r/adultingph

Wla ako knowledge sa construction. Any tips u can add will do, but here's my top questions:

1. ano ang arawan at pakyawan (wla ako knowledge really, explain like i'm 5)

2. based on question 1, need ba ako magpakain sa kanila and meriyenda

3. do i need to source professionals/licensed, or kilala lng ng kakilala is ok na (ayaw ko ng palpak, since palpak na gawa ng terrace nmin 10yrs+ ago at sakit sya sa ulo parin ngaun)

4. do i buy the materials or trust them to it (i am really clueless on construction)

5. do i need permissions to renovate?

6. other etiquettes?

my plans was roofs, clogged drainage, terrace leak below.

anything u can add will be appreciated. Thanks.

A friend told me not to compare things based on price alone, but to also check the benefits and what I’m actually getting for the money. I tried doing that, and gets ko na yung point niya kasi sometimes the slightly more expensive option is actually more sulit when you consider the inclusions and overall value. Kayo ba, do you also compare the benefits first before choosing the cheaper option?

My mom got diagnosed with stage 3 cancer.Im emotionally,physically,financially drain right now.A week before na mag cchemo na sana sya na stroke naman sya.Ngayun imbes na yung cancer nalang nya ang pproblemahin namin,yung stroke naman ang tinututukan nmin ng pansin.8 days sya sa icu at more than a week nmn sa recovery room.Nakalabas na sya at nagrerehab nlng sa bahay.Left side ng body nya yung affected pero hindi pa sua makabangon mag isa,naka diaper at sa diaper na sya nag popoop.Ngaun namamanas na ung isa nyang leg caus eof cancer daw un sabi ng oncology nya.Her oncologist advice us na ipa chemo na pero paano eh alam nman ntin na may side effects ang chemo,and at her stage now na masakit buong katawan dahil sa stroke eh talagang mahihirapan sya.I need you insights naguguluhan na ako.Mag isa lng akong anak wala among mahingian ng advice.Pls!!

Hello! Fresh grad from the big 4. I recently got hired sa isang voice role sa JPMorgan The job description stated that I will be working night shift. I got accepted through the fresh grad entry level talent pooling.

Mababa yung sahod for my expectations, and sobrang layo sa akin so I need to relocate to a bedspacer. However, a lot of people around me urged me to get it na since hindi naman kami mayaman and I need a job, and ang gandang company ng JPMC as a first job sa resume. Sabi naman ng hiring manager, maganda ang internal mobility sa jpmc if you want to switch roles or departments.

This is my first job and I’m really scared. Do you think it’s worth it kahit hindi naman ito yung gusto kong job title talaga to further my career? I’m really anxious especially that this is my first job, not the job title that I want, I will be away from home, and night shift pa. Any thoughts are welcome, wala ring masyadong nagaaccept saking jobs kahit big 4, I’m guessing because wala akong relevant experience.

I’m turning 21 tomorrow. Ewan ko lang, pero it feels like just another normal day.

I still have to study, prepare class discussion forums, attend online classes, sleep, and do some household chores. Parang sa gano’n na lang umiikot ang mundo ko. Haha.

Gano’n ba talaga when you enter your 20s? Mas pinipili ko na lang madalas na nasa bahay, magpahinga, at matulog. Pero alam n’yo ba, minsan naiisip ko rin—what does it feel like to be surprised on your birthday? Yung bigla na lang may yayaya sa’yo na friends mo para gumala, without you having to plan anything?

Most of the time, kasi, ako yung gumagawa no’n. Ako yung nagyayaya, ako yung nagse-set ng plans, ako yung nag-iisip kung saan pupunta. But sometimes, I wonder, *how about me naman?* What does it feel like to be the one being remembered, invited, and surprised?

I understand naman that most people, especially those around my age, already have their own priorities in life. We’re all slowly figuring things out—studies, careers, family, finances, relationships, and everything in between. Maybe that’s just part of growing up.

