Getting a home I can fill with love

The author got his unit in 2021 and immediately had it fiited out through the aid of an interior designer.

For most Filipinos, having a home in your name is the ultimate dream.

That was also a dream for me, as my family lived most of our lives in slum areas of Metro Manila. Back then, we could not even call our home our “forever home” because we knew that our house was not built on a lot that we owned. Ever since we were kids, our parents always tell us to dream big and work hard to have our own home.

So as soon as I started working, that was my goal: to have a place I can fill with love and call my own. When I turned 25, I realized I should get serious about my goals and my financial situation. I thought that I should start showing love to my future self by investing in my future—and I did that by investing in a preselling unit.

A fulfillment of a dream

Of course, it was not an easy journey. I had to unlearn many bad financial habits—like spending on things I did not need and splurging to “treat myself.” And I think that was what’s good about investing early in a home: it taught me how to handle my finances better and how to spend time and money on things that matter to me. Treating and loving yourself do not always mean having instant gratification. Sometimes, you need to have patience to enjoy the fruits of your labor.

One of the things I quickly learned about investing in property is how important it is to track your spending. Back then, a huge chunk of my salary went to paying off the staggered downpayment. At first, I was struggling to stay within my monthly budget because more than half of my salary automatically went to the condominium payment. However, as soon as I adjusted, I was able to find unnecessary expenses that I could cut. I remember back then not joining a lot of after-work dinners and Friday nights because I did not have extra cash to spend.

Finally, just last year, I got my unit and had it fit-out right after the turnover. Looking back, I have no regrets in investing early even if that meant missing out on some fun. I think I have grown so much because of the whole homebuying experience. I learned the importance of managing your finances, researching about property investments, and negotiating almost everything: from bank loan interest rates to all the furniture that you’ll purchase.

Now that I have my own home, I have my freedom. I am happy that I showed love to myself by investing in my future early on. I have better control of my life now: I can wake up early and enjoy morning runs or swim laps before working; I can cook the meals that I want; and I can pursue my interests because I have more time for myself.

It also felt good to see my parents proud of what I have accomplished. From the start, they were with me in this journey by motivating me to be patient with the journey. This home that I have now is not just proof of my love for myself, but also a realization of the love and dreams my parents had for me.

I know a lot of people my age are still thinking about getting their first home. Get it as soon as you are ready. Apart from the fact the property is a good investment, getting your own place will also help you become more independent. You will grow as a person. It will also give you the peace of mind that at the end of the day, you always have a place to go back to and call your own home.

(Editor’s note: The authors are guests in the upcoming episode of “The Hows of Housing”, an Inquirer Property podcast powered by Pumapodcast. Ceej and Josh will take you through the joys and challenges of their respective homebuying journeys. Listen to this latest episode dropping on Feb. 19 via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and other podcast platforms.)