Retire Early | mathematically impossible for a minimum wage in the Philippines

Now I really believe that you can only save so much 💸, especially if your earnings are quite small. 📉 You've probably heard this saying multiple times: 💬

"There's a limit to how much you can cut back, but no limit on how much you can earn." 📈

After years of repetition, meticulous budgeting, tracking every centavo 🪙, and sacrificing small comforts, this phrase has slapped me multiple times—it's just so true! 😳 No matter how disciplined I was, or how much I try different budgeting hacks and cutting out lattes ☕, at the end of the day, progress is still slow. Ultimately, my savings stay relatively small compared to my bigger dream of retiring early. 💭✨

As much as I want to retire early (definitely not at 60 years old! 🏃‍♂️💨), progress is painfully slow on an entry-level salary. 📊 Remember the FIRE movement or Barista FIRE? Yes, that is attainable, but unless you find other work to increase your income, it just feels so sluggish and takes forever to materialize. 🐢 Consequently, without any income boost to power your investments and savings, you end up forced down the traditional path of retiring at 60... and my whole being is repulsed by that idea! 🚫 I refuse to settle for that, definitely. 🔥

Naturally, the obvious solution is to increase income by taking on another job. 💼 However, this is very challenging, mind you! I could enumerate 100 reasons why you should boost your earnings, but there is always a huge 'BUT'—a solid wall explaining why it’s so hard in reality. 🛑

But anyway, never surrender! 💪 You won't know until you try. Just to give an example: this blog post has been up since 2017—a total of 9 years—and I haven't gotten a single payout ever since! 😂 Yes, it's hard, but since writing is one of my hobbies, I just keep on blogging. ✍️ I feel totally fulfilled even if I am just writing for free for now! 📝✨

Looking ahead, another potential source of income might be vlogging 📹—I think that's really the way to go nowadays. 🌟 Still, you have to build it up from scratch, and it’s definitely not an instant success for everybody. ⌛

Anyway, my main point here is to actively strive for another source of income. 💸 Try your absolute best to increase your earnings! This way, you won't be stuck relying solely on budgeting, which can only do so much when your paycheck is small. 🎯 It will be a long, exhausting road ahead if you stay earning a small amount while relying only on traditional saving and investing. I'm not saying it doesn't work—of course it works! But you want to reach financial freedom as soon as possible, right? You want to retire way before your 60th birthday! 🥳

So, try to increase your income while keeping up with your usual saving and investing. 📊 Feel free to follow the Dave Ramsey steps if you like (just like I do!). 🇵🇭 But definitely for us Filipinos, since the purchasing power of our money is quite small and entry-level salaries are low, boosting our income is the true key to unlocking freedom much faster. 🚀

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

I think I am forgetting something important on how to keep my Job_ protect your peace at work

Stress is building up. 😣⚡

I feel like I am forgetting an important principle about my work—something I swore by when I decided I didn't want to job-hop anymore: to work peacefully and be at peace with my coworkers. 🕊️💼

I feel like I am forgetting to be at peace with everybody. 💭

Yes, I don't always agree with everyone, and I don't always agree with their beliefs. 🤐 But that doesn't mean it is worth bruising the tiny bit of work relationships I have to begin with, or crossing that thin line of a professional colleague-coworker relationship just to try to prove my point. 🛑🤝

I have written in this blog before that it pays to be a bit of a flatterer ("sip-sip"). 

Read my previous post here: 

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

☕😉 I still agree with that, and I have benefited from it. 📈 So why am I being stubborn again, trying to disagree with their beliefs? 🤦‍♂️ I genuinely don't care. I genuinely don't care, but this attitude needs to come across 

1. politely and 
2. acceptably to the other side. 🎭

I honestly believe that people don't want to work with a difficult person, so I shouldn't try to be one. 🙅‍♂️ 

I feel like I am forgetting how my workday could be better?—that I have to initiate the greeting 👋, get to know them a little bit 💬, and hint on my tasks so I can scram & head back quickly to my desk. 🏃‍♂️💨💻 I actually learned that from a video on "how to small talk".

