Financial Goals 2015 - Update

Before I post my/our financial goals this 2016 (yes, so many pending posts but I'll get on one at a time), I need to give myself an update of what happened to my/our financial goals of 2015.

The holidays literally filled my hands taking care of my little girl, hosting a little children's Christmas party, looking after a new born baby (hello there my cute little niece), a mini reunion on my father's side, entertaining visiting friends, wrapping and giving gifts to godchildren, relatives, friends, and family. Holidays makes me reconnect with the people around me that is why usually on these days, I am on social media hiatus including blogging. And now I am back to blogosphere. :)

Looking back of my post - Financial Goals 2015 at the start of the year, I have to admit that there are items left incomplete. And items that were revised, added, and totally left out for the meantime from the list.

• Open BPI UITF (Philippines Index high dividend equity fund or Philippine Stock Index Fund(?)) - POSITIVE. Check out my blog about the BPI Philippine High Dividend Equity Fund.
• Open SB UITF (SB Peso Equity Fund) - NEGATIVE. We opened a joint account however it was for another purpose - for the DMCI Bond. I have this added for the 2016 financial goals but no longer for equity since the purpose has also changed.
• Complete the 52 week Challenge (20 increment in reverse though) - POSITIVE. 
• Continue to build 12 month emergency fund (200k) - INCOMPLETE. To date, only 90.75% accomplished. It took a back seat when we started living on a single income. I/We will definitely continue completing the remaining percentage this 2016.
• Start a new Business (?) or Maybe find another source of income - POSITIVE. The farm lots we signed up earlier of the year earned us a fair share on the 3rd  quarter. However, we reinvested the income again on another farm lot. And of course, the online shop - Sophia D Clothing.
• Top Up EIP - POSITIVE. However, instead of one time placement, I regularly visit the BDO branch to add.
• Top Up MF - POSITIVE. One time placement when I received my bonus.
• Open Philequity Fund - NEGATIVE. My intention is to open an account for Philequity via COL. Initially, for the convenience and the no additional charges feature when funding the account via BPI transfer. However, I was not able to change my marital status yet with COL, so I ended up delaying it supposed to be for this year. Right today when I opened up my COL account, a notification prompt with the charges being implemented by BPI fund transfer with COL. Now I am having second thoughts. I will have to study further about this.
• Continue paying for the 2 VULs - POSITIVE.

There. Those were my/our financial goals at the beginning of the year 2015.  And as the year progressed, there were additions made.

• We have opened a BPI Short Term Fund for diversification.
• The DMCI Bond as mentioned above.
• We got a VUL for the husband.

I am positive 2016 is even better in terms of achieving our set goals. I hope for everyone to stay on tract in our journey to becoming financially independent. If not yet on it, we can always make this new year a fresh start. We just have to remember that we do not need another new year to start. Everyday is always a good start. I started this blog November. I started my very first mutual fund on the month of September. My very first RTB on November. My very first UITF on October. So yes, it is never too late as long as we have the drive in fulfilling our dreams.



God bless. :)

2015 Reflections

Today is my last working day for the 2015. Finally, I am going home in a few hours.

Looking back for the whole of my work days for 2015, I am truly grateful. I am thankful I still have this job that provides everything for my little family and extended family. It has been a non-noticeable working days of 2015as the time flies so fast. I still vividly remember coming to work on January this year, hopeful that all my financial plans for this year will eventually be cross out from the list. But again, there are few of them which I need to carry over for the coming year - 2016. I will talk about those financial plans that materialize and some that did not on a separate year end blog.

This year was a little difficult financially than 2014 with our little family living on a single income. Yet, it teaches me so many lessons and I promise myself to strive learning more of the investment basics. I haven't gone that far from the starting line. Though I am proud to say that at least I am now a bit advance from the gun point. Our/My investments is on a steady manner. We/I did adjust to frugal living to sustain our/my little savings. The so called delayed gratification application.

Little business? This is currently the most challenging portion of my life this year. I am currently on the road to balancing life, work, and side lines. Learning the ins and outs of a business. Testing my limits. And learning what I can really give in the entrepreneurship world. The rice business in the province is being manage by my father so I do not exactly know how it runs. But with the online shop, I am the operator/owner/one-woman team. While I am dealing with so many things, from bogus buyers, online scammers, possible posers, courier's delays, supplier issues, legitimacy issues, slow Internet connections, buyer's expectations, and so many other distractions, the almost 2 months in operations have thought me a lot of how to be a businesswoman in the real sense. It is all hard work. And a great deal of patience. I just drafted new house rules from what I have learned to be able to improve my online service and manage the customer's expectations. After all, every successful and failed transactions I have noted one or two things I acquired from it. Innovations. Future forward thinking. Visions. I still have so much to learn.

