In this month, I’d been having a lot of ideas for my future in terms of businesses, own home, finances and many more other things. I feel like God provided me inspirations for me to think of ways on how to slowly achieve it as early as possible. Because of it, I feel so inspired and motivated to plan my goals and incorporate those ideas. As soon as I got an idea, I write it down right away in my journal so that I can review it again. With the help of different successful people that I’m checking every now and then, it gave me an idea on how they made their goals possible. Starting my day right by means of listening to inspirational podcast, also helped me to have a clear mindset on how I’ll be able to achieve the things that I have in mind. All of these factors helped in so many ways. It keeps me inspired and focus on my goals. Upon hearing the different success stories of people that I followed, I realized these things:

1. Nothing will happen in your dreams if you don’t work on it.
2. Time is your best partner in achieving your goals.
3. In working on your goals, your worst enemy is yourself.
4. Practicing delayed gratification will help you to improve your attitude.
5. Put above your needs rather than your wants.
6. Be stronger than your strongest excuse.
7. The earlier you start, the more you’ll gain success.
8. Focus on yourself and don’t let external factors which you can’t control affects you.
9. Once you learn new things, make sure that you apply it in your life.
10. Successful people help others to be the same.

I’d seen how people oppositely do what they usually say. I’m actually like that before but as soon as my priorities change, I chose not to say anything and let the results speak for itself. During those time, I realized the importance of keeping your plans and success in your own, so that whatever I manifest won’t be by any negativity. I’m much aware that not all people will be happy for someone’s success, and that’s a part of reality. Gladly, I have a platform to share my goals which I won’t receive any backlash from it. This blog represents my plans and stories that I choose not to say to the rest. In this world, I aim that who choose to follow my story will be inspired after reading it. My blog is not a form of blog but a platform which I can share my stories towards my goals that I am aiming. I literally started as a graduate student who started paying her debts, building her financial foundation and taking a step toward her dreams in life.

This blog is my own Cinderella story that aims to inspire someone out there.

For me, I considered every month as a step closer to my goals. Time plays a major role in everyone’s life. That is why for me, I wanted to used it efficiently and make sure that every single hour won’t be wasted. The more that I improved my attitude and be disciplined enough, will be my key to be the person that I wanted to become. I may not know what will be the results of all of my efforts would look like in the future, but I’m pretty sure that nothing will be wasted. I will take this journey slowly but surely. I will keep setting goals every month and achieved it, because I believe that that’s the only way to make all of my plans possible.

“Without leaps of imagination or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all is a form of planning.” ― Gloria Steinem

In this month financial assessment, I can conclude that I achieved my goals and at the same time follow the budget that I planned. Like how I did it in last month’s financial review, this blog will be short, specific and concise which will be comprises of the following parts:

1. Savings. Are the amount I saved for each fund (Business, Insurance, Investment, Retirement, Emergency, Joint Account and Local Bank)
2. Expenses. Consist of the list of my expenses incurred for this month (Grocery, Leisure & family support)
3. Financial Plans for the Next Month. This part will be the financial targets for the next month that will serve as a guide for me to choose what I need to prioritize.
4. Ideal Budget for the month of February. This will be the ideal budget which undergo adjustment to meet the financial goals for the next month.
5. Summary. This will be the conclusion of my finances this month and the things I need to work on to meet my financial goals.

In this particular month, I had adjusted my goals until next year while considering my current resources and opportunities. This includes my finances and my passive income targets that will help me to provide other means of financial resources in the future. By having a plan, it will help me in a lot of ways by providing a guide of things that I need to prioritized. Since I’m also in the period which I need to settle down and start a family, I need to ensure that we are financially secured in the future. Like all the financial plans that I set for this year, I will also do it next year but with another set of goals. Gladly, I’d been doing a pretty good job this year since most of my goals are already done. Although there are things that changed due to some sudden emergencies, I can say that I will still be successful by the end of this year.

