Last night, I curled up on my couch, ready for a bit of light entertainment on Netflix. Instead, I ended up watching Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy—and let me tell you, it left me reeling. What started as a casual documentary binge turned into a full-blown emotional rollercoaster. I was shocked, angered, and even a […]
Are You Healing or Just Shopping? You’re scrolling on TikTok at 2 AM when a creator hits you with a “Treat your inner child; they deserve it!” Next thing you know, you’re justifying that ₱3,000 Shopee cart filled with plushies, snacks, and maybe even a Tamagotchi. The caption? “Healing is expensive, but my inner child
Healing Your Inner Child or Hurting Your Wallet? Read More »
For Filipinos, the holidays are more than just a season—they’re a full-on production. As soon as the Ber months roll in, it’s like someone flips a switch: parols light up every corner, Christmas songs echo in malls (Jose Mari Chan, anyone?), and there’s a palpable excitement in the air. It’s our time to shine as
Holiday Traditions and Financial Realities: How Pinoys Can Celebrate Smartly Read More »
Christmas is around the corner, and as godparents, we know what that means—aginaldo time! The excitement, the joy, and of course, the sweet anticipation from our inaanaks (especially the younger ones who know exactly how to turn on the charm). But before you start reaching deep into your wallet, here’s a little secret: you don’t
Budget-Friendly Aginaldo Ideas to Delight Your Inaanaks Read More »
When the 13th month pay and Christmas bonus season rolls around, it’s easy to get swept up in the holiday spirit. And before we know it, the extra cash we worked so hard for seems to vanish. Back when I worked in the corporate world, I’d sit down with a list every year, carefully planning
How to Enjoy Your 13th Month Pay Without Going Broke by New Year’s Read More »
Let’s be honest—how many times have you counted the days to payday, holding on to your last few pesos and wishing they’d somehow stretch? Or maybe you’ve told yourself, “Next month na lang ako mag-start mag-ipon,” only to see your wallet run dry faster than expected. Welcome to “Petsa de Peligro”—that oh-so-familiar feeling when money
Break Free from ‘Petsa de Peligro’: A 50-30-20 Budget Guide for Filipinos Read More »
November’s here, and you know what that means: the holiday countdown has officially begun! With all the fun stuff coming up—Christmas parties, gifts, Noche Buena feasts, and family gatherings—it’s also the season for big spending. But what if this year, instead of blowing through your 13th month pay and Christmas bonus in a flash, you
No Spend November: How to Save Big Now So You Can Spend Guilt-Free in December Read More »
I stumbled upon a post on Reddit that stopped me in my tracks. Here was a 37-year-old, single Filipino professional with multiple income streams, investments, a condo, a car, and a solid emergency fund. By many standards, he was “set.” And yet, he still felt like he was falling behind his friends—some of whom owned
Am I Really ‘Behind’? The Reality of Financial Comparison and Finding Contentment Read More »
Let me guess—you’re probably scrolling through IG or TikTok right now, maybe watching someone unbox the latest gadget, show off their new kicks, or flaunt their shopping haul. It’s all so easy to get caught up in the “I need this now” feeling when we see influencers or friends living it up. Next thing you
Let’s talk about those sneaky “bank calls” that promise rewards but leave you with… nothing. I didn’t think I’d ever fall for a scam—especially not one from a “friendly” caller on my birthday! But that’s exactly what happened. Let me share how close I came to being scammed, and the red flags I missed at
