All my life, I never really had money problems. I don’t want to sound like some rich kid, because I’m not, though I sure wish I was, but that’s the truth. Early on, I have learned how to live within or below our means. I was born poor. We were so poor that we don’t know where our next food will come. When I was very young, I remember my mom sending me out with an empty bowl to our neighbor selling food, and I would climb the chairs and tables and ask for food. On some really bad days, and by bad I mean no food at all, my mom would send me to my grandparents so that I could have something to eat. It was that bad.
With the stock market plummeting and investors loosing billions of dollars, there are bad days ahead. No matter what anyone says, it really does affect us, no matter how small. But we need not worry. We just need to tighten our belts and get ready. There are a lot of options available if only we would really look. We have to stop looking at what we don’t have and focus on what we do have. We all have abilities right? Well, let me open your eyes and let you realize this: those abilities are assets. Assets we could use to earn something extra.
I have a good job, very nice in fact. And so does my wife. But just because we are earning quite nicely doesn’t mean that we take things in stride. Whenever possible, we try to earn extra. My wife has this knack for baking, so she bakes cookies and sells these. Though her profits are far from covering our bills, she does earn. A very wise man told me that 50% of something is better than 0% of nothing. That ought to count for something right? On some days, she can even treat me to a dinner at McDonald’s. How’s that! Plus she loves baking so it doesn’t seem like real work. I, on the other hand, has blogging. I don’t mean to brag, but I have earned some significant US$342.2 dollars just by writing here. And that’s not bad really.
As I said, these are hard times. I’ve written about some things here and here. You night want to check those, especially the linked article about Bianca and Diego, which inspired me to do some alternative online work. We cannot afford to do nothing. We have to be prudent and take action before poverty hits and bites us in the ass!
I work too, but not earning big, so I tend to focus on our small-time business. As you know, we make student and employee IDs, we also layout stuffs for weddings and other printing jobs we cater too, we don’t really earn that BIG, but it is sure earning. When rough times come, we can still pull reserves. And yes, we tighten our belts.
Posted by sheng at October 14, 2008, 1:38 pmUy, $342? Paburger ka naman! Burger! Burger!
:)
I agree with you, and if you can’t find extra income, then minimize you expenses! diba?
Hope we don’t fall into, as what some are predicting, the era of the second Great Depression. A lot of [rich] people are really going to be depressed!
Posted by kg at October 14, 2008, 5:25 pmi grew up without having much too, and until i worked and started being independent from my parents, i led a very low-maintenance life. at hard times like now, it comes in very handy. 
i got over a hundred in a matter of one month too. thanks for sharing the idea to me.
I admire you Rico. You got a lotsof blessing and I know there are more to come.
:)
Posted by jeanny at October 15, 2008, 9:42 amthanks for the visit rico. and thanks for the comment. i sure do love children. but bohol is traditionally conservative especially with children out of wedlock. anyways, the future i think is brighter. :p
Posted by Edik at October 15, 2008, 10:58 ammaidapaypay: Good for you. That’s one thing I’d like to learn, web development.
sheng: A little thing is way, way, better than nothing at all.
kg and odette: Galing hindi ba? Who knew blabbering on the web can get us some money?!
jeanny: Thanks! “Ask and you shall receive.”
edik: I visited Bohol two years ago. Boy, is it beautiful! I want ot come back. Anyway, I know you’re going to be a great uncle. Blood is thicker than water. No matter what, just rough it out with your family. It will all work out.
Posted by thehusbandspeaks at October 15, 2008, 11:14 amby the way sir, what’s your email address so I may send you the Jamie O recipe? if you don’t want to publish it here, you may email me your email (haha sounds weird ah) at admin[at]maidapaypay.com
$342 is not bad - hindi mo mapupulot sa kalye yon. keep on bloggin’.
Cheeseburger! Pwede with fries? 
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i’m very lucky to be in the web development industry, I can get extra work on top of 9-5. i agree, tough times are definitely ahead and we all need to prepare for that.
Posted by maidapaypay at October 14, 2008, 12:01 pm