3

This is the day when I start all over. I made a lot of mistakes in the past. Now, I am left with nothing. I have not a trade right now, having quitted my former work as school teacher.

I already closed my accounts in the bank. Long before that, the investments I have with the stocks were withdrawn by me, starting from the time my father got hospitalized and eventually died. That was two years ago.

I had successes for the next two years after that, having promoted to being schoolmaster. The first school I worked with is located some ten kilometers away from our home. My income there is about 8 aureus, 5 silvers and 5 denarius a month. That was about double my previous income as a teacher in a school near our place.

I had to leave that place because they are hiring teachers that did not pass the board. In fact, a prevailing rumor in the community is that a teacher there did not even finish college. I tried to set things to order, by asking them their credentials. Just to prove the rumors wrong. But it became a pathetic business, since I realized that the owner has put her trust on the said teacher. Another teacher who did not finish her studies happened to be her cousin. When I realized this - in the middle of the year - I decided to leave the school. I could not do that immediately, since I was thinking about the kids I am teaching - my grade 3 Jade. Hence, I finished the school year.

Last year was better. I am into teaching again. At the same time, I am also a schoolmaster in the campus I was assigned to. My income was slightly better - 10 aureus. The distance from my home however was horrific - 80 kilometers. I have to travel 160 kilometers a day, just to get to school and back home. I tried at first to stay there - rent out a place with my co-teachers - but my family objected. My daughter does not want me anymore beside her. And I questioned myself, Will I be here forever? Will I not be cast off if I do something wrong, or if I do not measure up to their standard? When that happens, where will I be? Will be with a family, or will I be alone?

Having all these in mind, I slowly lost interest in what I was doing. I was caught in the middle - of all the travelling. While at home, I would be thinking of the school - whether I was able to lock everything, or whether the fans were all put off. I would also be thinking about what to teach in the morrow, and somehow, try to prepare for that. When I am in school, I would be thinking of home, and how my daughter's first year in school is doing. I missed all her activities in school, and somehow that proved a lot of burden to my soul.

I leave the house in morning at around 3:30Am, and arrive at about 8-8:30 PM at night. During the rainy months, I arrive between 9-10PM.

After a year, I left that school with a heavy heart. I know I am going to leave the students whom I learned to love with all my heart. Further, I know I did not do my best both as teacher and as a school master. However, I believe I am capable of doing better.

Hence, I started again.

My friend and I now tutor students who will be taking up their entrance examinations in the tertiary level. They number 8. I teach them Math and English, while my friend teaches Science and General Information. We also have 4 more in the afternoon - My friend teaches two preschoolers, while I do the Geometry and Chemistry (advanced lessons for a student). This same student also takes up Biology with my friend. We charge around 1 aureus, 2 silvers and 2 denarius each student. This will go on until about May 15, 2007.

Right now, I have no investments left. All I have is the house and a worn-out van that may be valued less than 20 aureus. My house will fetch for more than 35 maneh, but no one will buy it immediately. And I believe that in order for me to survive, I should at least own my home.

I have been loose again with my money. I lent here and there. I have spent also in my education. I still have to enrol for my thesis. I know it will cost me a lot again. Also, I wasn't able to deal good with the finances of the school. I spent my own money, and some of those things, I wasn't able to reimburse. It is foolish, but that is what happened. I also spent a lot in transportation. Traveling a lot, I also spent much in food. All these being told, I was not able to save anything. Indeed, instead of being well-off, the more my purse became lean.

Now, I am deciding to start all over again. This day, I will think like a billionaire. I know all that it takes to be financially successful. I have the talents that could give me the talents (talanton). And I am desiring success once more. I leave everything behind and start anew. This is the new day when I face my self in the mirror - a man of thirty-six years, older than half of the world. I have squandered enough time, and should have gathered enough gold already for me to retire in peace for a lifetime. But no. I am still starting. I am just starting again.

But even though I am just starting again, I will be better now. I will gain two more years for every year I spend. Instead of paying everybody first, I am starting with myself. I will pay my self first before I pay Meralco, or Sumsi, or the baker, or the retailer of Coke. I will pay my loan to myself - having lost all my investments - by paying myself a fifth of all I earn. Next, I will save a tenth again for this year. Hence, in all, I will save three-tenths of all I earn. I know it will be hard, and sooner or later, something has to give. Perhaps, later, the cable TV has to be cut off. Perhaps, a little more later, this broadband has to be cut off. But, it is the bitter pill that I have to swallow, in order for me to retire by 60.

I will also teach my daughter the same, so that she will be able to start earlier.

This is my lifetime goal. I desire to live to a hundred. I will be as healthy as possible, and I will take care not to be too fat. I have already gained a lot of weight. I will trim it down to 140 pounds by December. That will take around 3 -4 pounds a month, which is not too bad at all.

Secondly, I desire gold. I will accumulate enough riches in my life - a thousand talanton before I close my eyes forever.

As a consequence, I will be most frugal and will defend my purse to the death. If I need to sell some of my priceless possessions, I will let them go, so that I will start from scratch. I will curb down on my softdrinks from daily 1.5 liters to about 1 L for the first month, then 500 mL, until I will be able to drink to a minimun of about just a glass of softdrink a day. Also, I will increase my water intake.

I will update on my coins as often as possible. When I am able, I will start investing again in the market. I will continue studying stock investments, and I will use it to double my investment every year.