It's Okay to Look Broke

It's been about a week already, since February 07, 2022, when I moved into the city to attend my face-to-face classes every Tuesday and I can say that it's quite expensive to move out away from my parents and live independently. At some point, I am regretting that I decided to rent an apartment just so I can attend my classes once a week because it's really costly, considering that almost everything, from food and rent to fare, has doubled their prices already.

And sometimes, I can't help but complain about why everything is becoming more expensive. Imagine, just a tricycle ride going to the city market, it would cost 30 pesos ($0.58) already. Or maybe, everything has really been expensive in the first place, since the pandemic started, and it's only now that I get to realize it because when I was still at home, I wasn't really spending my money on anything since I'm always just inside my sanctuary. I would only get to spend for my monthly load allowance, whenever I'm in the mood to buy groceries for the house, and when I want to go out with my friends. And the fact that I was with my parents who would always be the ones to shoulder the food expenses was a money-saver for me.

And since I moved here or even before I moved to the city, I've been meeting my Research group mates to edit our paper and to have a consultation with our research adviser. As usual, we would always be together during lunchtime so that it's easier to meet up after eating our lunch. And having rich groupmates, they would always suggest eating in a fast-food restaurant. And being the broke and thrifty that I am, I find it costly and unhealthy to always eat fast food like Jollibee and McDo. However, since I have no choice, I always end up ordering food from those quick-service restaurants.

Our research group would always meet up and do our paper in a Coffee Shop where there is free WiFi and it's also spacious enough for the whole group. And like I said, I have such rich groupmates so they would always recommend just buying snacks from the coffee shop or from the nearest fast-food chain. While my groupmates would be ordering expensive coffee and frappe, I would just be drinking water from my bottle. Lols!

I mean, why would I order a 75 pesos ($1.46) iced coffee drink or a 150 pesos ($2.92) frappe if I can just drink water. Maybe, I'm just too broke to afford it but I also don't fancy drinking expensive coffee if there are cheaper options available out there.

One of my groupmates told me,

"Why do you look so broke? Or maybe you just don't like spending money."

And I just answered him,

"Give me money so that I have something to spend." (Lols!)

I'm the kind of person who doesn't like spending money on wants or unnecessary things because I would always think about those more important things that I could buy with that money. Just, for example, that one order of iced coffee or frappe, I can buy a dozen of 3-in-1 instant coffee already, which could probably last for a week.

I know it's okay to treat yourself once in a while but if you treat yourself too often and you can't really afford it, then you might just end up being literally broke. I always remind myself to just live below my means. You see, it's so hard to earn money but it's so easy to spend it.

Sometimes, I envy other people who get to buy anything they want without having to work hard for it because they have parents who could provide everything for them and who can give them money whenever they ask for it. For someone like me whose parents can't financially support me, I have to tighten my budget so that I can survive with it.

It's okay to look and act broke for now just trying to make both ends meet. Because I know, one day, I will be able to afford all the things I want to buy without worrying about tomorrow anymore, and all of the sacrifices will be worth it in the end.