Great Spender : Out Of The Budget

If I don't have enough money to spend on these occasions, I'd rather have a simple one, just enough to suit for our budget. At least, when it's payback time, I will not be sacrificing our budgets for the future. I just don't get it if it's in our culture, to lend just to have a grand occasion. Here in our place, whenever we have our town fiesta, or a persons birthday, they will really spend so much. It's like "patalbugan". They would repaint their houses,rent videoke, etc. just to say that they have lots of money and later on we will learn that they had only lend it. So when it's time to pay, they will lend again to another.

Our family motto is adopted from my grandmother who raised her family during the Big Depression of the 30's It is make do or do without. Making do you take what your have and make do with it. Creating things for your event or gifts. The other part is doing without. You do without some of the things not really needed. You should not go into debt for the frivolous or party and holidays. Save those credit cards for really more important things and real emergencies. Kids may think they need lots of glitter, hype, gloss and things but they mostly need to know they are loved. If your spending more than you have and something catostraphic happens your could be in some real financial trouble.

Unfortunately, that is our culture. Fiestas are actually thanksgiving celebrations in honor of a town's patron saint. Folks, especially in rural towns where fiestas are still observed, believe that it is a must to celebrate to give thanks and so that in the coming year, more blessings will be showered upon them. But it IS quite disturbing that in this day and age where most everything is expensive, there are those who think little of excesses. Sure, we can have a small meaningful celebration but only within our means. I don't think the patron saints will appreciate if you end up under a mountain of debt just so you could give them thanks.

I think that is the mentality of the old generation... who tend to spend more than what they actually have... most of those in the younger generation no longer bother in celebrating fiestas... some weddings do not cost very much... and birthdays are celebrated in a more private way... i should know because... i have never cooked a meal during fiesta... and when there is a birthday to celebrate... we just eat out... none of those expensive celebrations...

I tend not to spend more than what I have. There has been a few times where if I have not been able to get to the cash machine or money is due in a few days then I will lend a little money off a friend or one of my parents. But I would never get in debt with a business where possible, obviously things like mortgages are virtually impossible to avoid.

Hi Neil, Yes its quite normal because its happening over her in the U.K people spend far too much money that they don't have all on credit cards and some people cannot pay back loans so they loose their houses they own or they have to sell evrything the got to pay back because the goverment gives people credit card so easily so if people looses their homes goverment profits, yes it happens here all the time. Tamara

i hate to agree with you but the truth is you are right...filipinos are so extravagant when it comes to fiestas, birthday celebrations and many other occasions...my husband is like that...he likes to loan money just so he can celebrate even if his salary is not enough to pay for our bills, let alone buy the babies needs..his atm is not with him..its with the loan shark..i hate his kind of mentality...im more of a budget tight person and i want to save..that is why im here in mylot so that i can earn money for my own because he does not give me any.

Hi neildc, In my family, only my Father was working that time so, we didn't grew up having those extravagant fiesta..My mom is very thrifty because of our limited money...She will only prepare what we can afford...Luckily, that time we are far from Dad's side relatives, so, no pressure at all! For my Mom's side, They will all stopped to my Grandma's house which is just like 15 steps away from our house..LOL! So, in general, I have not seen our Family spending more that what we can afford in any occasion..Yet, I have lots of friends who are really like that, they are going to loan because they are expecting a lot of visitors and after the occasion, they will have all the headache budgeting their money and the bills.. For your government, I am sure they come up with that hueg amount and that includes what will go to Mr so and so! you know!

yeah neil its our blood as a pinoy! "magpakanaa bisan wala" but my husband is different he does not like lending just to show others that you have something!and regarding that habits neil its because of the jelousy and 2 SHOW OFF" right?filipino bad bahits hehehe.

I think it's about time that we Filipinos realize that we should start spending less on things. It doesn't really matter now if you spend lavishly on parties. people would understand surely that you didn't do it because times are hard. I just hope that we realize this and live it immediately

Thats why most of us Filipinos are always at the edge because we spend more than we have.We always spend on celebrations or we always have celebrations.Here in the US they don't have like that.But still i miss those celebrations we have inspite of the over spending thing,.

It is ok if we take loan to buys car, house, education, medical treatment, business, etc. But to get loan on celebrating birthdays, weddings or celebrations, I rather not. I feel that the money I spend will will disappear in the thin air. I don't get anything in return except praise from relatives and friends on how grand and beautiful my occasion is. That's all. After they leave they will forget all about, it leaving me with the burden on paying back the loans.

i think that this kind of ceremonies really help to make good relationships and this back to nations and personals with a big amount too so it could help sometimes in business and i believe this is the main reason of theses things also wedding ceremonies could use as a secret business places with all this happiness right there you could be some deals around the wedding ceremony so you never no what happen right there till you already involved lol good luck my friend.

That is why I am not getting any credit card. Occasions has been commercialized in most part of the world, like ten years ago it is not normal to give a cake on your mother on mother's day but now you MUST give a cake. I don't want to elaborate much because I am experimenting something here in mylot regarding posting. so there I hope you get what I mean.