Real food for Brain Rot - Variety and I accidentally made the Best Burger

🧠 Mental Sharpness & Wealth

You know I’m very vocal here about my struggles with health and money. I learned the hard way that mental sharpness is key when starting to build wealth.

Remember when I shared before that even though I was earning decent, I lost all my money because I didn’t have the capacity to make logical decisions? I quit my job without a plan, lost money day trading stocks, even Forex actually 😅.

So starting over, I prioritized my brain health — really, my overall health — and began eating real food 🥩. Because I know this is one key to making good decisions regarding my finances.

🍽️ My Current Menu List (2026)

From the end of 2019 until now, I’ve been on this long journey of eating real food. I admit, I struggled a bit because when I tried to cook what I craved, it didn’t always taste great. But no worries — since I paid for the ingredients, I still ate everything I cooked. Nothing is wasted. Constant cooking experiments! And I feel like I hit the jackpot with #3 because it genuinely tastes great.

Here are three dishes that leveled up my meals:

1. Sardines 🐟

• Mega Sardines Spanish style = 33g protein per can.

• Remove sardine bones/innards, toast the skin for 5 minutes. ( try to eat some fish liver a little bit that is super food - I try it even if I don't like the taste)

• I cook egg yolks on the side (skip most whites because I feel like I get a rash eating whole egg).

• I add caramelize white onion 🧅 — sweet and delicious!

• Add bell pepper 🌶️ if I have it. These Sardines, eggs and onions and veggie on my plate, is a good good meal.

That’s about 30g protein plus rice 🍚.— only ₱37 per can, so 7 cans for 7 days = very economical 259 pesos💰. I usually eat this for lunch or make it a breakfast.

2. Chicken Nuggets 🍗

Like a big kid eater, I wanted chicken. Most of the time, this is my breakfast so I can eat 3x a day.

Recipe:

• Ground chicken breast + garlic + white onion.

• Add powdered milk, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, sugar, (and have, I experimented if I like nugget with parmesan 🧀).

• Shape, shallow fry, freeze.

• Reheat in the morning for 4–5 minutes per side. (ensure chicken nugget is totally cook):

  🌟 Bonus: Seasoning Story

  I find that the ₱150 Badia seasoning — Onion Powder, Garlic Powder & Paprika Powder — are really tasty 😋. They don’t clump easily unlike Mccormick, which makes cooking smoother.

  Funny side story 🤭: I actually closed my eyes when I bought these spices because they felt pricey. But when I tasted my food, especially my garlic fried rice 🍚🧄, I was convinced! This is probably what they use in tapsilogan stores — the flavor is that good.

  💡 Verdict: Totally worth the price!

Photo not mine, credits to the owner

I bought this meat grinder from Simplus so I can grind meat myself.

Link for that grinder is here. Shopee Link 

3. Beef Patty 🍔

I struggled with store-bought beef giniling, so I buy fresh sirloin at the palengke. I ask my suki for the soft part, cube it.

At home I remove silver skin and tough fat and use Simplus Grinder to grind the meat.

I throw all the ingredients in the grinder with the beef and form the patty.

Ingredients:

• White onion (may medium size for 1 1/2 kilo)

• Real garlic

• Garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, pepper

Cook patiently 1 patty at a time: 2 minutes one side, 1 minute or less on the other. Salt at the end for juiciness. Freeze with parchment so it will be separated — I assure you that even reheated, they stay juicy.

🔥 Secret: Grinding beef yourself = pure meat, no tough bits. This is really by far the best accident I discovered in cooking. Grind your own meat & remove the nasty part yourself. Having the Simplus meat grinder really helps. I made the best tasting burger.

🌟 Final Thoughts

Eating real food gave me strength and energy — these meals have powered me up for about 1 and a half months already 💪. I feel mental clarity 🧠, better health ❤️, and I actually enjoy the food 😋.

Sardines 🐟, chicken nuggets 🍗, and beef patties 🍔 are my go-to meals currently. I hope to add more to the list once I learn new recipes 👨‍🍳✨.

👉 Comment “mealplan” if you want me to share a full plan based on these dishes!

Photo not mine, credits to the owner

That is it for now, thanks for reading all the way. 

Savings Plan Always fails?(Maybe It’s Not the Money) 💸

I never knew that in my early 30s, after working so hard (with some pauses, of course), I would feel like a failure who always had to start from the beginning.

No savings, no gap fund (what they call an emergency fund), investments not doing well, and still carrying a monthly mortgage. At 30, I was still living with my parents without the capacity to move out. 🏠😔

I had no idea why things turned out this way. I felt like I planned, I tried to save, and I tried to cut out unnecessary expenses, but I always seemed to fall into a pit. 🕳️

Then, I finally realized: My poor decisions back then were because my body was suffering.

A weak body constitution leads to brain fog, irritability, and forgetfulness. This became my "doomsday" because I was always making the wrong choices—wrong decisions about work, wrong decisions on investments, and poor performance at office. 🧠🌫️🤕

Everything changed when I started to prioritize my health and look into it deeply:

• Protein - mostly beef: protein is an important fuel for your body. Especially me that is notoriously undereat protein because I was'nt used to eating too much in one sitting, Once I knew how important this is and how lacking I am with it, I changed the way of how I eat little by little (know that you can get most of your vitamins sa real food..). 🥩🥚

• Cutting Processed Food: Realizing it’s a poison that destroys the brain little by little. 🚫🍔

• Sunlight & Exercise: Simple habits that change your chemistry. ☀️🏃‍♂️

These basic things will get you miles ahead. 📈

Once I became fully fueled, without the brain fog pulling me down, I started to make better decisions about my life, my career, and how I plan for my future. 🌟

Quality food = Better mental health = Better output.

That is it for now. Thanks for reading all the way! 🙏

Leaving the Past Behind: A Fresh Start for 2026

For a long time, this blog has been my space to share my heart ❤️ — the struggles, the challenges, the financial stress 💸, and the realities of figuring out adulthood. I’ve been honest about my mistakes, the things I wished I’d done differently, and the moments I felt completely lost 😔. And while that honesty has been necessary, holding onto the past doesn’t serve me anymore 🚪

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Rest assured that 2026 will be different. It will be the year to reset, to leave the old patterns behind, and to focus on something better — something hopeful 🌟

This blog will reflect that change. Expect new content, fresh perspectives, and a focus on what’s worth looking forward to 🔮. The mistakes of the past? I’ll acknowledge them, but I won’t dwell there ⏳❌

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This blog is changing for the better. It will be a space where I celebrate today — not yesterday 🎉. Life can be full, intentional, and stress-free — even while navigating responsibilities.