Also, I have a powerful arsenal that I can use if I am not agreeing with every conversation, because I always try to remember what the book Never Split the Difference says: there is a way to make the other party feel heard without necessarily agreeing with them. 📖🎧💬

I just feel a bit of weight in my heart these past few weeks 🏋️‍♂️💔, and I don't think it is unnecessary. It feels like I am forgetting this principle and failing to apply it. 📉 I forgot to put on a mask and protect my peace. 🛡️ Not that I am being mean, I am just trying to maximize a peaceful life 🌿😌, and I think that is the most important part of it all. 

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

can I retire at an earlier age ? || Philippines

Hi! 👋 Recently, I’ve been watching videos about retirement 🎥💭. I saw some people who retired at age 55, 40, and even semi-retired in their 30s, and napaisip ako 🤔. I am 38 years old, working in a BPO company 🏢🎧, and I feel like the idea of being semi-retired is becoming very appealing! 💭

💡 The "Retired" Mindset 💡

Not because sobrang laki na ng ipon ko 💰 that it can support my life without working—pero etong mindset na you are already "retired." 🧘‍♀️ I think it’s possible, and I feel this is the key to improving our quality of life even while I am still in the workforce. 💼🌈

Right now, napaka-common ng mga rants about stress, depression, and anxiety 😩💥. At my age, going through all that just isn't worth it anymore. 🧘‍♂️🏼

🕊️ Dropping the Invisible Weight 🕊️

Going back doon sa mga videos about their retired life 📹, nakikita nila yung difference at kung gaano gumaan yung feeling nila when they retired ☁️. They are no longer burdened by worries like, "Ay, mag-Mo-Monday na!" 🗓️😱 or "Naku, baka may nakalimutan akong i-send na important email." 📧❌

When they retired, those invisible weights and mental loads vanished 🎒. I think kaya naman natin mawala yung mga mental loads na nagpapahirap satin unknowingly 🧠💨.

Especially now that we have already identified the problem 🎯. Dati, wala tayong term for that, but thanks to those retirement videos, napaisip ako: yes, nangyayari pala yun sa akin 🤯, like I am carrying something heavy 🏋️‍♂️, and I was just not fully aware 🤷‍♂️. 💡

🌱 Living Lighter & Owning Freedom 🌱

Sabi nga nila, if you define the problem correctly, you almost have the solution 🔑. And it is very true 🎯💯.

I feel like you can live lighter 🎈 and feel more free 🦅, even if you are not fully retired yet. We can definitely separate work vs your personal time. Leave behind mo na yung work and kapag off hours na, enjoy your time ⏱️💖, do the hobbies I love 🎨🎶, take long walks, or enjyo nature. 🌿👟 🛍️🌳

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

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Biggest Purchase that you feel is not worth it

 

                                                        📸 Photos credits to the owner

💸 What Is a Big Purchase You Made That You Totally Regret Now? 🤔

I feel like I need to participate in this! What is a big purchase you made that you totally regret now? 💭

📷 My Biggest Regret: The SLR Camera

For me, that is my SLR camera (Nikon B500). To be fair, I bought this back in 2018. Looking back, smartphones were already at play at that time and could do so similarly like an SLR camera, but I just didn't have enough information back then. 📱🤷‍♂️

I was so underinformed and narrowly, blindly focused on just getting an SLR camera—so I went ahead and bought it. 🤦‍♂️

Although I got this camera on a budget for 10,000 Pesos, my kind sister bore some of the cost because she wanted to give me a present, and I am very thankful for that! ❤️🎁

📦 Sitting in a Box

But as for how many times I've actually used it? Very rarely. 😔 It is now sadly sitting in a box. 📦❌

💡 The 10,000-Pesos Lesson

This is actually the backstory of why I buy things slowly now whenever I think of a big purchase. 🧠💸 I now think hard about whether I will really use an item or not.

I feel like this 10,000 Pesos mistake taught me a valuable lesson:

• ⏸️ Sit out the feeling: Wait a day or even a week before buying.

• 🛍️ Test the waters: Visit the shop multiple times, ask questions, and check prices. (Honestly, asking a sales lady about the prices almost feels like buying the item!)

• 😴 Sleep on it: Picture like you already have the item you want, and sleep on it to see if you will really use it.

