Fixing My Finances

If there is something I want to thank my ex for, it's that he talked me to take risks and invest my money to make it grow instead of having it locked up in my bank. I know what they always say about growing money, I am financially literate (to a certain extent) but the overthinker in me just cannot stop thinking that money-growing instruments can be manipulated and rigged and while you can certainly become richer, there is also a big possibility you will lose a big amount. I learn that from the economic crises the world has been through and it is certainly scary especially for someone who feels overly anxious about the future.

When I first started to join the workforce, my first investments still were on the safe side. I would only invest in RTBs despite the very low interest and the long lockdown period. At least, I reasoned to myself, the interest rate is still more decent than a even BPI Family Savings bank. Eventually, my parents talked me into investing into stocks as again they are fearful of my future knowing how volatile and unpredictable (much worse than stock markets) their daughter can be. They would just sigh whenever I would tell them I'd be heading off to this and that adventure or I'd be eating at this and that restaurant. They would always ask me if I have enough savings as I seem to so self-indulgent and so they would ask me to contribute something for the house to give me a bit of responsibility. I learned how lucky I am that unlike my other friends, I only have to look after myself. Some people even accuse me of being too privileged but they do not know the nitty gritty of my spending habits and they do not need to know. Like, yes, I do spend a lot on food and travel, but I also donate part of my income to some worthwhile charity on certain occasions. Like, just last month, I spent more than P4,300 to buy soap, napkins, toothbrushes, toothpaste, etc for the evacuees affected by the heavy ashfall in Southern Luzon. 

Last week, while at home thinking where all my money has gone to, because whenever I look at my savings account, I feel like I've wasted my eight years of being a full-time worker. Other people my age have already put up their own business or bought properties and yet the only thing I can proudly say is that I have invested heavily in myself, in growing my character and more importantly, in gaining deeper wisdom and wider knowledge of the world. I have seen how my self-investments pay off in that I always seem to be very different from people around me because of my awareness of things the general public is ignorant of. 

And so anyway, last week, after submitting my draft proposal, I set out to finish other tasks. I have a very long list of tasks accumulated over the years and sad to say I realize too late that I have been neglecting my personal finances. Since I am so meticulous when it comes to recording my expenses, I opened my expenses diary and listed down my monthly expenses and listed down my end-of-year savings and end-of-year investments for 2019. This will become my benchmark for the coming years and I already created an Excel file to see my progress. I know there is a lot of catching up I need to do for my three unproductive years after graduating from college. 

Today I braved the Friday traffic to head to Pag-Ibig instead of chilling at home. I just found out that they now have a Virtual Portal where one can see contributions and even pay online but with a fee. I registered online and I need to have my account activated at any branch within 7 days. The activation process took less than 5 minutes but you need to line up with other members regardless of the kind of transaction you have. It sucks. I complained a lot to the guard about it and also to the staff who activated my account and said it is VERY unfair and stupid to have members who have registered online to still burn time and queue up with others. I don't know what goes on in the minds of whoever designed this system but it is very inefficient. In all, I spent 3 hours in the Pag-Ibig office when it should not have taken me more than 30 minutes. Note to self: never go at the end of the month.