge that I do and a real example of true waste of money? Shoes! You have no idea how I can go crazy buying shoes and only end up using them 1-3 times. Then, it goes straight back to the box and forget that it exist. Usually, this happens because I just bought another pair or I find the shoes soooo uncomfortable. And this is coming from someone who prefers wearing slippers from stilettos. I have a lot of them boxed under my bed. Oh, wait. I was cleaning last week. I threw and gave some of them already to some kid who might not have use of them. Also, if you have enough cash to spare, why not? I did say cash. Okay, now, you can give me a good whack on the head. ( Ouch!)

2.Identify or take mental note on how you spend money. Then, live simply.

Easier said than done.

I got into this phase of eating out in fast foods and fancy restaurants. I took mental note of what I order, how many times I go out each week and how I felt about the food I ordered. I got really bored with take out and restaurant food where the servings is about ridiculously small or cooked bad or come with an expensive bill. I miss home cooked meals. Mama! Okay, now that was uncalled for. This is still about,” Independence, yeah baby!” stuff. I can cook. I think. So, putting much effort into it, I try not to eat out than I usually would. I steer clear of company that loves eating out. ( But I can't hide from them forever you know. *wink) I noticed that I haven't even talked about Starbucks coffee. Shit!

3. Commute or car pool.

“Call center professionals loves taking the taxi.”

Yes, I've made a post about this before. You might have read about how I feel about this statement. Just because we can afford riding the taxi everyday doesn't mean we have to apologize to people who can't. ( LOL! That's me being bratty. Peace!) So, everyday, I try to wake up earlier and take the jeep instead of the taxi. It's been successful so far. I get off track when I have to be on time, in a hurry, running late, raining...ugh, excuses. I'm human. Tell me I'm being hard on myself.

4. Keep one credit card for emergencies. Cut off the rest.

I only have one credit card under my name and I plan to keep it that way. ( Deafening silence.) That's smart, right? Sounds like I'm trying to convince myself here. I really understand how credit cards keep people from getting rich. I know I've been lectured about this before.

"Credit cards is for people who can't afford to pay for the entire thing IN CASH."

Ouches, right? But it's true. Applying for the plastic started with me saying,” creating a good credit record.” Yeah right. It started out having my cellphone bills charged automatically to the credit card. Then, I got crazy about the “installment” and the “zero percent interest” and the “gadgets”. Know what I mean?

5. There is beauty in simplicity. Even better if you can DIY.

Beauty products. I'm not guilty! I'm not guilty! I don't like wearing make-up. I love the lip gloss and lipstick. But I only own one tube for every thing. I don't like putting on powder on my face. Yes, please imagine the oil. Haha. Just wash your face with water in the middle of the day or before you leave the office and that will work. I like colognes. So far, the expensive one's are always given and not bought from my own wallet. I love people who spread their blessings. LOL! I don't want to “be” or looking like a high maintenance kind of girl. You can always do your own version of body scrub right at the comfort of your own bathroom. At least you'll know the towel your using is for you alone. Can you spell "CLEAN"? Add "Indulgence" to that and what I meant is about the product you use.

I know I should really put in more effort on how I should be looking like to people or boys for that matter. But in the end, if you are not happy with how you feel like, other people will see it. Why put too much effort when it's soooooo easy being effortless! Just like the movie. The guy always end up liking the girl just the way they are. If there is a girl like me, there should be a guy like me, that's for me.

On surviving money fall outs.

Being conscious about how we spend money is a start. Knowing how to get hold of the expenses is another. I'm not wanting to sound like some financial expert here. I wish I were though.

We have to stop thinking about what could have done with the money lost and move on. Maybe, what it takes is focus. Focus on what we want to do and what we want to be. Hopefully, someone who loves you will notice and stop you when they see you going back to that same debt-direction.

After all that I think about where my money goes, I still end up having some left in my salary and savings account. It still feels like it is never enough. I know that I could do better. Now, it is all starting about a goal. I will let you in on it when it's under way.

Thanks for wasting your time with me! =))