Too many times we hear our co-workers say, “wala na ‘kong pera eh” (I don’t have cash on hand anymore.). Ironically, you hear that line usually within five days after the last payday.
If you are one of them, it’s understandable if you are sending a kid or two to school. Or when a relative is sick back home and you need to regularly send a fixed amount on a monthly basis. That applies especially if you are working overseas or outside Metro Manila.
But if you are saying that line and you don’t have savings or investment, and you are holding on to a brand new iPhone or Galaxy tab, then you do not have the right to complain.
What’s more painful is when after sending that money for your family’s needs and then paying all your bills, what’s left for you is less than 10% of what you received from your last salary. And obviously, that’s not enough for you to survive until the next payday. Well, you are not alone.
According to Citibank‘s Citi Financial Quotient (Fin-Q) survey for 2012, Filipinos are becoming more conscious about money matters. The respondents received an average score of 52.6%, passing the survey for the first time since Citi started it in 2007. Its passing score is a minimum of 50 points.[1]
BUT, only 42% of the survey respondents say they save money every pay day. What about 58% of working Filipinos? A lot of them will say that they don’t have enough money to save and invest and yet they will always have something to spend on things that they don’t really need.
Which brings me to mind some of my co-workers, friends and relatives who shell out more of their salaries in expensive restaurants and coffee shops, latest gadgets, fashion accessories, luxury watches, unnecessary travels, jewelry, all status symbols.
And yet they don’t have savings. They say they have enough money…albeit, from loans. They don’t have any investment program to grow further however small money they are receiving every payday.
Most Filipinos, especially OFWs, succumb to the power of a thoughtless “spending culture”. And I believe it’s time to be “born again” and “be renewed” in a delightful culture of saving and investing.
Forget the wrong decisions that you made when you were still under the spell of impulsive spending and habitual borrowing. Do the right thing now because God wants us to prosper.
The Bible says, “The Lord be magnified, who delights in the prosperity of His servant.” (Psalms 35:27)
It’s just a matter of decision and commitment and faith that you can do it. Otherwise, you can’t complain “I don’t have money.”
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P.S. 1. Bro. Bo Sanchez has appointed me as a coach for our young and new investors at the TrulyRichClub social site. It’s a fun, learning family with the purpose of “helping good people become rich”. I’m inviting you to join the TrulyRichClub too and email me at burngutierrezblog@yahoo.com.ph if you have any questions. Click here to join!
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[1] “Filipinos’ “financial quotient” at all-time high – Citi survey”, Filipinos Financial Quotient-all-time-high-citi-survey
[2] Photo credit: Impulse_Buying_Network
Regardless of whether or not it is practical to spend our hard earned money on modern conveniences is a matter of personal decision(regardless of status), life style and/or status symbol(for many).
The expression/saying, “wala na akong pera, eh…” (referring to that 10% left) is I believe the actual savings itself which most of us can no longer afford to let go should there be any of our relatives, friends, co-workers, neighbors…etc., ask for a small personal loan from us, regardless of whatever their reason/purpose is.
Now, the question is… What is the difference between the “hard earned money” of the future and the “hard earned money” in the now if it most likely will be spent also on expensive restaurants and coffee shops, latest gadgets, fashion accessories, luxury watches, unnecessary travels, jewelry… etc., eventually?
Unfortunately, a lot of people do not set their their short and long term objectives for themselves and their families. There are those who are learning to have their investment and entrepreneurial programs in place but do not know what to do the moment they handle “bigger” money than what they have before. For them, the present and the future are just the same.
A great post Burn! One thing that is also in a way annoying is that these kababayans of ours at times even hates you if they approach you for money by way of lending but when you don’t want to lend and you point out the reason why they don’t have they are the who gets made and brand you “kuripot”. Sad to say that is the mentality as Suze Orman said “it is not that the Filipino can’t save, they don’t want to save.”
Congrats for being appointed by Bro Bo as the coach for young and new investors. I ma sure you will enlighten so many young ones and young at investment in this times.
Thank you Louis. You are right. The problem is the willingness (or the lack of it) of the Filipinos to save. I guess it’s also because of the “fiesta” culture: celebrate now, pay later.