I think that is how you are able to make better decisions next time! 😊

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

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It seems everybody wants to retire early | Philippines

                                    📸 Photos were taken during my leisure walk! 🚶‍♂️🌳

💼 I often wonder why so many people want to retire early. 🤔 After all, I believe that the Lord values work 🙏 and that throughout our lives, we are meant to work to feel truly fulfilled (rest as well as the Lord has given us an example to rest). 🌟 So why does everyone want to retire early? 🤷‍♂️ It initially felt to me like early retirement defeats that purpose. 💭

However, I eventually came to understand why that idea is so enticing—because I experienced it firsthand through my health. 🩺💖

Back then, a grueling 4-hour daily commute to and from work 🚌💨 was taking a heavy toll on both my physical and mental well-being. 😵‍💫 Over time, total exhaustion set in—my mental sharpness was gradually declining 🧠📉, and I constantly felt sick from poor nutrition 🤢 since the food choices around the office were far from healthy. 🍕❌ Put simply, I reached a point where I just couldn’t handle it anymore. 😩

Fortunately, my situation transformed when I transitioned to a Work-From-Home setup. 🙌🎉 Having a WFH arrangement has been such an incredible blessing for my life. 🏡💻✨ By eliminating that daily commute, I now regain 2 to 3 hours every single day ⏰ to dedicate to the hobbies and activities I love. 🎨 As a result, my overall quality of life has improved dramatically! 🚀 I am beyond grateful for this change. 🙏🥰

Looking back, I realized that when your health goes downhill, you simply don't have the strength or spirit to work anymore. 📉 That is precisely why maintaining your physical and mental health is so vital while working. 💪 When you are in your best shape, work no longer feels like an exhausting chore or a mere duty just to earn a paycheck—instead, it becomes something you can genuinely enjoy and love doing every day! ❤️💼

I feel like reaching the point where you can turn off your laptop and not think about work after walking away from your desk is the highest level of freedom—it shows you are not a slave to your job. 💻🔓

On the other hand, if you're constantly dreading that Monday is just around the corner, or you rest your head on your pillow only to stress that you forgot to reply to an email, means something is wrong and you need to act fast and fix it.. 🧠💭❌

So I feel like it's not that everyone wants to retire and stop working altogether; they just want to regain their health and reclaim time for their hobbies. 🌿⚡ Let's be honest—hobbies like carpentry, crocheting, volunteering, or gardening still require real effort and work! 🪵🧶🌱 People don't actually want to sit around and do nothing. The main thing is that they want a bit of wiggle room during the day to do what they love, and to have their time back doing the things that truly matters. 💫

So that is it for now, thanks for reading all the way. 

                                                        Maya referral code  @easyrefer

June post got nectlected it appears.

🌊 I just noticed that I only published a single post for the whole month of June 2026. 😅 Since June is my birthday month, I’ve always felt like it serves as my personal "New Year." 🥳 Naturally, a whole lot of thoughts, reflections, and big ideas come to mind whenever my birthday rolls around! 💭

During this time, I usually reflect on my life plans and what I want to achieve in the future—where I want to be, the places I want to visit, and the financial position I want to reach. 📈💰 You would think having all these thoughts would fuel me to write a lot, so looking back, it feels a bit sad that I only managed to share one single post throughout the entire month. 📉💔

💼 Giving Myself a Little Grace

However, to give myself a little bit of grace, June turned out to be quite a busy month! 🗓️💨 Between going on a day hike, handling RTO (return-to-office) transitions, and tackling heavy workloads, my hands were totally full. 🎒💼⛰️ Since I planned a two-day leave for my birthday, I wanted to make sure I didn't leave any unnecessary work behind for whoever was covering for me while I was away. 👨‍💻🙏

Beyond work, I really wanted to carve out time for some soul-searching and journaling. 🧘‍♀️✍️ I had so many things I wanted to figure out, and I felt so blessed to be able to take a solo 2-day, 1-night trip to the closest beach near Metro Manila—Batangas New Yorkers Resort! 🏖️🌅

🚲 A Quick Note on the Travel Details

As a quick side note about my choice of beach, my research definitely needed a bit of fine-tuning! 🙈🔍 The location wasn't exactly the best, and the tricycle fare was quite high at ₱350. 😅 I know high fares are fairly common in Batangas, but the rates I saw online were around ₱250, which feels 100x better than paying ₱350! 💸🚫 It turned out I traveled a bit too far to reach this particular resort, and I feel like there are better options out there. 🚲🧭

(Anyway, that is beside the main point! If you want to see the full fare breakdown of how much I spent, you can check out the description link on this video! 🔗📹)

🪼 Ocean Swims & A Jellyfish Encounter!