Here’s what you can look forward to:

• Budgeting tips, practical money strategies, and book reviews (like Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps) — all designed to help you plan for the future without stress 💵📚

• & Most important of all, doing all the responsibility of an Adult stress free. Just like the Lord Jesus would remind us not to worry.

Philippians 4:6-7

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

You’ll see how I balance planning for the future while enjoying the present 🌸

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Above all else, I want this blog to remind both myself and anyone reading that life can be calm 🌊, intentional 🎨, and joyful 😊. You don’t need to sacrifice happiness for responsibility. You can grow, make thoughtful choices, and still enjoy life every day ✨

So here’s to 2026: a year of fresh beginnings 🌱, thoughtful planning 📅, and mindful living 🧘‍♀️. A year where mistakes aren’t erased but learned from 📝, and where the present is just as valuable as the future ⏳

I hope you’ll join me on this journey of calm, clarity, and stress-free living 💖 — let’s make this blog a place that celebrates life as it is, right now 🌟

2026 vs 2017 - Review post: Reasons Why You Are Not Satisfied with Your Job?

It’s fascinating to reread a post I wrote almost eight years ago 📖. I’m genuinely grateful that I can now look back and clearly see how my perspective — and my understanding of the world — has changed 🌱🌏.

When I read my old post, “Reasons Why You Are Not Satisfied with Your Job,” I notice a familiar pattern: most of my reasoning was about why things weren’t working for me 🤔. I was quick to point out external causes and slow to recognize my own role in the situation.

At the time, that felt logical ✅. Now, I see it differently.

While it’s true that a bad environment can affect you — as I mentioned in my third point about listening to negative coworkers 🙄 — I’ve come to believe that environment only has power when your internal foundation is weak 💪. One negative voice can influence you only if you lack the strength to filter it out.

With strong mental clarity 🧠, emotional stability 💛, and good physical health 🥩, you don’t absorb everything you hear. You choose what deserves your attention 🎯.

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See bulleted points below, where I asked ChatGPT to summarize my 2017 post 📝:

• Frequent job changes after graduation 🔄
  I moved through five jobs across industries and locations, constantly searching for fulfillment but never feeling settled.

• Decisions driven by youth and external approval 😓
  Many choices were motivated by the desire to impress others rather than genuine alignment, which led to burnout and dissatisfaction.

• Negative influence from coworkers 🙃
  I allowed constant complaining and gossip to shape how I viewed my work, even in roles that were relatively stable.

• Living paycheck to paycheck — mentally 💸
  Work became about survival, not growth, accompanied by frustration over missed goals and limited finances.

• Misalignment with company goals, especially in sales 🎯
  Struggling to meet targets revealed a deeper mismatch between my personality, skills, and the role itself.

• Enduring jobs as “stepping stones” ⏳
  I accepted roles out of sacrifice and urgency, which resulted in wasted energy rather than progress.

I love how ChatGPT helped me summarize and organize the reflections above 😄💡 — a small reminder that the right tools can make thinking, writing, and growth so much easier.

✅ Read the full 2017 post: Reasons Why You Are Not Satisfied with Your Job?

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How I See It Now (2026) 

As I often share on this blog, I couldn’t truly understand what was wrong until I addressed my health 🥗💪. An undernourished body and mind don’t stand a chance against the constant negativity the world throws at you 🌪️.

As my health improved — through proper nourishment and eating real, nutrient-dense food like beef 🥩 — my thinking became clearer 🧠. I began to see the bigger picture. Gossip became noise 📣❌ and should never have a place in your mind.

With a healthy body, clarity feels natural — like standing on top of a mountain 🏔️ and calmly observing the scenery below instead of being lost inside it.

That shift changed how I make decisions, how I listen 👂, and how I choose what deserves my energy ⚡. Fixing my health helped me realize the real reason I was never satisfied with my job.

This isn’t really about the job itself — it’s about the fact that my financial goals weren’t being achieved the way I wanted 💰.

With a clearer mind and better health, I can finally see that my dissatisfaction wasn’t caused by gossip, other people, or external circumstances 🙅‍♀️. The real issue was that I hadn’t yet learned the steps needed to reach my goals 📈.

Today, I am fully transparent about the financial plan I’m following 📊. I am committed to taking conservative, baby steps 🐾 as taught by Dave Ramsey, trusting the process, and keeping my faith in the Lord ✝️ at the center of it all.

This way, I don’t live for money alone 💵 — I live a life that also nourishes my soul 💛 and aligns with what I believe in 🌿.

That’s all for now.
Thank you for reading all the way through.

 

Stress & Baby Steps #2

The Quiet Weight of Debt I Didn’t Know I Was Carrying 💭💸

I don’t think I ever truly knew how much stress I was carrying while living with two major loans:

• An SSS loan

• A personal loan close to six digits 😮

Just writing that still feels heavy. I lived with that debt for more than a decade, and somehow, I convinced myself it didn’t affect me.

I kept telling myself I was fine. That I was chill about it. “I can pay it off if I really want to,” I’d say. It became background noise—something so familiar that I stopped questioning it. Like it was just part of adult life. 🤷‍♀️

But debt doesn’t always announce itself as stress. Sometimes, it sits quietly in the corners of your mind. It shows up in subtle ways—hesitation, tension, overthinking—things you brush off because they feel normal. 🧠

My SSS loan took around three months to fully pay off (I actually need to look that up because I can’t remember the exact timeline anymore). My second-highest loan, aside from my mortgage, took me a full year. A year of consistency, discipline, and living on a tight budget. 📆💪

And then one day, I made the final payment.

There was no big celebration. No dramatic moment. Just a quiet, internal sigh of relief. 😌 A simple thought: “Thank you. I don’t have to carry this anymore.”

             ✅Check out related post Debt snowball... my 2nd debt

That’s when I realized something important.

