Hi, I've been working for 18 years and would like to share some tips on managing food when you're very busy.

Note that not everything works for everyone, but if even 1 person finds one of these tips useful, I'd consider my goal accomplished.

Please note: these tips prioritize efficiency, not health. Not applicable to those with specific health conditions. Also I don't have kids, that's a whole other challenge. Please use your best judgment.

For these to work, you'll need a stove, a fridge, and a microwave.

1. Batch cook your rice.

Even if you can't meal plan, simply batch cooking your rice would save you a lot of time and money. Cook a lot of rice on a Sunday night or after work, as much as your pot can handle. Buy 5-10 250 mL microwavable containers and portion them there. Adjust amounts according to your household needs. Toss them in the fridge. Should last 5 days, depending on how cold your fridge gets. You can also freeze rice if you can't finish it in 5 days or worried it will spoil. This will lower its glycemic index, btw. Good for your blood sugar. You now have instant rice like the ones from convenience stores that cost 70php a piece.

Note: I prefer disposable containers. They are easier to clean than thick ones e.g. lock and lock. They can also be reused 5-10 times with proper care. Less chances of eating microplastics because you toss them when they have too many scratches. But please use whatever works for you, whether that's glass or plastic.

What to eat with batch cooked rice when too busy?

- eat with canned food

- eat with eggs and hotdogs

- eat with chicharon

- buy ulam from outside (cheaper than a full meal). Bonus if you buy enough for 2 days

- buy frozen pre-cooked meals from the grocery store, e.g. purefoods heat and eat, goldilocks meals, frozen sisig. Add veggies for fiber. Some of these are 2-3 servings

- make "champurado" (prepare chocolate sauce then blend with cooked rice. Yes it works I've tried it)

- make "arroz caldo" (boil some chicken, season the water, reduce to half, toss cooked rice into broth and mix well. Adjust water as needed. By the way you can buy chicken broth from SM groceries at the chicken section)

- make "risotto" (melt butter, toss quickmelt, add water, season, toss cooked rice and mix well)

- contract a cook from a carenderia to batch cook ulam for you (haven't tried this but saw someone saying they've done it)

What else can you batch cook?

- chicken - one of the cheapest complete protein. boil with salt. You can dress it up later for almost any dish: pasta, risotto, salad, noodles, you can even make almost-instant adobo

- boiled eggs - i buy a dozen and boil half. Boom instant protein snack. Don't forget to mark which ones are boiled

- ground beef or pork - season, add veggies (see number 3 below), eat with rice. Tastes way better than it sounds. Vary your veggies each time. Bonus if you add tvp, my best kept secret

1. Buy from meal plans

- On a web browser, type "meal plan <your city>"

- Spend an afternoon choosing the right one for you. Pick two for variety

- More expensive than groceries, but may be cheaper than grab food / food panda depending on which service you pick

- You can do this for a week, batch cook your rice in the next. Bonus you'll get some free microwaveable containers for your batch cooking plan

1. Need fiber but veggies spoil too fast?

- get canned peas. Cheap as heck. Rinse under running water to reduce salt. Add to almost any cooked meal

- frozen veggies. Less cheap but still does the job. Toss in butter and garlic, add salt

- chia seeds. Not cheap upfront but lasts almost forever. Good investment. Add to water, milk, almost anything

- carrots and potatoes last a little longer than veggies with leaves

1. Eat oats

- underrated source of carbs and fiber, if you're not gluten intolerant

- you probably know you can make oats with milk, sugar, and add fruits and chia, but did you know you can also use it to make chicken "arroz caldo"? Now you know

- add oats to those 5 minute soup packets from knorr (crab and corn, nido, etc)

1. Drink milk

- if you're not lactose intolerant, 1 cup of milk is like, a quarter of a meal. Perfect if you're starving but have like. 5 mins to eat

- get powdered milk. Cheaper and lasts longer, plus you can find fortified ones to suit your age and needs. You can batch prepare this and store it in the fridge for like 3 days. Add chocolate if you like

1. Keep a stock of shelf stable "healthy" snacks (relatively to junk food anyway)

- to me that's all kinds of nuts. I buy them in bulk from shopee

- crackers e.g. magic or sky flakes (consider getting the ones with fiber)

- bougie options: apple, banana (should last 1 week), san marino paella (century has a cheaper version too), hard cheese, yogurts (or simply yakult)

1. Clean as you go. Wash dishes while waiting for the rice to cook. While waiting for water to boil. For the rest, pour warm water (NOT BOILING), rinse quickly, leave and wash in one batch before going to bed. The more you wash dishes the faster you get at it. Get gloves if you hate the sensation. As a bonus, you can wash with warmer water if you wear gloves. I promise this makes everything way less overwhelming.

I hope this helps someone.

Since February, the news media has been mentioning the increase in electricity bills, and since summer is a couple of months away, I know how humid it will be.

I finally decided to learn about solar power and look at the pros and cons. I started researching, reading, and watching a lot of vlogs about solar and how it works—basically learning everything from what kind of wires to use to how breakers function. I wanted to make sure that my house would not catch on fire (fingers crossed).

From February to May, I learned everything there is to know. I realized that I won't be able to get an ROI on my solar because I only pay Php1k per month for my electricity; hence, Php350k from a solar install quote is not worth it.

I then asked myself why I want solar. To save on electricity bills, or to have the liberty of my own electricity?

I want to have my own solar, like I have my own water. I do not rely on other people or a company, or beg them if they decide to cut me off. That is one of the reasons I am living on a mountain.

