Purposeful Finance

"A cancer diagnosis does not always mean a death sentence if managed properly - but you do need money to finance it."

To all strong women out there, you deserve a health care to protect yourself. 💛

Sun Life offers Sun Fit and Well that covers critical illness such as cancer. To learn more, visit https://sunlife.co/sl-fitandwell.

Read Lace Llanora's story ➡ https://sunlife.co/breast-cancer-awareness

In the realm of purposeful finance, saving is a way of life and should be integrated into our lifestyle, not merely a short-term solution. It's not about temporarily trimming expenses, but rather about consistently making sustainable choices that align with our financial objectives.

Hindi lang tungkol sa pansamantalang pagtitipid kapag nasa gitna tayo ng financial crisis. Tuwing matanggap natin ang ating kita, automatic na ang paglalaan para sa mga goals natin, whether for short term or long term.

Tama ba? :D

It's okay not to be operating at your 100% EVERY single day. We are not robots, we are humans! Life is not a straight line. There are ups, there are downs and that's what makes us who we are.

Some days you might feel like conquering the world, and others, you might just want to get through the day. And guess what? That's completely okay.

What truly counts is that you SHOW UP. Every. Single. Day. 💪

Think about it this way, the sun doesn't shine at its peak every moment of the day. But it's there, consistently, providing us warmth, light and energy.

Consistency is the golden key to achieving any goal. It's not about giving it your ALL every single time, it's about giving it your best, whatever your best may be at that moment. And you know what's the most exciting part about this?

Each day, by just showing up, you're proving to yourself that you are committed, that you are in this for the long haul, that you are bigger than any obstacle that may come your way. That's the true mark of a winner.

So let's not get bogged down if we are not at our 100% every day. What matters more is that we keep going, we keep pushing, and most importantly, we keep SHOWING UP.

Keep this in mind: Success is a marathon, not a sprint. Let's keep running the race, one day at a time, one step at a time. Let's make each day count, even if we are not at our 100%.

Remember, showing up is winning half the battle. So let's win, every single day!

~Saurabh Bhatnagar

Fun fact: People spend money based on their level of wealth.

That sounds obvious right, and you'd assume (wrongly) that the curve is linear. i.e The more money you make, the more you spend and the more you start to spend on luxury brands. More expensive clothes, expensive watches, expensive houses, expensive hand bags etc

But it's different from what most people would think.

I have come across 2 fascinating concepts:

1. Something interesting occurs when they become really wealthy. It's a concept called "post luxury".

Post luxury is where an individual has become wealthy enough they don't feel the need to signal it. They start to eschew luxury brands and instead opt for simplicity, functionality, understatement and practicality.

Let's take cars for example.

E.g.
• Warren Buffett (Berkshire) drives a 2014 Cadillac
• Jeff Bezos (Amazon) drives a Honda Accord
• Sergey Brin (Google) drives a Toyota Prius

The Top 3 brands that millionaires drive in America are :
1. Toyota
2. Honda
3. Ford

Let's take houses for example:
1. Warren Buffet lives in the same home he purchased in Omaha in 1958

2. Elon Musk lives in a $45k prefab box , on the site of the Tesla factory cos it's more practical.

The insight here is that wealthy people spend based on their values, and for some (not all) those values are less about projecting their wealth outwards, instead they're about looking inward, understanding where they find joy and doing things that make them happy rather than impress other.

Recently I stumbled across another fascinating concept call pre wealth. This is realising that luxury brands won't make you any happier, and you start to eschew luxury brands and instead opt for simplicity, functionality, understatement and practicality. Only you didn't need to become a billionaire to realise it.

More information on pre-wealth:The Minimalist

Post source: Fire Movement Philippines Group

Old Happy culture has told us over and over again that our worthiness comes from what we achieve. It comes from how productive we are (why else do we have to justify our self-care as productive?!) It comes from how much we can accumulate, how we look, our power, our likes, our influence…

But when that is your model of self-worth, you know what happens?

You can *never* stop achieving. You can never stop being productive. You can never stop pushing yourself. You have to keep competing with others. You have to grit your teeth through burnout and illness and grief and loss and pain to keep working harder and harder. Because you believe that your value is externally derived from what you do. That’s why we are all so terrified of not being productive and successful, of pausing, of taking breaks, or treating ourselves like human beings.

This is all a lie, of course.

The truth is that you are worthy simply because you are a human being. Nothing that ever happens can take away that worth. Nothing that anyone thinks of you (even what you think of you!) can reduce it. Our worthiness doesn’t require anything from us. But life sure does get a lot easier and more joyful and peaceful when we recognize that it is always there.

The reason we named this culture ‘Old Happy’ is that because once we can give a name to something that we take for granted, we can start to reduce its power over us. So name Old Happy when you see it. Notice how it shows up in yourself and around you. Start to catch yourself in these beliefs, the ones that have been hammered into us since we were young children. From that place, we can start to define for ourselves a new, better way to live.

Learn more about how to do this at www.thenewhappy.com and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/newhappyco

WHAT IS A SINKING FUND?

A sinking fund is a pool of money set aside over time to pay for future expenses or debts, allowing individuals or organizations to prepare in advance for large expenses rather than relying on borrowing or scrambling to find funds when the expense arises. Sinking funds can also be useful for achieving your long-term financial goals. For example, if you want to take a dream vacation in five years, you can set up a sinking fund and save a small amount each month until you have enough to cover the cost. Here are simple steps to help you get started!

1. Identify the future expense: Determine what expense you want to save for. It could be a one-time expense like a home renovation or an ongoing expense like property taxes or insurance premiums.

2. Determine the amount and frequency of contributions: Decide how much you need to contribute each month or quarter to reach your goal, based on the estimated cost of the expense. Make sure the amount fits within your budget. Set up automatic contributions to the sinking fund if possible.

