23/12/2025
The holiday season is officially here and honestly, minsan parang giant trap siya designed to keep you broke.
Everywhere you look, may pressure to spend. Ads everywhere. Perfect photos. Constant push to buy more, more, more. As if requirement sya para mabuhay ka ng tama ngayong season na. Pero here is the cold truth. Most people are drowning in debt or halos wala ng pera pag dating ng January just to fund a lifestyle they cannot really afford for two weeks in December. Ito yung pinaka common reason bakit hirap ang karamihan sa pera. You spend the whole year trying to get ahead, tapos sa dulo, winaldas mo lang lahat sa isang shopping spree.
I am not saying stop celebrating or maging kuripot. I enjoy the festive vibe too. Pero may malaking difference ang celebrating sa overextending yourself. Kapag nag swipe ka ng credit card for gifts na wala ka namang cash pang bayad agad, you are borrowing from your future self. Literal. That high interest debt will follow you into the new year and magiging pabigat habang sinusubukan mong ayusin ang goals mo.
Or if inubos ubos mo naman kung may bonus ka instead of being smart with it, it becomes a never ending cycle ng puro palabas ang pera.
We have to be smarter than the marketing. Celebrate within your means, kung ano ang kaya mo ngayon. Kung ang budget mo is simple dinner at konting gifts lang, then do that. Walang nakakahiya sa pagiging responsible. Ang nakakahiya is pumasok sa January na may financial hangover dahil sinubukan mong i impress ang mga taong hindi naman nagbabayad ng bills mo.
The goal is to be wiser today so you can be richer tomorrow. Gamitin mo yung season na to as motivation. Work harder. Stay disciplined sa budget. Kapag inayos mo ngayon, you are setting yourself up na next year, mas enjoy na yung holidays mo. Travel if you want. Buy better gifts. Host bigger gatherings. Hindi dahil sa utang, kundi dahil kaya mo na.
Stop letting holiday hype pull you into a hole na aabutin ka ng ilang buwan bago makaahon. Peace of mind is the best gift you can give yourself. Focus on the long game. Spend if you can, pero huwag lalampas sa pera na meron ka. Magpapasalamat sayo ang bank account mo pagdating ng January dahil sa disiplina na pinili mo today.
