The Office | Money Matters

I recently purchased a couple of shelves from Pure Gold the other day for my room so I had to transfer everything that's in my old book shelf to the new one.

I was  cleaning up when I found a pile of old magazines. Now, I don't normally keep them unless I really like the articles in it so I browsed it for awhile before deciding whether I want to throw it or not.

In an article, I read that an average cosmo girl earns P20,000 monthly gross. Thinking about it, I earn way more than that net of all deductions in a small city at the north side of the country without a heavy financial responsibility for over five years. On the same day, I checked my bank balance and realized I'm actually twenty grand short for that minimum amount of personal savings plus I have a loan I made out for the house renovation. Technically, my net worth is negative.

So what could be the reasons for that?

Number one, I have neurofibromatosis and I spend on my MRI's regularly every six months. ​

Next will be paying for my masters and it takes pretty much the same amount as the MRI does annually though I completed my academic requirement a year ago.

Last would be family outings. I don't swim in the pool but I like the idea of checking in a hotel with my whole family. Kids swimming, me staying in the room or sitting by the pool having coffee while watching the kids. I'm only talking about my nephew by the way. It isn't as expensive as the first two I've mentioned since I'm only giving a little share.

Thinking about it, these activities put together take a chunk of my pay but I would still have a lot left. Yet, my bank book reflects otherwise.

Why am I suddenly thinking about all these?

Well to begin, I'm not getting any younger and my father has recently lost his job. There's only two of us working in the family, my nephew is still in elementary and my brother is only halfway his paid training.

My family is getting by just fine for now but I need to get a serious reality check on my finances and spending habbits because I'm certain I have extra money but right now I don't know where it is and where it's going.

​-Aisiah Ezekyel