There was this post I read on the Internet that says, "Travel now, pulubi (broke) later."
Truth is, somehow, that's what I felt when I came home yesterday from an out of the country trip with my daughter.
Why?
Because I had to pay for something that was unplanned -- or more like, something that was beyond my control.
I do not own a credit card. It works better for me. So, before we left, I already paid for the airfare tickets, our hotel accommodation for two nights and Disneyland park tickets.
I was bringing enough cash for other expenses while we are there, and my debit card, just in case.
And then I receive an email of our cancelled flight back home
As I was packing our luggage on Saturday night, I received an email that our flight home on Sunday morning has been cancelled due to unfavorable weather. All flights from Hong Kong to Clark via Cebu Pacific have been cancelled. I checked with Philippine Airlines, and they had cancelled flights, too.
Experiencing this for the first time, I immediately sent a message to my friend who owns a travel agency to book us the earliest flight back home. Fortunately, there was this one particular flight via PAL that wasn't cancelled.
Those tickets cost me an arm and a leg, so to speak. And that is the main reason why I felt flat broke when we came home. But I didn't mind because we want to be home ASAP. My daughter and I prayed so hard that night that this flight will not make last minute cancellations.
In times like this, is when I appreciate more having other income streams and investments
I kept thanking God for our answered prayer. It was such a relief to be home.
So, come Monday, I was in a "work work work" mode. I need to recover from that unplanned expense. And this is how my Monday beautifully went:
- Because my advocacy is to help as many as I can to be financially prepared, I work as a Financial Advisor on the side. That morning, I received a message that one of my client's pending insurance application has been finally approved. I can expect my commission from that transaction in three days. This incentive is enough to cover for those PAL plane tickets. First thing in the morning, and my worry has already been solved!
- Because we arrived later than expected last Sunday, my meeting with a client was moved to early Monday morning. She and her husband availed of a VUL (investment with insurance). Upon approval, I can expect my commission from there in two weeks, at least. I can use that money as top up to my own VUL -- my retirement fund.
- I was able to get through Cebu Pacific's line and requested for a refund of our cancelled flight. Refund will be deposited back to my debit card in ten banking days. Ummm.. This can be used for early Christmas shopping perhaps? *happy thoughts*
- I received a text message that my share of the income from our corn planting partnership has been deposited to my account. And this income will be invested again. Rule of thumb is this: Make money. Use that money to make more money. Repeat.
- I checked my COL account and an announcement of Pilipinas Shell Initial Public Offering is finally up. This is an opportunity to invest more and eventually earn more. I can use my corn investment income for this. When I learned about this IPO by Shell more than a couple of months ago, I told my friends who have been asking me about investing directly in the stock market to open their COL accounts, so that they can subscribe to this offer as soon as it is made available. Unfortunately, many of them didn't open an account. And their common reply to me when I informed them of the IPO today was "SAYANG." Remember, there is nothing more expensive than a missed opportunity.
So, I ended my Monday with a very grateful heart, not only because my financial worry the day before was already addressed, but more importantly, because there is just so much to be thankful for. Being home remains to be on top of my "Thank God I'm Blessed" list for that day.
Let me leave you with this question, and you decide for yourself.
If you knew how money could actually work for you, will you still be spending it all? Or finally start investing as much as you can?
For your investment and insurance inquiries, send me a PM anytime or email me at financialplanningforpinoys@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you.
Be very blessed!