Still, there’s a small part of me that wonders what it would feel like to be celebrated, even just for a day.

Maybe turning 21 really is just another day. But I guess I’m also realizing that growing older means learning to appreciate the quiet moments, while still secretly hoping that, someday, someone will think of making a little noise for you.

27 na ako, currently living and working in Dubai. On paper, parang okay naman — may trabaho, kumikita, nakakapag-ipon kahit papaano, nakakabili ng mga gusto ko, and I can help my family back home.

Pero minsan napapaisip ako, “Okay… ano na next?” 😭

Parang habang tumatanda ako, mas lalo kong narerealize na ang adulting pala hindi tungkol sa pagkakaroon ng life plan. More like, every few months may bagong problema kang kailangang i-figure out. 😂

Bills, savings, career, family, future plans, health, relationships, visa, travel… tapos bigla mong maiisip na 27 ka na pala at ikaw na talaga ang responsible adult.

Living abroad makes it even more complicated. Mas mataas yung income compared sa Philippines, pero mas mataas din yung expenses and responsibilities. Minsan feeling ko ang layo ko na sa teenage self ko na ang iniisip lang ay kung saan gagala sa weekend. 😂

May mga moments din na naiinggit ako sa mga ka-age ko na parang settled na — may sariling bahay, business, married, may kids, or may clear career path.

Meanwhile ako: “Lord, okay lang ba kung gusto ko muna matulog?” 😭

For those who are around 25–30, especially yung mga nagtatrabaho abroad — normal lang ba na feeling lost pa rin at this age?

Kayo, ano yung biggest “adulting realization” niyo around 27?

We had a random “future talk” last weekend—nothing deep or emotional, just practical planning.

We listed stuff like:

Emergency fund target (still building)
Possible housing plans (5–10 year range, not rushed)
Expected lifestyle costs if we ever have kids
Insurance (still researching)

What surprised us wasn’t the goals, but the numbers.

When you actually compute things, everything becomes less “someday” and more “okay, we need a system.”

We’re not rushing anything, just trying to align expectations early so walang shock later.

Also realized: planning is easier than execution

Right now we’re focusing on:

Consistent savings habit
Keeping expenses predictable
Avoiding lifestyle creep

Feels very unromantic, but in a good way.

Anyone else here went through a “numbers phase” early in marriage where planning became more real than expected?

I am not doing well in life, I don't know how to explain it but there are just things na sobrang hirap ako gawin. It's prolly just all in my head, I am prolly just overthinking but I know I need help. Recently my boyfriend talked to me and said maybe I have bpd. I don't think I have bpd but him telling me that made me realize na I need to talk to a professional to help me figure out what's going on in my head.

So the question is how do I do that? Do I go to a psychologist? What do I even tell them? Hahahaha. I don't even know how to ask questions about this hahahaha.

I can imagine going to a hospital if I have physical pain, telling them what hurts and how I feel physically pero I really can't imagine having to go talk to a professional for my mental health. What proof do I even have? How shitty my life turned out?

If you have experience seeking help from a mental health professional please tell me how it went. I am really overthinking this because I have no clue what to do.

I am sorry if sobrang boba ng post na to 😭 I don't know who to ask for help.

https://preview.redd.it/1qch09kph6oe1.png?width=940&format=png&auto=webp&s=3b88cbf84e8c3477fdb95f066046c3a55abab873

This is a weekly open forum for anyone to ask any question related to adulting no matter how simple. Questions and topics like:

• Budgeting and expense tracking
• Resume writing and job application tips
• What appliances to buy?
• Basic home repairs and maintenance
• Prioritizing tasks and time-blocking
• Public transportation tips
• Travel budgeting and planning
• How to improve/take care of my mental health?

And many more!

Don't forget to always check our FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) section before posting an inquiry.

Fresh graduate ako. Habang nag-aaral naging working student ako saglit hanggang sa nakapasa sa isang scholarship which financed the rest of my college journey.

