Admit it, it’s fun to splurge. Tipong yung paycheck mo parang kanta ng The Ramones: Here today, gone tomorrow. Handling money wisely is an aspect of adulting that our schools never—or rarely—taught us. Whether it’s tax computation, investing, or saving, dealing with your finances is a head scratcher.
We can’t avoid it forever, though. It’s about time that we become masters of our money, instead of being slaves of it. (Tigilan na natin ang pagiging martir.) We sat down with Foreign Exchange educator Mario Singh and asked what pieces of financial (not emotional, bes ha, not now) advice he can give to millenials. Here’s what we learned.
1. Commit and stick to it.
Commitment can be scary. (Di ba nga best in ghosting ka pagdating sa dating? #SorryNotSorry). But putting your mind into investing is key to a successful financial journey. Mario says it always starts with a mindset shift. He believes that things start to go downhill when you don’t make up your mind so bes, alam na this.
2. Study.
More than once did Mario tell us that it’s best to get financial education. “It’s the best form of investment,” he says. It might be costly at first (class rates in his academy FX:1 can go as high as $500), but “it pays you again and again and again.” Understanding the principles of money means it’s less likely to run out. This is a back-to-school move (ugh, we know) but it can make your dream Batanes vacay possible. Sa wakas!
3. Just start.
Beginnings are the most difficult (especially after a nasty breakup—alam namin huhugot ka ulit bes) but they’re also the most important step in taking control of your finances. Whether you choose to save in a bank or invest in a business you believe in (which Mario prefers, BTW), you have to start doing it. You can start big. You can start small. The point is, if not now, when? If not you, then who? (Just kidding.)
4. More assets, more fun.
Well, fun in money means spending it (usapang totoo lang, mga mumsh). For Mario, however, having more assets like cash, equipment, or property (could be “pagmamay-ari ko ang lahat ng lupaing natatanaw mo” levels or not) is better than drowning in debt (AKA liabilities in money, life, love – lahat na).
5. Desire change.
All kidding aside, lacking the desire for positive change could put you in a sad state of being broke forever. “If no one is compelled to do what needs to be done, then things will only be the same,” Mario says. Noted, bes?
