OFW: Today's Modern Heroes!

Kamusta kabayan! As an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) they call us a modern hero or "bagong bayani". Do you know Why? One reason is because we contribute to the economic growth of our country through our remittances. Another reason is we give our family a comfortable way of living back in our country.

A Hero
A hero is a person who is willing to sacrifice all including himself for the sake of others. But we are a hero with a different personal sacrifice for the sake of our family. We sacrifice to be miles away from our family for a several days, weeks, months and sometimes years without no birthday and holiday season to celebrate with them. As we work here in abroad we want to save up to the last centavo of our salary, we live in a more economical lifestyle way of leaving here abroad without recreation to relieve our stress. Our daily life are just continues cycled in this routine; House then Work and House again then Work "paulit ulit lang" to save more money. We think more for our family than to our self. 

It is tearful if you experience the situation when you feel homesick, you cannot avoid the tears to fall from your eyes. But thanks to our modern technology today at least we can speak, hear & most of all see them through a webcam.


Other Side of A Hero
Although behind our sacrifice, back in our country we are a hero or "Bagong Bayani" to them. But here in the country we are working Sino nga ba tayo? We are just an ordinary person na nagtitiis at nagtitiyaga lang sa ating mga trabaho alang alang sa kapakanan ng ating mga mahal sa buhay. Not all of us are lucky in our current working condition here in Abroad. Some of us are facing a difficult situation, some are being abused by their employers, some are working longer hours than stated in their contract, and many other situations that become an additional burden to your personal sacrifice. Yun iba nananahimik na lang at pinagtitiyagaan na lang ang kanilang sitwasyon, because of afraid to lose their job and go back to our country ng walang kasiguradohan kung anung nghihintay na kapalaran doon. Some choose to stay here "hangang kaya pa ng katawan ko sabi ng iba" but sometimes they still here hanggang sa abotan na sila ng kanilang pagtanda. Why this is happening? Because some choose to sacrifice himself than to sacrifice the lives of their family.


Be A Hero to Yourself
Be a Hero to yourself also. We can be a hero to them as well as to our self. Think also for yourself because caring for yourself is also caring for them. Some of us once they got their salary immediately they send it in their family. What is left to them? Only a portion of their salary enough for their expenses and living here abroad without any Saving in their hand. They let their family handle the saving for their future. This idea is unrealistic not practical don't just rely on them to handle your saving or your future. Because the only person who is much better  to know the value of your earning here is yourself. 

Dahil tayo ang mas nakakaramdam at nakakaalam kung gaano kahalaga ang sakripisyo, pagtitiis at pagtitiyaga natin sa ating mga trabaho upang kumita ng pera dito sa ibang bansa. 

I did not mean that your family is not thinking in your future or don't care for your sacrifice working abroad. Ganito yun iba na ang sitwasyon kapag hawak na nila ang pera dahil alam nila na next month magpapadala kana naman ulit. So by giving only exact amount will teach them to budget and realize the value of the money you send to them. In addition explain to them your goal, why you need to give them only an exact amount of their monthly budget. Tell them that the money you are saving ay para sa kanila din naman at pagdating ng panahon sila din ang makikinabang niyan. By telling them your goal and involve them in it, definitely you will achieve your goal & your dream as well. 

Conclusion
Therefore to be a real Hero you need to be a Hero also to yourself. We don't need to sacrifice our self for a long time or until we reach our old age. By take in charge of your own future, start now to Save and learn how to Invest. Because our work here is not for a long time and we did not know if suddenly will happen. Let me ask you a question; How long do you want to carry your sacrifice? So start saving more & more and Invest it.

"It is better to start it slowly than never start it at all"

Thanks for reading & see you in my next post.
God Bless to you....


Read Also:
Saving Tips for OFW
Why We Should Invest?
Money Saving Tips
How to Start a Savings?
Where I Should Put my Investment?


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Money Saving Issue for Pinoy!

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All of us know the importance of saving but actually doing it well is a big problem. Why? because we have so many excuses or let say "palusot" yes this is true each person have their own "palusot" why they can't save. This excuse makes for them as hindrances to have a saving. We need to know these hindrances and develop an action on how to overcome them. Here are some of the common reasons why we can't save and become an obstacle in achieving our dream of financial freedom. 

• Small Income or Salary

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This is the reason that most people say why they can’t save they will say “kulang na kulang pa sa pang araw-araw na gastos yung kinikita ko paano pa kami makakapag-ipon niyan?” or “sometimes dalawa na nga kami mag-asawa nagtatrabaho eh hinde pa din kami makaipon ang liit kasi ng sahod namin”. Hmmm! ganyan din ako dati palagi ko dahilan yan and even I start to work abroad dahilan ko pa din yan. But you know because of this reason I find myself now learning to budget my salary and start investing. I make this reason as a challenge to find a way on how to budget my salary, learn a way on how to do it & find a way to increase my income. Stop complaining and start doing something to rise above your poverty. Use this as a challenge to find a way to increase your income.