Nonetheless, I still thoroughly enjoyed my stay! 🏊‍♀️☀️ I got to swim in the ocean on the day I arrived and again the following morning. The only downside was that I didn't get the opportunity to film the jellyfish floating around. 🪼📸

Speaking of jellyfish—I actually got stung on my forehead! 😳⚡ I was laughing on the inside because at first, I didn't feel a thing. I guess my forehead is a bit thick! LOL! 😆🤪 But I knew I got stung because the skin turned slightly red, looking almost like a termite tunnel line across my forehead. 🐜🔴 The sting on the back of my neck, on the other hand, was a completely different story—that one stung even until the next day! 🩹😫

🐠 Underwater Wildlife & SkyFlakes Dreams

Overall, I was genuinely happy to see some underwater wildlife! 🌊🐢 I brought my basic swimming pool goggles, and I kid you not, I actually saw a few fishies swimming around! 🐠🥽 It reminded me of a video I saw online showing that if you crumple SkyFlakes crackers in the water, the fish will swim right up to you. 😮🍪 I'm definitely trying that next time—just wait for me, fishies! 🐟💨

Since I don't fully trust how long I can swim or float in open water, I was afraid to venture too far from the shore. 🏊‍♀️⚠️ Fortunately, my first dip in the ocean happened during low tide when the water was only waist-deep—and seeing those little fish swimming around made me sooo happy! 🌊✨😍

📖 My First Solo Trip at 38

Aside from swimming, I brought my big notebook along to journal all my thoughts and dreams, reflecting on why I took this vacation in the first place. 📓✍️ Mind you, I am 38 at this point, and this is actually the very first time I’ve ever done something like this! 🥳🎉

The tricycle ride going there was honestly the scariest part of the trip—it scared me to death! 😱🚲 But thank God, everything turned out safe. 🙏 I felt secure overall, enjoyed my stay, and had a great time. I did get a little paranoid being alone in the room—to the point where I barricaded the door with a long table 🪑🚪—but I feel like that’s just good practice, especially when traveling solo, just for your own peace of mind! 🔒🛑

💡 The Power of Unloading Thoughts

When it comes to the journaling itself, I feel like it requires a bit more time because I haven't fully found the solutions to all the ideas in my head just yet that time. 🧠💬 In fact, even though I journaled, I think I still need about 3 more nights of solid writing to figure out what I really want to do in life! 🌙✍️

But that's just how I am—I'm a thinker, and I genuinely enjoy the process. 🧐💡 Analyzing things helps unload a lot of weight from my mind. Once I figure out even just one thing—like knowing the step-by-step process or simply how to start—it instantly makes my head feel lighter and gives me something to look forward to! 🚀🌟

❤️ Looking Ahead

So, having said all this, June might have only ended up with a single post—which is quite sad, honestly! 💔 I apologize for not putting out more content. I fondly remember doing birthday posts in the past, like "28 Things I Learned at 28" and similar themes! 🎂

Even so, I am deeply thankful. I got a much-needed vacation, made the absolute most of it, and refreshed my mind for the road ahead. 🏖️❤️🔋

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

MP2 after 5 years. Nag mature ng mid year July 2026- paano ang dividends?

 

💡 Pag-IBIG MP2 Dividends After Maturity: Paano Kukunin?

I have this Pag-IBIG MP2 account na nag-mature  after 5 years, in this case last July 2022. 🗓️

Pero as we all know, ang official announcement and crediting ng annual dividends ay karaniwang naii-release around end of January or February of the following year.

So the question is: Paano ko makukuha ang remaining MP2 dividends? 🤔

Eto ang nangyari sa akin before. 👇

Nakuha ko na ang principal check ko noong July 2022 💵, pero since late na-a-announce ang dividends, I knew na hindi pa kasama doon ang earned dividend from January 2022 to July 2022.