Like what I stated earlier in this blog, I gained a lot of ideas this month which I think is a very good opportunity in the future. My sister plays a big role on that, because she’s the one who actually first shared a business idea that she saw online (which is pretty coo). After that, I keep thinking a lot of businesses and strategies for us to make that idea possible. We decided to start everything formally once both of us are already settle down and done with our current financial responsibilities. By means of that, any losses won’t affect us that much because we are all financially secured already. Here are the ideas that we both shared and some draft strategies that we would like to apply in the near future:

1. Food Cart Business. After my sister discover a food trike business which was formed by a group of college students, she saw the capability of that business to soar high due to the chance for that business to go in different places rather than be stuck in a commercial space that requires high rental amount.

2. Necessity Business.This idea is best suited for everyone because the products that will be offered is needed by the people all the time. From fresh goods, rice, meat/poultry etc.

3. Glamping Place (Air BnB).Due to the sudden soar of travel and leisure activities, investing in a place which is instagrammable, peaceful and stress free is really one of the hype that we also wanted to consider. The only catch is, it requires high amount of capital since we need to purchase a land and rebuild it as a destination.

4. Reseller. This opportunity is we think that is attainable in the present. As long as we focus on growing our followers and investing a quality post, it would help us to have a platform in promoting products.

5. Brand Ambassador/Influencer.Like a reseller, another opportunity online is to be a brand ambassador and Influencer. We can apply for a paid partnership from different products which can help us to have another means of income.

With these ideas above, I can slowly work on something that is attainable at the moment. What I have in mind is to focus first on building my platform in social media so I can easily promote products. This would also help us in the future once we start our business because it will easily help us to promote our products. Me and my sister also consider on taking things professionally by making a business plan for it and put first our capital in profit earning investment so by the time we will start out business, that money already gained some amount. With all of these plans and ideas, we will keep working on it until we are in the right time to start everything. As of now, we will focus first in securing ourselves so by that time we are really ready to engage in taking a risk.

To remind me of my plans that I need to work on today, here below are the things I must do before I retire:

1. LONG-TERM INVESTMENT: Secure Payment for Insurance, Investment and Retirement Fund. (Source of income will be from 2 House Rental Monthly Total Amount Needed: P7,700.00)
2. PASSIVE INCOME INVESTMENT: Minimum of five rental house under my name which provides a P6000 monthly rental for each. Target monthly income before retirement is minimum of P40,000.00.
3. MEDIUM TERM INVESTEMENT: Pag-ibig Fund MP2 initial investment of P250,000.00
4. FAMILY SECURITY: Secure insurance of Kids when they reached five years old. The target amount is P200,000.00- P250,000.00 (Source will be from medium-term investment)
5. OWN VACATION HOUSE IN BACOLOD: 150sqm-300sqm mountain house.

“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day-in, and day-out.” – Robert Collier.

For a recap of my financial goals this year, here are the illustration that will serves as your guide which is also mentioned in my blog “My 2022 Goals”.

Now, let’s see the status of my finances for the month of June 2022.

JUNE 2022 SAVINGS UPDATE

In the illustration above, it shows where most of my funds goes this month. As of the half of this year, I already settled some of my financial goals such as 1^st renovation, SSS Payment, 1^st Insurance payment and now the 2^nd renovation. Due to the sudden change of my vacation from October to September, I need to adjust my budget in order to make room for that. I’d been contemplating to have my vacation actually since I’d been ding a lot of projects this year, but I was thinking that I also need to settle a lot of things especially my finances. In the end, I decided to push through with my plans so I can finally settle the things that I’d been wanting to do for my finances.  To summarized everything in this month, I was able to saved 92% of my income from salary. That percentage will be divided based on my other priorities and also for plans I have for the next month. For you to be able to have a brief idea for my savings fund, this will be a summary of what I did for this month. Let’s now carefully review each funds progress for the month of June:

1. Business Fund. For this month, I finally secured the budget that I set for my next big project this year which is to renovate our second house rental. As of now, the property is still stuck as it waits for the renovation. Our main priority is to address the main issues of the house and at the same time enhance its outdoor features so that we can make the rental fee higher than the previous one. Our aim is to get a P6,000.00 monthly same like the first renovation that we did last time. This next month will be surely so exciting since it will mark our next investment project. Through this, I hope and pray that I will be able to invest more in real estate.

