How Is It Like To Be Really Broke

First, this is not a blog about love nor the 'Ways To Mend a Broken Heart'. My God people! Not everyone has a love life or ever had one - yeah guilty. And this is not about me not ever having a relationship, so don't ask anything even closely related to that or I'll punch you in the esophagus (if I spelled it right).

Now, how is it really like to be really broke? At this point the best person to ask is my neighbor, duh of course me! Since I am as broke as students were during summer. As broke as a contractual employee after one month of being laid off and still hasn't find a new job. As broke as a social climber who had a credit card and decided to have a shopping spree and then at the end of the month nagged his wife about their credit card bill being that high. Yes, I am that broke but no I'm not one of those stupid social climbers who spent their credit limits and also became broke after they had their bill, [whisper] but they leave next doors in the old house - I'm such a gossip-monger.

Even without a credit card bill and spending a lot on things you don't need like Rebecca Bloomwood (Confessions of a Shopaholic) you can still be broke. My wallet has 20 pesos in it, so as my bank account, but no not ₱ 20 but two digits is still not that good, not good at all. I have to pass from going out invites because yes I only have 20, it won't be able to bring me back home unless I decide to beg on the streets which I also thought of doing when I thought I ran out of funds while strolling downtown and did a stop over at a 711 store to buy the kid in me a cone of chocolate ice cream. Good thing I found some spare on my separate pocket, just exact to pay for a jeepney and tricycle ride back home. You can't even imagine my stress that day - 711 stores should warn people that they will increase their ice cream to ₱18 from ₱15 so we won't worry of running out of coins every time we buy stuff there, not everyone has spare you know and many are broke like me.


711 is not the only one that gives us broke people headaches and stress. Fangirls could relate to this. Have you ever became avid fans of certain celebrities, book authors and movie franchise? If you are then we my dear we are on the same page. There will always be times when our 'idol' will decide to launch stuff after another. Sure there is no problem with that because it just means that your avid support is just paying off, they are having so many blessings coming their way. It's good yes if it's just a new television show, guesting and event appearances which are mostly free but true fans will not just settle on that right? So as our idol's management. Of course they will produce albums, movies, books and concerts which are definitely not free, nope not free. It's really hard to decide from saving money or buying these stuff because they will make it sure that these are must-haves. They will make it really good and market it really well so we will have no choice but to buy. Yeah definitely it's not a bad thing, if you're not broke!


Another culprit is your Favorite author who just recently posted about a book series she opened for pre-order. Like WTH! I haven't even recovered from the two payments I made for a different story and book series now a new nightmare is about to hunt me again - that is, not being able to pre-order on time because yes I am currently broke. This is too much stress you know.


The last one is your favorite movie franchise showing. Sure a movie is just less than ₱ 200 and you can even buy Pirated DVDs and watch it at home - not promoting it, no, but it's really common here. You can't help it. But that's bad and not to mention illegal so forget I ever said that. Moving on... If you're really a fan and you're broke, the struggle is real. Fans will always want to watch it on cinemas first. Be one of those people who were able to watch the movie on it's world or nationwide premier. That feeling of knowing what happened in the movie before anyone else could is just surreal. Posting it on social media is such a proud moment you would want to frame it and hang on your bedroom wall - yeah you've got to admit, that is how proud most fans are. Well that is again if you aren't broke!


I could go on and on with all my struggles and bore you but I wouldn't do that. This is not to blame our celerity idols for being so freakin' good with their craft that many are producing stuff about them and having them endorse a motorcycle that's really enticing and fans would be so convinced they would want to buy a Mio even if they don't know how to use it. Or our favorite novelist who creates such masterpieces that when she decided to venture into self-publishing her books - which are really expensive by the way - that you as a fan even sold some of your collection just to pay for it. Or even the untimely showing of your favorite movie during the days when you would have to ask your parents to give you money just to buy taho. That's life, get along with it. It's not every time you will have what you want. There will be days of drought and famine. Eating just twice a day to save food and drinking just water for breakfast but those days will soon be through and you will again be merry because all your needs and wants will just be one cash out away and you will then be able to get your paws on those shinny fan merchandise, books and movie tickets.


My final words are? Were you happy? Are you happy? Is that just what you're aiming for? You are not earning money to buy cool stuff and post in on social media to brag, right? Does being broke to you not only mean you are not able to buy your wants? What about your needs? Your family's needs? Are you contributing enough? Is your household even conducive for living? Have you paid all your debts? Well my dear if you've answered most of these questions with a 'No', then we both have a problem because I am also guilty. 

Striving just for material things is not good my friend. It's either we are immature or we have no concrete plans for the future. What if we can't earn money anymore because I don't know, we got fired or our clients terminated our contracts. You see, there are a lot of things that could arise in the future but if all we think about is just buying these movie or concert tickets, buying stuff we don't need that won't feed us nor our family, that is not a good motivation, not at all. Learn to dream big and aim high. Find a sustainable job or business. Material things we could buy are good rewards for our hard work but endeavors that are brought by us hoping that our families will never starve again, better health care for our parents, and a bright future for us and our own families, now that's an inspiration.


Thank you for reading... Comment your thoughts below.