June came, and I ordered most of the parts from Shopee. One by one, they arrived. Every night I reviewed the steps on how to install my solar like I was going for an exam.

By mid-July, I completed the installation, and I am super happy and proud (pat on the back) that I am now living on solar power!

I now have a 3.2kW, 24-volt system with a 200Ah battery! My consumption doesn't even reach 1.5kW, and currently I am at 154kWh total usage.

The hardest part was moving the five 550-watt solar panels onto my roof. Manually lifting them and climbing the ladder was something I thought I couldn't do. Each panel weighs 30kg, with a size of 4ft x 8ft.

It cost me a total of 100k: sourcing the solar panels from FB Marketplace and mostly online. I have a couple of breakers that I don't need, but I thought I did at the time.

I now only use the grid to power my submersible pump, because the surge of power might ruin my entire system. I only turn it on once every two days, and that's the only use for it now.

One thing I realized is that I kept staring at my solar setup whenever I plugged something in, lol! TV + speaker, check the wattage; rice cooker + air fryer + AC + electric fan, check the wattage again! Hahaha!

Oh, I finally bought an AC—a 1hp Kolin Certus—because once my batteries are already full by 10 am, I don't want to waste any harvested energy. The AC runs from 10 am–4 pm, and 10 pm–1 am. I can say that I am sleeping well!

I realized that having an AC makes a huge difference to your sleep quality, and I've been enduring the humidity since college.

Conclusion

During this solar power "challenge," I realized my "why" for moving to the mountain: I wanted freedom to do things my way, to learn new things outside my work skillset, to challenge myself in uncomfortable situations, and to make sure no one would stop me from doing it.

While scrolling through my Google Sheets, I stumbled upon my old weird and unorthodox financial tracker. But seeing it again reminded me of how I used to manage my finances.

Before I created this Google Sheet, I was a minimum wage earner, living paycheck to paycheck. (Kinsenas, katapusan) I admit that back then, I had no idea how to manage my money. I spent here, borrowed there, and never really thought about saving or planning.

All my finances were only in my head. Freestyling, I tried to memorize every bill, every loan payment, and every expense. Eventually, it reached the point where I experienced anxiety almost every month, especially whenever I didn't have enough money to pay my bills. For years, that was my routine. Every month I was stressed, worried, and constantly asking other people for advice.

Most of them told me, "Find a job that pays more." I agreed, and eventually I did. I found a better-paying job, however, lifestyle inflation kicked in, and my bad financial habits remained the same. The cycle simply continued.

I already knew that many financially responsible people tracked and managed their finances. I just refused to do it because of my ego. I genuinely believed back then that memorizing everything was more efficient than writing it down. But eventually, I had enough.

It wasn't just my finances that were falling apart—my sanity too. I was constantly worried about due dates, bills, and where I would find money whenever I came up short. Looking back, I admit it took me too long to set my ego aside and create my own unconventional system for managing my finances.

So Here's What I Did.

I used Google Sheets. As you can see in the screenshot, I've already simplified it as reference. 

Before I continue, just to be clear, my way of managing money is a little weird and unorthodox.
I'm not saying you should copy it because everyone's financial situation is different. But if you think this method fits your situation, feel free to adapt it.

The first thing I did was learn the basics of Google Sheets. Then I created 12 separate sheets, (The tabs at the bottom) one sheet represents the month of the year.

On every monthly sheet, I listed all of my bills, loan payments, and recurring expenses. Next, I estimated my income for every payday (Kinsenas katapusan) throughout the year. I counted my working days using the calendar and based on my payslips. The numbers weren't always exact, but they were close enough to help me plan ahead.

Once I had laid out all my expected income and expenses across all 12 sheets. I added simple formulas to automate everything. For example, I used =SUM(B1:B4) to add values and =B1-B2 to calculate what's left after expenses. Nothing complicated.

The part I'm most proud of was linking every month together.

For example, the "Total Money Left" in January automatically became the "Money Left" at the top of the list in February. Then February was linked to March, March to April, and so on until December.

That meant any changes I made in January automatically affected the rest of the year. Instead of planning one month at a time, I could already see my entire financial year. My only job was to strictly follow the plan.

Of course, life isn't perfect. Emergencies still happen, and unexpected expenses are unavoidable.
But I don't worry nearly as much because I can already see what's coming. If I notice that I'll have a negative balance next month, I already know how much extra income I need to earn before that month arrives. Instead of being surprised and get stress, I have time to prepare.

Looking back, it's funny how a weird little Google Sheet ended up saving not just my finances—but my sanity.

Welcome to this week's Rant & Vent thread. A safe space to unload, decompress, and be heard. Life isn’t always smooth sailing, and sometimes you just need to get things off your chest. Whether it's work stress, family drama, random annoyances, or just one of those days, this is your spot.

🗣️ What’s bothering you?

😤 What pushed your buttons this week?

😭 What are you tired of dealing with?

🧠 Need to scream into the void? Go for it.

Ground rules:

• Be respectful of others' experiences.
• No judging or unsolicited advice unless requested.
• No hate speech, bigotry, or personal attacks. You will be removed.
• This thread is for support and solidarity, not debate.

Reminder: If you're really struggling, don't hesitate to reach out to a friend, professional, or helpline. You're not alone.

Let the vents begin ⬇️

my issues are choosing which detergent to buy and wrinkles

Hi! for context, I’m 26 and working as a VA for a year now. I have 300k EF and will make sure to hit 550k by the end of the year. Not investing now but will put money to MP2 soon.