2. Insurance Fund. For this fund, I already secured a passive income that will help me to pay up without using my salary. After we successfully renovated the 1^st house rental, I already made a means for this fund which is my target for this year. I will slowly do the same method for my other obligations so I can focus entirely in investing for my passive income.

3. Investment Fund. Like what I stated earlier, I will settle the payment for this fund on October to make way for my vacation which was rescheduled on September. Based on my cashflow, I can finally settle it on that month and at the same time secure as well the payment for the next month. Once I work on my plan for the year 2023 and 2024, I can finally source a payment for this through real estate. Slowly but surely, I can finally be free from my obligations and focus on expanding my resources.

4. Retirement Fund. Like what happened to my 1^st insurance, I was able to secure this year’s payment for my retirement fund (SSS). Once I’ll go for vacation, I will enroll in an auto debit payment so I can easily pay for this fund on time and without any hassle. I will use my local bank account in the Philippines so that I can solely used it for my insurance and investment payment. This set-up will be very ideal especially for me who’s working overseas. Once done, I just need to send the money in that account and all of my fees are settled.

5. Emergency Fund. Due to the vacation that I planned this year, I can only work on my emergency fund on November- December. Because of the limited time I have this year, I also decided to cut it from 5000 Qar to 3000 Qar. In these coming years, I will slowly strengthen it so I can be more secured If anything happens.

6. Joint Account Fund. Even though I wasn’t able to push through with this plan in this year, I already set a target in order to make it possible for the next year. If I will stick to my plans this year, I’ll be able to secure my first down payment for the next year. By doing this, it will help us both to source our funds for our future plans such as marriage, purchasing a land, building a house and also for our future family.

Little by little, I know that I can achieve all of my plans. Whatever I do today will surely reflect on my future and I wanted to make use of this time to exceed what I can do. I am confident that I can make it all happen because I am in the right mindset to do so. As I continue to inspire myself and set monthly plans to make sure that I’m working with those goals, in time, everything I sacrificed will be granted by success. There will be no room to stop, to give up and to fail. I will the fire within me keeps burning so I can consistently do the attitude that I was able to develop. These plans above are just the start of everything. I believe that I can be more than what I can imagine and this time, NO ONE CAN STOP ME.

“The speed of your success is limited only by your dedication and what you’re willing to sacrifice.”

― Nathan W. Morris

Once I become successful this year, I will face the new year with hope and another set of goals. Since the 2022 is the start of my journey to become the person I’d been wanting to be, I will not put into waste all the things that I sacrificed this year. It will only just be the beginning and I will continue to strive hard and aim for more goals.  As I successfully achieved my financial goals for this month, I will be ready to face this another month with confidence that I will also do the same. I will make another set of goals to keep me going and inhibit myself to waste time. I promise not to stop until I get there in that place, so by that time I can inspire others that everything is possible if you put your heart and mind to your goals.

JUNE 2022 EXPENSES UPDATE

In this month of June, I was able to secure my leisure expense so that I can use it next month. At the same time, I also manage to finish first the groceries that I still have in order to buy skincare products. In the past weeks, I realized the importance of taking good care of yourself, and because of that, I wanted to slowly invest on things that will keep me fit and healthy. In the report above, you can see the things that I spent for this month. My leisure expense for Lusail City came from the last month budget which concludes that I mostly save my whole salary for this month of June. I also think that since the weather is not ideal to hang out, it gave me the opportunity to save some amount and use it on things that I need. Given the next priority that I have for the next month, I need to be very careful in spending my money. To give you an idea of the things that I will spend for the next month, here below are the list of my major expenses:

1. 2^nd house rental renovation -P125,000.00
2. Skin Care 2^nd Set- P3,710.00 (Subject to change)
3. Grocery- P2,100.00

With the list above, you’ll get an insight that all of my money will be out for the next month. Gladly, I decided to move the due date of my insurance from June to October which helps me to ready my finances before my vacation on September. The only challenge will be is about my vacation ticket since it’s still tentative on who’ll pay it. Because of that, I also need to ensure that I have an amount ready for that. Even though I have a choice to delay the renovation, I choose to push through on this since it’s my priority for this year. Also, I am thinking that this is a source of income so it’s a win win situation for me. I know it is very hard to manage but this sacrificed is surely worth it. U just need to keep telling to myself that everything I do this year will help me to create an attitude which will give me strength to face any challenges accompanied in achieving my goals.