Ngayong nag-aapply ako ng trabaho lagi akong sinasabihan ng mga kakilala ko na walang silbi daw yung credentials ko kasi yung mga may backer lang yung nahahire. Pero bakit normalized yung ganito? Wala na bang chance yung mga taong gusto patunayan yung sarili nila na makahanap ng maganda at makataong trabaho na hindi nagpapalamon sa nepotismo?

Please huhu nanghihina ako. Yung mga ka batch ko ambilis makakuha ng work kasi may kilala. Ganito ba talaga? Tell me na may chance pa akong guminhawa na hindi kailangan umasa sa connection connection na yan huhu

as of now wala akong work and ipon | nag iipon ako now sa pag o-online sell.

Hi. 24 y.o here. For context, 2 years na ako working sa family business namin this end of August. Merchandise yung type of business and we do deliveries around the province.

As a business, ok na ok naman yung income. Pero since yun ang main source ng fam namin nagssweldo ako. My salary is 20k per month tapos commission from my online page na ranging from 5-10k per month. I'm currently living with them (fam business katabing bahay lang din) kaya libre ako sa expenses.

I know I have it good if I just stay put pero parang walang growth. I want to have a space of my own, something of my own but I think I might regret leaving (financial-wise).

I'm not confident with my experience. On paper, parang ang dami kong roles na pwede include since ako talaga pinaka manager sa business namin which includes a lot of roles pero valid ba 'yon for the resume / clients? I tried applying to jobs before naman (as fresh grad) pero either sobrang underpaid or walang nagccallback kaya I accepted the role sa fam business which sounded good at the time.

Aside from wanting something of my own, I'm really considering leaving because of my f4ther. Medyo namemersonal kasi kahit nasa harap kami ng ibang tao. One time hindi ko lang nasagot agad call nya and he barged in sa store while shouting at me. Mind you I was entertaining a big supplier that time so hiyang hiya tuloy ako even 'til now kapag kaharap ko yung supplier.

I feel like there's no room for growth here since parang I just have to do what my family says. Feeling ko lifeless robot na lang ako na pumapasok every day.

Hindi pa nakakatulong na medyo homophobic tatay ko (my mom is accepting, she's partly the only reason bakit I'm sane pa sa bahay). Mas lalong nappush yung idea tuloy sakin na gusto ko ng something of my own kasi gusto ko rin ng safe space.

I already have a moving out fund and emergency fund (250k). Naiipit lang din talaga ako between practicality (magstay dito samin at mag-ipon na lang) and want ko na mas maggrow pa as a person outside this box I call home.

I really want to move out for years now but I just can't seem to financially justify it.

Am I valid or am I just being ungrateful in this economy?

Considered as "APPLICATION THRU SSS WEB/MOBILE APP - WITH APPROVED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS" na po ba itong status ko? Or need ko pa po magpunta sa SSS branch? Hindi ko po kasi makita na yung status na NO DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENT SUBMITTED". Thank you po

Email received after registering online

My SSS portal status

I apologize in advance if I'm on the wrong sub.

Hello, M27 here, currently renting a 7.5 sq.m bed space with a roommate. Badly need your advice.

My roommate and I moved here for 5 months na and I've notice that our room is getting more stuffier and smells of disgusting laundry even though we regularly changed our beddings (twice a month) and all. Nasa labas na din ang laundry baskets namin. I could say that both of us naman are good with hygiene. So it really bothers me what causes the smell. Nakaka conscious din na baka diko napapansin eh kumakapit na pala sa mga damit namin (kahit naka drawer) yung smell ng kwarto.

The only opening we have in our room is the door that we kept shut kahit nasa bahay kami for privacy, and a small previous opening for a window-type ACU that acts now as our small window na may screen lang. We have one medium-sized clip fan and a small industrial type stand fan as source of ventilation.