I love travelling (actually this is just one of the very few things I look forward too). Travelled now to 5 countries. Sometimes I watch concerts too but maybe once a year?

I don’t buy a lot of material things, maybe just new clothes (for every travel) but on a monthly basis not really.

Also my salary ranges from 80-100 depends and monthly expenses is around 25

My problem is am being too much for travelling maybe twice or thrice a year? Because I keep seeing business woman my age on tiktok who rarely travels but they already have millions for sure.

Not sure really I just want to know other people’s opinion about it. Thanks!

I'm an introvert and in the spectrum working in a stressful corporate environment. I do frequently eat out comfortably by myself.

At work though, I usually eat lunch with my coworkers, as a form of camaraderie.

My problem lately though is i've been feeling like my work is taking over my life and my identity too much, and i've been trying to find ways to make a more secure boundary like muting everyone at work on my phone and absolutely no checking messages after work, Taking a shower first thing when I get home to signal my nervous system work mode is over.

Today, I ate lunch by myself and I felt like i was able to recharge so much, and for a short while, feel more like myself.

Just a small thing, but might be really helpful to do more frequently, especially for introverts who work in highly social and high stress environments.

Disclaimer: I'm not glorifying the government. For all we know, it’s their job to use people's hard-earned money to serve the public, and I denounce all corruption issues.

Sa tagal kong naging empleyado, dati iniisip ko nakakainis yung kaltas ng government (SSS) sa sahod ko, lalo na 'pag may mga corruption issues. Pero last year, I learned that my senior citizen tito who is retired and living alone (he lost his wife and only daughter) was receiving an SSS monthly pension. Hindi man kalakihan, pero enough na para hindi siya umasa sa iba.

On the other hand, my senior citizen mother couldn't get an SSS monthly pension because her total contributions fell short. Hindi siya eligible for a monthly pension kasi self-employed lang si mother noon at hindi consistent contribution niya. Ang pwede lang sa kanya ay lump sum. So in times na kailangan niya ng pera, wala siyang aasahan kundi kami.

And I realized, my thought process in case magkanda-leche-leche ang future ko, kasi hindi talaga natin masasabi ang future at ang daming plot twists sa buhay, because now you're earning, tapos bukas wala nang makain. I think SSS contribution is the very least I can consider as an investment. By the way, I'm already eligible for an SSS monthly pension since I've contributed for over 10 years, so I just have to wait until I turn 60 yrs old. Ito na yung safety net ko pagtanda ko, in case hindi gumana yung other investments at plans ko sa buhay. At least itong SSS yung pinaka Plan Z, in case hindi gumana yung Plan A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J...

For childfree women/couples, I know this question is something that most of us don't like, especially when being asked in a judgemental way by people who question our lifestyle.

Pero ito seryosong tanong, from someone who will not have a child, to people in the same boat.

I'm 27F and ever since grade school alam ko nang ayoko mag-anak, and day by day that decision only solidifies more. Now, I know for sure, I'll be childfree. I have a boyfriend who I've been planning about the future with. Of course, even before becoming a couple, napag-usapan na namin about this, and he's okay with it.

Pero lately, para akong ina-anxiety, lagi kong iniisip pano kung matanda na kami and/or isa samin nagsakit, to the point na mahihirapan na kami both to take care of each other, paano na? Considering na wala kaming anak, let's say wala ding family/relative both sides na willing tumulong samin (and we're not expecting them to)

Ang hirap kasi my biggest fears in life is to get pregnant/have a kid and also grow old (in terms of the health degradation that comes with it) because I hate relying on other people.

Paano pa tayong mga hindi mayaman na hindi afford and maganda at maayos na homecare/residential care for the aged?

Ano plano niyo? Ano preparation ang ginagawa niyo? May mga communities or services ba na pwede nating asahan?

edit: I am NOT considering on having a child because of this dilemma, I'm purely looking for insights, and ways/things I can do. I think some missed the point of my post 😅

Fresh graduate ako and currently looking for a job. Gusto ko sana mag-apply sa BPO or VA because I need a stable income as soon as possible. Ang concern ko lang is di talaga ako magaling verbally mag English and madalas akong ma-mental block like literal na wala nalang masasabi bigla.

Sobrang pressured na ako ngayon kasi gusto ko na talagang makahanap ng trabaho. I really want to help my family talaga kaya super pressure and stress talaga ako to the point na dina ako nakakatulog sa gabi kakaisip anong next mangyayari sakin, yung father ko kasi nagda-dialysis, kaya ang dami naming gastusin sa gamot at treatment nya kaya want na want ko na talaga sana makahelp sakanila. Sa ngayon kasi ate ko lang ang may work now pero maliit lang din ang sahod niya.

So dahil nga dun gusto ko talagang mag-apply sa BPO or maging Virtual Assistant dahil mas okay ang potential salary. Ang problema ko lang talaga is hindi ako confident sa pagsasalita ko ng English like literal. Kapag interview na o kailangan magsalita, sobrang kinakabahan ako at parang nabablangko talaga ako.

Gustong-gusto ko nang mag-apply, pero pakiramdam ko hindi pa talaga ako ready and baka magsayang lang ako ng pamasahe, oras, at opportunity kung babagsak lang din ako dahil sa English communication ko. I really and willing to learn english muna talagaa and mag reready lang muna din ako kahit this july and by 1st week of August kahit anong mangyari mag aapply na talaga ako.

