My 3-day work from my brother and his wife’s home ( because of oh my goodness landline and internet connection disruption) gave me something like an office social life. While working, my sister-in-law ( who’s also a home-based career woman) and I discussed various topics including my favorite one – personal finance ( investing, insurance, business, and budgeting).  Discussing our past experiences and future plans, I realized some common money mistakes of Filipino yuppies (young professionals) including my own regrets.

• Impulsive buying/ shopping galore after payday 

Senior or junior employees may kaniya-kaniyang trip like  latest gadgets, fancy clothes, night outs, and  other Pinoy bisyo. Totoo we need to unwind after stressful and penniless pesoless days but actually we extend those moments in replace of few days of impulsive extravagant spending.

Marami akong kakilala na kahit sabihing mataas ang sahod ay they make utang in the end because they already made gastos all their sahod.  Maniwala ka 3-5 days before sahod crucial moment na yun sa maraming empleyado or what we called petsa de peligro.

• Saving is not enough
  Since birth ay kuripot matipid na ako. In fact, when I graduated in college nakapagtabi pa ako ng around P5000 na I eventually used for job hunting.  So iyon yon, kahit anong ipon mo  nagagastos mo rin lahat ng mga ‘yon sa isang iglap  dahil wala  ka namang pinaghuhugutang iba. Thus, I realized it’s good to save and invest your money para may lumalabas, mayroon din pumapasok…kahit papaano at hindi ka uuwi sa walang-wala.

Remember also that saving is a step and not an investment itself.  You have to compound or grow your money.

• not saving at all

Mayroong mga yuppies  na kahit one to three years na sa work ay walang savings account sa bangko at kahit pa alkansya sa kuwarto. I believe in Mr. Francisco Colayco’s Pisobilities, I believe in Bo Sanchez‘s envelopes and I believe in my Kalansing power. Kung hindi ako nag-iipon, hindi sasapat ang aking sahod especially for emergencies period!

• No short and long term financial goals – I read a certain quote  last week  about tracking your expenses so you can track your financial status. I agree and I notice that this also the problem of most Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). Kung iko-compare natin sa gutom (hunger) and kawalan ng pera (no money),  ‘pag gutom ka ang gusto mo  lang ay malamnan ang kumakalam mong sikmura pero kung pang-fiesta ang mga pagkain sa mesa kahit busog ka na ay gusto mo pa ring lumamon ng desserts, tumunga ng alak at kung ano-ano pa. Okay kung “once, twice o thrice, gaano ba kadalas ang minsan (thank you Madam Hilda Koronel for that line)?”

If you don’t have short and long term goals, you don’t have focus. Hindi naka-set ang mind mo sa iyong gastusin, future  plans at ang naiisip mo lang ay gastusin ang perang pinaghirapan mo  na  “para kang karinderyang bukas sa lahat ng gustong kumain.“

Think of your dream house, your dream business,  your kids’ education or your real happiness at hindi yung kung anu-anong bagay na puwede mong itapon after ng ilang months kasi wala na ring value.  Remember also that we have monthly obligations at HINDI ka habang buhay na BATA na puwedeng mag- kayod marino.

• Yabang/ Boasting/ Angas Factor

Common who doesn’t like to make yabang lalo na roon sa mga wicked contravidas in your life. Sigh or smirk pa lang nila minaliit ka na. Eh marami sila at paulit-ulit pa, ilang beses ka ngayon magmamayabang? Isa sa lagi kong tinatandaan na payo -I think it came from financial expert/ author Jayson Lo – never share the exact amount of your money. Just be polite to answer like sapat lang or something like that.

In reality, ATTITUDE is the key to money management – you know the discipline, consistency ( labanan ang pagka-ningas kugon), perseverance ( anti- bahala na), and other similar good traits.  Pero magandang ‘wag kalimutan ay ang pagpapakumbaba o being humble.  Para sa iba ang pagiging humble ay sign ng kahinaan, but for me it’s a sign of maturity and blessedness. Be humble enough that you need to learn, to pray, to co-exist, to concede, to thank and to be the best you can be.