As a child, I have read in various stories that money doesn't grow on trees. Of course, they don't! Even a child knows about that! Until I grew up, graduated, and learned a bit about financial management and accounting, still, authors and financial gurus are keen on reminding people that money doesn't grow on trees. 

As an employee trying to earn a living and facing the realities of life, I now realize what those words meant. Money is elusive. You need to work hard for it, search for it and grow it. It doesn't magically appear on our pockets just because we wish for it. 

It is even said that money is a good slave but a terrible boss. It can either make you or break you. Relationships are either forged to strength or forced to break because of money. In fact, financial problems remain to be the number one cause of disagreements in marriage. 

As the family's breadwinner, I have learned financial lessons over the years. I would like to share some in this blog.

The Value of Saving

During this pandemic, I am very much thankful for the wisdom and discipline God has given me to save pre-pandemic. I have this habit of putting coins on my piggy bank to challenge myself. I have piggy banks for 1-Peso, 5-Peso, and 10-Peso coins. I get excited every time I try to carry my piggy banks as they accumulate weight. I also have a savings envelope for 50-Peso and 200-Peso bills as a personal challenge. I have learned that in social media. The challenge is to save every 50-Peso and 200-Peso you receive and treat them as non-existent, or as an outright expense. But whatever or however you want to save, the bottom line is to "save for the rainy days". My coins and savings helped us through during our financial emergencies.

The Value of Restraint

This is about making unnecessary purchases. I have learned to think twice or even more times than usual before making major purchases. There was a time before buying a new cellphone, I even list the pros and cons of acquiring it, my budget, and the reviews available in the market for the said product. I do this in order not to make a rushed decision and regret it later. I even follow this rule: if you really want to buy it, try to at least have a week to think it through. If the desire intensifies, and the need is justified, buy it. If you forget your desire and the urge subsides, you really don't need it. Restrain yourself. Don't buy on impulse. But I have a confession to make. When it comes to books, I find it hard not to be impulsive. 

The Value of Return on Investment

I have this principle that everything I spend my money on must return in some way. When it comes to essentials, of course, its return is in the form of sustenance and healthy life. But some purchases have to add value: when I buy a new laptop, it needs to bring in profit. I have to use it for business or side hustles; when I buy a new phone, I need to use it to increase my reach on my website or my social media pages. Its utility value has to be maximized. Even when I go to movies, in addition to enjoying the film, I try to write a blog out of it so my disbursement will be converted to website traffic. It may sound too rigid and not-so-fun, but I find joy doing it. 

I still have other things to add to the list such as the value of giving and tithing, budgeting skills, investing in yourself, and making personal financial ledgers but I guess it calls for a separate blog post. For now, what I want to leave you is that it doesn't matter how much we earn, what matters is how we treat the money that comes in and out of our pockets. I'm not rich, and I don't have an outstanding portfolio either. But the things I've mentioned helped me and are continually helping me to enjoy every bit of blessing that goes into my lap. 

And I hope that someday, I will become financially free to be able to bless others as well. Money doesn't grow on trees. It grows on teachable and capable hands. 

Read my other blogs:

• What to do When Stress Overwhelms You

• This is Not My Season - A Memoir

• Work. Work. Work.

• How to Bounce Back from Failure

Hi, I am Marts! I am a writer, and aside from my stint here in read.cash, I also have my own blog - martsvalenzuela.com. I appreciate it if you pay me a visit! I plan on growing my readership as I learn to improve my craft and journey towards my passion to write and publish books that add value to people.

Let's rock!