Fast forward to 2023, I was so happy to see na pumasok at naging visible sa Virtual Pag-IBIG app ang dividend for that period—and in my case, it was over ₱2,000! 🎉💰

The only downside lang is you have to file another request para makuha itong natirang dividend amount. 📝

Puwede naman daw mag-file online 💻, but I haven't tried it yet. Personally, mas gusto ko pa rin pumunta sa actual Pag-IBIG branch—specifically sa GMA Kamuning branch! Eto talaga ang paborito kong branch kasi sila ang may pinakamabilis at the best service for me! (You can check out my previous post about them here! 🔗)

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

2nd MP2 Maturity in July 2026 - GMA Kamuning Pagibig Branch

Just a quick note to share my experience—this is actually my second time having my Pag-IBIG MP2 account mature, and I honestly feel like Pag-IBIG (especially the GMA Kamuning branch!) has made the whole process 2x better and smoother than before! 🚀✨

I went in around 9 AM on a Thursday morning this July 2026 🗓️, and luckily, there weren't many people around yet. As soon as I walked through the door, I got my queue number right away 🎟️. Within just two minutes, my number was already called and I was sitting at the desk! ⏱️💨

I spent about 7 minutes at the counter re-filling out the form 📝. Turns out I had filled out my copy at home incorrectly, but the staff was super patient and guided me through it without any fuss 😊.

Another really pleasant surprise was the ID requirement 🆔. Just a bit of context: there’s always been a huge copy machine near the door of that Pag-IBIG branch, with someone standing behind it, and I distinctly remember having to pay for their service years ago 😅 & that is ok, this maybe a separate business so I will gladly pay. But this time around? I was so surprised—it’s totally free! 🎉 They took care of the photocopy right then and there at no cost. That small change alone felt like such an amazing upgrade in customer service! 👏📸

Before I knew it, the entire transaction was done ⚡. Now, I’m just waiting the standard 20 working days for the release of my check ⏳💼.

As I always say, I am not an expert when it comes to investment 🤷‍♂️, but nonetheless, I try my best to pick out something that will be beneficial in the future. MP2 might be slow and the dividend rate is basic (around 6-7%) 📈, but I am still super happy with these financial decisions I’ve made. Guaranteed my future self will definitely thank me for sticking with it! 🙌

I won't be spending this payout btw—the plan is to immediately reinvest this back into a new MP2 account and keep rolling it over until retirement 🔄🐷💰.

Kudos to the Pag-IBIG GMA Kamuning team for making the process so fast, efficient, and hassle-free ! 💸🏦

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

I improve a bit at cooking using the right seasonings

I absolutely love my time in the kitchen 👩‍🍳, but not every dish I recreate turns out very good! 🙈

Whether cooking a dish or baking 🧁🥘, for sure I have failed a handful of times and totally messed up the end product. 😅

But nonetheless, I still eat, I still crave a certain type of food, and I will still absolutely try my luck in the kitchen! 🍳❤️

Cooking is actually one of my favorite hobbies 🍽️. It has always been in my rotation of the things I love to do. At any given point, you will either see me writing a blog 📝, crocheting 🧶, and, of course, cooking! 🍲

So, this is it—my newfound seasonings that are quite pricey 🧂💸!

I really stopped myself from trying these seasonings at first because I thought: What if the taste is similar to what I used to buy before and I just waste my money? 🤔

I have bought seasonings in the past that were tasteless and clumped up easily 🥴. Even though the container was quite good and hashtag goals for a grown-up woman like me 💁‍♀️, I kept buying these junk seasonings over and over, and they seemed to fail me every time (shoutout to McCormick 🤫🙈).

Then, I happened to see these Badia seasonings at SM Hypermarket 🛒, and I thought, maybe I'll try a small container. The price was quite a big jump from the usual seasonings I bought before 🏷️, so let’s see if this will fail me again or not!

I decided to get the basic spices: onion 🧅, garlic 🧄, and paprika powder 🌶️. Once I tried them, I was happy to announce that my food's taste improved! 🎉 It turns out this is one of the things I should always have on hand to make my cooking better. 👩‍🍳👌

The ultimate test for this was when I cooked a simple fried rice 🍚🍳.

My baseline for fried rice is the one I buy outside, which always has MSG or Magic Sarap to enhance the flavor. It’s yummy, yes, but I opt to avoid MSG as it doesn't have a good effect on my memory 🧠💡.

I know many of you will agree that simple fresh garlic & fry your rice just isn't comparable to the fried rice you buy outside 🏬🍚.

