Having to pay for a 2 bedroom condo unit whose amortization is more than you can afford is not only a burden but a feat. When A and I broke up, this was the number one concern of almost everybody. They would ask, "But what about the condo?" and I would reply, "I'm gonna continue it, I guess. It was our dream after all and I'm not just gonna throw away something I worked hard for for 5 years."

I could not fathom how I'd do it, how I'd go about it. I could only afford half. But double?!? My family and relatives offered financial support but I was not one to ride on their generosity and charity especially knowing that they had financial obligations on their own. I thanked them for their support and vowed that I would only ask for assistance if I couldn't afford it anymore. I vowed to myself that I would make it work singlehandedly.

And so, armed with only my discipline with money and my faith that God will not abandon me in my time of need and that He will provide what I need, I continued to pursue my dream.

After years of being able to buy just about anything I wanted for as long as it was within reason, I had to prioritize my expenses. I always ask myself now, "Do you really need this?" Prioritizing my expenses means not shopping for clothes in months. It means not having gone to the salon in 5 months to do my monthly maintenance rituals though I admit, I just have my toes pampered monthly because I cannot paint my toes by myself. Sadly, no foot spas and massages for me. I haven't bought a book as well! Thank God I still have a crate of books to read. It means not replacing my sad, sorry mobile phone who is about to turn 3 years old next month and has already been asking me to be retired. God knows I'm dying for a new phone. It means having to eat less food (but that's okay since I plan to maintain the weight I lost during my depression) and choosing something off the menu that's less pricey. It means making smart financial decisions.

At the same time, it also means counting your blessings. Here are some blessings I've experienced the past 6 months:

1) As of late, most of the drinks I've been getting when I'm painting the town red are free. Thanks to my good PR skills and being an appreciated guest in one of the bars I frequent. The last 3 times I visited, I didn't pay a single thing! Everything I consumed was on the house! There was that open bar worth 5 digits. There was the manager's birthday and it was open bar too. There was a time that I went on a payday weekend and it was so crowded. But because they made me wait for a table, even if I told them I was fine with waiting, they still gave me a pitcher of Bend Me Over on the house! I gotta love them! And because I hardly spent for anything, I'd tip big. And I guess because of that, they love me too! :p

2) One of the expenses I elimated was my phone bill. Believe it or not, I haven't been paying my Globe bill for 3 months already AND they still owe me P2800 worth of credit! Here's how it works:

As a loyal customer for the past 9 years, I am entitled to either a new phone or the rebate program. I always choose the rebate program. Four months ago, they called me telling me that my contract with their rebate program will expire in 4 months. But since I go beyond my plan (My plan is worth P800. The rebates I get were P1,250 monthly. But because I consume more than my allocated texts and calls, I end up paying an additional P3000 a month! So that would mean that, my total phone bill would actually be P4,250 without the rebates! Crazy, isn't it?) As I was saying, I am entitled to another rebate program or an Iphone. Of course I went for the rebate since I'm trying to cut down expenses. There was a catch though. For me to avail of the rebate worth P1,083.33 every month, I had to upgrade my plan to Plan 1200. I figured, why not? After all, it seems I was losing more with my plan since I consume more than the alloted calls and texts. To sweeten the offer, they will credit my remaining rebates from the previous contract so that my new contract can begin the following month. Still with me?

But then, it seems I don't go beyond my alloted calls and texts in my new plan. So imagine this. From paying P3000 a month, my phone bill is now only P117! And because I still have credit worth P2,800 from my previous contract, I end up not paying anything! Life is good!

3) The one time I splurged on a dress was for the wedding of friends Jayson and Irene. It was a luau themed wedding and I bought a dress worth P1100. The best dressed male and female would win a gift certificate worth P1000 from SM and I bagged the prize. :) So technically, I just paid P100 for my award winning dress!

4) Then there was a time, I had to pay P2,500 for several dental procedures. Thankfully, my dentist likes me cuz I go to him regularly and he agreed that I could make staggered payments for 3 months. That helped me a lot because it was also the month that my car insurance was due. It was also the time I had to replace my car tires. They lasted 5 years! Maaaaan, those tires don't come cheap! I paid P2,600 each! Thank God, I only need to replace the front tires.

5) So after a year, my laptop's hinges cracked and broke. On top of that, my cd drive wouldn't burn cds anymore. I knew having this repaired would be a b*tch and cost me a lot but I doubt it would cost as much as new laptop! So I brought my laptop to the service center and lo and behold! My laptop was still under warranty! I left my laptop overnight and it was good as new when I got it back and without having to pay a single cent.

So next time you're caught in a financial situation and money is a little tight (okay, not so little in my case), just prioritize your expenses, focus on your goals, look out for blessings and be grateful for them and believe that God will provide what you need. So far, it has worked for the last 6 months and I never had to ask a single centavo from my family. I may be having a bit of a difficult time but I know that in the end, I will be rewarded... and that's all that matters. :)