I hadn’t noticed how much stress those loans were adding to my life until they were gone. The constant mental weight. The low-level anxiety I had normalized. The way it subtly affected my peace of mind. 😴 I thought I was handling it well—but I was really just used to it.

Who would have thought that something I brushed off for years was quietly affecting my emotional well-being?

Paying off those loans didn’t just free up my finances—it freed my mind. It taught me that just because we can live with something doesn’t mean it isn’t costing us. And just because stress feels familiar doesn’t mean it should be ignored. 💡

If you’re carrying debt right now and telling yourself you’re “okay,” maybe pause and check in with yourself. Relief doesn’t always come with fireworks—but when it arrives, you’ll feel it. 🌱

That is it for now. Thanks for reading all the way 🙏💛

Baby Step # 3

I never realized that skipping an emergency fund 💸🛑 could still leave you feeling like you’re chasing every paycheck 🏃‍♂️💨. I’ve experienced it firsthand.

You probably know that I started investing through time deposits/MP2. On paper, it felt like the smart move—I was putting money aside and thinking about compounding interest. But deep down, I knew I couldn’t touch that money for at least five years. Even with investments growing in the background, I was still living paycheck to paycheck, never feeling fully secure about my immediate needs.

✅Check out related post Why Emergency Funds Matter to Me 

Then I started my emergency fund, following Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps. After paying off my debts in Baby Step #2, moving to Baby Step #3 completely changed my mindset. Just knowing that I could cover one month of expenses without stress gave me an incredible sense of relief 🏠.

This “gap fund” isn’t just money set aside—it’s a psychological boost. Suddenly, I feel rich, not because of what I’ve invested for the future, but because of the control and security I have in the present 💖. It’s amazing how having accessible, liquid funds can change your relationship with money, reduce stress, and give you confidence to make decisions without fear.

I now see that an emergency fund isn’t just a step in a financial plan—it’s a foundation. Investments will always be important, but the freedom that comes from knowing you can cover your essential expenses without any problem is amazing. For me, starting this fund has been a small action with a huge psychological payoff, and it’s made all the difference in how I experience my finances.

That is it for now. Thanks for reading all the way.

Compounding Interest vs Following the Baby Steps # 3 to the Tea 🤔💭

Compounding Interest vs Following the Baby Steps to the Tea 🤔💭

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about compounding interest and the incredible advantage it can offer over time 📈✨. Being in my late 30s, I feel the pressure to make the most of the time I have left. The idea of letting even small investments grow exponentially over the years is hard to resist—it feels like a way to get ahead without constantly hustling for more money 💸.

Yet, here’s the challenge: I’m still not done with Baby Step #3, and that makes me pause. For context, Baby Step #3, as taught by Dave Ramsey, is all about building a fully funded emergency fund—3 to 6 months of living expenses tucked away safely 🛟💰. It’s designed to give peace of mind, a buffer for life’s unexpected events, and the freedom to make decisions without panic. And honestly, starting this step has already lifted a huge weight off my shoulders. For the first time in a long while, I feel calmer, knowing that my essential expenses for the next few months are covered 🧘‍♀️🏠. In other words, I’ve experienced it firsthand, and it’s solid proof that the Baby Steps really work.

And yet, the pull of compounding interest is strong. Time is one of the few things we can’t get back, and the thought of letting my money grow over the years makes me wonder if I’m “missing out” by focusing on safety first. I think, “If I start investing now, even a small amount could grow into something significant decades from now.” That feeling is hard to ignore.

✅Check out my blog post on how I started my emergency fund here.

But then I remind myself of the peace that comes with following Baby Step #3. There’s something about knowing that your basic needs are covered that no chart, no projection, and no percentage can ever replicate. It’s a type of freedom that’s hard to explain—a calm that allows you to think clearly, make decisions without panic, and plan for long-term growth 🧘‍♀️💖.

This has made me realize that there’s a reason the Baby Steps exist. They’re not arbitrary—they’re a proven system for building both security and wealth sustainably. While compounding interest can help grow money, its purpose is really different with the Baby step # 3. 

So, what’s stopping me from following the Baby Steps to the tea? Honestly, nothing. I’ve already felt the relief and confidence that comes from Baby Step #3, and I know it works. I could continue investing and chasing compounding gains, but the safety and stability I’ve gained by focusing on my 'gap fund' emergency fund are invaluable 🛡️💰.

At the same time, the thought of letting my money grow while I wait is hard to ignore. I know that once my emergency fund is fully in place, I’ll be able to invest with confidence and take full advantage of compounding interest. But for now, I’m left wondering: is it wiser to prioritize safety and follow the steps exactly as outlined, or should I try to balance both—building my emergency fund while still investing a bit here and there?

I don’t have the answer yet 🤷‍♀️💭. For now, I’ll continue along currently what I am doing—hoping that when the time comes, I’ll make the choice that’s right for my future.

That is it for now. Thanks for reading all the way 🙏💛

Having fun topping up my Emergency Fund 💰🥳

I didn’t realize that funding my “gap fund”—or emergency fund—could actually be enjoyable 💰.

Especially now that I’m saving my emergency fund in a high-yield savings account 📈. Yes, I finally made the move—carefully, as always, and with the right precautions in place 🛡️.

There’s a small dopamine hit every time I see my fund growing day by day 😄📊. It’s a simple joy, but it feels like a little win added to my day—and I’ll take those wins whenever I can.

A quick note on interest and taxes 🇵🇭🧾

Just sharing this for transparency and awareness:

• Interest earned in the Philippines is subject to a 20% tax

• My high-yield savings account earns around 3.5%–6% interest

• I earn roughly ₱50 per month in interest

• After the 20% tax, that becomes about ₱40

It’s not a huge amount, but watching money grow—no matter how small—still feels rewarding 💸🙂.

Protect your online presence 🔐📱

Using online banking has been incredibly convenient and efficient. That said, it’s also important to stay vigilant. Creative hackers are everywhere, and protecting yourself is non-negotiable.

Here are a few practices I follow to keep my finances safe:

• ❌ Don’t click suspicious links

• 📶 Never connect to public Wi-Fi

• 📞 Be cautious of scam calls asking for personal details

In today’s digital world, we need to be smarter and more proactive about protecting what’s ours. These simple steps go a long way toward reducing financial stress.

