This is how it started.
I was broke. No. I was so broke.
Why was I broke? Let's a get a good glimpse of what I was doing at my early twenties:
This is me @ 21.
I'm not a big spender.
But I make it sure I buy something on payday.
This is me @ 24.
YES. I AM THIS HOT.
I traveled a lot because I believe that
IT'S TIME EVERYONE FLIES.
This is me @... 20Something
Bouncing on thick smoke @ Dolce Superclub
See, I'm really hot. That's me on a tube top. ^_^
See, I'm really hot. That's me on a tube top. ^_^
TUGSH TUGSH TUGSH
But these are not the real reason why I was broke.
THIS IS THE REASON.
THE MAJOR MAJOR REASON.
Among other things.
My parents were in London at that time. No we're not rich. My sister just happened to save enough money to bring them to her place. I wouldn't really say for pure luxurious vacation but also most importantly for her to save some enormous amount of money to take care of my nine-year-old niece. You see, having someone to watch for my niece would cost her about 10 pounds a day. With my mom and dad as babysitters, she'd save a lot of money without having to worry about her kid's safety. Also, my mom and my dad can also take care of other kids whose parents pay them about 5 pounds a day. My parents earn more money and the other kid's parents saves extra 5 pounds (since leaving them in school would costs 10 pounds). It's a win win situation. Everybody's happy. The only one unhappy about this is ME.
My brother also left, about three weeks after my parents left. He went to UAE for work. He said, being the big fab liar that he is, that I don't have to worry about the BILLS. He is going to take care of it. So I in my head, I was already writing my resignation letter at work. I have worked in that BPO company for five glorious years. But I had to leave. I need some challenge and I want to get out of my comfort zone. Most of all, I think what really influenced me in jumping off the cliff and leaving my job is the "night shift". I want a high-earning morning job and a laid-back no screaming customer kind of environment.
So i quit my job. The next day my 15 year old niece (my brother's daughter) handed me these:
1. A whooping five digit Water Bill.
2. A growling five digit Meralco Bill.
3. A screaming five digit Tuition Fee
4. A babbling five digit PLDT Bill.
Wouldn't life be easier if I just get my own place and rent? Leave them alone. My 65-year-old aunt and my 15 year-old-niece? They're grown ups. They can take care of themselves. But I can't. I forgot to mention that apart from the household bills, my parents left me with a Chicken Business- that during those times was not earning any profit AT ALL, which I later on discovered why.
My sister told me over the phone, with a terrifying tone, "I took them here so they can have some peace of mind and enjoy a little. They are OLD. DO NOT call just to report a problem. You are in charge now." She said, talking about our parents.
With great power comes great responsibility. I don't want that power. I don't want to be the decision-maker. I am not a leader. I am a follower. And I like it that way.
So here's the deal. Which among those four bills must I give up? The water bill? Who needs water anyway? Dehydration? Eh. Electricity bill? Earth hour everyday? Brilliant. Tuition Fee? Self-education will make you a Fortune, right? Telephone bill? Who uses the landline nowadays? Internet Bill? What kind of an idiot would give that up just to feed his hunger or just to bring someone to school? That's crazy. I am not giving up my Internet Connection!
But I did.
Amazingly a friend invited me over to her office one day. Let's call her Ms. Cheapest Online Trading. Her office location? SM Mall of Asia where wifi is cheap. Not free but cheap. The connection is free but you still need to plug the power connection somewhere... like Krispy Kreme, Burger King, Coffee Bean, or Starbucks. You must have the decency to buy at least one doughnut or a latte just to show a little pride and dignity. Besides, her office hours starts at say 10 AM and ends at 6 PM. A thirty peso worth of doughnut wouldn't hurt that much. Would it?
