My financial profile

Let me draw my financial profile first..

My husband and I are government employees.. and you know how little government employees earn here in the Philippines (i mean honest government workers like us..:-)).

We are happily married for three years and struggling to have kids. Our combined monthly salary is averaging only at Php38,000 (roughly US$880). Our monthly expenses reached 70-75% of our salary, and during our medical struggle to have a baby it reached 120%. Its relatively small compare to some of our friends who spent 90-130% of their salary without emergency or medical needs like us. We still live with my mother in law since my husband's four siblings are all OFWs and thanks to that situation, we have a reason to stay with my wonderful mother in law because she needs companion in her big house.. and no rent expense for us.


I can say that I used to be financially dumb. My knowledge of money and "business" is from opportunistic pyramiders and opinions of individuals who pretend to be financially wise. I am easily enticed by every opportunity of quick money scheme and lost a lot of my hard earned money from that.

When I was still single my salary goes to my family as my assistance to them and the rest to my daily needs. They say I'm kuripot (stingy) because unlike singles in my age group, I still can save amidst my obligations in my family and my low salary. I kept my savings in the bank.. and recently I learned it was a bad strategy.

But I'm not really kuripot, I am only saving for some luxuries I enjoy. I splurge on these luxuries and drain my savings at the end of the year or anytime of the year.

That was me before I got married, before I was introduced to Bo Sanchez. Yes, my road to financial freedom started with Bo Sanchez' book and seminars.

Now, I'm still in the government earning the same salary but working on fulfilling our financial goals. We also have passive income on the side without compromising our work time in government because we affiliated with a credit cooperative. We are building our retirement fund thru investing in the stock market. Little by little, we are pushing our way to our goal of financial freedom.