Less worry about money is one of my main goals 🧘‍♀️💖. If I can eliminate even one major source of stress from my life, that already feels like a win.

That’s it for now.
Thanks so much for reading all the way through 🤍

I Didn’t Wanted to Pay off my Debt Until I Did

Why do I have to pay off debt? 🤔

Isn’t going straight to investing the best and most logical way? 📈💭

That’s how stupid the way I used to think back then 😅.

I didn’t want to pay off my debt until I discovered Dave Ramsey’s 7 Baby Steps, specifically Baby Step #2 👣.

To be honest, I skipped straight to Baby Step #4 because I wanted to try time deposits 🏦, thinking at least my money would earn a bit of interest 💰. Not to mention I was in my 30's already back then and I really want time to be on my side. That so-called “investing” felt slow 🐢, while my debt kept creeping back into my mind 👀💳.

That’s when it started to feel like Dave Ramsey was actually right.

“The borrower is slave to the lender.” 📖⚖️

That verse haunted every money decision I made 🧠💸.

To give more context, I had two kinds of debt:

• SSS loan 🏛️

• Personal loan from a family member 🤝

I felt that Bible verse the most with the second loan.

For context, my brother was kind enough to fund my ticket so I could work overseas ✈️🌍. But after three years abroad, I still didn’t have enough money to pay him back 😔. Maybe I’ll make another post about my OFW life as an update someday.

Back to the topic. As the years passed, I began to understand what Dave often says on his show 🎙️—suddenly, every money decision becomes a big deal.

Even though I was spending my own money, I constantly felt like I was being judged on every decision I made 😶‍🌫️. Because I had debt to my brother, every comment felt like strict judgment. I know the intention was good, but the pain of unsolicited comments affects me.

I truly felt like a slave ⛓️.

The borrower is slave to the lender.

Proverbs 22:7

After two years of thinking about it and putting off the idea of paying, in 2023, I finally had the courage to pay my brother in full 💪💵. My budget felt tight 😬, but I pushed through.

And I’m glad I did ✨.

No more feeling judged by my family 🙌.
For the first time, it felt like I had a backbone 🦴.

I know I’m still lacking in many aspects, but I’m grateful that I finally got this debt out of the way 🙏.

That’s it for now ✨

Thanks for reading all the way!

Forget about leverage! I Now Save Slowly & Invest Conservatively

I still remember the time when I wanted to get rich quick 💸⚡… and how it backfired instantly 🤦‍♀️💥
Instead of getting rich, I somehow managed to get poor quickly instead 😂🥲.

😂

That’s why I wanted to look back and reflect on why I now prefer saving conservatively 🐢💰, and which financial guru I currently follow.

Remember the phase when I was raving about “leverage” 📈, desperately trying to ditch my so-called “poor dad” mentality 🧠❌. I have a lot of post about it here in the blog. I genuinely tried to learn, try to read more book 🤓📚, believing leverage and get-rich-quick ideas were the way out 🚀. But in reality, that mindset burned my bum straight back to the ground 🔥😅⬇️.

Just to be clear, I’m not blaming anyone 🙏. All the decisions was done by me to begin with. 🪞.
This is simply a reminder that not everything you hear on the internet is meant for you 🌐⚠️. & I have to learn this lesson the hard way 🧱.

I’m truly thankful that I eventually found Dave Ramsey’s conservative approach to building wealth 🧾✨. His philosophy helped me slow down 🛑and stop chasing shortcuts.

This is currently where I'm at with his 7 Baby Steps

• Baby steps 2 : Pay off all debt (except the house) 💳➡️❌
• Baby steps 3: Save 3-6 Months of expenses for emergencies🚨💵

I didn’t follow the steps perfectly or “to the tee” 🫣 at first, but when I started the Baby steps #3,  after I paid my SSS loan and my personal loan I started to feel lighter financially 🪶. Together with the practice of gratitude 🙏—something Dave Ramsey always emphasizes—I truly felt grounded 🌍. It helped me understand the importance of staying humble 🤍 and being a good steward of the Lord’s blessings ✨✝️.

Looking back, I think I had enough of that grabbing mentality 🤲⚡, the need for everything to be instant ⏱️. It revealed a part of my character I had to confront 🪞. Being brought back down taught me something valuable 🎓: there’s peace 🕊️ in not chasing material things that don’t truly matter 🧘‍♀️.

Right now, it’s enough for me to:

• Manage what I have as best as I can 🧠💼

• Nurture my relationships with my family 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦❤️

• Show up well for my colleagues at work 🤝🙂

That’s it for now ✨

Thanks for reading all the way 🙏💛

Why Emergency Funds Matter to Me

 Why Emergency Funds Matter to Me

🚫 Definitely, there is no way I am going to skip this 1st step on how to be financially responsible & this time, nothing's gonna stop or halt or stall me from creating one.

📖 A little back story.

😖 The word emergency has always left a dull taste in my mouth whenever I hear it. You know that mindset — why would I anticipate an “emergency” in my life? I was that person for many years. This became my excuse to save for almost anything, except an emergency fund.

💭 To be fair, my financial goal has always been a transformation — like it went all over the place:

• ⬅️ to the left

• 📈 from false peak

• 📉 back down

• 🔁 then back down and starting over again

& it's impossible to describe it, I think I have tried a bunch of approach in finances. So for the sake of this story, let us just put it that way.

✨ My ultimate goal for saving back then was never really an emergency fund. What I wanted is the usual financial freedom that everybody talks about.

🧠 But over time, I started to accept that financial freedom doesn’t happen overnight. It happens through a series of steps — and one of the first steps that many people agree on is building an emergency fund.

🙅🏽‍♀️ Still, because I disliked the word emergency so much, it took me a long time to fully accept the idea. I even tried renaming it at one point — I forgot what I called it back then, but I clearly remember giving it a nickname just so I could feel better about saving for it 😅.

📱 More recently, I came across someone online who shared a perspective that finally clicked with me. Instead of calling it an emergency fund, she called it a “gap.”

🚫 Not an emergency —👉🏽 a gap.