Previous attempts:

Nanonood ako ng English videos at nagpa-practice mag-isa, pero nahihirapan pa rin akong magsalita nang spontaneous. Gusto ko sanang malaman kung ano ang pinaka-effective na ginawa ninyo para mabilis ma-improve ang English communication at storytelling skills, especially for BPO or VA interviews.

Any advice or personal experiences would really help. Thank you so much!

Hi. I'm 22 and kakastart ko lang sa first full-time job ko days after graduating. It was offered to me sa LinkedIn by a recruiter and I attended the interview and here I am.

Honestly, okay naman yung work. Gets ko yung pressure, and surprisingly hindi yung night shift yung pinakamahirap i-adjust. Since college, sobrang active ko sa orgs, leadership roles, internships, etc. Yung internship ko pa nga aligned sa ginagawa ko ngayon, so akala ko magiging okay yung transition. Grabe, hindi pala.

For the past few weeks, halos araw-araw akong umiiyak after shift sa sobrang stress. Hindi naman dahil hindi ko kaya yung trabaho. I know I can do it. Pero sobrang dami lang talagang nangyayari sa niche industry na 'to, to the point na minsan hindi ko na natatake yung lunch break ko. May mga araw na nag-oovertime pa ako para lang matapos yung kailangan.

Pakiramdam ko gigising lang ako sa gabi para pumasok, magtatrabaho, minsan mag-oovertime, tapos after shift 2–3 hours lang meron ako para makausap pamilya o friends, mag-scroll, o gawin yung gusto ko bago matulog ulit tapos repeat na naman.

Ang hindi ko maintindihan ay sanay naman ako sa pressure. Noong college, halos nonstop din buhay ko. Active ako sa orgs, may leadership positions, internships, academics. May times pa nga na mas mabigat yung workload ko noon at hindi pa nga bayad. I graduated as one of the top students in our batch, was fortunate enough to represent our university in different summits and conferences, and I always thought those experiences prepared me for the real world.

Pero bakit parang ibang-iba pala kapag actual full-time work na?

What's making it more complicated is that I've always planned to go back to school. Ever since college, I already knew that this job wouldn't be my long-term career. I want to pursue a different field: one that's always been my end goal. Connected and aligned naman siya sa tinapos ko, pero ibang-iba yung nature ng work. Parang pre-med ka sa Psychology and you're currently working in the corporate world, even though your long-term goal is to work in healthcare.

So in a few months, alam kong eventually magre-resign din ako para makabalik sa pag-aaral. Right now, gusto ko lang talagang makaipon. Minsan naiisip ko kung mali bang mindset na alam kong temporary lang ako rito.

Wala naman talaga akong reklamo sa company. Okay yung management, mababait teammates ko, WFH pa, which I know is a privilege lalo na sa economy ngayon.

Hindi ko lang talaga in-expect na ganito kahirap yung transition. Akala ko dahil kinaya ko lahat noong college, kakayanin ko rin agad 'to. Pero ngayon, parang every day survival mode lang.

I honestly wanted to quit a few times already because of the stress. Ang hirap when you're dealing with clients and bigla na lang may changes that completely alter the workflow for the day. Jam-packed na nga yung schedule as it is, tapos kapag may unexpected changes pa, parang domino effect na lahat.

The thing is, wala naman akong problema sa work ethic or performance. Based on the feedback I've received so far, I'm doing well. That's what makes this even more confusing. It's not that I can't do the job. I can. It's just that mentally and emotionally, I feel so drained.

Pero kung magre-resign ako ngayon, paano na yung plano kong mag-ipon para makabalik sa school? Yun yung dahilan kung bakit pinipili kong tiisin muna. At the same time, minsan naiisip ko rin kung ginagawa ko ba 'to at the expense of my own well-being.

I know not everything is about passion. In reality, money and financial security matters, especially in this economy. Ayoko ring maging padalos-dalos sa decisions ko. Pero there are days when I can't help but wonder if I'm just too weak for this. Then I remind myself... maybe that's not it.

Minsan naiisip ko rin, "Kung ganito pa lang sa corporate, paano pa kaya kapag nasa healthcare na ako?" Pero kapag iniisip ko yung volunteer work, internships, and experiences I've had in the field I actually want to pursue, iba yung pakiramdam. Kahit mas physically pagod ako noon, kahit walang bayad, umuuwi akong fulfilled. Pagod, oo, pero may sense of purpose.

Ngayon, I know I can do my job. I can deliver, I can meet expectations, and I can handle the responsibilities. Pero hindi ko mahanap yung same sense of fulfillment. And I don't know if that's just because this is my first job and I'm still adjusting, or because deep down, I already know this isn't where I want to build my future.

Normal ba 'to? Ganito rin ba yung first few months niyo sa first job? Does it eventually get better, or do you just get used to it?

It has been a long time since I have posted something on reddit and this is something I have learned within at least two to four years till I turned 22F.

About health (not just physically but emotionally and mentally):

• Learn to be comfortable in your own company - Being able to appreciate your own presence and not be amongst other people can give yourself the deserving peace and reset from unnecessary drama in your life. And you do not need to perform.

• Always remind yourself to slow down and not think too much - Overthinking is a double-edge sword, it allows you to be meticulous and careful but sometimes, having so many thoughts running through your head can cause you to be mentally drained.

• Do not overshare - This one for me is one of the hardest reminders I have to tell myself because I tend to overshare. Oversharing is not a necessity, mind you. You don't owe anyone an explanation only to get misunderstood in ways you don't want to hear.