Based on the cash flow that I did, I’ll be able to manage everything despite of these sudden adjustments. Since I also decided to change the settlement of my second insurance, it gave me chance to reach my target budget for vacation within these two months. I need to review more of it so I won’t run out of funds and at the same time I need to be very careful in spending my money so I can secure all of my priorities. Once everything will be according to my plan, I can also secure the advance payment for this year for my second insurance and joint account. If ever I’ll be able to secure those, my budget for next year will solely focus on building my capital. I still have a lot of things to do and I hope that everything will go according to my plan.

“Sacrifice is a part of life. It’s supposed to be. It’s not something to regret. It’s something to aspire to.”

― Mitch Albom, ‘The Five People You Meet in Heaven’

To give you an idea on where most of my expenses went this month, here are some pictures of it which I also shared in my previous blog:

Lusail City

FINANCIAL PLANS FOR JULY

Since I already mentioned that my next month finances will be very busy due to the renovation, I am only allowed to spend this July and saved both of my leisure and grocery budget for buying some souvenirs for my family. After my leisure experience this July, I will inhibit myself to hang out so I can follow the budget that I set for the next months. This will be really challenging for me now that I’m not yet sure if I’ll be the one who will buy the ticket for myself. Once I confirm that, I need to adjust my budget to pay up for my own ticket. As of now, my cash flow is not including that expense so I need to confirm first everything before readjusting it again. Like what I usually did, I will set a budget for this month to ensure the things that I need to prioritized. To be reminded of this plan, I will have a print out of it and put it in my room so I can always review.

This month marks my last major expense before I’ll go for vacation. After I sent the budget for it, I need to manage whatever I can save in order to reach the intended budget for my vacation. This is quite hard since everything became earlier than the first plan. Because of that as well, I need to compromise things such as moving my payment of my 2^nd insurance and minimized my hang outs. These coming months will surely be a critical stage of my year and I need to be very wary of the things that I will makes me spend more. I really need to strictly follow the budget that I set or else a lot of things will be compromised. Despite of this challenge, I have this positive outlook that I’;; be able to overcome these challenges. Quitting will never be my choice. As long as I can push through with my plans, I believe that I will make it happen.

“Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now.” ―Alan Lakein

For this month of July, my top priority is the second rental project that I’d been looking forward to do. Now that I already prepared the budget for renovation, I believe that I can push through with it in this coming month. Other than that, I also need to have some stuffs to buy after delaying my grocery purchase for two months. These two will be my main priority for the month and other of my plans will be subjected to change. Since I’ll also be going on vacation, I can purchase more stuffs there since it’s a lot cheaper than here. One more thing to add is I need to specify my vacation budget so that I can ensure that I won’t overspend. I need to adjust some amounts in my budget to make space for my medical check-up (eyes & teeth).

Now to check my progress for the month of June and the plans I have for the next month, here below are the two illustrations of it:

1. Budget Achieve. Given the expenses that I have for this month, I strictly need to follow the budget I set. For me to be able to do that, I need to remind myself to stick to my plans and don’t make unnecessary expenses that may affect my budget. I only have limited time to build the amount for my vacation thus, I really need to follow everything wholeheartedly. Once I overcome this challenge, the next year will be much better so I just need to sacrifice things for the rest of the year.

2. 150 Qar intended for “Grocery”. After two months of not purchasing grocery items, I decided to buy this month but strictly following the amount that I set for this. To be able to make this happen, I made a list of things that I only need to purchase. This includes food items and personal stuffs that I already run out.

