Yesterday, I was in the Philippines. Religiously called by my mom when it’s time to eat or she would bring the food upstairs so I could eat.
Now, I’m typing at a hostel with 7 other strangers (well, not entirely since I know the names of a couple of people now). In less than 24 hours, my life has changed. From the sheltered daughter, I have become an independent person. Or I needed to.
It made me wonder, since my frugal mom helps me save money every step of the way, how can I possibly save more in Singapore – without her? Or perhaps the more appropriate question is – how can I live without her? Survival is the game. Frugality is the name.
OFW’s or Overseas Filipino Workers share the same dilemma too. Everyday they go to work without no one to depend on but themselves while their families back home depend solely on them.
Today I’ve met with Manang (Or Tagalogs call it “Ate”) Grace. She has 4 kids in the Philippines and has been working as a Domestic Helper in Singapore (prior to that, she worked in the Middle East). Just like many other Filipinos, she’s having a hard time saving money in the Philippines so she tried her luck and went abroad.
For now, I feel a little different again. Because back home, I could save quite a lot. For one, the rent in my hometown (Iloilo) is quite cheap when compared to other cities. The food (oh drool at the price of our seafoods!) are way affordable. Everything back home suddenly becomes so affordable when compared to Singapore.
Anyway, today I learned that unless you try something, it’s always difficult. But once you’ve try it and realize you can actually do it, it becomes easier on the second try and you will have a better feeling about yourself. The same is true with saving money. It’s the hardest until you try it.
And unless you ask, the answer is always no.
For now, let me hit the sack, the other people at the hostel might be irked that I’m staying so late they might kick me off the room for keeping the light open at past 1:00 in the morning.
I’ll leave you with the following challenge:
Try abstaining or lowering down the activities that makes you spend more. If you have very expensive hobby, try those of lesser expenses and more physical activities (better for your health).
Ah life is really different when you are on your own. coupled to that is the feeling of homesickness... My piece of advic to yuppies who are lstill living with their parents... Be a parent (in Tagalog maging magulang)... Save what you can while living with parents as you have no expenses like rental,groceries, etc...
HAHAHAH! Thank you for your brilliant advice :)
I find it a little sad that some kids don't seem to think it's essential to kind of pay back what their parents have spent on their education and all. Not exactly pay back ( because others would say it's their parents' obligation) but somehow a way to show gratitude for all the sacrifices their parents made for them.
[...] been a week now since I took the challenge to save money while outside the country - without the help of my mom. For the first time in my whole life, I went out of the country, armed with my courage, a few [...]
[...] been four month now when I ventured into the challenge of saving money without the aid of my frugal mom and became an OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker) here in Singapore. [...]
[...] been a week now since I took the challenge to save money while outside the country - without the help of my mom. For the first time in my whole life, I went out of the country, armed with my courage, a few [...]
[...] be told, saving money is not [...]
[...] been four month now when I ventured into the challenge of saving money without the aid of my frugal mom and became an OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker) here in Singapore. [...]