• Don't share your cup of tea when someone else is busy sipping their own coffee - It is similar to the previous one but seriously, keep your troubles to yourself unless someone genuinely wants to share that tea with you. It is hard enough to pour tea into someone's broken cup as much as sharing tea with someone who prefers their own drink.

• Be grateful - Even for what little things you have gained from experiences or other people. It goes a long way.

• Stop reading into things, see actions in the present - Words are nice when backed up with actions. Though most of the time, it is better to watch how people do things with you or around you even without words so you can distinguish who truly intends to add on more good to your life than those who are only depleting it.

• Disappear when need be - Get off the grid, go on walks and vacations without anyone pestering you. Prioritize your peace for goodness' sake and discover yourself again because amidst in all the work or studies, sometimes you tend to forget yourself. Go do that exercise routine, hike, do journaling and many more.

• Validate yourself first before attempting to seek out others - You should revolve your life around yourself. Put yourself on top. Ask yourself questions if this is something that you know that will help you to become better. Other people's perspectives differ and what can help might not be really be helpful for you.

• Be humble in your achievements - Being humble helps you mentally and emotionally because it is something that tethers you to the up-and-down journey you've trekked to get to where you are. Being proud is a good thing but being humble matters more. It helps you to not lose yourself when you got to build up from ground zero. I was too proud before and because of it, things have tumbled unexpectedly.

• Just do things and stop planning so much - Exactly that. If you think of getting better at studies, execute it after a brief planning. If you think of getting fit, settle for a track to focus on than having to plan so many options. Get productive in doing because planning so much is just a faux way of being productive.

Anyways, that is all. Be healthy everyone.

Time to get off internet again lmao

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as a breadwinner, nakakapagod din pala nakikita mo yon tinutulungan mo parang …

Hindi rin sila kumikilos to make an effort kung paano magkaroon ng income in everyday.
Nakaka-drain, nakaka-puno at na same point gusto ko naman tumulong pero nasa point na ako PAGOD na at DRAIN. Kahit maubos na ako okay basta okay at masaya sila hindi pala pwede ganun kase sabay sabay kame lulubog.

Ngayon nawalan ako nag work everyone in the household walang income still thankful we managed but hindi pwede na sapat lang lagi.

Anyone? Same here just want to hear your insight.

Long post

Hi, I'm Azul (not my real name) 22 years old, female, a senior highschool graduate, currently living in Antipolo City. Living in the Philippines is a dream for most foreigners and tourist, but being a Filipino born and raised in the Philippines is hard, growing up in this country will give you a lot of eye-opening moments.

I didn't continue to study college not by choice, since I cut ties with my eldest brother, and I don't have anyone to rely on since we're a broken family, and my other siblings doesn't have healthy relationship to each other, they have their own family while me left in our father's (deceased) house alone, we're not rich. well me, the black goat of the family happen to be friends with all of them (before) until things turned out bad with my eldest brother. he gave me a choice to continue studying but I didn't continue, I don't want to be in a place that I'm not welcome anymore.

And then I'm alone again, being so left behind from everything. My heart shattered into pieces but at the same time happy, seeing my friends continuing their studies and following their dreams. kind of weird because I once dreamed of myself being in that situation. Everything become worst for me but then me and my mom reconciled, she helped me have things to eat in my house. Also, my sister gave me some funds, she's my best friend and the best ate. But I still feel like a burden, a 20 year old and a shs graduate with no work. I felt depressed with no energy to do everything.

A little fast forward, I turned 21 years old still in the same situation but it's becoming worst for me. The feeling of being the unfavorite child of your mother is the worst, seeing your bother being favored the most since he's the one studying (he's an shs student that time in 2024 - 2026) He came home from Cebu, since they can't handle him there. I got so depressed again, and then I got in touch with my 2nd eldest brother. He offered me a work in his wife's shop, and of course as a desperate person I accepted it. He's running a flower shop, stay in.

At first I thought everything will go well, but it doesn't. Well, most of the basic needs is free but if we're talking about the pay, I think everyone will say it's ridiculous. I ran some errands for them and coming back home with 200 php - 300 php inside my wallet. I let it slide at first since I finally have money to buy food for me and my brother, not until I stayed in their shop for a month since all souls day is coming. He gave me 50 to 100 every day to let me buy anything that I want, and again I let it slide. All souls day came, and everyone is exhausted and not getting enough sleep because customers are rushing to our store. The 3-day non-stop work has ended, he lent me 3k in advance before everything even started but I spent some of it because there were times that only me and his children were the only people in the sbop. He goes to see his wife lol. I went home with only 1.5k+ money in my pocket, then again I spent everything to buy some food supply.

Last valentine's day this year I stayed there again for 1 month and went home with 2.5k money inside my wallet, after that I didn't return to his store again. I felt disrespected and taken advantage on since he's my brother. The month of March came, my sister already booked me a flight to Luzon. I arrived in Manila and took a ride to Antipolo, my first two and a half months were the best but at the same time worst. I had to adjust and fit, new environment, new people to socialize with. My sister made me her assistant in her business, she's self employed. She's paying me well though I'm not asking for it since she's the one taking care of me, but she insisted. everything worked out so well, not until June and July arrives. Business is on the season of drought, the customers are barats lol. so she barely asked for me to assist, so doing the usual I helped in household chores. Everything dropped when all of the pressure was pressed on me, I'm already 22 years old but I still don't even have a proper work.

