Financial Diary #1

I started out so strong in the first week of the year but I ended it so bad. At least, for my budget. I didn’t really regret my purchases but it made my financial app scream at me in red. Here we go.

Jan 1 – Monday

I spent most of day with a Christmas party slash New Year’s Day party with my father’s side of the family. There were lots of food, games, prizes, and gifts involved. Afterwards, my family and I attended mass at St. Jerome’s. I was feeling a little perched afterwards and bought some gulaman (PHP12.00) from Siomai House. We had a quick dinner at Burger King before calling it a day. I paid for an extra mayonnaise (PHP12.00) to go with our fries.

Total: PHP24.00

Jan 2 – Tuesday

First day back at work. I didn’t particularly look forward to it after ten work-free days but had to do it. I missed my officemates though! It’s like I haven’t seen them in months. I took a bus ride (PHP35.00) to work. Work was same old, same old. I had dinner from KFC (PHP114.00) which was one piece chicken meal with mushroom soup. I upgraded the drink to iced tea since I’m saying no to soda this year! I took an Uber ride home – which is thankfully compensated by my company.

Total: PHP149.00

Jan 3 – Wednesday

I had breakfast/lunch (aka brunch) at work, as usual. I took the same ride (PHP43.00) to work. The workload was really chill today. My officemates and I ordered some pizza (PHP162.00) from Angel’s Pizza. I got four slices and was so full. There were even leftovers that we can take-home. I took another Uber home.

Total: PHP205

Jan 4 – Thursday

Yesterday, I got a call that my passport is up for pick-up and I’d know whether I got my Japan visa approved or not. I took a bus (PHP50.00) to Megamall to go to the travel agency. My visa is approved! I celebrated by eating at my favorite chicken wings restaurant – Frankie’s (PHP279.00). I got into work a few minutes late but it’s okay. Work was a little busy today so for a late dinner, we just stopped by Mcdonald’s. I got a Chicken ala king meal with medium fries, iced tea, and the new soup – cheddar bacon soup (??) (PHP156.00). As usual, I took an Uber home.

Total: PHP485.00

Jan 5 – Friday

It’s my day-off! My family and I went to SM Southmall for most of the day. I ended up buying some heattech for my Japan trip next month from Uniqlo (PHP2170.00). I'm still waiting for the day I don't buy anything when I walk into a Uniqlo store. But their clothes can last me a year or two so it's worth it. I also did a mini-We Bare Bears haul from Miniso (PHP578.00). I got myself a cute little mug and a Grizz teddy bear. I also took advantage of my post-paid plan and added a phone to it. My line went from PHP799 per month to PHP999. My cousin is the one who'll be using the phone so he'll be the one paying for the price difference.

Total: PHP2748.00

Jan 6 – Saturday

I stayed home for half of the day with my brother. Around five PM, we took a Grab ride to Alabang Town Center. I used some of my points and only paid for PHP75.00. My brother and I were hungry so we each bought a Jamaican patty (PHP55.00) and shared an iced tea (PHP15.00). Metro has their warehouse sale and I spotted a buy one, take one deal on deodorants (PHP100.00) so I snagged on one. Sidenote: I already have enough deodorant to last me until next year. For dinner, I treated the family to Melt Grilled Cheesery (PHP1450.00) at Molito. Their grilled cheese is the best! Papa shoulder some of the fee. For dinner, I bought us some buko pandan (PHP300.00) from Nathaniel's. We ride back with the 'rents going home.

Total: PHP1995

Jan 7 – Sunday

The best thing about working Sundays is there is no traffic. I took the usual ride (PHP43.00) to work. It’s a slow day today – compared to hectic ones that were coincidentally my days-off as I’ve been told. My officemates and I decided to grab a snack. I ended up buying a Samyang x2 spicy (PHP86.00) for my brother and got myself a Burger mcdo meal (PHP102.00). It was already past-9 PM when we decided to order food. Most weren’t delivering anymore but Kenny Rogers were! I ordered myself the Unfriend Fried Chicken Combo B meal. It was 200+ but we have a meal allowance for weekend works so I only paid PHP75.00.

Total: PHP306.00

2018

Financial Diary #2: First Week of April

Here's my financial diary #2. I chronicled my expense during the first week of April. Here we go:

Day 1 – Saturday

 Well, I’m sick. Maybe it was because I spend most of yesterday walking corridor after corridor in the hospital that made me catch something. I just stayed in, and was awake mostly to just eat. I had the breakfast, lunch, and dinner that was all made by mom before I’m back to coughing and sniffing back in my bedroom. I did ask my cousin to buy me two itlog na pula (salted dug egg)  (PHP30.00) because I suddenly has a craving to it for dinner.

Total: PHP 30.00

Financial Diary #1: Last Week of March

So, this has been a thing, right? I keep reading it on Cosmo PH and read one on Helga’s blog. This also remind me of that time I budgeted $25 for a week last year. Honestly, when I was reading the articles on Cosmo, I was like “Wait, people actually spend this much??? Like, their whole salary????” And yes, I know that sounds pretty judgy. I’m working on it. But honestly, how much they spend in a week is how much I spend in a month or so. Or maybe I’m just really cheap. The latter sounds more plausible. 

Generally, I don’t really spend much money. Ish. I only flush out the big bucks for travelling or concerts. I do three to four major shopping hauls per year that doesn’t exceed 10K. What I do waste a looooot of money on is food. Yep. I eat fast food like nobody’s business. And I have the extra pounds to prove it. I usually spend at least PHP1200 per week on eating out on just the weekdays but I’m being more mindful and is working on losing weight so hopefully that won’t reflect on my expenses for the next couple of months.

An Introduction

Well, I suck at managing money, along with thousands of other millennials. So at least I’m not the only one lamenting over this problem. But that’s not really a good thing now, is it? Ugh.

2015 was a good year for me financially because that was my first year of having a job and I was able to put PHP 100, 000 in my savings account. 2016 was more of spending all of those savings and then some to travel to three different countries and have a smaller savings account than what I started that year. 2017 is… well, I’m feeling the burn of the expenses I made last year and since I also just got back from travelling… My savings is still not as healthy as I want it to be. I’m aiming to save PHP 175, 000 this year and I have a long, long, long way to go. Like, a really long way to go.