Both of us are not at home in the morning, ako unang umuuwi and every time I open our door, I will be greeted with the smell. I've tried air freshener sprays already (though generic brands lang). But the next day, babalik lang din yung smell. We can't afford a good air humidifier and purifier right now, we can't even afford an ACU since it would cost us more electricity bill.

Baka po may mga tips and advice kayo.
Every inputs will be appreciated.

Thank you so much. 😄

just want to vent out.

i miss my dog so much. he’s been with me since iwas a kid and went missing and ran away on my birthday. he had that i’ll be gone look in his eyes when i last saw hime because he’s old. but he choose to ran away and dont let me see him suffer, he went missing after my birthday. I’m an orphan and abused kid so it hurts so much. He used to protect me even he’s also a kid back then. Then God gave me a kitten, a rescued kitten followed me a day before it happened. Yet the pain of losing my dog, whom i considered my family is pain i cannot promise i can recover from.

the funny thing is, i was about to move out from home but its hard to find and rent a home that can cater a pet, i earned and saved up money para lang maisama ko siya debale na mahal basta di ko maiwan aso ko. Moving out was delayed several times cause i dont want to move out without my dog so i can move out at peace. Until he went missing. its like him telling me i should go. It felt like kitten that followed me home is his token of appreciation.

for my dwightie who’s now in dogg heavenn, dawg i hope you know ill make u proud i loveyouuu bro.

1. Maniwala ka sa parents mo kung sinabi nila sayo na huwag ka masiyado magtiwala sa mga co-workers mo.

Ganito ba talaga kapag sa work? Dapat gawin mo lang talaga trabaho mo. Yung mga co-workers mo hindi mo dapat isipin na pwede mo silang kaibiganin na katulad sa school, kasi at some point, sila yung gagawa ng ikapapahamak mo. Di mo alam kung mabait ba sila or sinasaksak ka na patalikod. Kung kaya mo makipagplastikan para makapagstay, gawin mo. Feeling ko, kumokonti yung mga taong genuine na makikipag connect sayo. Mostly magiging mabait sila dahil nagbebenefit sila sayo.

2. Mag-pumilit ka na gawin ang isang task kahit sinabi ng kawork mo na siya na ang gagawa para hindi ka mapagkamalang walang initiative.

Kung sa school kaya mong gawin yung di ka na magi-initiate para di na ikaw yung maglead or para di na marami ipagawa sayo, pwes, sa work hindi gagana yon. Pwede pa maging reason for non-regularization mo yun na lacking of initiative or tamad ka. Hindi sila nagpapatulong sayo kahit alam nilang kailangan pa ng tao or manpower? “Magkusa ka” kahit sinabi ng kawork mo na kaya na niya. Hindi siya nagdelegate ng tasks kahit as a team dapat gagawin? Magpumilit ka na tutulungan mo siya.

Huwag mo hahayaan na makita kang walang ginagawa tapos yung mga kasama mo meron lahat ginagawa, kahit tapos kana sa mga ginagawa mo— kasi mapagiisipan ka na di tumutulong okaya tamad.

3. Magask ng feedback months before regularization regarding sa performance mo kung probationary ka pa.

Huwag mo nang hintayin na aabot pa ng 5 months or for regularization ka na wala kapang performance evaluation. Kung tingin mo hindi ka pa sinisita, pinagsasabihan, o rinereprimand, ikaw na ang magtanong kung may nagagawa ka bang mali. Dahil kung minsan, hahayaan ka nilang magisip na wala kang ginawang mali. Sasabihin na lang nila kapag subject for regularization ka na (most companies na pangit ang hr).

4. Kung ayaw ka ng mga nakatataas, huwag ka nang umasa pa na mareregular ka after ie-extend ang pagka probi mo.

Hindi worth it. Magapply-apply ka na sa iba. Bago ka pa maregular dapat naging sip-sip ka na. Bawal ang hindi sip-sip. Matuto kang magcompliment kahit hindi naman totoo.

