Real-life personal finance for Filipinos, from saving and budgeting to debt, money habits, and building a financial system that works for you.
Budgeting doesn’t have to be complicated. You don’t need fancy tools or an accounting degree to take control of your money. What you do need is a system that reflects your real life, especially if your income isn’t the same every month. Budgeting is the bedrock of personal finance. Every financially successful person who built … Read more
Money isn’t just about math. It’s shaped by our families, culture, and what we saw growing up. And for many Filipinos, that includes habits and beliefs we never questioned because they were “just how things are.” But some of those habits are quietly holding us back. This isn’t about blaming our parents or shaming anyone. … Read more
I’ve recently read a news article about credit card debt in the Philippines reaching “critical risk” levels, and it struck a chord with me. It reminded me of a challenging time that shaped how I handle money now. In my 20s, I carried over ₱100,000 in credit card debt. I was young, new to the … Read more
The internet has been buzzing with frustration over the “new” 20% tax on savings. Social media is full of angry comments, and clickbait-y headlines didn’t help either. Here’s the truth: the 20% tax on savings interest is not new. It has been there for years. To illustrate, below is a screenshot of my interest earned from … Read more
I grew up in a hardworking middle-income Filipino household, raised by parents who did everything they could to give us a better life. And they succeeded. I carry with me so many of their values: perseverance, gratitude, and the ability to make do with what you have. But as I got older, I started noticing … Read more
Even before I started freelancing, my finances were everywhere. I opened accounts because of promos, signed up for credit cards I didn’t need, and tried different savings challenges. It was messy and, honestly, a little stressful. But after years of testing, learning, and closing what no longer served me, I’ve finally simplified my system. It’s … Read more
Like many of us, I came into personal finance a little later than I would’ve liked. Even though there were so many resources available, I wasn’t very intentional with how I managed my money in my early twenties. Financial literacy wasn’t something that was openly talked about in my circle. Terms like emergency fund, investing, … Read more