💡 Her logic was simple:

• the bigger the gap between your money and your expenses, the safer you feel

• the more months of expenses you can cover in advance — three months, six months — the richer you feel internally

✨ Brilliant isn't it? Now you are not expecting for something bad to happen. It’s now about you know you are covered in advance. Like I feel rich that way, I can take care of the future expenses — hair flip 💁🏽‍♀️.

🎉 I was pretty proud of myself for finally seeing it that way 😄.

🌱 That inner resistance I had for years slowly disappeared, and for the first time, I felt excited to save for my emergency fund. For me, the bigger the gap, the better 😊.

🙏 I still have a lot to work on, but I’m genuinely grateful that I finally started building my emergency fund during the 2025 holiday season 🎄. That alone feels like real progress.

💌 That’s it for now — thank you for reading all the way through.

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Simple Mistakes I made why I stall funding my Emergency fund

Even when I first entered the workforce at a young age, I felt I was a fairly responsible person 💰. I already understood the importance of saving, and I truly believed that this alone would set me up financially.

Like most people, I saved because I dreamed of a time when money wouldn’t feel so heavy. I wanted to earn more, worry less, and provide generously for myself and my family 🤍. Saving felt like the obvious solution — and of course, having an emergency fund sounded like the first thing to do.

So why is it that, looking back now — over a decade later (yes, OMG 😅) — it’s only in 2025 that I’ve managed to gather a small amount that I can finally call an emergency fund?

This is what I realized.

Even though I knew the importance of saving, I was never able to maintain it keep it -as it keep it aside. I think this is what's logically happened. To start of with savings, to make room for it, I often adjusted my food budget 🍚. It felt like this is the easiest place to cut back.

My thinking was simple:

• Eat less →

• Spend less →

• Save more (which will go towards my emergency fund)

That was the logic I followed & apparently the biggest mistake that I made in my life that affects my finances.

Even though I saved consistently, I kept running into the same problem.

My savings were never really growing — they were constantly being used to patch up basic necessities.

I would dip into them because:

• I didn’t have enough money to last until payday 💸

• I needed money for food 🍽️

• I needed transportation 🚍

• I had to replace worn-out work shoes 👟
  (I might write a separate post about this — I want to start with what I did wrong starting about food here 😂)

That’s when I began to understand something important: being low income comes with a hidden premium.

---

The Hidden Cost of Cutting Food

Cutting back on food may look smart, but the body eventually demands proper nutrition. Maybe not today, but tomorrow — when hunger catches up and your body asks for real nourishment 🍽️.

Yes, fish is healthy 🐟. A piece of fried chicken 🐔 sounds yummy too. But a small portion doesn’t always meet your daily protein and nutrient needs. Back then, I lived very simply — even a meal from a popular fast-food chain in the Philippines felt like a luxury to me.

Eating this way kept me constantly hungry. And because of that, I often ended up spending more on food than I originally planned.

This cycle followed me for years (like I said, over a decade, it's unreal) of my working life. I dreamed of saving more, but the money kept going toward survival — mostly food and other basic needs.

---

What Finally Changed

Once I realized something was wrong, I went deep into self-help and self-care 🧘‍♂️📚 and experimented with different diets until I eventually stumbled upon the carnivore diet 🥩. Gone were the days of eating just to eat, without thinking about proper nutrition 🍽️. & thank God I finally let go of my childish behavior of eating fast-food that I thought was the best thing in the world.

I started choosing my food more intentionally — not at a professional dietitian level 👩‍⚕️, but in a simple, practical way. For me, beef naturally provides essential nutrients, especially B vitamins 🧠⚡, without requiring much overthinking. I may be a bit biased here 😅, but compared to chicken 🐔 or fish 🐟, when I eat beef in a day 🥩, I feel:

• more focused 🧠

• full for longer ⏳

• less tempted to overspend later 💸

Yes, it’s that simple.

With a properly nourished body & felt full longer - much longer-  my money decisions became clearer. I could finally set a food budget that made sense — and actually stick to it.

I stopped overspending, and for the first time, saving and building my emergency fund felt possible. More importantly, being properly nourished helped clear my mind — no more brain fog or constant forgetfulness — which allowed me to plan my life and approach my finances with intention. I finally felt grounded, with a real foundation to face life’s challenges, including money.

Who knew that a simple change — choosing the right food — could set you up for success in whatever you’re aiming for, even something as simple as starting an emergency fund 🙂

 

Found out what is stopping me from fixing my finances

I have been very vocal about my financial goals in this blog since forever. Well, come to think of it, I started this blog with the intention of having a side hustle. 💻💰

And you’ve had a glimpse of my story—how I struggled to reach my goals over the years.

Frustration after frustration, I somehow rested for a bit… and then got back at it again. Looking for answers, I stumbled upon self-care, diet, cures for depression, keto, and lastly, carnivore.

That’s when I finally made the connection between years of neglecting my body and the results I was reaping back then.

From fast foods, branded biscuits, chocolates, and trending foods like milk teas—I indulged in it all. These were the foods I couldn’t afford before, so when I could, I went all in. 🍔🍫🧋

This was the type of diet I was on for many years. I thought I was living my life… until I started noticing:

• Poor performance at work

• Feeling hungry all the time

• Forgetfulness

• Constant tiredness

• Learning very slowly, even for simple tasks

• Being overly emotional and sensitive, affecting my work relationship

Feeling lost and blinded, unable to think straight. I blamed my failures on other reasons—like not graduating from a good school, physical appearance, having toxic parents, or lack of support—when in reality, my health is declining.

These processed foods wrecked my body. They kept me undernourished, lacking essential nutrients like B vitamins, iron, and protein.

These bad food choices made my brain unable to think intelligently. As much as I wanted to be free and financially independent, I kept failing because I didn’t have the mental clarity to do so. I couldn’t even keep a job. I kept job hopping, unable to gain tenure or learn new skills.

Years of failure led me to depression. Thankfully, God gave me the opportunity to rest. 🙏
There were times I was unemployed for 8 months, sometimes more than a year. Yet God still provided me food and clothing, and for that I am very grateful.