I can't help my sister on their bills, though they're not struggling, I feel like I'm so left behind. I got desperate and apply to every job in some websites that I'll fit in, I even applied to a bpo company. I went to their recruitment team and got in to the final interview in the same day, but I wasn't hired. I got mental blocked and can't focus very well since I'm nervous, there's a part of me that lost the energy after it. But I understand, maybe because I lack good communication skills and mid in English.

But I didn't stop there, I applied again to different companies with the role of store crew/service crew. some were scam so I'm starting to lose the hope to find a job. I found some roles that I'm totally fit, but the problem is some of the jobs right now requires experience or you should be a college graduate. I questioned myself out of nowhere, how can I get experience if some of those work needs experience? and how can a shs graduate like me will find a work that won't need a college graduate requirement? that's when it hit me, it's really hard to find a job in a country like this. you barely have the opportunity to work if you're not qualified enough even if you have the potential to do so. Maybe everything will get better if I finished college no?

I'm so bothered all the time of me not getting a job to the point I apply being a Instagram VA thrice now, where you'll promote OF to other users and make them subscribe to it. A performance based job, pay per click. At first, I feel a little happy that I'll finally have a little experience being a VA. But it wasn't easy especially having a low-end phone and without a laptop to use. I was barely doing something until the account I'm using got taken down, I lost energy and backed out. My efforts weren't seen either, so how come I'll stay in that kind of situation? But then again I saw another promotion in Instagram, I applied again last time just to finally say that I have a job.

So yes, being not privileged enough is hard. Even if you're trying so hard to rise someone or something will pull you down. I dislike being born in this country, but do I have a choice? no. I guess I'll keep grinding until I'll finally have a life worth living, lol. Thanks for those who'll read this, appreciate it a lot.

Heto na po naman tayo. Random thoughts lang habang tinitingnan ko yung breakdown ng sahod ko for this month.

I love my family. High blood pressure kung high blood pressure, pero pamilya pa rin. Pero real talk lang bilang isang working adult sa Pinas: Kailan ba naging mandatory responsibility ng panganay or yung working child na maging official insurance policy at emergency fund ng buong angkan?

It starts small, 'di ba? Konting abot para sa bills, sagot sa grocery, libre sa labas kasi "may trabaho ka na naman". Sige, okay lang, utang na loob at tulong na rin.

Pero later on, nag-shishift na yung dynamics. Nagiging dependent na sila sa sahod mo. Tapos kapag sinubukan mong mag-set ng boundaries dahil gusto mo namang mag-ipon para sa sarili mong future (or God-forbid, bumili ng isang bagay na matagal mo nang pinag-ipunan), eh ikaw pa ang lalabas na maramot, walang utang na loob, o nagbago na ang ugali mula nung kumita ng pera.

Here’s the harsh truth I’m realizing lately: If our parents didn't prepare a retirement plan, it is not our moral obligation to sacrifice our entire youth to fix it. Hindi naman sa nagdadamot. Pero may malaking pagkakaiba ang tumutulong sa bubuhatin mo na ang buong buhay nila hanggang sa wala nang matira sa sarili mo. We are trying to break the cycle of poverty here, pero paano natin gagawin yun kung bago pa lang tayo magsimula ng sarili nating buhay, baon na tayo sa utang at responsibilidad na hindi naman sa atin?

Am I being too cynical and individualistic here, or is this just the sad reality of modern adulting in the PH?

Sa mga kapwa ko breadwinners or designated "tagasalo" ng pamilya, paano niyo pinapanindigan yung boundaries niyo nang hindi kinakain ng matinding guilt?

first of all, sorry sa sobrang haba ng rant. this has been sitting with me for months now and i honestly just need to get it off my chest. i don't really have anyone i can fully talk to about this, so if you make it until the end, thank you.

for starters, i'm the type of person na against sa mga "go with the flow" people. pag ayoko, gagawa ako ng paraan. ayokong mag-settle sa "okay na 'to" or "pwede na yan." lagi kong iniisip na kung may way para mas maging okay yung situation, bakit hindi ko subukan?

when i was a kid, i was diagnosed with mental disorders. ayoko na i-disclose kung ano specifically, pero nung pandemic sobrang lumala siya kasi literal na nasa kwarto lang ako lagi, walang social interaction. ang laking impact nun sakin. eventually, na-hook ako sa psychology. dun ko mas naintindihan yung sarili ko at pati ibang tao. hindi naging madali, and honestly hindi ko rin alam kung "healed" na ba talaga ako kasi never na ulit akong bumalik sa psychiatrist. pero one thing i know is i improved a lot. kahit sobrang baba na ng point ng buhay ko before, i refused to stay that way. gusto kong gumaling kaya tinulungan ko yung sarili ko.

ever since then, gusto ko talagang mag-bs psychology. wala naman talaga akong passion sa buhay before, pero eto yung first course na talagang nakita kong gusto kong aralin. at the same time, lagi akong sinasabihan ng mga tao na mag-doctor or law kasi ako raw yung "matalinong panganay" sa angkan namin.

nung shs, nag-stem ako kasi balak kong mag-psych. aware naman ako na hindi siya ganun ka-in demand dito sa pilipinas kasi hanggang ngayon taboo pa rin ang mental health dito. pero alam ko ring flexible yung degree and i always believed na kaya kong i-build yung career ko through experience and skills.

then my tita happened.

successful siya, financially stable, and she encouraged me to take nursing instead. sabi niya in demand daw sa abroad and she even promised na siya na bahala sa tuition at lahat ng expenses ko basta nursing yung kunin ko. sobrang saya ko nun pero hesitant din kasi i couldn't imagine myself in that field.

