I have been living almost ten years in Dubai now, and I have learned a lot of life lessons the hard way.
If you are an ‘OFW’ like me, try to recall your days before you go abroad – probably all you will remember are the sugar-coated presumptions that migrating to another country means a better life.
I agree with the phrase ‘better life,’ but no one mentioned that if you do not live it better, then there will be no difference with the life that you have left way back home.
Here are some of the common mistakes we often make as an OFW simply because no one warns us about it. I hope this helps.
1. One-day millionaire every ‘sale season’
SALE Season is good if you use it wisely. What do I mean wisely? If you NEEDED something and waited for its price to go down before buying it, then you did it right. But if you buy things just because it is ON SALE, you must be like who I used to be.
When I was new here in Dubai, I get excited whenever I see the word SALE. I buy anything and everything all at once. Then later, when we are about to move to another flat, I realized I stuck up too many things that I do not even remember existed – from small things to huge ones just because during that time it is on Sale.
I felt terrible not just for myself but for those things that I bought – some of them still wrapped with their plastic bags – since the beginning of time.
How did I get rid of those?
- First, I stopped going to malls on SALE season, not unless I needed something badly, but most of the time, I do not.
- Second, I gather all the things I collected from buying on SALE and sell it at Flea Market (before the pandemic) and barter it online during the pandemic.
If you really cannot stop yourself from buying during sale season, I advise you to turn your passion into profit. Make it your business by buying it with its sale price and selling it at the regular price.
2. Getting credit card to look cool
In the Philippines, having a credit card means having a high salary. But here in UAE, you can get a credit card in just a blink of an eye.
Having a credit card is not bad if you use it for good reasons, such as paying your bills online or purchasing something you need but paying it all in full at the end of the month. But you use your credit card for leisure without a plan of spaying it in full on it is a due date, then you are slowly digging your own grave.
Keep in mind that you went abroad to work and earn money for your dreams and family, not to look cool in front of anyone you want to please.
3. Getting a personal loan ‘to enjoy life’
Like a credit card, getting a loan here in UAE can be done with a blink of an eye. But if you will get one for travel or leisure expenses just to be ‘in’, then you are expediting digging your own grave.
If you will take a loan to start a business or to invest in something as long as you studied first about the business or investment, then it is okay. But if not, then forget about it. Few moments of pleasure could cost you a lifetime of misery.
4. Sending all your money home and not saving for yourself
I get it. Maybe your purpose here is to earn and make a living for your loved ones, and there is nothing wrong with that. But never forget about yourself.
I met many people here who sent 50% of their earnings to their families and save the other 50% to use it for their family during their vacation. It is just so wrong.
Sending and giving your all is a hundred percent losing end.
Why not, instead of giving all your money, teach them about starting a small business? Give them capital and tell them that they can use all the profits for their monthly expenses. But make sure to stick to it because if you give them capital every single month and still pay for their expenses, then what is the point?
In case small businesses don’t work with them, then at least set a specific budget that you will send every month and make sure you kept some for yourself.
Start saving for yourself at least up to 20% a month, and in few years, you will see the outcome.
5. Buying ‘pasalubong‘ for everyone when going back home
I have read this somewhere, “bakit ka naghahanap ng pasalubong, may patago ka ba?” — which is true, right?
We Filipinos often think that we owe our relatives and even neighbors a ‘pasalubong’ whenever we are going home for vacation. Of course, giving is always good but when you are losing something for yourself whenever you give, then you must change your perspective about giving.
Ask yourself this, where are they when you are suffering, sick or hopeless here in abroad? Did they contribute something in your life to make it less hard? Will buying them pasalubong affect my savings? Do I have enough for everybody?
If you answer that questions, you will understand better why it is not your responsibility to buy pasalubong for every single person in your life.
6. Living for the weekend
If your life is only between work and the weekend, then maybe you are not really aiming for a better life.
Start your side hustle NOW! It could be a small business or a vlog/blog. It could be related to your passion for music or to the arts. It could be anything you enjoy doing.
There is no such thing as too hard, too tired, or too impossible. Always go back to your reason why you went abroad in the first place. The way you live your life daily will result from how you will live your life in the next 5 to 10 years.
“Rich people plan for generations; poor people plan for the weekend.”
7. Not expanding your connections
When you are in the Philippines, high chance is you only meet the people you choose to meet.
But if you are living and working abroad, the possibility of expanding your network not just in business matters but so for personal growth is high because you meet different people, different nationalities, different backgrounds here.
I used to think I have learned enough in life until I joined BXD. There are different people with different professions, with different hobbies, with different experiences among us and I am glad I am learning from each of them.
The people you meet could be your next business partner, or mentor, or best friend.
8. Not investing in education
Here abroad, I believed we are more privileged to learn a lot of things and access a lot of courses easily. Yet, most of us often think it is a waste of time and money.
If there is a Finance literacy talk that asks you to pay 50 or maybe 100 AED, will you go? Probably not. Thinking it is TOO MUCH expensive. But when the latest iPhone model is out, even if it will cost you 4,000AED you don’t mind buying it in less than a heartbeat, even if you have purchased the last years’ model already.
Change your mindset. You are not too old, too broke, too busy to learn again. There are lots of talks and courses both free and with a fee for you. Especially when the pandemic hits, so many people opened their doors to share their knowledge. Do not miss it!
Keep in mind that learning is an option and being ignorant is a choice.
“If a man empties his purse into his head, no one can ever take it away from him.”
Always remember that.
9. Not exploring and enjoying the country you are in
I asked a friend of mine who decided to go back home for good what she regrets the most after living in Dubai for 14 years, and one of the few on her list is not exploring UAE. I was surprised to know that she has not been in Lego land yet.
I mentioned earlier that saving and not putting leisure first should be our priority but enjoying life and rewarding yourself from time-to-time won’t hurt.
It is already an advantaged living abroad; why not maximize it? don’t just breathe, live a life!
I always tell my friends that if they cannot travel outside to another country yet, then why not enjoy UAE first? There are a lot of places to explore here, and not everything is expensive. Some are free, and some are not even more than a hundred dirhams.
10. Deciding to go home for good without savings and a plan
8 out of 10 people I know who decided to go home for good are regretting their decisions because they based it on their current state and emotion.
Of course, it is always good to go back home for good. I guess we are all dreaming of booking a ticket to the Philippines with no return flight, but the question is, HOW PREPARED ARE YOU? Not just financially but so is emotionally and mentally.
If you are on the stage wherein you wanted to go back home because things are hard here, sorry to burst your bubble but things are always hard everywhere. Think 10 times before concluding your plans and make sure that you are prepared for all the consequences that may arise.
But if you will go back home because you planned and prepared well, then congratulations!
I sincerely pray for your new beginning.
Live with purpose, wherever you are
To sum it all, having a better life is not based on where you are but on how you decide to live your life. You have sacrificed many things coming abroad to fulfill that better life that you aim not to waste your sacrifices.
Never forget your purpose, and always stick to it.
As much as possible, try to avoid the ten mistakes I have written, and if, in any case, you are already stuck on one of those, please note that it is never too late to learn from them and apply the lessons in your life.
You deserve to recover.
