I find that the staff I had who came from Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) were the really hardworking ones. Or I may just be lucky to have them. My two Accounting assistants in a graphics company I worked for came from PUP. Irish and Gaynor (yes, that’s her name!). I was so happy to have them because they were really two of the best I had.
I also had one after Irish and she’s also from PUP. Hardworking as well. Then when I transferred to an Investments company in Makati City, I had the pleasure of working with another one from PUP. Fast worker, very efficient. The only problem I had with her was she’s always on sick leave. It had something to do with her eventual transfer to a men’s magazine. It was a shame when she left and I had to temporarily take over the tasks she left until another assistant was found.
I had other staff from different schools. They weren’t as hardworking as the ones from PUP. Of course, it could have just been my bad luck I got stuck with some staff who were inefficient and not worthy of the position they occupied.
I have two savings accounts. One was a previous payroll account that I never had closed. Another is a savings account I opened for Paypal. The former is the most used.
In this country, a savings account is perceived to be only for those who are working or for those who have the money to put in the bank. An ordinary person who stays at home (like a SAHM) normally does not have a savings account. Trust me, you can go around the country to do a survey and you will come up with the same results. Let’s take my relatives for example… nobody in my grandma’s house has a savings account. Oh wait, my grand-aunt has one! It’s for her SSS monthly pension. If not for that, she won’t have one for sure. My grandparents on my dad’s side have no savings account. But they had a business that went on for almost two decades! All transactions done in cash. Why? They spend the money right away, anyway. That’s their reason. An uncle who has his own business also doesn’t have a personal savings account. He gives his income directly to his wife to budget. They keep the money at home. Even my dad has no savings account!
It is a misconception that is not being corrected. And made worse by the bank holidays. Plus, maintaining balances in big banks are impossible to maintain. Imagine, at Metrobank alone, to be able to maintain a savings account, you need to have 10 grand at all times! The same goes for BPI and Banco de Oro. Albeit at BDO, there’s an OFW account you can open for the families of OFWs abroad and it has no maintaining balance at all. Unionbank, on the other hand, has the EON account that you can get for 350 pesos a year which has no maintaining balance as well. The only drawback of these accounts that have no maintaining balances is that you don’t earn interest from your account. At least ask for a 500 or 1,000 pesos maintaining balance. That’s reasonable. So that persons who are not working can open their savings account and be inspired to save.
To make sure that your hard earned money does not go to waste, make a list of your priorities. What you need to spend on should you have the funds already. I have been remiss in this. I have too much funds on my hands a year or so ago but I spent it on non-essentials. Now that funds are not enough, I keep thinking of the important things I could have bought with that money.
There’s nothing wrong with indulging once in a while. But be mindful of your priorities. I learned this the hard way. Don’t let it happen to you, too.
Set aside funds for the important things. Whatever is left, get the 10% for your indulgence. Deposit the rest to your savings account.
During month-end closing, financial statement preparations, tax and other report deadlines, audit season, lunch is taken quickly. Imagine if you have to fall in line at the canteen first and then find a seat. It will take you longer than necessary.
What we accountants do is bring lunch boxes with us. Come lunch break, we need only take out our lunch box and then eat. We can even work while eating. Bad for digestion, I know. But if you are already harassed by your bosses, this is the smartest way to beat the deadline and still be able to eat your meal.
A couple of years ago, I worked for a graphics company. When I came in, I replaced a long-term employee who’s like the mother of the rank and file there. There was palpable animosity towards me. I was the villain who took away the position from their beloved finance manager.
They threw almost all kinds of intrigues to me. And the most ridiculous one that they made up was that I ride the taxicab every day going home. Sure, I really did. I didn’t, and still do, not like walking too far to the bus stop or to the MRT. What I find ridiculous in that intrigue was that they didn’t stop and think that I could very well afford the cab ride! I asked for a transportation allowance for that very purpose, why wouldn’t I use it, right?
Eventually, they got tired of throwing intrigues my way and accepted me as the finance manager. They couldn’t do anything about it, I was their boss!
When I was starting out, I worked for a BPO, an Accounting firm to be exact. Since I was only starting out, salary was still low. Back then, I was already sending two siblings to college. Can you imagine how a PhP7,500 per month salary can stretch to accommodate that? Loans left and right, that’s what kept me afloat for a while. Until the monthly amortizations and interests piled up.
One morning, when I couldn’t hold on to my worries anymore, I broke down in the office. It was still too early and there was only one other employee that time, a senior staff. I didn’t know that he could see me talking to my friend on the phone. I was crying my heart out, telling my friend about the worries, the loans piling up and the tuition fees I still needed to produce. After that talk, I felt slightly less burdened. And closer to the senior staff. He talked to me and I saw the genuine concern in his face. I knew then that he’s someone I could trust in the office. I was right!
I never encountered another male co-worker like him again. There’s another one but we didn’t bond like that. I guess, seeing you cry at six in the morning can really bond two persons like none other.
Have you read about the story of my two pairs of jeans? If not, do so and tell me if you can relate. If you’ve been there at one point in your lives.
You know, I always tell my siblings that, yes, appearance is important. But what’s inside you, the determination, the burning desire, the passion. Those are more important in the grand scheme of things. You can wear all those designer clothes and accessorize yourself all over. At the end of the day, what gets you that job is what’s inside you. What the person in front of you sees when he/she looks in your eyes. Is there determination, passion, desire to do the best in this person? Is there a smart human being inside all the flashy ensemble?
Trust me, I’ve been there.
So work on what’s inside while you are busy with the outside. It will get you farther in time, believe me.
I know a lot of people will disagree with me on this but I would still like to tackle this topic here: jumping from one job to another. I do recommend it. Before you get all hot there, let me explain my view.
I’ve seen so many disgruntled employees in the years I’ve worked in corporations. On the surface, these are employees who are obviously unhappy with their current jobs. Bosses are terrors, pay is not enough, benefits are unsatisfactory, work environment is too stressful. When you look deeper, you find someone stuck to their jobs because they are scared to venture out and find the one that will make them happy.
I am recommending jumping from one job to another, yes. But this is for those people who are truly unhappy with their jobs. I am not recommending this to those who will just quit their jobs on a whim. Do not let yourself get stuck in a job just because you are scared of looking for another one. Try a job for a year or two. If you feel like you are happy with your job, your boss is supportive, there is a room for growth in your company, the compensation package is good, and there’s a retirement package for employees, then stay. Stay until your retirement if you feel like it. But if there’s no room for growth in your company, if you feel like you are getting dumber instead of smarter in your current job, and if you feel like you are not compensated enough, then get out of that job pronto! Find another one that is better. Don’t be scared!
And most importantly, don’t let yourself pass your 30′s before you do something about your current situation!