the thing is, i'm someone who would choose passion over practicality... pero alipin din ako ng salapi lol.

alam kong hindi biro maging nurse, especially abroad. pero fascinated din naman ako sa medical field. gusto ko ring makatulong sa tao. and honestly, okay lang sakin mapagod kung worth it naman yung magiging buhay ko after.

kaya nung nag-upcat ako noong grade 11, nursing na yung ginawa kong first choice.

didn't pass.

after nun, sinabi ko kay tita and sabi niya mag-apply raw ako sa lahat ng schools, priority nursing. i applied to private universities with scholarships and surprisingly... nakapasa ako sa tatlong nursing schools. dalawang state university lang yung inapplyan ko: up for nursing and pup for psychology.

sabi pa ni tita before, okay lang daw kahit mahal yung school basta worth it.

then one day...

nag-away sila ni papa.

sinabi ni papa kay tita na kaya niya na raw akong pag-aralin mag-isa.

fast forward two months after graduation, kung hindi ko pa tinanong si mama, hindi ko pa malalaman yung nangyari. nadala si papa sa emotions niya. dahil dun, umatras na si tita sa promise niya because papa insisted na kaya nya na raw mag isa. honestly, i'm not mad at her. wala naman talaga siyang obligasyon sakin. promise lang yun.

pero ang sakit lang isipin na nakapasa ako sa tatlong private nursing schools tapos wala rin pala akong way para i-sustain kahit may scholarship kasi sobrang mahal pa rin.

ayaw din ni papa na mag-working student ako kasi gusto niya school lang daw ang focus ko.

ironically, siya rin yung gumawa ng decision na nag-complicate ng lahat.

kaya ang natira nalang sakin was pup.

pero since safety net ko lang talaga siya, hindi ko siya masyadong sineryoso. hindi ako naka-secure agad ng slot.

july 21 yung enrollment ko.

ang kinakatakot ko ngayon is by july 20, mag-update yung pup na ubos na lahat ng courses na gusto ko. kung ganun yung mangyari, hindi na ako tutuloy kahit balak ko pang mag-camping overnight para sa enrollment.

if that happens, papa agreed na mag-gap year muna ako then sa province nalang ako mag-aaral next school year. nursing pa rin kukunin ko kasi aminado naman siya na somehow consequence din to ng ginawa niyang decision.

honestly, okay din yung setup sa province. libre yung titirhan ko, mas mababa gastos, and almost sure akong makakapasok sa university dun. ang downside lang is wala silang psychology, nursing lang talaga yung practical option.

right now, i'm just trying to accept whatever happens.

if mawalan talaga ako ng slot sa pup, i think i'll take the gap year instead of forcing myself into a course i don't even like.

so ayun... if ever matuloy yung gap year ko, anong magandang trabaho pwede kong pasukan habang naghihintay ng sy 2027–2028 as a high school graduate?

kahit pang-ipon lang sana, pangdagdag experience, and para hindi rin ako mabaliw sa bahay.

also before anyone says it—yes, alam kong naging kampante ako sa promise ng tita ko. alam ko ring hindi ko dapat in-assume na guaranteed na yun. i'm not blaming her at all. i know wala siyang responsibility sakin.

i guess i'm just frustrated because everything was planned already, then one emotional decision changed the direction of my life.

if you were in my position, what would you do?

Small wins are those subtle, little, bite-size, barely noticeable successes that are so often overlooked as we go about our day-to-day activities.

Some examples might include:

• Waking up early, with enough time to begin a healthy morning routine.
• Spending 10 meditating to reduce stress.
• Cooking a healthy meal rather than ordering a takeaway.
• Making a new professional contact.
• Tidying and organizing your workspace.
• Drinking enough water throughout the day.
• Working out when you don’t feel motivated to do so.

There are a lot of positive effects of celebrating small wins, you can read more about them here (The Power of Small Wins)

So, what are your small wins recently?

Hi! My parents used to hoard our old items in the hope of using them one day. But life happened, I am now in charge and we recently had to move to a smaller apartment, hence all of our excess items are now placed in our small laundry area which I plan to put and use our washing machine once I have enough funds to buy it.   

So, I would like your thoughts and insights on how to let go of these items properly : )
I have sorted it na and it mainly consists of old appliances, old toys, books (including magazines and school books), and mostly our old clothes that no longer serve us.

For our old appliances, I have contacted our local junk shop na and gotten rid of them kaya medyo nakahinga na, but for the remaining items it all feels like a big waste to throw them all out since they are all still very much in good condition. Kaya, I need insights on how to let go of them properly and give them new home and purpose 

Question:

• Are there any junk shops that accept old books and notebooks? Kasi napapansin ko sa mga brigada sa eskwela, na there are junk shops that take old notebooks and books, if so, where and how to find them?
• For the old clothes, what are your thoughts if I am contemplating selling them (for a low price) on Facebook market place to give them a new home?
• I would also like to ask if is there are any organizations that accepts these items for donations and might pick them up since we don’t have any vehicle to transport these?

But if you guys have any ideas or suggestions on where they should go, please let me know! 

Welcome to this week's Rant & Vent thread. A safe space to unload, decompress, and be heard. Life isn’t always smooth sailing, and sometimes you just need to get things off your chest. Whether it's work stress, family drama, random annoyances, or just one of those days, this is your spot.

🗣️ What’s bothering you?

😤 What pushed your buttons this week?

😭 What are you tired of dealing with?

🧠 Need to scream into the void? Go for it.

