Waiting For The Right Time To Invest?

"ANG KWENTO NI PETRA THE PROCRASTINATOR"

January
Gusto kong gawing part ng New Year's Resolution ko yung mag save and invest.
Sisimulan ko na talaga. Bayaran ko lang lahat ng mga natirang utang
​from December tapos mag simula na ako.

February
Pasensya na di ako nakasimula last month.
Try ko this month kaso siguro after Valentine's Day.

March
I'm sorry, di parin ako nakakasimula. Graduation season.
Nag promise kasi ako sa kapatid ko na bibigyan ko siya ng regalo.
Next month, push na!

April
Sorry, may out of town trip kasi next month.
After that I'll start investing na talaga.

May
Naparami yung gastos sa out of town trip last month e. T_T
Wala ng matitira sa akin if invest ko pa. Maybe by June, I can start.

June
Nakalimutan ko, meron nga pala kaming mid year event sa company.
May mga kailangan bayaran. Hindi parin ako makakapag save.

July
It's the start of the rainy season! Kailangan ko muna mag tabi for emergencies.
Maybe by next month, I'll start saving.

August
I heard it's ghost month so it's probably not a good time to invest?
Next month!

September
Hala! It's my dad's birthday. We're planning to surprise him
with a simple birthday celebration. Hmm, maybe by October. Bonus na!

October
Friend, sorry. Alam ko matatapos na yung taon.
Pero gusto ko kasi sana muna bayaran yung mga utang ko pa.
Baka by November mas makaluwag na konti.

November
Kailangan ko sana yunng pera pang bili ng mga regalo e.
After Christmas na siguro.

December
UHMM, December na. Alam mo namang maraming gastos.
By January na lang siguro ako mag start

---

In one of the financial books that I've read, the author mentioned "Procrastination is the worst enemy of investing." (Isa-al, 2016) I couldn't agree more with what she said. It has become a norm for people to put off different life goals, and more so, their financial goals. The funny thing is, I am pretty sure we all have this nagging little voice that reminds us of the important tasks we’ve been postponing but no matter how loud that voice gets, we just shut it off completely. To be fair, I’m sure most of us are eager to improve our financial situation but the problem is our lack of action -- we just end up doing nothing about it.
​
​Friends, don’t let your excuses be bigger than your desire to achieve your financial goals.
​
Let’s have a quick reality check: How many 13th month pays, bonuses, incentives, 15th and 30th's, or maybe even weekly commissions have already passed through your fingers, and still you haven't done anything about your plan to invest? How long has it been like that? Have you tried computing the total amount of money that has come and gone in your bank account?

Let me shake you a little more: your capacity to save and invest does not depend on the amount of income that you receive each month (if you think it's not enough), nor on the ‘right time’ (it isn't like Mr. or Ms. Right). It does not depend on your hopes of receiving a windfall or some sort of instant money. More importantly, it does not depend on your 'extra' or tira-tira. Saving and investing must be intentional. It's a choice that you make and an action that you take.

​Whenever I conduct financial literacy classes I always remind people of this:

​"Financial ​independence is not a dream but a priority."

If you want something to happen in your life, you must decide to work on it on a daily basis. By making something a priority that means you’re deciding to put more effort, time, and value into that particular thing that you'd call your 'priority'. In essence, if financial independence is your priority, you’d let all your excuses take the back seat and work your butt off towards achieving your financial goals. You won't let any temporary pleasures get in the way of your permanent security.
​
​I don't really plan to make this article long - my message for you is simple: if you think your financial independence is important to you, I urge you to make saving and investing a part of your plan. Easier said than done, sure. It requires discipline - absolutely. But much like becoming physically fit and healthy, financial fitness is a daily decision. You can only get there if and when you work hard for it - every single day.

Now, when’s the best time to invest? I say NOW. We’re all running out of time, and today is the youngest you’ll ever be. You can get more money but you can never get more time. The question is: how will you best use it?

Take action!
...Chai

P.S. Clueless on where or how to start? Financial Independence starts with proper financial education. Make time for it! Feel free to attend our regular Financial Literacy Classes. :)

I WANT TO ATTEND A FINANCIAL LITERACY CLASS!

Reference:
Isa-al, G. (2016). Home At Last: How Migrant Workers Can Retire Rich and Worry Free. Black Card Books: Ontario.