In the last quarter of this year, I decided I wanted my own house. Granted, it was spurred by the fact that I couldn't hang anything on the walls of my rented unit because my landlord forbids it. But hey, it's a step towards having a concrete goal (pun intended bwahahaha!) instead of my usual aimless wanderings.
And that's when I realized a few things -
1. I've been working in the same firm for 7 years. For the 7 years, I've purchased a home theater system (including my latest acquisitions a plasma tv and an hd dvd player), I have traveled near and far, though mostly near (Palawan, Davao, Singapore, Bohol, Cebu, Banaue etc), I purchased a car and all the gadgets I liked (PDAs, phones, a nintendo DS). I have DVDs and CDs galore (originals, mind you), I even have a life insurance/pension fund (though I'm still paying for it). From the enumeration above, you can probably guess that I'm not really into clothes and shoes and bags, but I like to think (at least for corporate dressing purposes) that I am appropriately dressed. Most times.
2. I have no savings - nada - except for the money I have been setting aside since last year for my well-publicized plan to go to Australia to visit my sister who, at least as of right this very moment, lives there. Which basically means that the money will be gone in a few month's time, when I do get around to going there. Which means I have no savings.
3. I am still in debt, to my parents, who generously albeit with fear in their hearts, lent me part of the money they got when they retired from government service, for the downpayment of my car.
In essence, this basically means that I do not even have money to pay for the downpayment of a lot, much less a house and lot. In view thereof (couldn't resist, haven't written a pleading in days), I resolved, this December, to dedicate the next 5 years of my life to save and save and save - so I can buy a lot and build a house. Which means no more money for gadgets, or purchases on a whim, or impulse trips.
For this sacrifice, at the end of 5 years, I will have my own house and lot, a 9 year old car and a 20 year mortgage. And, more importantly, still no savings! Where is the justice in this world?
So all of you who read this blog, who have been given condominium units, apartments, townhouses or houses, maybe even cars, by your parents or relatives, as a graduation or birthday gift, or simply for existing, free, without any conditions or obligations -- RUN, run like the wind to where your parents/benefactors are, hug them and thank them for saving you from eternal debt and servitude. And for goodness sake, save!
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