My brother also left, about three weeks after my parents left. He went to UAE for work. He said, being the big fab liar that he is, that I don't have to worry about the BILLS. He is going to take care of it. So I in my head, I was already writing my resignation letter at work. I have worked in that BPO company for five glorious years. But I had to leave. I need some challenge and I want to get out of my comfort zone. Most of all, I think what really influenced me in jumping off the cliff and leaving my job is the "night shift". I want a high-earning morning job and a laid-back no screaming customer kind of environment.
So i quit my job. The next day my 15 year old niece (my brother's daughter) handed me these:
1. A whooping five digit Water Bill.
2. A growling five digit Meralco Bill.
3. A screaming five digit Tuition Fee
4. A babbling five digit PLDT Bill.
Wouldn't life be easier if I just get my own place and rent? Leave them alone. My 65-year-old aunt and my 15 year-old-niece? They're grown ups. They can take care of themselves. But I can't. I forgot to mention that apart from the household bills, my parents left me with a Chicken Business- that during those times was not earning any profit AT ALL, which I later on discovered why.
My sister told me over the phone, with a terrifying tone, "I took them here so they can have some peace of mind and enjoy a little. They are OLD. DO NOT call just to report a problem. You are in charge now." She said, talking about our parents.
With great power comes great responsibility. I don't want that power. I don't want to be the decision-maker. I am not a leader. I am a follower. And I like it that way.
So here's the deal. Which among those four bills must I give up? The water bill? Who needs water anyway? Dehydration? Eh. Electricity bill? Earth hour everyday? Brilliant. Tuition Fee? Self-education will make you a Fortune, right? Telephone bill? Who uses the landline nowadays? Internet Bill? What kind of an idiot would give that up just to feed his hunger or just to bring someone to school? That's crazy. I am not giving up my Internet Connection!
But I did.
Amazingly a friend invited me over to her office one day. Let's call her Ms. Cheapest Online Trading. Her office location? SM Mall of Asia where wifi is cheap. Not free but cheap. The connection is free but you still need to plug the power connection somewhere... like Krispy Kreme, Burger King, Coffee Bean, or Starbucks. You must have the decency to buy at least one doughnut or a latte just to show a little pride and dignity. Besides, her office hours starts at say 10 AM and ends at 6 PM. A thirty peso worth of doughnut wouldn't hurt that much. Would it?
So Ms. Cheapest Online Trading was there, trading of course. I didn't call her that for nothing. She was analyzing the "stock market". I didn't care that much on what she was doing. The Philippine Economy is the least of my worries. I have bills to pay remember?
I had no idea what she was up to. When asked what she was doing, she said "Stocks." She did not elaborate and I was not interested. So the conversation ended there.
The thing is, the bringing of laptop in coffee shops has become a habit. We would meet there, with our own laptops and do our own thing. She would educate herself with trading and I would play Family Feud in facebook once I have updated my status.
I could've done that at home. But no, I had to be broke. I had to give up my internet connection. I had to come and meet her. Free wifi, a doughnut and her mere company every single week. Did it matter? Yes. Because that night, I had no idea that in a matter of sixty-two days, twelve weeks, and three months...I would hit rock bottom.
I also had no idea, that in a span of another sixty-two days, twelve weeks, and three months, I'd be back on my feet again...tougher and wiser.
I had no idea what she was up to. When asked what she was doing, she said "Stocks." She did not elaborate and I was not interested. So the conversation ended there.
The thing is, the bringing of laptop in coffee shops has become a habit. We would meet there, with our own laptops and do our own thing. She would educate herself with trading and I would play Family Feud in facebook once I have updated my status.
I could've done that at home. But no, I had to be broke. I had to give up my internet connection. I had to come and meet her. Free wifi, a doughnut and her mere company every single week. Did it matter? Yes. Because that night, I had no idea that in a matter of sixty-two days, twelve weeks, and three months...I would hit rock bottom.
I also had no idea, that in a span of another sixty-two days, twelve weeks, and three months, I'd be back on my feet again...tougher and wiser.
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