During those times, I was always tired and could only rely on the internet. I’m thankful I stumbled upon nutrition and the importance of a proper diet. Although not everything online is correct—just like how keto ruined my gut health even more by eating too many vegetables—there is still gold out there. ✨

That’s when I discovered the carnivore diet. Once I prioritized eating beef, I felt energized again. 🥩

• No more feeling hungry after every meal

• I now have energy for work

• I learn faster

• I was able to keep my job and even got promoted after a year

• I became mentally capable of planning and executing my financial goals

Never in my life did I think I’d be able to connect food with finances. Looking back, I don’t act better when I’m undernourished—I react instead of being professional. Not a good sight in a professional setting.

My unknowing self always wanted to quit my job, even though it was my main source of income. Like… why??????? Why would you do that to yourself? 😅
Your job is your most important wealth-building tool. So how in the world would I want better finances if I couldn’t even keep decent work?

Well, that’s in the past now—thankfully and gratefully. 🙏

Once I prioritized my health and chose real food—especially beef 🥩—I became more capable of acting on my financial goals. I truly believe the power to protect your job, your money, and your finances starts with taking care of yourself, so you can make better decisions. 🌱💪

That’s it for now. Thanks for reading all the way. 🤍

overflowing 2025 and 2026

As 2025 is almost over and the new year 2026 is just a glimpse away, I am very hopeful and grateful for the present, as it is so overflowing. ✨

2025 has truly been a year of blessings and opportunities for me. 🙏

With finances, work, and my relationships with my colleagues and friends, all I can say is that I am thankful. 🤍

Another big one for me is my mental clarity and health. I am grateful that the Lord has opened my eyes to what is wrong with my body, and it has led me toward healing. I am thankful that I finally ditched the keto diet (I feel that eating a lot of cruciferous veggies ruined my gut health) and found the carnivore diet instead. 🥩

Every week, I focus on what I eat. I plan my salary and allocate a chunk of it to buying beef in bulk, enough to last a week or two. This has helped me stay mentally focused, as beef (from ruminant animals) has a lot of nutrients compared to other animals.

Although I am not a strict carnivore now, I feel that prioritizing real food—especially beef—has made a big difference in my health. I have shared a lot of posts about my health and my diet, and I feel like I’m ready to make another one. 😄

Back to this year of blessings—once again, I am really grateful. This has been a fulfilling year. 🌱✨

That’s it for now. Thanks for reading all the way. 💛

Adding baking soda on my hair care routine

✨ My Simple Dandruff-Fighting Discovery Using a Household Item! ✨

I found an amazing benefit for fighting dandruff using a simple household item — baking soda. 🧂✨

I mix about 3 tablespoons of baking soda with a splash of vinegar, then put it on my scalp. I try to cover as much as I can, sectioning my hair so I can really saturate my whole scalp. I even add some on my eyebrows and forehead. 👩‍🦰💆‍♀️

And honestly… I feel like it’s working. I’m seeing fewer visible white flakes falling from my hair. Before, my dandruff was unnoticeable to others, but I would always wonder why tiny white flakes kept falling to my eyebrows, and why my hair always looked oily. ❄️🤔

But when I finally tried this baking soda + vinegar trick (maybe twice a week), I really enjoyed the results. 🙌

No more tiny flakes falling on my face, and my hair is way less oily — kinda like how it used to be when I was younger. 💁‍♀️✨

Who knew that simple baking soda could do wonders? ❤️🧂🌟

(Just sharing my experience — always patch test or ask a pro if you’re unsure! 😉)

That is it for now, thanks for reading all the way. 

much braver on purchasing huge items

One thing I remember when I purchased this laptop in June 2025 is that I was constantly scared and worried 😣. I just didn’t want to make a mistake because it was a considerable big purchase — and wasting money is not in my vocabulary.

And guess what? When the time comes for getting another big purchase, just as expensive as my laptop, I was initially scared again 😅. But this time, my mindset started to shift because I had been watching manifesting videos.

Now, not to mistake it for anything — manifesting videos are just a form of entertainment for me. Maybe they’re true or maybe they're not; that’s not what I'm after. Ultimately, I don’t want to sell my soul trying to believe in something and neglect my real faith 🙏 (a believer of Jesus Christ here).

Going back to the topic, I realized I actually learned something practical from those manifesting videos:

✨ How would your successful self act in this situation?

Like a secure person wouldn't be afraid making this purchase right, especially if its within the budget? At first, it was so hard for me to do it, as if my present self was deflecting the idea. Then I learned that my nervous system is simply working as it should — that’s why I feel resistance in my body 🧠⚡.

And then, unexpectedly, a Bible verse popped into my mind — the moment when Jesus taught the disciples:

“Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.” — Mark 11:23 (NIV)

Those words light up in my head.

In that moment, my nerves calmed down 😌. The words of our Savior are the ones my nervous system doesn’t deflect. As soon as this came to mind, I found myself shouting at my fears — telling them I am not afraid of this considerable a simple errand. There is no reason to be scared or worried.

Now, I can confidently say that buying this second big purchase of mine is not that bad at all..

That is it for now.
Thanks for reading all the way! 😊

blabbering about manifesting

The first years will be a challenge, but strive through ✨

I feel like with all this manifesting content I see all over the digital world, one thing keeps popping into my mind: it can be difficult to feel abundant when you’re just starting to build wealth. I know the idea is not to focus on the actual money in your account, but the feeling of abundance really depends on each person.

Take my case, for example—I’ve always prioritized food that nourishes me. Being able to eat quality food makes me feel wealthy. This part, I have no regrets whatsoever. I would always choose real food, lots of beef, so I can feel and think at my best 🤎.

Aside from that, I’ve also had this splurge to try different hobbies:

• biking

• gardening

• crocheting

• looking fashionable

• blogging

• and who knows what else I’ll pick up along the way 💫

Doing these random things makes me feel invincible, contented, like I have all the time in the world and comfortable. Doesn't that sound like wealthy person?

Starting at minimum wage, I built these hobbies little by little. Even though they didn’t increase my monetary wealth, I feel like the time I spent on them somehow delayed my financial progress. But at the same time, they made me feel richer in life.

What I’m trying to say is: the manifesting idea encourages you to feel wealthy even if you still don’t have the actual millions. But in my case, to feel wealthy, one of the things that made me feel like a million dollar individual is if I have the freedom to do some of my hobbies —but mind you, those hobbies are not cheap.

