TIPS ON - SAVING MONEY AS AN AGENT

TIPS ON - SAVING MONEY AS AN AGENT

75% of call center employees spend their salaries within five days upon receiving it. Then they end up counting the days till their next paycheck.

This is a study that was done by me (so technically imbento lang yon). But based on my humble observation, call center agents have poor discipline when it comes to money. They end up splurging on Taxi's, Starbucks, cellphones, designer clothes, pokpok's and whatever -- simply because of the "malaki naman sahod ko mentality" and the "mag-iipon ako next sweldo" mindset. And in the end years pass and nothing financially solid is gained.

So what are the money saving tips I applied?

1) Realize that the call center is an unstable working environment.

The call center is a very unstable environment. Your salary, account, status, titles, training, office romance, depend solely on the next “end of life” of your account. I have seen Managers, TL's, and whoever lose their jobs in an instant due to the US clients closing/transferring to other Business units.

Some call centers promise to give their agents a stable future -- this is crap! Learn to be prudent and save.

2) He who gathers little by little makes it grow.

This is somewhere in the bible.

Every payday start setting aside a small amount of money, 500 pesos or 250 pesos will do. Put this is a small piggy bank. After a while you'll be surprised that you actually saved something -- as opposed to trying to put a big amount in the bank that you end up withdrawing anyway.

3) Have two bank accounts.

One is for your pay check, one is for your savings. If you just put all your money in one account, chances are you'll spend it all (been there, done that). Try to enroll in BPI's direct save up. The bank takes money off your paycheck every payday and put this into your savings.

link: http://www.bpidirect.com/page/view/save-up-automatic-savings-insurance

I am not endorsing this, I am sharing this because it worked for me.

It would also help if your saving account has a passbook. Atm's are so convenient to use, so it's so convenient to spend your savings as well. By holding a passbook, you will be subjected to the banks "time-space-warp dimension" where you have to be horribly hassled to withdraw.

4) You will survive with what you have.

I noticed that we survive with the money we actually have on hand -- call it our survival instinct kicking in.

Try to save the money first, and try to live by the money that was left -- you will survive.

Wag ka lang mang-utang ng mang-utang!

5) Try to be thrifty

A priest once said, "you have no right to luxuries till you have your own house and car."

In tagalong "WALA KANG KARAPATAN SA LUHO HANGANG DI KA PA NAGKAKABAHAY AT KOTSE!”

Practice thriftiness -- bring packed lunches, do not go to GIMIKS every other night, and be content with your current cellphone.

Think about this, going to lunch outs a day amounts to 50 pesos. One kilo of hotdogs cost 150 pesos -- good for the whole week. I'm not saying that you eat hotdogs everyday because that would be a certain cause of umay, but you see the point. Find ways to save money and be happy and content with what you have.

I know a guy who had every latest cellphone and his lack of discipline led him to a life of poverty.

*side note: Some agents must always have the latest cellphone or gadget. Wala naman kotse -- na hoholdap tuloy.*

6) Make a Budget plan

Sounds redundant, but you really need to do this.

As soon as I get my paycheck I do the following.

1) I set aside a small amount for my savings.
2) I then proceed to list all the bills I have to pay (Water, Electricity, Bahay, Girlfriend1, Girlfriend2.)
3) I then compute my everyday allowance (transpo, food, packed lunch.)
4) I then allocate a Gimik fund (We need to have some fun!)
5) I add and subtract the figures.
6) Tapos sasakit ang ulo ko kakaisip pano ko pagkakasyahin ang pera ko.

Just remember, you will not be young forever so get more discipline in your life. See to it that you don’t wake up one day, be 30 years old, and still have nothing.

The sacrifices you do now determine how easy life will be in the future.

Source: callcentersurvivalph.com

7-eleven's Sloppy Joe Sandwich

So it was my lunchbreak, and I can't decide what to eat.. I really don't want to eat rice as I was full from eating a 2-piece chicken meal from KFC.. So I went down to 7-eleven, and I remembered a workmate recommending their Sloppy Joe sandwich..

Compared to the other sandwiches 7-eleven offers, this one can be considered a treat.. It actually has a lot of filling, so careful when you open it..

The filling is like a meaty spaghetti sauce, has some cheese also, and compared to other filled sandwiches from convenience stores, it actually tastes good!!! The bun is quite light, ok to fill your stomach for a quick break, so for those who usually eat a lot and cannot be satisfied with just one, well.. Eat a lot.. Though one is already enough for me..

So for those who are in a tight budget but would like a good filling quick food.. Try this.. And let me know what you think..

As My Birthmonth Comes Near..

I pray for..

Happiness
Peace of Mind
Guidance
Prosperity
Longevity
Love
Health
Wealth in all aspects
Success
Freedom from Negativity
Courage
Wisdom

On being all by myself..

♫♫ All by myself.. I want to be.. All by myself.. ♫♫

Yeah I'm having a hard time being alone and independent.. But I'm getting used to it.. I've learned a couple of things like cooking rice without the use of a rice cooker.. I learned how to measure it using the lines on my fingers.. Yehmen! :)

I'm beginning to hone my cooking skills again.. I have been elected to be the cook of the house and I'm loving it!

There are times though, that I think about my family at home.. But then again.. I need to move on.. I won't be able to accelerate if I keep the baggages that weighs me.. I need to have a heart of stone at this point..

Contemplating.. I realized that you will come to a point that you will need to decide which one to choose.. And when you choose a path, some things.. Some people will have to be left behind.. It's hard.. But it's the reality.. You have to leave the people who are pulling you down no matter how much you love them..And keep the people who will help you move up..

Moving Out and Being Independent..

After a long time of being an effin' dependent baby, yes, I'm moving out..
 

Well.. I got kicked out..

It was unfortunate that it had to happen this way, and I regret that I just did it now.. This should have been something that I should have done a long time ago.. And even now I'm starting with scratch.. I have almost nothing.. I AM almost nothing..

I am grateful that I have friends that have offered help in moving on with my life.. I definitely owe them bigtime..

So how does it feel?

I feel free.. Even if at times I can't help thinking about the people that I have left behind.. My sister most of all.. I know that with what I have done I have passed the burden to her..
 

But then again.. I will end up with nothing if I did not decide to do this.. Believe me.. I had to shut my eyes making this decision.. I just have to think that once I decide, there's no turning back.. Some may not understand, but for the people that do, thank you..

I need to live on my own now, I know I can make it.. And with this, I am starting a new chapter of my life.. I will make things happen..