By admin@thesilverpetticoatreview.com 
Here’s how Clarisse turned her financial life around and bought a home:
My husband and I got married young—he was 18, and I was 19. By the time I was 21, we had our daughter, without really thinking about the financial aspects of having a baby. We were pretty immature back then. Luckily, our parents always supported and guided us. We live in my parents’ house, which is quite common in Filipino families where extended families often live together. When my father passed away from colon cancer seven years ago at 49, I promised myself I’d stay with my mom to support her.
My husband works in Manila, while I stay here in our province with my mom, daughter, younger sister, and two nieces. In 2012, my daughter and I attempted to move to Manila, but when my mom fell sick and needed gall bladder surgery, we quickly returned and decided staying in the province was best. City living was tough—the traffic was horrendous, and it was expensive.
We were living paycheck to paycheck. I made budgets but rarely followed them. I loved splurging on non-essentials, like treating us to restaurants every weekend and frequent visits to salons and massage spas.
Last October, my husband got promoted to senior software engineer. When he came home for Christmas, he surprised me by planning to find a house. He often said he’d resign once we had a house, a car, and some investments because living away was hard on him. Right before his return flight, he extended his leave, and we met with a realtor.
We visited a house, and I instantly loved it. I had always wanted a small house, something we often discussed and shared pictures of via email. We quickly paid the reservation fee since it was the last available unit, and future units would be 5% more expensive. The house would be ready in six months, and I’m planning to move in by next January. We’ll need to make some adjustments like putting grids on the windows, changing door locks, installing a door screen, and building a fence, but after that, we’ll be ready to move into our new home.
While I’m nervous about the financial responsibility, my husband reassures me that with effort and trust, we can handle it. I’ve downloaded a budget planning app and am happy with the progress we’ve made.
This year, we’re focusing on new financial goals. We’re cutting down on unnecessary expenses, like weekly salon visits, and limiting my spa visits to once a month. I’ve explained to my daughter the importance of budgeting, and she understands. I’ve also revised our grocery list to eliminate unnecessary items like chocolate, junk food, and soda. Now, we prioritize paying off debts, saving, paying bills, and buying groceries before anything else.
I’m new to home purchasing, so if you have any advice, I’d love to hear it!