I don’t like Math and numbers. Same reason why I took a college course which I thought wouldn’t involve Math. Voila! I had Statistics, Economics, and two subjects of Algebra with grades ranging from 2.5 to 3.0 (fair to thank-all-the-saints-you-barely-made-it).
Now that I am not getting any younger, I realized that it’s something you can’t avoid and that it’s everywhere. You’ve got statistics that you need to meet for you to retain your job. You must rely with economics for your everyday expenses. You need to do accounting to check if there’s left for your savings.
THE FORMULA
Here’s an explanation of how I end up penniless every month.
Earnings (a) – I am lucky enough to have been employed by a stable BPO company (on my fifth year now) that I don’t have to worry about being kicked out of my rented house and where on earth I’d get funds to nourish myself with healthy food. Thank to my online projects as well, they’ve kept me from acquiring debts.
Bills (c) – One of the responsibilities (b) that come on a monthly basis, like an infinite burden that you have to deal with. House rental, bills of phone, cable, broadband, credit card, water. The list seems to just go on and on!
Miscellaneous (d) – Being the eldest, I pledged to help my mom and siblings in any possible way even through the smallest means like providing my brothers’ monthly stipend. I have no regrets of not being able to save not even a little as my family comes first over anything else. Broken computer hard drive can also get so expensive these days.
Wants (e) – These are one of the things that make me work my ass off. Aside from the everyday needs, there are these material wants that I can’t refrain from. Lust for new mountaineering bag or shoes, cool Oakley Juliet shades, and the latest BlackBerry mobile phone.
THE PROBLEM SOLVING
Now that I’ve learned which to put at the end of my simple formula, I rest my case that traveling/backpacking (f) made an impact on my life great enough that it has changed my whole perception of how I wanted to age. Being on the road earned me a lot of friends, made me experience things that don’t happen just by sitting in front my desktop reading travelogues, and appreciated the beauty that our nature has to offer that are often being abused or neglected.
Back then, all I dreamed of was having my own house (big enough for me, my future husband, and kids), a satisfactory life for my mom and siblings, and good health. Though I still want a great life for my mom and siblings, to have my own house with my own family, and be fit, traveling/backpacking is now part of my long-term goals regardless of how empty my pockets can be.
With all the factors I’ve mentioned above, it really is difficult for me to travel. It sucks that I earn so much from my current job that it pays the bills and buys some of the things I want that being gone for one day will create such a big damage.
Obviously, no one wants to forever cling to a job that no longer keep you excited each passing day. No matter how much you earn from it, it’ll come to a drastic point wherein your only choice is to leave it and chase after the thing you love the most. I know a lot of people who dared go beyond their boundaries (shout out to the Sole Sisters Chichi and Lois, Soloflight Ed who’s not really going solo with his SE trip, and the traveling feet of Doi) by leaving their jobs and went on backpacking the neighboring countries to appease their love for traveling.
The path that I choose may not be the same as theirs but I may soon take a direction, which I hope I will not moan over once I reach my destination. I still have to get hitched (clue: 420), finish a short trip abroad, and to wait for my mom and siblings be settled before I decide on making major decisions. For now, patience will be the greatest virtue I may have.
I cannot afford to lose my only source of income and so I still have yet to find the best solution to my math problem in traveling hence I am sticking to my everyday routine home-office-home-internet (repeat 3X). But who knows, I might end up being a researcher for a travel show someday.
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The Math in my Traveling is an entry to the Pinoy Travel Bloggers’ Blog Carnival. Because it’s leap year, this month’s theme is Leap of Faith: When Travelling Changed My Life, which is hosted by Reiza Dejito of Wander if You Must.
I agree, while I salute those who managed to quit their jobs and travel and fulfill their dreams I also have respect to those who cling to their jobs. At the end of the day, “work” balances our life with our passion (like traveling) and also gives us opportunity to be responsible (providing for the family etc).
Both things works well if done correctly. I also dream of quitting my job someday, but not everything is free. I may live a simple life, bottomline we need to pave the road for ourselves especially for the rainy days.
Hats off to you and continue traveling regardless of work and other obstacles.
Thank you Marky! Love is something you can’t just throw off the corner. Traveling is just one of the things I love. Right time between the two of us will come. ☺
I think it’s a blessing naman that you’ve worked 5 years sa BPO company. The trick here is to plan perfectly kung kelan ka mag le-leave. Too bad PNOY’s not a fan of long weekends unlike PGMA. :)) Ubusan na to ng leaves! HAHA
Renz, BPO company doesn’t know what holiday mean. In other words, even during Christmas or New Year’s eve, nasa office kami. Walang leave-leave. 😀
Well written! Nice angle on that math problems and solving it Kaiz!
Thank you, Izah. Actually di pa rin solve yung problems ko. What I wrote was temporary solutions. I wish for my job be travel-related though, someday. 😀
I hate math in my high school life .hehehe
I never liked Math. Elementary, High School, and College! 😀
unique nito, obvious nga you dont like math..haha
may formulas kapa.
James, I’d kill just to skip a math class. hahahaha!
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