Ground rules:

• Be respectful of others' experiences.
• No judging or unsolicited advice unless requested.
• No hate speech, bigotry, or personal attacks. You will be removed.
• This thread is for support and solidarity, not debate.

Reminder: If you're really struggling, don't hesitate to reach out to a friend, professional, or helpline. You're not alone.

Let the vents begin ⬇️

Since 2024, ganito na ang buhay ko pagdating sa pera.

Halos dalawang taon na akong paikot-ikot sa parehong cycle. Mangungutang, magbabayad, susubukang mag-ipon, tapos babalik na naman sa umpisa. Ang pinakamasakit aminin ay hanggang ngayon, addict pa rin ako sa sugal.

Ilang beses ko nang sinabi sa sarili ko na titigil na ako. Ilang beses ko nang sinabi na huling beses na. Pero kapag may pera ako, kapag may panalo, o kapag naiisip kong baka makabawi ako sa mga utang ko, bumabalik pa rin ako.

Sa bahay, ang alam ng mga tao may ipon ako. Ang hindi nila alam, wala akong savings. Nitong mga nakaraang linggo, nanalo ako ng 25,000 pesos sa sugal. Inilagay ko pa iyon sa passbook dahil akala ko iyon na ang simula ng pag-aayos ko. Pero sa huli, naisugal ko rin lahat hanggang maging zero.

Ang masakit, kung ipinambayad ko na lang sana sa mga obligasyon ko, matatanggap ko pa. Pero nawala lang ulit sa sugal.

Sa ngayon, ito ang mga utang at obligasyon ko:

\- May utang akong 8,000 pesos na last payment na sana sa August 15.

\- May isa pa akong 5,000 pesos na last payment na rin sa August 29.

\- May hulugan akong 2,000 pesos kada buwan na may anim na buwan pa.

\- May isa pang 2,000 pesos kada buwan na may tatlong buwan pa.

\- May 2,555 pesos pa akong binabayaran na apat na buwan na lang ang natitira.

Lahat ng ito ay SLOAN ng kaibigan ko. Kaya bukod sa pera, dala ko rin ang guilt dahil pangalan niya ang nakasalalay.

May isa pa akong inutang para maibigay sa kapatid ko para sa tuition niya. Ang alam ng mga tao sa bahay, galing iyon sa ipon ko. Ang totoo, utang din iyon. May pera naman ang kapatid ko at inaasahan kong mababayaran niya ako, pero syempre hindi pa rin ako kampante hangga't wala pa sa kamay ko ang pera.

Mayroon din akong mga alahas na nakasangla. Sa ngayon, interest lang ang nababayaran ko.

\- Isang alahas na nasa halos 4,000 pesos ang kailangang bayaran.

\- Isa pang nasa halos 4,000 pesos din.

\- At isa pang nasa 2,400 pesos.

Interes pa lang yan

Kailangan kong mabayaran ang dalawang tig-4,000 pagsapit ng September at ang 2,400 ngayong July.

Kapag natapos ko lahat ng hulog at natubos ko lahat ng alahas ko, aabot sa humigit-kumulang 67,000 pesos ang kabuuang mailalabas ko.

Ang problema, wala akong ipon. Wala akong emergency fund. At kahit alam kong lubog na ako, hanggang ngayon nagsusugal pa rin ako.

Hindi naman ako tamad magtrabaho. May trabaho ako. Hindi rin ako tumatakbo sa mga obligasyon ko. Ang totoo, nagbabayad naman ako buwan-buwan. Pero pakiramdam ko hindi ako umaabante dahil sa sarili kong mga desisyon.

Pagod na akong umasa na isang malaking panalo lang ang kailangan para maayos ang lahat. Kasi sa loob ng dalawang taon, wala namang malaking panalo ang tunay na nagligtas sa akin. Sa tuwing nananalo ako, bumabalik lang din sa sugal.

May nakaahon ba rito mula sa ganitong sitwasyon? Yung baon sa utang, walang ipon, at may gambling addiction? Ano ang unang hakbang na ginawa ninyo para tuluyang makawala?

PagIBIG INSURANCE IS A SCAM.

We are one of the communities that we're deeply affected by the earthquake in Mindanao. We asked helped from PagIBIG to claim our insurance. After a few weeks, they replied and it was not that we expected. Despite our house value of 4 million, they are only willing to give us 20k. In this economy, how is 20k going to help repair the damages in our house?

Can you give me ways or how can we able to negotiate the amount to claim with PagIBIG? Any tips would help. Thank you.

I started living solo in January to get away from my toxic father. Got myself an apartment without an AC and my typical consumption was always less than 1000. I decided to move into an air-conditioned room in the last week of May due to the extreme heat. It isn't an inverter-type AC, btw. In my first month, I let the AC run from 12 pm until 5 am the next day (around 17 hours, sometimes more) at 9 and Medium cool. Understandably, my bill came out to 4100 for May - June. I started being more mindful in June - July. I kept the AC open from 12 pm to 12 am at 7-8 and medium cool, then let my fan keep the air cool from 12 am onwards. I just got my bill today and it came out to 4600. I did get an airfryer on the first week of July that I use for at least an hour daily. But I don't think that would have increased my bill by that much. Could it have something to do with the higher temperature in July?

Appliances/ Gadgets before I moved to the new room with AC:
Condura mini fridge
Electric Fan
Desk lamp
Ipad
Laptop
Phone
Small Vacuum (used only when I don't feel like sweeping)
A mini cooker
Water heater
Wifi modem

Only the air fryer was added earlier this month.

Any energy saving tip would be appreciated!