So, when I put onion powder on the rice, added a little bit of garlic powder at the end, and just a pinch of salt... the taste of the fried rice was perfect! 🤤👌 I tell you, it was perfect—and knowing it doesn't have MSG or Magic Sarap is such good news! 🙌

Here’s why it’s a total win: 

1️⃣ It tastes good! 😋 

2️⃣ You have full control over the ingredients and can make sure you don't put in any chemicals you can't even pronounce! 🚫🧪

A total win! 🏆

Here are a few quick tips on how I use them:

🧅 Onion Powder: I tend to use the onion powder first because it leaves an umami taste. If you put just the right amount, it somehow gives a hint of sweet taste that isn't sugar. I loved it so much that I ended up buying a big container of it! It gets consumed very fast because it is just so good! 🪹

🧄 Garlic Powder: This one is super potent, so be careful with how much you put! For my personal taste, two dashes go a long way, and I always add it right at the end ⏱️.

🌶️ Paprika: I use paprika more for the color. The taste is really different from Spanish paprika—I feel like Spanish paprika has that biryani vibe that most Filipinos aren't as used to. I use it mainly for color without making the dish taste heavily like paprika, just something to blend into the overall flavor 🥘.

I so love Badia seasonings! 💕

I feel like spending 100 plus pesos on a small bottle of spices is totally worth it !

And that is it! 😊 These are my arsenals for cooking 🧂🍳. I am looking forward to spending more time in the kitchen, honing my skills to be a better cook! 👩‍🍳💖

Thank you for reading all the way! 📖🥰👋

                                            

Check out this Simplus grinder. I use this to grind my own beef for burger & believe me, it makes a big difference. 

Link for that grinder is here. Shopee Link 

2026 Skincare Update_ how to be put together all day

This is my 2026 skincare routine—relearning my skincare 🧖‍♀️. The reason I have to specifically say "relearning my skincare" is because I feel like I am not aging gracefully 😭💔. I am devastated and alarmed 🚨. I know I have to do something now. Now that I am in my late 30s, I can't delay this anymore! ⏳💥

You may look back at my previous post here 💆‍♀️. 🔗

 2025 Relearning My Skincare Routine in My Late 30’s

I want to age beautifully , but seeing my face look saggy, oily, and flaky all at the same time leaves me devastated 😩💔.

When I look at pictures of myself, my face looks extremely wide and my double chin is becoming prominent 📸🫣. My angles are so off, and I am starting not to love my face in photos especially 🙈.

So I need to address a few things for sure. Here is what I looked into as possible root causes:

1️⃣ Hydrogen Peroxide – on my hair and my face 🧴 I know something is off with my flaky skin. I even feel like I have dandruff on my eyebrows! 🪞 I am absolutely horrified 😱. Who gets dandruff on their eyebrows?! 🤷‍♀️

I treat my hair and face with hydrogen peroxide when I bathe. At first, I used it two days in a row to clear up any potential fungal issues on my skin, but I now only do it once a week 🗓️. Sometimes, I wipe my face with hydrogen peroxide and leave it on overnight without washing it off 😴.

⚠️ Note: Please do not take this as medical advice. Since this involves chemicals, use your own judgment and consult a doctor to avoid any potential allergic reactions or skin damage. 👩‍⚕️🩺

2️⃣ I stopped using sunblock/tint all over my face ☀️❌ I noticed that my pictures showed a severe white cast if I used it everywhere 👻. So now, I just use it under my eyes—like an inverted triangle under each eye—so it acts as my highlighter ✨👁️.

I was horrified when I saw a picture of myself where my face looked like a ghost! OMG 😳🫣

This tint/sunblock is good, but you have to be aware of what it does to your face and be strategic with it 💡🎨.

3️⃣ Dr. Gil soap 🧼

I feel like normal soaps like Safeguard, Irish Spring, Bioderm, and Johnson’s Baby Soap don't do a thorough job 🚿. I still feel sticky after using them. So I tried this soap—it smells floral, and I actually feel clean after using it 🌸✨. Definitely worth mentioning in my opinion!

Along with aiming for beautiful skin 🪞, I also took a picture of the other products and makeup I use, to look put together, especially when I go out 📸💄.

