Peso saved, peso earned

Back in my undergrad studies as a Commerce student, we once had a guest speaker in one class of a major subject. She was a young entrepreneur who, together with her husband, had set up an ink refilling station in the city. As far as I could remember, ink refilling was a new thing that year and I saluted her guts for being amongst the pioneers in the innovation. So anyway, she was discussing enterprise development and one thought she told us was particularly striking such that I remember it to this day.

She mentioned that when young people first start earning money on their own - whether through employment or business enterprise - it seems like a big amount. She observed that young people usually buy clothes and shoes with their paychecks, as well as gadgets, oily food trips and accessories. But maybe in a year or even more, when they look into their closets and drawers, they realize these things are useless. Sure the shopping trips were fun, but one's accumulated earnings would have been a stunning amount of hard-earned cash if one had had wiser spending habits. Some of my friends look back and wonder how their money seemed to have 'evaporated' over the year.

The thing is, clothes and shoes become outdated fast and gadgets, even faster. Eating out everyday can be an excusable indulgence but it's not so healthy anyway (think of all that fatty food clogging your arteries). Going on endless shopping trips can be gratifying but the gratification is always short-lived and regrettable. The age-old wisdom still rings true: A peso saved is a peso earned. What's the use of working all those shifts and then looking back to realize that the supposed 'big salary' had 'evaporated' from your bank account?

So my point is this: Save, save, save your hard-earned cash, young people! Save coins in a piggy bank and make sure to cut out very unnecessary costs (believe me, how much you get to save might shock you). Out of daily earnings or every paycheck, set aside a minimum amount. You may not need your savings right now, but you never know what'll happen in the future. Chances are, you're going to come across an opportunity or situation wherein you'd really need cash. If you're currently employed, you might even want to set up your own business eventually. That's definitely worth saving for. So be ready with your hard-earned accumulated earnings.

* * *

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about what women do in our local comfort rooms. A reader sent me an e-mail and apparently, well, we share the same sentiments. Here is what she said:

"Hi, from North Hills, CA (San Fernando Valley)...

After reading your column, I couldn't help but likewise lament the fact that women in Cebu wait in line in every cubicle instead of outside the CR in one line and proceed to occupy cubicles like you suggested. That way, it likewise saves the cubicle occupant from embarrassment. While it is true that everyone pees or poos, but what one does inside the cubicle is her private business. And I don't need an audience, I mean the women outside my cubicle to virtually listen to the sound of my pee or poo. Gosh, some people can't even proceed to pee or do number 2 if there are people around, door separation notwithstanding!

I had once an argument with two women at the Mactan International Airport CR. There was one line formed until two women barged into the room and stood outside the other cubicle. I directed the two ladies to go to the (end) of the line. They resented my instruction and they even knocked at the door of the cubicle. I told them to wait because eventually the person would come out once her business was done inside.

It became a heated argument and they accused me of being arrogant simply because "I came from the States." ( I never told them I came from the States though. How, they inferred that is beyond me. )

I was so pissed off. I countered that they were discourteous, disrespectful and they had no manners as if they came from the boondocks! The other women joined in the argument and I had to summon the airport police to prevent further violence.

I gathered from my friend who lives in New York that she had a similar experience at the SM CR when she was there in Cebu for a visit. She got in(to) an argument over the same issue.

Now, I am beginning to think that the CR is not totally a place of comfort, after all..."

Will our comfort room culture eventually evolve? I truly hope so.

* * *

Email: [email protected]