3. Choose a savings account: Consider opening a separate savings account for your sinking fund. This will help you keep track of the money you're saving and avoid spending it on other things. Look for an account with a high interest rate, low fees, and no minimum balance requirement.

4. Monitor and adjust your plan: Keep track of your progress and adjust your plan if necessary. If unexpected expenses arise, you may need to adjust your contributions or dip into the sinking fund. But make sure to replenish the fund as soon as possible.

5. Use the fund for its intended purpose: When the time comes to use the sinking fund, make sure to use it only for its intended purpose. This will ensure that you have enough funds to cover the expense and that you're not dipping into other savings or taking on debt to cover it.

Overall, sinking funds are a smart way to plan ahead for large expenses and avoid the stress and financial strain that can come from unexpected bills. By following these steps, you can build a solid financial foundation and achieve your long-term goals.

Pangiti-ngiti lang yan pero madami na nalagok na tubig alat yan! 😀

When I was in my 20's pangarap ko talaga ung makapag-scuba diving and to get a PADI License, the most important license in scuba world.

This dream started when I went to Palawan and experienced snorkeling. Iba kasi ung pakiramdam sa ilalim ng dagat at sobrang nagandahan talaga ako sa marine life ng Pilipinas, sobrang ganda talaga, as in!!!

When I was 28, (wag nyo na isipin ilan taon na kaya ako ngayon haha!) finally nasubukan ko sya.

EXPECTATION vs REALITY:

Sa aking unang dive sa malalim na bahagi ng dagat, naramdaman ko ang takot na hindi ko inaasahan.

Ilang minuto palang sa ilalim ng tubig, habang palalim ng palalim, I had a panic attack. Nahihirapan ako sa paghinga, at sa aking isip, biglang sumagi ang mga larawang masamang mangyayari. Hindi ko alam kung bakit nangyari ito, ngunit bigla na lang akong natakot sa ilalim ng tubig. Natakot ako maubusan ng oxygen and worse, the trauma I had about a drowning experience when I was in highschool suddenly resurfaced.

Mula noon, hindi ko na masikmura ang pumasok sa tubig at sumabak sa diving. To cut the long story short, nasayang ung oxygen tank ko at kinalimutan ko na ung pangarap ko to get a PADI License. I still love the beach though. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nangyari sa akin, pero alam ko meron akong trauma that needs to be addressed.

Nangyari na din ba ito sayo?
Ung merong bagay o pangarap ka na gustong gusto mo pero nung anjan na, hindi mo pala ito kaya, kasi eto ung limitations mo.

It's okay.

When I first realized I couldn't continue with scuba diving, first, I learned how important it is to heal from our traumas and to never force the healing process. Hindi lahat ng tao handa na sumubok ng bago, hindi lahat ng tao handa na ma-overcome ito. It's okay to try things pero hindi rin dapat nating ipilit ang sarili natin sa isang bagay na hindi natin kaya. At syempre, wag mo din hayaan na pwersahin ka ng ibang tao na i-overcome ang isang bagay lalo na kung wala ka pa dun sa proseso na gusto mo na syang ma-overcome. I realized my limitations and that is okay. Madalas kasi, pag hanggang doon lang ang kakayahan natin tapos pinipilit tayo ng ibang tao na iovercome ito, nagkakaroon tayo ng frustration and self doubts, which later on becomes toxic for our mental health and overall well being.

If you ever find yourself struggling with your own limitations, here are some tips for you:

1. Practice self-compassion: It's important to be kind to yourself when you face limitations. Girl, acknowledge mo muna ung emotions mo and allow yourself to feel them without judgment. Treat yourself with the same compassion and understanding you would offer to a friend going through a similar situation.

2. Reframe your mindset: Instead of focusing on what you cannot do, focus on what you can do. Saan ka ba mas magaling? Identify your strengths and find ways to use them to achieve your goals. Reframe your limitations as opportunities for growth and learning.

3. Set realistic goals: It's important to set goals that are achievable within your limitations. Wag ka magpa-pressure sa mga tips and advice ng ibang tao at sa mga nababasa mo sa internet. Know your CORE. Avoid setting yourself up for failure by aiming too high. Break your goals down into small, manageable steps that you can work towards over time.

4. Find alternative ways to pursue your passions: If you face limitations in pursuing your passions, consider finding alternative ways to experience them. For example, okay naman mag snorkeling nalang, hindi ka naman "mediocre" if you settle for that. If you love to dance but have a physical limitation, you could try chair dancing or adapting your movements to suit your abilities. Wag ka magpadala sa dinidikta ng ibang tao. Buhay mo yan, wag silang pakialamero. 😀

5. Seek support: Don't be afraid to reach out to friends, family, or a professional for support. Talking to others who have faced similar limitations can be helpful in gaining perspective and finding new ways to cope.

6. Practice gratitude: Focus on what you do have and what you have accomplished rather than what you have not. Gratitude can help you shift your perspective and find joy in the present moment.

Remember, everyone faces limitations in some form or another. It's important to accept your limitations, but also to keep an open mind and find new ways to pursue your goals and passions. With a positive mindset and a willingness to adapt, you can lead a fulfilling and satisfying life.

✨LET'S CONNECT ✨
https://linktr.ee/purposefulfinancewithfeona

In pursuit of purposeful finance,
We chart a course, take a stance,
Making choices that align,
With goals that are truly divine.

We seek to invest in a way,
That supports causes every day,
To build a future that's bright,
And make a positive impact in sight.

Through thoughtful spending and saving,
We can make our resources worth having,
Empowering ourselves and those around,
To make a difference that truly astounds.

So let us all strive to be,
Champions of purposeful finance, you see,
For in doing so we can create,
A world that's fair and just, and great.