• Hada Labo Moisturizer 🧴: This is the moisturizer I still use. I still have a big bottle and it is good for now. It might not be the absolute best, but I don't have any negative reactions to it, so it’s relatively okay for me to use! 👍

• BYS Lip Liner (Red Wine) 💄: This is a long-lasting lip liner that makes me feel put together. Paired with lip tint and blotting the excess product with tissue, it keeps my lips colorful so I don't look pale 👄.

• Careline Lip Tint 💋: This feels light on the lips, so I really need to pair it with the BYS lip liner (which I think is long-wear or kiss-proof). These two together make a great pair! It helps the color stay longer on my lips, so I stay looking presentable throughout the day 🌸.

• Estée Lauder Foundation 🎨: This doesn't quite match my skin tone—it’s a bit too dark. So instead, I just use it to cover the discoloration on my upper cheekbones or use it as a subtle contour. A little goes a very long way! 🤏

• HairFIX Leave-On (Keratin Straight) 💇‍♀️: I also added this hair product to my routine. Although the scent is a bit too strong, it makes my hair super smooth and shiny ✨. If I blow-dry my hair, the strong smell wears off a bit, and I just spray a little perfume to help mask it even more 🌸💨.

4️⃣ My Diet 🍔❌ I noticed that eating Jollibee at night makes my skin break out more 🍗🌋. So I try to avoid fast food and processed food whenever I can!

Still, homemade food is always best 🥘. Now that I understand my body more, I know I don't do well with MSG. I feel much better when I eat more beef and sardines 🥩🐟. I can tolerate chicken, but not every single day 🐔.

Minimizing the bumps on my face has already been life-changing! No amount of makeup or products can replace smooth skin 🪞✨.

5️⃣ Adding Exercises to My Routine (Jumping with Weights!) 🏋️‍♀️ I just tried this 2 weeks ago, and I feel like my neck is starting to become visible again! 🦒 Having a visible neck completely changes your face—it frames it so much better 🤳.

Every time I get off my chair, I hold a 10 lb dumbbell in one hand and do 10 jumping jacks to a count of 10 💥. I have a very sedentary lifestyle working from home—which I am super grateful for! 🙏—but a sedentary lifestyle is so bad. So, so bad for health and appearance 🪑❌.

I actually compared this to walking. From mid-June to mid-July, I was walking every other day with 1 day off per week, but it didn't change my body in the slightest 🚶‍♀️. I still looked bloated and uncomfortable 🙈.

So I tried doing 10 jumping jacks holding my dumbbell every time I stand up, and I feel like spread-out movement throughout the day is so much more responsive for my body ⚡. I haven't lost weight yet, but I feel like the bloating in my face goes away when I do this 👏.

I am actually excited to stick with this until December and see the results! 🗓️🎯 One experiment I will add is dividing my meals into 6 smaller portions 🍽️. I'm trying out the advice of a 40+ YouTuber 🎥. I feel like moving more throughout the day keeps my face from bloating, so let's see what 6 divided meals will do! I still have a tummy, so I know I need to keep working on my exercise and diet 🏃‍♀️🥗.

So wish me luck! 🤞🍀

Basically, the takeaway is, I am taking a much more holistic approach now with my skin and health! 🌿💖

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

6 percent on Maya Savings_ boost interest

As of writing, the base rate for Maya Savings is 3%, and it is really enjoyable that you can see how much interest you earn in the app on a daily basis 📈. It is definitely a nice dopamine boost seeing your Maya Savings grow every single day! ⚡

And Maya have this challenges you can complete to boost that interest rate… well, why not take advantage? 🤔

To gain an additional 3% (reaching a total of 6%), here are the specific challenges I do:

👉 Paying via QR code -₱250 and ₱1,000. (You can see the 2% bonus and 1% bonus in the picture!)

I have always practiced paying myself first by putting money into Pag-IBIG MP2 🏦, so I just pay it through the Maya app. By doing this, I hit two goals at once! 🎯 

• 💳I pay MP2 payment  which I always do anyway for many years now- for my future 
• 📲& I got the QR code that is required for the Maya challenge to boost the interest - then I pay it via Maya App.

That's simple. Log out of Maya App then log back in and see your Interest rate boost to 6 percent.

Note: you have to do this on a monthly because the boost resets on a monthly basis.

I have a video posted on the blue app showing the step by step :) Link 

Just to be clear, this is simply a share on how I personally get the 6% rate on Maya Savings. Please don't treat this as a form of investment advice—as we know, Maya can change their terms at any time 💡. Think of this purely as a simple guide on how to maximize the rate!