Actually the reason why you can’t save is not your income but our spending habit. We have to identify if our spending is a wants or needs. Many of us are wasting our money on a lot of things that we don’t really need. You or someone close to you is probably guilty of this habitual irresponsible spending. Sometimes the worse case is using their credit card to satisfy their wants, but did you know that by using your credit card you actually spend your money that you did not have earned yet. Hinde mo pa nga kinikita o sinusuweldo ay nagastos mo na. Every one of us has an ability of saving regardless of our amount of income. “Pano mo masasabi yun isang tao na mahirap at hinde kayang magkaroon ng savings kung araw-araw mo naman nakikita sa kanto na nagiinum, nagsusugal o naninigarilyo”“yun iba pa nga diyan napapaghandaan yun pera para i-bet sa sabong ehh pero yun paghandaan yun para sa kinabukasan nila hinde magawa”Palusot na lang yun dahilan di ba? So, how much you are earning now is not an issue it’s about your bad habit of spending your income that’s why until now you don’t have a saving. Come on, break out that bad habit of irresponsible and careless spending. Lalo na kung maliit lang talaga ang pinagkukunan mo ng income. Spend less than you earn and live below your means. Be wise in spending your money, remember that saving does not depend on your amount of income it is in your habit of spending it.

• Manaña Habit (Saka na lang)

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This is one of our habit “saka na lang” ako mag-start magsaving or mag-invest first time ko magkapagtrabaho kelangan enjoy ko muna yun sahod ko at saka single pa naman ako ehh”. Days, months and years past you still not start your savings and you now begin to start your family “saka na lang kami magsaving ni misis wala pa naman kami anak ehh enjoy enjoy lang muna pagmay time”. Days, months and years again past and you now have children additional expenses now add to your budget it means saving now is becoming more difficult to do. Because of the additional expenses for your children, you still don’t start any savings and continue to work hard to provide your family needs. But, thanks’ to SSS or GSIS because it is compulsory for the employee & employer to pay for the contribution at least you have a saving.Hmm! Do you think the money you will get from this is enough for your living when you stop working without any source of income or help from your children? I’m sure not enough because the money you get from SSS or GSIS will not beat the so called “inflation”. When you get older that’s time you will realize and say “Sayang huli na ang lahat kung noong umpisa pa lang nagstart na kami mag-saving at mag-invest maeenjoy sana namin ng maayos ang aming retirement at hinde kami aasa pa sa aming mga anak.” A very sad story but unfortunately this is the reality. If you want to read a very inspiring story regarding this, story about Lola Penny & Lola Pilar from Bo. Sanchez the story is about saving for your retirement and the importance of it click here to read. 

Don’t make your saving to be in this habit “saka na lang” because in the end you will find that you are run out of time. Start your saving as early as possible don’t wait for the right time because the right time is now. Remember at investing time is our greatest ally.

•     Lack of Self Confidence & Hopelessness

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Most of us have no self confidence, hinde pa sinusubukan ehh umaayaw na at madami na kagad mga negatives na masasabi “hangang ganito na lang buhay naming lumaki akong mahirap mamatay din akong mahirap”. Lastly they will find someone to blame because of their poverty “Kasalanan ng gobyerno ito hinde itaas ang sahod namin tapos taas pa ng taas mga bilihin pano kami makakapagsave” hay kawawa naman si gobyerno. Not all of our poverty we blame to our government it is your choice to be poor and do nothing to uplift you situation. You don’t try anything to make some changes to your life and you’re afraid to loss. Don’t afraid to fail because it will make you stronger make it as a lesson to succeed next time. Many of us are already choose to stay in their present life situation today, even though they know that nothing will happen to uplift their situation. Kung baga pinagtitiyagaan na lang, don’t let this happen to you act now start to save & invest wisely. You do not know unless you try, don’t lost hope to succeed and you know its better you tried & lost than you never tried it at all. “Pagsisihan mo yan pagdating ng araw at palagi mo iisipin na kung ginawa ko yun anu kaya, siguro ganito ako ngayun”. Start now, believe in yourself & believe you can. If others can do, definitely you can do it.

•    “Bahala na” Attitude

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“Bahala na” for me this means you let everything by chance, a word without direction and plan. Madalas sinasabi natin ito kapag gipit ka na “Sige gamitin na lang muna natin yun savings pambili ng bagong flat screen tv yun ang uso ngayon ehh bahala na palitan ko na lang yan pagdating ng suweldo”. Yun ay kung mapapalitan, pano kung dukot sa savings mo yun ginawa mo hinde kurot. I mean yun lahat ng saving mo ay naubos para maibili nung gusto mo at hinde kurot na bumawas ka lang ng small amount sa iyong ipon. Building wealth requires planning, determination and doing it regularly or be consistent with it. Making it a habit of setting aside an amount of money every salary and later invest it wisely. “Bahala na” is a lazy word relaying your future by chance or depend your future to others. The responsibility of achieving financial freedom is depending on you, act now starts to learn how to save and invest towards your goal.

