Hello friends! Happy new year!
Medyo late na, pero it’s better late than never diba? 🙂
At dahil bagong taon na, it’s time to reflect on what happened in 2021 in terms of our personal and financial goals.
Kumusta naman ang mga goals mo last year?
- naachieve mo ba ang weight goal?
- nabayaran mo ba ang mga utang o nadagdagan pa ang mga bayarin ngayong bagong taon?
- nabuo mo ba ung 3 months worth savings para sayong emergency fund?
- nabili mo na ba ang pangarap mong bahay o sasakyan?
- natuloy ba ang inaasam asam mong travel o bakasyon kasama ang family, friends or special someone mo?
Kung oo ang sagot mo, congrats and I’m so happy for you!
Kung hindi, okay lang yan.
Sabi nga nila, “habang may buhay may pag-asa.”
Pwede ulit tayo magsimulang mangarap at mag set ng bagong goals ngayong taon.
Pero tandaan,
“Faith without action is dead.” – James 2:17
Kaya samahan natin ng sipag at tiyaga ang ating mga pangarap.
Wala namang imposible diba..
Looking back 2021, marami-rami ding nangyari sa amin last year…
Medical Emergency
Simula pa lang ng taon, as in nung new year’s eve, nagkaron kagad kami ng emergency nung mag-undergo ng major operation ang mother-in-law ko due to diabetes. Ang laki din ng nagastos sa hospital lalo na at wala siyang health insurance. Plus yung daily medical needs pa.
Dito namin narealize kung gaano ka-importante ang pagkakaroon ng health card, health insurance, at health fund.
Kaya kahit mabigat sa bulsa, kumuha na din kami ng health and life insurance for my family habang wala pang pre-existing conditions at sinisikap namin magkaron ng healthy lifestyle.
Unemployment
Anyway, on the same month din, January 2021, bigla na lang nawalan ng work si husband. Okay ang income and benefits nya sa company at wala naman syang problema sa work at sa team nya, at pupunta pa nga siya dapat ng US for a business trip. Then all of a sudden, isang tawag lang, wala na syang trabaho.
This is exactly the reason why we need an Emergency Fund. And thank God dahil kahit papano may naitabi kaming emergency fund to cover our monthly bills, at sinking funds para sa mga irregular expenses kagaya ng life insurance at car insurance.
Kung wala kaming emergency fund, baka nakapangutang na naman kami sa credit card at sa ibang tao. At kung wala kaming sinking funds, baka hinayaan na lang naming mag-lapse ang insurance policies namin.
6 months pa bago sya nakahanap ng bagong trabaho, at kahit maraming challenges ang dumating, we praise God sa lessons na natutunan namin.
Nothing is permanent
Una, narealize namin na wala talagang permanente sa mundo. Kahit gaano pa kaganda ng trabaho o business, o kahit gaano pa kadami ng savings mo, hindi natin masasabi baka bukas o next month, bigla na lang mawala ito.
That’s why we should never put our trust in our job, in our money, and in our earthly possessions. Dahil lahat ng bagay ay temporary lang.
Instead, we need to put our trust in God, because He alone is our true security.
If we surrender our burdens and worries to God, He will take care of us. Hindi nya tayo pababayaan.
Pinay Investor Blog and YT Channel
Habang walang work si husband, mas namotivate ako to work harder at sinikap kong maging consistent sa pag-uupload ng bagong videos dito sa Pinay Investor YT Channel, at nagulat nga ako 93 videos pala ang napublish ko in 2021 alone.
This platform gave me the opportunity to serve and make an impact in other people’s lives through my content.
Kahit na medyo mahiyain ako, unti-unti akong nagkaroon ng lakas ng loob, lalo na kapag nababasa ko ang mga positive comments at messages na nakatulong pala sa iba ang aking mga videos.
Nagkaron din ako ng opportunity to work with sponsors and brands at nabigyan din ako ng opportunity to speak sa mga seminars at events related to personal finance.