Friendship goals-wise? I have parted with the so-called 'friends'. I come to understand that maybe, I will come to know some people, learn from them, and then they will eventually go away. I am being careful now to those I share my inner me. It's a lesson I learned the difficult way too. Some people pretend to be in good terms to me. Even gave a generous smile when we meet. But talks about me in social media with their rants. I know, I am not perfect. I also make mistakes. However, what I show to my 'friends' is the real sincere me. Maybe, a lot of times misinterpreted. But this is just me. So there, I am now making sure to stay away from the bullies. And to be very discerning to people's motives. Better than having another heartache.

Relationships? Thank God for uniting my immediate family again. I am thankful that all past differences has been resolved. I know, we will still meet a lot of bumps but I am positive that we become stronger than ever. I prayed so hard for an intact family after I exhausted all my humanly means to communicate with each and everyone and still so distant from unification. It is Him alone can make things turn around and possible when nothing else is left. I just witness His miracle happened to the family. God really answers prayers in His perfect timing.

Signing off for this year.

Enjoy the holidays! :)

God bless us all!

Filled With Gratitude

I am thankful for every seconds of my life. The joy I have for every moment captured of my presence to be just around those I love.

My precious little girl is growing so fast that I wish I am always by her side. Playing. Tickling her. Laughing with her. Watching her favorite cartoon "Home" movie. Walking. Running. Watering the plants. Hiding. Reading her favorite book about princesses. Watching her favorite 2D "Cinderella" movie. Cuddling with her before we sleep. Eating ice cream together. And her favorite porridge (Lugaw). I just love everything about her.

But mama has to work. For her. For our little family. And I guess, at her age, she understand a bit about it. Because when I asked her why mama needs to work, she would reply "Milk" or "Gatas" then followed by "Pa-pers" (diaper - mas sanay siya sa pampers na tawag...hahaha), and then "Pubig" (Tubig - mineral water). Like I often mentioned in my previous posts, every time I have to go back to the city, my heart aches a million times. And I just wish that I do not need to go. I wish that things are different. I have so many things circling my head from the time I step up to the car, close the door, and when the car start moving. I thought, I'll get used to it. Yet, nay.

 
Most of the times, I feel like I am about to give up my present job. And I have so many reasons to. The work place is far for almost 7 hours one way trip. I have to ride 5 times - tricycle/car, then bus, then MRT, then city bus, and then jeep again. EDSA traffic is horrible. It is exhausting that there are a lot of times, when all I wanted is to lie down and catch up on my much needed sleep/rest.

Today is the 25th of December 2015, 4:08 PM Philippine Standard Time.

I am on coffee break.

Yes, I am working on a legal holiday! Double pay it is. A sacrifice I have to make because I signed the contract more than 7 years ago. It couldn't be as lonely as it should be until I heard the sweet voice of my little girl after midnight, sniffing and about to cry. So I have to hang up before we could both be crying our heart out.

I just asked my husband to take some photos and send it to me via messenger. With tears flowing down continuously on both cheeks, I ran my fingers over her pictures. I terribly miss her. It's Christmas and I am not beside her.  And I thought, 2 more days and I am home. I can give her a hug. Kiss her.

My strong desire to become a stay at home wife enveloped me and prayed hard for it as I drift to sleep at 2:30 AM.

I woke up with a knock on the front door. My little sister came to visit me, coming from her night shift schedule at the hospital where she worked. I was filled with joy seeing her. Finally, an immediate family. We catch up on everything. Chat over breakfast before we headed to the closest mall for some last minute Christmas gifts.

For quiet a few hours, I forgot about my longing to go home straight and see my little girl. It is such a relief to bond with a sister.


We all have so many wishes and hopes in our hearts. Different to each individual. Unique we are. And to each his own.

I know in my heart, He has better plans for us. A better plan than I could master. I have faith for that. All I need to do is make every moment and action in accordance to His will. And for this I am thankful. I am grateful that I have something to look forward to.

Thank you Lord for everything!

Just sharing. Merry Christmas :)