I have to admit that I have made serious financial mistakes in the past. It was a shame to suddenly realize that the usual 15-30 salary that I was comfortably getting suddenly came to a halt. It was erroneous to believe that with my employment track record, how can I be unemployed for so long? And it even stretched to more than a year. Huh?! Me --- jobless, financially dependent, without my usual purchasing power? Aaaghh!!!
And so I swallowed my pride, and accepted "help" because admittedly I needed some.
Staring at my P50k laptop which I paid in cash as my "remembrance" from my last project, and sliding my fingers on the screen of my smartphone, I sneered at my own folly. I could not sell these gadgets now for the price that I originally purchased. Though these were top of the line when I bought them, but there are many gadgets now that could easily surpass these, even at a lesser cost.
So what did I do? I hooked up with JobStreet and other job search engines just like any job seeker. For a time, I religiously bought Sunday job market newspapers until my budget was depleted.
Six months after my last day at work, I managed to get interviews with projects in the same industry that I was used to. But these did not prosper. Probably because I was honest enough also to admit that I was pregnant that time.
And since my belly became more noticeable than my CV, I stopped looking again for jobs. Until I received an email asking me if I will be interested in becoming a Financial Advisor. It also offered FREE training on financial matters. Hmm... sounds trivial... sounds dignified... sounds interesting... and it's FREE!
So why not? I got nothing better to do this time and I felt I need stimulation. This is totally different than my usual stuff. I told myself that to get different results, one has to stop doing the usual.
This now began my providential introduction to Sun Life Financial. It must have been by God's grace that I was led into this. I was even a bit excited that I was given financial education for FREE! (and with FREE meals and snacks!)
Indeed I wanted to know something about financial literacy a very long time ago. Talks about financial security, financial freedom, etc. etc.. I have read a number of books, magazines and articles about it but I just didn't know how to get there. It was hard to translate into action all the advise presented. Maybe, I just needed an uncomfortable jolt to make me really realize that the privilege of having a job and salary needed discipline and will power to make it really work.
I have heard and read about the concept of "making money work for you", instead of the usual "working for the money." And gradually now, I am confident to say that I am getting there. Slowly, but surely.
Before, I am skeptical about life insurance after being burned by my experience with a pre-need company that went bankrupt. Yet I got a traditional insurance for my eldest daughter out of respect from a family friend who was an agent from another company. There was a time that I felt the burden of having to pay the quarterly premiums, especially when my salary has stopped. I almost allowed it to lapse, but just in time, I learned about the importance of having a life insurance and even a forced savings for my child. I should not stop securing the financial future of my children. I realized that time should be my leverage for making my investment grow. Little by little, I am being forced to make it a habit to save and value money for what its worth some years from now.
I learned to count even the little things that eventually matter when pooled together. Like expensive taxi fares, or ice cream snacks, or pricey bag or shoes that become ugly with cracks after some time. I realized I can definitely do this again since I did not have these luxury before I was earning my keep. I can keep my expenses to a minimum so I can contribute more to my savings and investments for the future. Only these do not depreciate over time, instead will combat inflation and may provide means to tide very difficult times when we will need it most.
And as a Financial Advisor now of a very reputable company, the number one in the industry these days, I believe that being in this situation now has been given the grace of God. Providential, as I say it.
I have many realizations about how I handled my finances before and how I can still catch up to achieve financial security and freedom. Now, it has also become my mission to tell others to do the same.
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