3. 225 Qar intended for “Leisure”. It has been two months since me and my partner didn’t hang out, so this month, we decided to do our staycation and buffet dinner. After this, the next month will be intended for buying stuffs for our family. Maybe we will just have another yellow cab date on August so we can somehow celebrate our 3 years and 8 months together.

4. 265 Qar Buffer. Even though I stated there that this amount is intended for my skincare products, it will still be subjected to change depends on the urgency to buy it. I may change some of the products so the amount can still be reduced. The extra from that will be intended as a cash on hand which I can use for the month of August.

4. Send Budget for Renovation. Now that the amount is ready, it is scheduled to send on the last week of July so that by the month of August it can be renovated. Gladly, the exchanged rate is getting higher so I can save some amount from it. I just hope that it will continue until the end of July so I can still add some budget for my vacation.

With these priorities above, I will have an insight of the things that I must do. It will also guide me not to make unnecessary expense other than this. I hope and pray that by the end of July, I can achieve all the things that I planned. I only have few more months to sacrifice so as long as I stick to my plans, my next year will somehow be better.

“Successful people do things that the average person is not willing to do. They make sacrifices the average person is not willing to make. But the difference it makes is extraordinary.” ―Brian Tracy

IDEAL BUDGET FOR THE MONTH OF JULY

After setting all the priorities I need to do for the month of July, I now plan out the budget fit for it. By using this budget guideline, it will provide me the necessary information once I received my salary. What I’ll be doing is as soon as I get my salary, I will divide it according to this budget and withdraw only the amount that I am allowed to spend. I’d been doing that method since before and it’s proven effective since I can easily secure my savings first before my expenses. I also learned that it’s the common strategy of wealthy people that’s why, I also did the same. Who knows, I will be one of them soon? It may sound like a joke right now, but I’m pretty sure that in time I can tell it with all confidence that I made it happen like them.

By doing this guide every month, I realized how I became so into to savings. Like I literally take things so professional in a way that everything is planned out and there’s an assessment of it every month. I feel like I’m managing my own company and I planned to continue it even if I have my own family. It’s funny because I even imagine having my own office at home where I can do our monthly budget and goals which me and my whole family can talk about every now and then. Just thinking of this dream makes me so excited and inspired. Compare to how I think before, I became more dedicated and focus on things that I’d been dreaming. Unlike before wherein I’d been wanting to achieve a high career level position, I now dream of having a peaceful life in the countryside where I know I am happy, financially secured and free from stress.

Little by little I know that I’ll make it happen. This simple budget plan every month will be one of the driving forces for me to reach all of the things that I planned. I just need to trust the process and enjoy every moment at the same time. Every thing will all makes sense and by doing this simple budget, it will help me to develop a kind of attitude that my future self will be thankful for it.

Without further ado, here below is the guide that I made for myself in this coming month:

Truly when you come to an age when you need to slowly settle your life, you will realize a lot of things that matters. You will slowly let go of things that restricts you to meet your full potential. You’ll lose a lot of things in the process but the good news is, you’ll learn to be ok in the end. Being alone won’t scared you anymore. You’ll learn to enjoy the things that you’re afraid to do alone. When challenges keep passing to your life, you’ll surely be stronger than your past self. Just always think that all the things that you invest to yourself will flourish in the right time.

Enjoy the process,

Let go of what doesn’t matter,

And

Live life to the fullest.

After my vacation moved from October to September, I need to readjust my budget in order to make room for that adjustment. It was a double job at first but I realized that I need to be used to it so any sudden changes happen to my life, I will always be ready for it.

Now that I successfully achieved my financial goals this month, I now need to work on my 2^nd project for the next month which is the renovation. This requires big amount of money which is already ready right at this moment. I just need to send it on the last week of July so they can go ahead with the renovation.

With the remaining months of this year, I need to be very eager in following my budget in order to achieved the balance goals that I set for this year. In order to achieve it, I need to have the discipline, effort and hard work.

“Financial peace isn’t the acquisition of stuff. It’s learning to live on less than you make, so you can give money back and have money to invest. You can’t win until you do this.“ — Dave Ramsey