I've been thinking lately about writing this one yet a lot of things have been clouding through my head on what to do first and what to do before first.
Well, I'm very fine if you ask me and so far, work keeps my finances and my learning busy. Though for the past thirteen years, there are things that I should have done before getting married eventually.
1. Travel: For some reason, I was so contented going from one mall to another during weekends and holidays since I started working. I've been a constant fixture on arcades and movie houses that it never dawned to me the essence of traveling around the country. It is only during our honeymoon in 2009 that I got to ride a plane and a ship going southbound. And from there, I join some groups on a one-day photo-expedition every once in a while. If only I started traveling the country in my 20's, I could have cover more ground and maybe started photography way early.
2. Continuous Learning: After passing the board exam in 2001, I was hoping to continue my education by taking-up a master's degree. However, it got derailed with a relationship gone sour back then that it took me a few years to pick-up Cisco. Though I got my certification (CCNA) in 2008, looking for a Cisco-related job was very challenging during those times as most companies prefer experience over youth. Now both my certification and my license are expired years back. I hope I could save more than enough to retake my CCNA and renew my ECE License in the next few years.
3. Agressive Job Hunting: When I started teaching at a school in Las Pinas, I got so complacent that I feel that I have a secured tenure> I stayed in the academe for close to 3 years without mapping my career path. I have wasted my opportunity for almost a year before landing to a new job. Then, I landed a call-center job that took me three and a half years before realizing that I wanted to venture the IT industry. I have been in this industry for close to 3 years now. What if I ventured into IT early in my career?
4. Saving-up: After getting my first paycheck, it started a habit which I made sure not to get hungry even if I dine at expensive restaurants all by myself. If only I did BYOB (bring your own baon), I may have saved a million pesos starting from the first day of work up to now. Thank God, here in the office, I don't have to spend a single centavo just to get myself something to eat. This would be a good start for me to save again and save more.
When you're young, you're bound to commit one mistake after another. I did that a couple of times before realizing how beautiful life is. Well, time for dinner. XD
your number 4 must be on top :) saving up for the family you wish to build up is truly needed so you can give a better life for your kids to be
ReplyDeleteI think I share the same things here as you do before settling down. My parents often remind us to enjoy singlehood because once you are married and have children, your life is dedicated to them (husband/wife and kids) and you can spend less time for yourself.
ReplyDeleteAnd oh, don't forget. Invest! We all need passive income before settling down. :)
ReplyDeleteTravel is one thing you can do before settling down but can be resumed once everything is stable after settling down, which may take some time.
ReplyDeleteI think you're still young, and can do all these things even though you've already settled down =)
ReplyDeleteWe all need to save up talaga! I used to be a spendthrift pero ngayon, I'm saving up for something na :) I have a big project for this year and I want to achieve it using my own money :)
ReplyDeleteTravel! I dream of doing different travels soon! And of course, save money first before it'll happen.
ReplyDeleteTCAS is the memory aid for your things to do before settling down. I thought it was TAKAS, to escape from realities. But I was mistaken. These things you have had in mind or things to do are really good. Hope you could do them. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI would definitely agree with #4. Although with #3 I think it would be better to have a stable job that pays, than aggressive job hunting. :)
ReplyDeleteMark there's still enough time to re-do everything once again. It will all just depend on setting of priorities and it will always be a personal decision. Good luck to you!
ReplyDeleteWhere are you working now? I'm an undergraduate student taking up IT as well and want to know some professionals who are in the same field. Where are you after three years? :D
ReplyDeleteI can definitely relate to this post. After 8 years of being married I had some what if's and some thoughts that I should have done this and that before getting married. But somehow after seeing what I have today I think I am still thankful. This is especially true when I look at my kids. But hey there is still hope and time for you to fulfill them, right?
ReplyDeleteMy take on #4? Not just save, but BUY PROTECTION. My father in law had a heart attack last month. My mother in law has spent the last 3 weeks in the hospital ICU stricken with stage 4 cancer. Neither are insured. Other than the pain of seeing them hurting, there's the pain of the payments...the full brunt of the payments. Listen kids: when you're earning, yet are still single and you don't have many mouths to feed, GET THAT PROTECTION!!!! Your future kids will thank you for it.
ReplyDeleteLooking back, I should have done those thing you mentioned but thinking of it, there are reasons why we did not fulfill all of those. I am more on a continuous learning but money was a problem back then.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the last one on the list. If only I didn't splurge on gadgets that I eventually gave to my siblings or to my hubby, I'd have saved at least P100k haha Pero if we are single and have no worries, it is so easy to not think of the future and just do anything as we please. :D
ReplyDeleteI think it's okay to look back and contemplate on our life's "what could have beens" every once in a while. But we all know that we can't take those years back, right? What I do know is that you can still make your life better with the decisions that you'll be making from here on. Plus, if you get to set aside some extra money, I'm sure you'll get to travel more too. Kaya mo yan Mark! :)
ReplyDeleteI settled down at a very young age. A semester before finishing my ECE course, napikot na me. Wish I have done traveling before settling down because just like tyou I have thought in high school. so wala ng time. But If I may add, investing is must thing to do.
ReplyDeleteI would totally agree with number 4. We all need to save up before settling down.
ReplyDelete