05/07/2024
A must read for everyone..
Observe..
Reflect..
and become a little wiser every day..
What I am going to say will come as a shock to many readers: Most of my regrets in life are those that deal with personal finance. I was afflicted with a spending problem that nearly left me in ruins. I made so many mistakes that I wish I had not done. Some of them are:
1. Spending every peso I made. For some reason, I felt the need to spend every single centavo I made. “Anyway, I’ll earn again.” What a fool I was.
2. Not saving early enough. If I could turn back time, I’ll set a certain percentage for saving no matter how ridiculously small it is.
3. Not buying life insurance early in my life when I was much healthier and premiums were much cheaper.
4. Buying too many gadgets and electronic stuff. They really have no resale value.
5. Investing in the stock market when I should have avoided it, and not investing in it when I should have.
6. Buying too many toys for my children.
I really should have limited what I bought for them because they sometimes do not appreciate what they have, and it teaches the wrong values.
7. Buying too many things on credit. Ouch!
8. Buying a piece of real estate too early, too soon.
9. Buying expensive watches and other jewelries just because it was the “in” thing to do. (Can I get anymore stupid than that?)
10. Eating too many times at too many restaurants.
11. Not starting a business earlier than I should have.
12. Changing cars too often and buying gas-guzzlers.
13. Not buying motor-car insurance: I wrecked a car that had no coverage.
14. Not learning the value of giving tithes earlier (The best investment there is!).
How can someone who claims to be a “personal finance coach and educator” have so many regrets on personal finance?
What is crucial is the realization of one’s problems, the resolution to learn from them, and have a lasting solution for them. We can’t “undo”many things we have done, but it doesn’t matter anymore as what’s done is done.
Like anything in our lives, we must learn to stand when we fall. In doing so, we become more resilient, stronger and, most importantly, wiser.