Faith and Ministry
Pero ang pinakamagandang nangyari talaga during that time na walang work ang husband ko ay yung nagkaroon kami ng opportunity to grow in our faith in God.
We started our daily family bible studies, at mas lalo pa naming nakilala si Lord. Nagkaroon din kami ng opportunity to share the gospel sa aming mga kapamilya at kamag-anak from both sides of our family at ngayon ay active na din silang nag-aattend ng mga worship services at meron na din silang personal relationship with the Lord.
I’m also blessed dahil nabigyan din ako ng opportunity to lead an online discipleship group for women and moms from different parts of the country and even abroad.
Nakakatuwa lang dahil sa kabila ng mga pagsubok, God can still use us to be a channel of blessing to others in many different ways.
Tithing and Blessings
At kahit nawala ang malaking bahagi ng aming family income during that time, pinrioritize pa din naming magbigay ng aming tithes and offerings para sa church.
Kahit gaano pa kaliit ng natatanggap naming income, inuuna talaga namin ang para kay Lord dahil naniniwala kami that everything belongs to God and we trust in Him completely.
Naniniwala kami na kapag inuna namin sya, kahit na konti na lang ang matira sa amin, we believe that God will bless and multiply the little that’s left with us.
We know and believe that God will provide. And he did. Hindi talaga sya nagkulang. Nagugulat na lang kami sa mga unexpected blessings na dumadating – food, cash gifts, unexpected earning opportunities, at talagang ipinagpapasalamat din talaga namin na walang nagkasakit sa family. Praise and glory to God!
Registered Financial Planner program
May-July, I attended the Registered Financial Planner program, medyo mahal pero God made a way for me to enroll in this program with a huge discount!
Marami akong natutunan in terms of financial planning, at may mga bagong opportunities din na dumating after taking this program kabilang na rito ang pagiging contributor-writer ko sa Moneysense magazine at nafeature din ang Pinay Investor sa ilang mga blogs and online shows.
Thank you po for the trust.
I’m still working on my paper at sana matapos ko na ito this year para hopefully maging officially Registered Financial Planner na din ako.
Financial Advisor at AIA Philippines
September, God led me to AIA Philippines, formerly Philam Life, kung saan nakilala ko ang isang very supportive and inspiring na leader who explained to me the importance of insurance. After going through trainings and certifications, I officially became a Licensed Financial Advisor of AIA Philippines, another opportunity to serve others, with God’s help of course, because apart from Him, I can do nothing.
Paid Off Insurance Policies and Car Loan
In December, by God’s grace, we paid off the annual payment of our new insurance policies at fully paid na din ang aming car loan.
Andami din naming nareceive na unexpected gifts and blessings in December
and we were reminded of Ephesians 3:20,
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.
We’re having another baby!
God is truly amazing!
Akala namin yun na yun, pero may pahabol pa pala si Lord na malaking blessing…
On the second week of December, we found out that I’m pregnant!
Yes, Pinay Investor is having baby #2 this year, God willing! Glory to God!
Our daughter, Macey, is already 8 years old, and we’ve been praying for our second child for almost 5 years now, and we’re so grateful that God finally answered our prayer!
Having another baby is truly a blessing, and we know it also comes with a huge responsibility. Kaya pagpray nyo ko friends 🙂 na maging healthy and safe ang aking pregnancy and delivery and may God guide us as we prepare for baby #2 – physically, emotionally, financially, and spiritually.
How about you?
How did 2021 go for you?
Anong goals ang na-achieve mo?
Anong mga challenges ang napagdaanan mo nung 2021?
Anu-ano ang mga natutunan mo and how did it help you become a better person this 2022?
Sana na-inspire kayo sa video/blog post na ito. Thank you for watching and watch out for my upcoming videos on my YouTube Channel.
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Cheers to more personal and financial blessings for all of us this year! God bless you!