I RECENTLY returned from Busan, South Korea, the home of boy band BTS and Samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly) to meet our Overseas Filipino Worker friends there.
I was there because I was invited by Mary Ann of UMAC CARGO Busan to meet “kababayans” (countrymen) there.
The trip was really an eye opener for me because I discovered many things. One of which is that many of them are working inside a factory and they are earning an average of P70,000 and above.
They live comfortable lives since most of them are also provided with food and lodging. Even if they are earning substantial income compared to their income in the Philippines, it is a common observation among Filipinos that a lot of OFWs end up with so much less by the time they come home to retire.
Many of them worked tirelessly because their family was their motivation. They made the necessary sacrifices to make sure that their needs are met. They barely had time for themselves because their priority was to earn more by doing overtime work.
By the time when their contract ended and are ready to come home, however, they realize they do not have enough left.
After interviewing a handful of them and this is what I’ve discovered. Here are four common financial mistakes that OFWs make that need to be addressed:
- Spending too much on ‘pasalubong’ (returning gift)
They love their family so much that they want them to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Giving the best that to our family is understandable, but we can show our love for them by making sure that all of us live within our means.
If we really think about it, some of the things they bring back as pasalubong are not really a necessity – imported chocolates, imported canned goods, branded shirts, branded shoes, and branded toiletries.
Buying branded things are not bad as long as you have have invested more on your savings rather than the pasalubong. The sad part is, some of our kababayans are having second thoughts of visiting their loved ones because there is an expectation and because there is an expectation and peer pressure that they need to bring home pasalubong to make their homecoming complete.
My recommendation:
Save your money first. Spend on more important things such as the tuition of your children, their healthcare, and house amortization.
Prioritize needs before wants. Do not listen to what others have to say. The most important thing is try to secure your family’s future.
- Not prioritizing savings
Living in a progressive country has its own struggles. The struggle of resisting temptation. Everywhere you go, you will see the word “SALE.” A lot of people easily get excited when they realize they are earning more than what they expected.
Suddenly, the purchasing power you have with your earnings is compelling you to buy things you will later regret. After a couple of weeks, you realize you did not really need that item you bought. The more you earn, the more you buy.
Do not fall into the trap of impulsive shopping.
My recommendation:
SAVE a portion of your income first. If you have the desire to shop, make sure you set aside the limit you want to spend during a sale. Stick to it and do not break it.
Never bring excess money and do not bring your credit card. Credit card is the most convenient way of overspending.
- Not setting financial goals
This is one of the most common mistakes that an OFW makes. The “bahala na” or come what may mentality.
When you are earning a comfortable income there is an illusion that you are financially OK. However, we need to be reminded that being an OFW is a long-term proposition. The moment you stop working, you stop earning but the problem is you do not stop spending.
So whatever you made, it will be gone soon after you retire.
My recommendation:
You need to have a clear vision of what financial goals you want to achieve in life. Write them down how much you want to make and how much you can afford to spend.
Set a timeline of what do you want to achieve and monitor if you are hitting your financial target. Work hard to achieve them.
Ask help from experts who can advise you how best to protect your money. If you want my coaching and mentoring, I’ve developed an online learning to teach people HOW TO RETIRE AT 50. Please visit chinktv.com
- Giving in to pressure of relatives’ requests
Do not let other people derail you from your goals. Some people even need to resort to lending just to send more money back home.
We as Pinoys have a soft spot in helping others. However, your strength can also be your weaknesses. Some may even take advantage of your kindness.
My recommendation:
Do not let other people DICTATE you on how and where to spend your money. Do not let yourself be pressured. Weigh your options and learn how to say “no” when needed. Give what you can only afford.
Set aside a specific percentage and amount that you can give as support. We call this fund as our benevolence fund.
This is already allocated on a monthly basis as part of our expenses. Just in case if relatives and friends need financial assistance, funds will be readily available for us to be a blessing to others.
I wrote this article hoping that it will enlighten many of our kababayans. If you know any who is an OFW, please share this with them so that they will be enlightened.
Special thanks to my host in Busan, Mary Anne of UMAC CARGO.