5. Kahit knowledgeable ka sa labor laws, maliit lang na porsyento kung minsan ang chance mo.

Magrereport ka sa DOLE? Sige para malaman ng next na a-applyan mo na nagreport ka at maflag ka as a red flag employee. Nagsusumbong ka pala e. Kahit alam ng nakatataas sayo or hr na nasa tama ka, mageexplain pa rin yan para maging tama sila at mali ka.

——

As a ferson na months pa lang ang experience sa work, nakakalungkot isipin na habang tumatanda ka or sa adulting ka na, totoo na less and less genuine yung mga makikilala mong tao. Di ko alam kung sa Pillipinas lang to or trait ng ibang mga Pinoy, pero nakakalungkot isipin na kailangan mo lagi maging competitive para sa sarili mo.

Parang lahat walking on eggshells ka. Hindi mo alam kung sino ang nagpapakatotoo. Dapat makasurvive ka.

PS. Realizations/observations ko po ito. Feel free to add more and correct ako kung bakit ganon yung ginagawa (such as conflict of interest). Ako po ay sawa na sa bad work environment.

Hello everyone, nakita ko to sa TikTok. Share nyo naman yung mga pinapractice nyong UNCOMMON budgeting ways. Ako I have different funds for every needs/wants ko.

Example:

- Pet funds - for my pets of course. Eto yung if ever magkasakit sila, dito ko kukunin.

- Travel funds - local travels

- Braces fund - pang fully paid ko since balak ko na ipatanggal next yr.

and marami pang iba haha.

I also practiced this year yung magtabi for Christmas. Agad agad January palang, meron na ko pang pasko haha. As someone na walang bonus/13th month ekek, very helpful tong ginawa ko this year para hindi ko lahat kunin sa savings yung mga gastos ko sa pasko.

Kayo? Share naman dyan baka pwede ko rin itry.

Figured this might be uncommon so I’m sharing in case it’s helpful.

Note: This will probably be more useful for those who use budgeting apps/zero-based budgeting/envelope budgeting methods.

We’ve been following a certain budgeting method for a while now, and there’s one tip they share that’s worked well for us: “Get a month ahead.”

Getting a month ahead = when a new month arrives, you have all the money available to pay all your expenses for the entire month.

Basically, you save and allocate 1-month’s worth of all expenses as a buffer to remove yourself from the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle.

This is what we usually see: People allocate paychecks according to bill due dates, e.g., if the electricity bill is due by the 23rd, then the paycheck received on the 15th will be used to settle the payment.

When you’re “a month ahead,” here’s what it looks like:
- By August 1, I already have all of the money to cover all of the bills for the month, so I’ll just need to settle payments as bill due dates come up.
- With August already prepared and set as early as August 1, I can look farther into the future and plan ahead for September.
- All of my paychecks for August now go to funding things for September. As best practice, I can store this in an HYSA.
- I don’t need to be worrying about paycheck<>payment timing. I’m able to create more distance/breathing room between my paycheck and any decisions I need to make around my budget if/when I have to.

This advice may seem small (I thought so at first ngl), but in practice, and as a person who’s generally anxious, I was extremely surprised how this became one of those things that helped put me at ease.

“Isn’t this technically what an emergency fund is for?”
— Sure, it sounds similar, BUT what significantly reduced my anxiety is ensuring I actually assign better jobs to our money.

We no longer have just this vague pool of funds ready for any and all emergencies.

Outside of a “month ahead” fund, we now have: an income replacement fund that should be at least 3-6mos worth of total income, a home repair fund if anything breaks, same with car repair and even for tech/gadgets, family emergencies, vet-related expenses, etc etc. So, for example, knock on wood, 3 unexpected things happen at the same time, there are funds appropriated—no confusion, way less financial stress for potentially stressful situations.

—
Would love to hear it: What’s an uncommon financial advice you can share?

—
ETA: Here’s how we started: https://www.reddit.com/r/adultingph/s/QsqGFrGgZg