Now that I think about it, maybe I chose the wrong route—spending a considerable amount of money (that really adds up, by the way) just to feel me and contented, instead of following more conservative wealth-building steps, like the baby steps by Dave Ramsey. But honestly… blogging comfortably without a laptop? Is there even another way? Maybe a second-hand laptop would have worked, but looking back, I know I wouldn’t have felt comfortable buying one. So maybe this “farther route” was meant to happen. Sorry my thoughts are all over the place.

There were also smaller choices that could’ve been different maybe, like:

• continue to visit the park instead of buying a bike 🌱

• going for alternatives that didn’t require spending

This post isn’t about regretting my choices, but about contemplating what could have been a better choice—so I can copy it in the future. I still have a few hobbies up my sleeve that I want to turn into reality, so this time, I’d like to take the correct steps.

Anyway ✨

Looking at the bright side, since I already walked the long route… it means I’m almost there 💫. That is it for now. Thanks for reading all the way.

2025 Relearning My Skincare Routine in My Late 30’s

                           

🌞 Relearning My Skincare Routine in My Late 30’s

Having mature skin in my late 30s definitely had me relearn how to do my skincare routine from the start. Especially since there was a phase in my life when I stopped skincare altogether 😅.

There was also a time when I exposed myself to the sun a lot because I wanted to be tan ☀️. While the sun isn’t completely bad, moderation should always be observed—especially during the very hot hours like noontime.

I still enjoy sunbathing, especially when I go for long walks 🚶‍♀️. I try to estimate (“tantyahin”) the best feeling of sunlight against my skin — when it feels too harsh, that’s the time I stop 😊.

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💧 My New Skincare Steps

A day before I plan to go out, here’s the order of products I currently use. I’ve only tested this once so far, so it may change with time — but for now, it’s good enough! ✨

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1️⃣ Rice Water Bright Moisturizer – The Face Shop

Not the best moisturizer I have, but since I already own it, I’ll fully utilize it just until it run out! I slather this on my face all morning. My goal is to let my skin absorb as much moisture as possible 💦.

I prefer doing this in the morning because I feel that if I leave moisturizer on my face at night, wrinkles build up faster (just my observation 👀).

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2️⃣ Hada Labo Facial Wash (the blue one)

I don’t have a photo because it’s in the bathroom 😅, but it’s easily available at Watsons for around ₱300.

Per the label, it’s formulated in Japan and manufactured in China.

For me, it’s quite okay compared to The Face Shop brand I used before. This Hada Labo facial wash isn’t harsh — it leaves my skin hydrated and not dry, so it serves its purpose well ✅.

If you have good recommendations, I’d love to hear what brand you use in the comments section! 💬

Since I’m going to bed, I always use this to remove the morning moisturizer from The Face Shop.

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3️⃣ Exfoliate – Eskinol

Then I use Eskinol to remove more of the stickiness that the Rice Water Bright moisturizer leaves behind. Remember this is the night before I plan to go out.

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4️⃣ Hada Labo Hydrating Light Cream

Next, I apply this new cream around my lip area, because that part tends to dry out. So I add moisturizer at night as well. This part does is not easily prone to wrinkles so I feel like I am good.

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5️⃣ Belo Retinol Serum

Lastly, my sister gave me this Retinol serum, and I love the scent of it 💕.

I apply it strategically on my cheeks, nose, forehead, and chin — avoiding the under-eye area since that part can easily form wrinkles when I sleep on it.

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🌤 Skincare Routine on the Day I Go Out

When I’m heading out, I keep it simple and light 🌸

1️⃣ Wash my face with Hada Labo facial wash.
2️⃣ Apply Hada Labo Hydrating Light Cream all over my face — especially around the lips and under-eye area.
3️⃣ Use Careline Skin Tint — it’s like a CC cream but without full coverage. I’m still on the hunt for a better CC cream since I don’t want to go back to foundation anymore. Foundation just doesn’t work for me these days — it dries out easily and looks too visible in daylight 😕.
4️⃣ Set everything with good old Johnson’s Baby Powder 🩵. For now, it works perfectly — it serves its purpose and doesn’t dry my skin too much.

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✨ And that’s it — my current skincare journey for mature skin. Still evolving, still learning, but definitely enjoying the process 🌸💆‍♀️

That is it for now. Thanks for reading all the way. 

Your work is your # 1 wealth Building tool

Lately, I feel like I’m not in my best shape 😞.

There are moments when I just freeze — that strange déjà vu feeling hits, and suddenly I can’t recall what I just did 🌀. 

Brain fog.

I find myself retracing my actions, trying to make sense of my current task at work. It’s scary when your mind doesn’t cooperate, especially when you’re in a job you value deeply 💼.

I’m grateful for my work — truly 🙏 — and that’s why I’m determined to protect it. If that means taking my health seriously again, then I’ll do it 💪.

So here’s my plan: increase my protein intake 🍳, make one meal fully carnivore 🥩, and let the second meal have carbs (because honestly, my stubborn brain refuses to give up rice and potatoes 🍚🥔😂).

It’s not an easy shift — It will bring a huge upfront cost. Stock up, I would say for month that would set me for success. To tell you honestly, this is the biggest problem of carnivore in the Philippines. The affordable steaks is not easily available to common supermarkets.  I’ll probably need to head to S&R and buy steak in bulk. I usually grab steaks from Monterey nearby. But their supply runs out fast, and the next delivery can take months⏳. So I cant rely on it.

I guess I now have a plan.

I've been wanting to lose weight anyway so I can hit two birds with one stone.

In a heartbeat, I would choose to feel mentally sharper, more energized, and fully present again — and the money it costs is worth every peso ❤️‍🔥.

Because no matter how hard I work, if I lose my health and focus, everything else can easily falls apart.

That is it for now. Thanks for reading all the way 

Seems to be a year-end reflection 2025

OMG! 😱💻

I should be ashamed of myself 😅 — I only have a few blog posts since June 2025! Now that I finally have a laptop 💻 (which makes blogging way easier ✍️), there’s really no excuse not to post more. Note to self: post a lot! 📝🔥

This is just a random post about what happened this morning ☀️. I was trying to recall what was going on in my mind from 2019–2023, so I looked back at my old blog posts 🗓️. It made me sad 😔, made me smile 😊, and even gave me butterflies 🦋 remembering how my thoughts evolved through those years of hardship.

