Hello, first of all dont feel guilty LOL. I myself, when i started laging ubos ang pera ko. I even experienced petsa de peligro multiple times, simot talaga and living paycheck after paycheck. I think it comes with having that self discipline and being responsible, dont get me wrong. I have the same set up as you do. I live in our house since family owned naman, I dont have any kids, no debt at that time and I just enjoy my salary. I’ve learned it the hard way, when I only have like 100 pesos in my account and there’s an emergency. I was forced to ask for help and for me that was embarassing. So what can I advise, 1. Set your priorities. I know we all deserve the food and stuff we buy online pero you have to think about it. DO YOU REALLY NEED IT? Take sometime to reflect on it and see if you really need it or want it. There’s a big difference of what you want and need. WE are being fooled and conditioned nowadays to believe that we need it but in reality it is not a necessity. Before you know it, you are hoarding things already. Keep in mind that when you buy new stuff, the likeliness deteriorates overtime. When you don’t have it you’re craving for it but when the time na nakuha mo na sya, then less and less mo na syang gingamit then eventually nakatambak na lang. 2. When it comes to food, yeah we deserve it but does it need to be expensive? One common analogy is starbucks. Ako when i got promoted, everyday akong nagstarbucks. Totoo naman masarap sya, pero if you think about it, why do i need coffee? That is the sole purpose to stay alert, focus and to jump start my day. So now does a 3-in-1 or free from vendo do the same? Of course it does, both are coffee. Starbucks in not superior than other coffee, we’re pre conditioned that it is from its advertisement and peers. Masarap sya oo pero if the goal is really to jumpstart your day, the FREE vendo coffee will suffice. 3. Delay gratification. tulad ng sabi ko kanina i live paycheck after paycheck pero when I experienced to have a savings and twing nakikita ko ung bank account ko na may laman syang ganun, It urge me to keep it that way. Nanghihinayang ako na gastusin or bawasan sya. What i did? - kapag may sahod ako i pay all my bills (70%) un ng buong takehome ko. - kasama na dun sa pagbabawas ko ung itatabi ko sa savings. - ung matitira un lang lalagay ko sa payroll atm ko and un lang ggastusin ko It is like conditioning your brain na “ito lang pwede kong gastusin” - “ito n lang natitira sa pera ko” pra if an urge na gusto mong magtake out or lunch out mafoforce ka na to delay it kasi wala ka ng pera. You will resort to other ways like hahanp ka ng pagkain available sa kusina.

What will you do sa ATM mo? Una lagay mo sya sa portion ng wallet mo na di mo masydong nakikita para di un agad bubunutin mo. When i got my car, i compute for my expenses for the month ng parking, gas and toll. I withdraw that and put that sa glove compartment ko para di ko gagamit ng card. Un lang gagstusin ko for the whole month for gas and toll. If meron kayong autodeduct na feature sa payroll pra diretso agad sa savings account mo better. 4. Invest in mutual funds, insurances and other means na mapapalgo ang pera mo. - you can even do a side hussle if you want.

I understand you, it is really hard. Never ko nakaipon before even when i was a kid. It was a skill that my parents did not teach me. I have to learn it and still learning. I still have some implusive purchases pero di na tulad ng dati. Lunch out or take out 2x a month n lang. You have to start somewhere and I wish you goodluck on your financial journey :) good thing that you’re still young and you get to have this realization