⚠️ Quick heads-up: Make sure you are selecting the right challenges! Look for the ones starting with the word "Bonus." If you see Maya Easy Credit, that is not what we are after.

😊

🎁 First time using Maya? You can use my referral code  @easyrefer to get ₱50 for free! 

Lastly, there are additional 2% + 2% bonus rates if you pay ₱25,000 and ₱35,000 via QR code, but honestly, as a simple salaryman, that is way too much for a monthly bill 😅. So if you avail that 3% interest boost plus additional 4% interest boots that adds up really high. If you are a business owner, that could be a huge advantage to utilize!  

Anyway, that is it for now. Thanks for reading all the way :)

Maya referral code  @easyrefer

foods that I've been loving lately ~ real food.

You all know I am a terrible cook. 🙈 So if there are a few dishes that come out perfect — chef's kiss 😘👌 — of course I will repeat those all the time.

1. Ground Beef 🥩

I did not believe other people when they said to grind your own beef. Like, who has time for that? & who would have a meat grinder sitting around the house casually? That would make my overhead huge, since a professional meat grinder costs a bit. 💸

But time after time, I was disappointed by the meat quality I see in the market. There's a "ma- anggo" taste that just stays there- gamey unpleasant aftertaste, also, another complain I have is that although ground, it is tough when reheated. 😩

But whenever I watch videos on the cheapest, tastiest way to eat carnivore, ground beef is always on the list. I know beef is nutrient dense, so I really wanted to add this to my menu. But the tasty part always failed me.

Then I gave in. I bought a 600 peso food processor and used it as my meat grinder. 🛒 I bought the freshest beef I could find in the market — Batangas beef — trimmed the "labot" (silver skin) and sticky fat, because I noticed it gets caught in the blades, so I just remove it. Then I grind it — not overground.  Definitely not over 1 minute, because I've done that once and the meat became mushy — not the texture I'm used to. By the way, this grinder is small, so just over 500 grams fits, and that's perfect so the motor won't overheat.

To save time, I put garlic, onion powder, fresh white onion, paprika powder, sometimes bell pepper, and white pepper in one grind. 🧄🧅

Then I shape it into balls, cook it patiently one by one so I get the perfect crust, flip it, and make it a little bit undercooked, then put salt after. I find that's the key — put the salt after — and my burger is perfect even when reheated. 🍔. My burger stays Juicy and yummy, paired with caramelized onion and I add sprinkle of salt when needed, chef's kiss. 

I feel like the possibility is endless when I have this based ground beef. Imagine what other dish I can make.

I can cook;

• smash burger
• burger steak with yummy beef gravy sauce
• ground beef cheese steak
• make a meatball for spaggetti 

Photo not mine, credits to the owner. 

Photo not mine, credits to the owner

Link for that grinder is here. Shopee Link 

2. Sardines (Canned Mega Sardines, Spanish Style) 🐟

What I do with sardines: I split it in half, scrape the bones and innards aside, bring out the kawali, put 2 tablespoons of oil, and toast the sardines.

Paired with caramelized white onion and rice, I get 30 grams of protein per can, easily — very easy! It's a simple meal, packed with nutrients, and it's tasty. I love the combo of sweet onions and toasted fish, and it doesn't upset my stomach. 😋

Pro Tip: I open 4 cans at a time, toast them at once and keep the rest in a tight container. It will last for 3 days in the fridge.

3. Veggie Okoy 🥕🍤

I really love lumpia togue, but I find it very greasy and it upsets my stomach.

So I tried veggie okoy instead. I put togue (mung bean sprouts), thinly sliced white onion, squash, green onion, sweet potato, and carrots.

For the batter: achuete for color, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, flour, and cold water. (I'll try the version with ground sticky rice and flour and let you know how that goes — apparently it results in a much crispier okoy!) 🍚

Get some spiced vinegar with fresh sliced cucumber, and that's the best combo with the fried okoy.

This version still has a lot of oil — maybe 3 tablespoons — but I feel it's comparably better than what I buy outside. That's just one downside of it. But overall, it tastes really good. My craving for togue and crispiness is met, and I have the best meal ever. 🎉

Well I hope you enjoy my current meal line up. 

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

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.