I learned so much from the internet, YouTube, and books 📚 — applying what I learned in my work 💼, relationships 💕, and health 💪. The whole point is — on top of it all, I’m grateful 🙏. Despite facing the same level 1 money challenges 💸, I absorbed so many lessons from social media and tried them all in real life — like a real-life guinea pig 🐹😂.

But really, I’m just grateful this 2025 🌟. I remember saying the same thing back in 2021 when I got my current WFH job 🏠💻. I’m so blessed and happy 😍 that the Lord allowed me to heal my underlying health problems while earning my sustenance. 🙌

Just imagine — if the Lord gave me another job that required commuting 🚗🚌, waking up 4 hours before my shift ⏰, and spending hours in traffic back to home 😩, my health would’ve spiraled again… and I probably would’ve resigned for sure.

✨ “The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.” ✨

— Proverbs 10:22 (King James Version)
I love this verse from the Bible ❤️ and I truly feel it. 🙏

Anyway, I’ll strive harder to share more posts soon 💪🖋️.

And lastly, I feel like this is turning into a year-end reflection 🪞✨.
Funny how my creativity spikes when December is near 🎄💭.
Hmmm… I wonder why? 😄🎅

That’s it for now — thank you for reading all the way! 💖📖

Better that I deserve moment |

A random thought that went through my mind this evening 🌙 — as I try to fool myself not to stress 😅

Not to stress over things I can’t afford — like the solo vacation I’ve been planning for months ✈️ or the family trip I’ve been dreaming to pull off 🏖️

Then it hit me 💭 — I actually can do so many things I once wished for.

Like writing this blog on a computer I was able to buy 💻, biking whenever I want 🚴‍♀️, setting time to enjoy the things I love — watching dramas 🎬 or just lounging around as long as I can 🛋️

Going out to grab ice cream from the nearest mall 🍦, sipping iced tea that I brewed at home 🧋, or even buying plants 🪴.

A few times a year, I treat myself to a massage 💆‍♀️ and get to gift my nieces and nephews 🎁 small tokens for their birthdays or Christmas 🎄

It suddenly occurred to me — these simple things are actually luxuries I couldn’t do before. 🌤️

If God allows 🙏 and I keep this job until retirement, with a little savings in MP2 💰 — at least I’ll get by 🙂

I’m feel like this is what it feels to be grateful & content for the blessings I have 🌻.

I guess this is what Dave Ramsey meant by “better than I deserve.” 💭

And honestly, I feel truly calm right now 😌 — the stress I felt from thinking I didn’t have enough just… suddenly disappeared 💨✨

It’s like a quiet reminder that I already have more than enough 🙏🌻

I Failed at Entry-Level Jobs 7 Times — Here's What I Finally Learned

It feels unreal to always go back to level one — and not just once, but seven times over six years of working. You’re never going to believe it truly happened.

Looking back now, I really wanted to dig deep and ask myself:
What am I doing wrong that always makes me end up in failure — and going back to entry-level positions?

So here’s what’s on top of my mind:

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1. 🧠 It’s not burnout

Although physically I look fine on the outside, my mental health is in a really bad state, and it has affected my mental clarity greatly.

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2. 🍫 Wrong food choices

Have you ever heard that food can actually heal you?
The no-brainer one I avoid now is processed food.

I used to think, “What could a 14 ingredient biscuit possibly do to me, yeah?” I thought nothing would happen — but it deliberately deteriorated how I think.

Symptoms I experienced:

• Brain fog

• Forgetfulness

• Anxiety

• Panic attacks

• I started to stutter

• I couldn’t even make a complete sentence

Then I found the right diet — carnivore.
It’s hard to believe, but meat is a superfood, and I’ve seen a lot of testimonies on social media where people shared how it greatly improved their mental health. I experienced it too. (although I am not a carnivore now, but I was hooked on eating a lot of Beef & the benefits it gives your body 🍖🔥🥩🥓)

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3. 🎯 I was focused on the wrong thing

Would you believe that after 6–7 years of working, I finally figured out what’s been keeping me stuck at minimum wage or low-income levels?

👉 It was my health all along.

But for those long years, I blamed everything else — never my mental health.

Here are some of the things I used to blame:

• I graduated from a mediocre school

• My course sucked

• My family didn’t support me

• Working for the government is better

• Working abroad is better

• I don’t work hard enough

• My mindset about money and success sucks

• I chose the wrong mentors

• I’m too greedy about money

• I lack side hustles

• God is punishing me or trying to teach me a lesson

• That’s why I always crash to the bottom

I could go on... 😞

No wonder I wasn’t getting ahead, no matter how determined I was. 😔

At one point, I even asked myself:

“How much is the minimum wage again?”

Because that’s exactly where I was — earning the bare minimum, barely enough to survive, and always starting over. 🌀

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But anyway... to close this out, let me say this:

Start with mental clarity. 🧠✨
Maybe the reason you can’t make better decisions is because there’s something so simple that’s holding you back:

• Your mental health, and

• Your diet 🍽️

Once the veil finally lifts and you start healing your symptoms —
👉 little by little, you’ll be able to make better decisions.
👉 Better decisions will slowly lead you to the life you’ve envisioned for yourself. 🌱

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I’m not perfect now. I still make mistakes.

But this is record-breaking for me:

• I haven’t job-hopped for 4 years 🙌

• I got promoted at work 💼

• I’m slowly setting aside money for my retirement in MP2 💰
  (It’s not a lot, but I’m content with what I can work with — without neglecting my health or social life.)

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I’m also enriching myself again by reconnecting with my old hobby: ✍️ writing.

Thank God 🙏 I finally have a bit of money saved to buy a laptop.
And I even have a bike now for exercise 🚴 — a total holistic approach to be balance in life.

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Another thing to celebrate about is..
I care about my work — and I do my best to maintain it. 💪

Even though I don’t make a lot of money, I still strive to make better financial decisions, and that’s a big win for me. 🏆

I’m learning how to live a balanced life — and that’s something I’m truly grateful for. ❤️