Your Journey to Financial Freedom

December 3, 2002, I found myself walking up the stage to receive my hard earned college diploma.
Wow! I can’t imagine how I managed to survive my dreadful experiences being a working student September 2002 in high spirit, I took the Civil engineering board exam to further fulfill my dream of becoming a full pledged Civil Engineer; unfortunately, I was unsuccessful.
I was born poor and I can no longer afford not to work because I have to help my family.
Luckily, I was hired as cadet engineer in a big company based in Laguna.
I worked hard and push myself up to my limit for me not to lose job and further enhance my skills as engineer. My salary keeps on rising every payday in exchange of a good work performance. Some satisfied clients offered me jobs with greater wage and benefits I accepts some just to give better support for my parents and 2 brothers. Again, years passed by so quickly but I am still stuck in financial rut. Because of this, I experienced emotional stress that leads to a poor performance at work. I got sick and was not able to work in a week. Disappointment came when I get my paycheck which is not enough for our expenses as a result being absent. I borrowed money to a friend, He gave me the money say “Pare…You cannot give what you don’t have, save something for yourself and you’ll be alright”. His words strike me so hard that I was able to ask myself what was the purpose why I am working very hard?, then I answered I WANT TO HAVE FUN!, I WANT A COMFORTABLE LIFESTYLE! And I DON’T WANT TO PASS MY AGONY TO MY NEXT GENERATION!...................................HOW?????

YOU CANNOT GIVE WHAT YOU DON’T HAVE

A simple phrase saying if you keep on giving more than what you have, there is a possibility that in due time you will be like the person you are helping. You have to be financially secure first.
It is difficult to start saving but once you get the habit, it is easy as breathing. Make it a habit to save 20% of your salary before you start making your budget, this 20% will be your way out from what financial planners call as “Payday-to-payday treadmill”.

THE JOURNEY BEGINS:
Before you begin your journey, keep in mind the four personal financial guides:
1.) Know your financial capacity (your starting point)
2.) Where do you want to go? (your goals)
3.) Formulate your own budget
4.) Always keep track and analyze your progress.

Now that you already were guided, start now! Not tomorrow or next week for TIME waits for no one.

Good luck on your journey ahead and I hope you learn something…….

-coolgear-