{Adulting} How to Not Waste Your 13th-Month Pay

Posted on by Nikka Shem

When Christmas season kicks off, nothing excites me better than my 13th-month pay. In all those times, the 13th-month pay was something I looked forward to. I recently received my 13th-month pay. In the past years, I plan on the things I wanted to buy. I spend my pay lavishly treating myself new gadgets and buying gifts for family, godchildren, and friends. I know I am not supposed to spend all of it, but that is the only time I can take advantage without sacrificing other obligations. I can’t help but reminisce those years – nine, to be exact.

Am I using my pay wisely? The wisest are those who take their 13th-month pay as an opportunity. I haven’t thought of that until recently that I struggle financially. My savings were not enough to save me. I am a generous giver, but this time I need to help my self first. The best gift I can give myself is a peace of mind knowing that I plan to secure my future.

It is very tempting to spend, especially during this holiday season. But it doesn’t have to be that way this year. Why waste my 13th-month pay when I can spend it on more important things.

Before fully spending,

  1. Plan on how to use it.

    Set a specific percentage that will go to savings, debt payments, and investments, among others. Allocate at least 20% on savings and 50% on debts. It is also important to also have a portion spent on enjoying life. I worked extremely hard for a year-round.

  2. Pay off debts.

    Remember that interest rates are skyrocketing- 3.5% a month for credit cards. Debt is one of the major roadblocks toward financial freedom. It is now the best time to settle all dues. Although it is not enough to clear all the debts, it will possibly reduce the interest.

  3. Save for now if you are still undecided.

    Putting up a savings account is the smart way to handle money.

  4. Spend according to priority.

    It should be a personal decision, a well though decision. You decide which ones are so important and should become a top priority.

Put your money where you feel it would serve you best. Think carefully and decide on what to do with it. Make sure not to splurge. What you do with your money defines you in the future. Remember to always save and invest for the future.

NikkaShem.com Version 2.0

Posted on by Nikka Shem

The day I decided to get back to blogging… I wanted to go back to why I started blogging in the first place.

I cannot remember the last time I blogged. You know how much I miss my other-self. I was supposed to leave this site and would not renew anymore. Renewals are way too pricey. But then I decided to give it another try. Maybe, just maybe, I will be as persistent and diligent before.

I transferred to Hostinger today. I saw a great deal for 4 years. Isn’t that amazing? 4 more years of having me here. I just could not leave and tear apart the memories I have for the past years. This is my home. And this is where I will be for the succeeding years.

Welcome to NikkaShem.com Version 2.0!

It’s like starting a blog for the first time, amazing yet intimidating. I waited way too long to blog again, and I am sorry for that.

Here are the reasons why I am going back to blogging:

  1. Work is exhausting nowadays

    Sorry to say that, Boss. (Excessive) Stress at work has a great impact on our health. I find blogging as the best stress-reducer other than shopping and traveling. I gave up all the other activities, blogging has become my release. Blogging for me, is fun. It is like a playground where I play with words and ideas. In almost too many ways to count, it has changed the way I look at stress.

  2. I feel inspired again

    One of the reasons I did not get back sooner is that I feel uninspired. I cannot seem to find a topic that I am passionate about and enjoy. Coming with interesting ideas would force me to keep learning and growing.

  3. I want to get better at writing

    The more I write, the better I become, right? Blogging allows me to compose my thoughts in English. It is such an excellent method of practice. I learn new vocabulary words and grammar rules every time I write.

  4. I want to improve my time management skills

    Aside from having my planners, blogging helps me cultivate that discipline. I know I have to meet deadlines. Though I cannot promise to put out daily posts, I will somehow feed you posts from time to time. So stay tuned and hit that notification. I will try to set aside a time every day to write a day’s worth of thoughts.

That’s it! I am finally back after years of having an on and off love affair. See you around!