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. 

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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