I hate living in poverty. And you should too. The first step towards financial freedom.

I came from a poor family in a far-flung barrio in a not-so known province in the Philippines. I knew how to be poor. I lived it. And one thing I detest about it is living in shortage. One memory still so vivid to me was when one day I was walking home from school. Since my allowance is just enough for a lunch of vegetables, I did not really afford to get a ride from the main road to our house so I usually walk. Whenever I am lucky, some tricycle who will pass by our house will allow me to take free ride. The road is not cemented yet. I really don’t know how on earth the local government still hasn’t got funds for that. Anyway, so since it’s not cemented, whenever a vehicle passes by, it creates a halo of dust that will be all over your face in no time. On that day, I wasn’t lucky so my face got powdered several times with dust.  I remember on that day, I promised myself that one day I will never have to walk on that road again just because I can’t afford it.

I hate living in poverty. And you should too. If you are a Filipino reading this, aren't you aware that we Filipinos, usually romanticize poverty? Just notice our local movies or telenovelas, what do they usually portray? Poor Filipinos are living simply and happy while rich people are having troubles with family feuds and money problems. Living simply and living on principles most probably do give you a life full of sense and happiness. But it is definitely not living in poverty as the media usually portrays it.

When I ask my mom what her dream in life is, she said it is to see us all, her children, to graduate and have a good job and life in the near future. Generally speaking, that’s the life dream of a normal Filipino mother. But I know that deep inside (although my mom just doesn’t just say it out loud) she also wants to travel abroad, to have a business, to have a family car, and many others that means big money.  We all want financial freedom and not just enough to survive in our everyday lives.

For me, that’ the first step towards financial freedom - the desire for it. They say everything happens in the mind so most books will say that the first step towards financial freedom is changing your mindset. One Filipino writer once said that Filipinos are not destined to be poor. He had the need to say it because the real reason why the poor is increasing in number in our country is because the children of the poor think they can get nowhere but to where they are now. They think that since their parents are uneducated and unemployed, they will just be like them. Most people use that excuse not to strive harder for them to make a difference in their lives. True enough, making excuses is far easier than going out from your comfort zone and exerting effort. So it’s really up to you because financial freedom is a personal decision. Your parents can not decide it for you.