•     Your Family Keep Asking & Asking for More

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This situation is hard for us we cannot refuse our family members or relatives if they keep asking more than we can give. This case is common to us as an OFW. Our family back in the Philippines may ask more than we can give, sometimes they will give a reason that would make it hard for us to say no. But you know one thing we must learn to say “NO” and prioritize our own needs too. Yes it is true, that it is a good thing to help “sabi nga nila mabuti na yun ikaw ang magbigay keysa ikaw ang bigyan”hmmm! But remember giving more than you can give may hurt you both sides in the long run “one is enough, two is too much”. Giving favor for every demand they ask will affect your goal in saving we must learn also to balance the situation, we need also to know if they’re asking is “wants” or “needs”. Let them realize that you are working hard for that money and you count for every peso you earn. Tell them and explain to them your goal that you need also to prepare for your future.

Continue your goal towards financial freedom start to learn & educate yourself to achieve it. Read books, attend a seminar about money management & investing, join groups that educate about financial literacy, surf the Internet and don’t let anyone discourage you. Avoid people who will pull you down “crab mentality” instead join a group or people with the same attitude and mind set like you, who will give you advice, support and motivate you to reach your dreams. May God Bless you towards your journey to your dreams.

Read Also:
Investing in the Philippine Stock Market?
Truly Rich Club & the Stock Market
Where I Should Put My Investments

Subscribe to my blog to receive my latest post directly to your email Inbox it's free>>Subscribe to My Personal thoughts About Life ..

P.S. Do you want to gain Financial wealth & Spiritual abundance at the same time? 

 Join us at the Truly Rich Club now founded by Bo. Sanchez, its purpose is to "help good people  become rich". Because of the guidance I get from the Club, I’m now investing in the Stock  Market! I’m inviting you to join the Club too. If you’re interested, click the link here Truly Rich  Club.                                                                                                                                                          

Saving Tips for Overseas Filipino Worker!

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"Wow! Thanks god at last after a long time I dreamed to work abroad and earn a better salary than I earned in the Philippines will finally come true". Bilang isang Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) ito ang ating madalas nasasabi, kapag natanggap na tayo at magkakaroon na tayo ng pagkakataon na makapagtrabaho sa ibang bansa. We are so happy because we can now provide all the needs of our family, we can now buy or build our dream house, we can give a better education to our children and many other reasons why we want to work abroad. But this is not just the reason, we must remember that this is not only our goal we need also to start saving for our future.

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Every one of us know how to save, however some of us spend this savings on a non-productive things such branded clothes, toys, new gadgets and etc. Aside from that our families we left in our country should also learn how to properly handle the money we remitted to them. We must discuss and involve them in our goal to save for our future. Because if they go out of control in the end we will go home with nothing left in our pockets. Hinde dahil yung asawa ay nasa abroad lahat gusto bilihin, lahat ng luma khit pwedi pa gamitin papalitan ng bago at kung dati isang beses lang sa isang lingo kumain sa Jollibee ngaun halos araw araw na. Hmmm! Hirap kaya kumita ng pera kahit nasa abrod ka...We must also monitor the spending habit of our families and explain to them why we need to save and invest for our future. Ok lang na gumastos tayo galing sa ating saving kung talagang kelangan and this is “needs” not “wants”. I have read a story from my friend blog site about “Kurot o Dakot” a book written by Vic & Avelynn Garcia ang istorya ay tumatalakay sa kurot principle na kung may bibilihin ka at gagamitin mo savings mo be sure na ito ay kurot lang at hinde dakot sa savings mo to see more about the story click here…

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Keep in mind that our work here is not for a long time we must have plans for our future, once we decided to go home or once our contract is finished. Every one of us, of course does not want to go home without any money in our pocket and back to the same situation as before. For us, as an OFW investing is the best option to put our money truly grows while working abroad. Start it in saving for at least 10% of your monthly salary and slowly invest it in any investment vehicles you choose. 

Kabayan pagaralan natin kung pano mag-tipid, mag-ipon at mag-invest para sa ating kinabukasan, be guided, be motivated, be inspired join us in the truly rich club. 

To know more about the topic download this free e-book from workabroad.ph "Grow your money and enjoy financial freedom"

Subscribe to my blog to receive my latest post directly to your email Inbox it's free>>Subscribe to My Personal thoughts About Life ..

 P.S. Do you want to gain Financial wealth & Spiritual abundance at the same time? 

 Join us at the Truly Rich Club now founded by Bo. Sanchez, its purpose is to "help good people  become rich". Because of the guidance I get from the Club, I’m now investing in the Stock  Market! I’m inviting you to join the Club too. If you’re interested, click the link here Truly Rich  Club.