For the past four months I have been getting consistent income from my work.  I am doubly happy because it was also four months ago that I quit my regular online work.  During the first week of September, my fifth month, I was concerned I was not going to reach my quota.  But lo and behold, it’s not even the end of the month yet and I have already exceeded my quota by 40%!  It’s incredible, right?  I still can’t believe it myself.

Because of this, I’m looking forward to the month of October.  I’m hoping and praying that more opportunities will come our way for the next month and the next and the next.  I’m working doubly hard these days because I’m due last week of November or early week of December.  I know my goal when I quit my job last May was to have a flexible working schedule.  Well, I have achieved that goal but now that my due date is getting nearer my goal is to cut my work time to a  bare minimum but at the same time increase my income. I know it’s going to be hard for me to not focus on my work because for the first time in my life I am really passionate with what I am doing but my two kids are non-negotiable so I have to work really hard to work more efficiently.  So please give me a prayer as I try to achieve my goal one step at a time.  I know I can’t do this without God’s help.  He has been helping us ever since and my husband and I can only wonder in awe on His kindness to us.

We were amused by Z’s prayer tonight.  He prays every time he goes to bed but his prayer tonight was different.  He thanked Jesus that Mommy is working at home and he also wished that his Dad works at home too so that we “could be together always.”  I admit this is my particular dream.  My hubby is not too keen on the idea because he is still not sure we can survive with our income only coming from online jobs but you know my stand on this.  I’m perfectly sure we would.  Now, if only I can convince hubby so he doesn’t have to wake up so early just to be able to go to work.

I’m so grateful for the laptop I’m using. It has been my companion for two years already. It has accompanied me from my very first job online. It has seen me cry with frustration and laugh with delight. It has witnessed my journey towards working-at-home.

I swear it is the most dependable laptop ever! It has never conked out on me. It has been an obedient slave to my fingers. That’s why I have grown so fond of it over the years.

But now that it’s already two years old I am beginning to get scared. It’s still as obedient as ever but I can feel that it’s getting worn out. I know sooner or later it will retire. How I wish we were able to get a laptop insurance. Laptop insurance will protect your laptop from replacement costs from the day you sign up up to 12 months. Since I can’t afford to be without one even for one day because this helps me with my job I need to be prepared in case the worst but inevitable thing happens. I will still inquire if they accept old laptops. If they do I would have to sign up right away.

Hubby excitedly told me some of his plans yesterday. He said he’s thinking of opening up a guitar tutorial for kids and a pet shop. Living in our current place makes this probable because we’re living in a densely populated area. There are a lot of people especially kids! Hubby is an excellent guitarist but would you believe that is not his finest trait. He is patient, sympathetic, and a joy to be with that’s why I think his students would be very lucky to have him as a teacher. Just seeing him with our five year old son and how he has influenced him at such a young age to pick up his guitar and make music – well, I may be biased but I think he’s just amazing! Sometimes I just look at them in awe bonding together.

I’m glad hubby and I are finally able to eye-to-eye. Before he thought he had no option but work in an office until he retires.  After my work-at-home stint, I realized we can make a living even without being an office employee. If it were up to me I would rather that he take a break from his stressful lifestyle as soon as possible and relax with a macanudo in his fingers.  I wish I can give him the opportunity to really take a break and find earning opportunities  that is suited to his interests just like the break he gave me three years ago that allowed me to find my niche.  That is one of my motivations in working hard.

I read this article and I remembered what I didn’t like about working in the office.  It’s the living from paycheck-to-paycheck thing.  I had a good salary but when the paycheck comes there are always additional expenses that needs to be filled.  Whether it’s for the yaya or meds for my kid I just can’t seem to control the money that comes out.  When I do a list of the items that need to be bought I get overwhelmed at the cost.  Of course, since I work hard I have to reward myself too whether in the form of dining out with my co-workers or going to the mall with my family.  Did I mention that I was also guilty mom who would also spare no expense for her kid.  I will buy the most expensive toys I could afford.

So that was our life.  It seems that we have to earn more and more in order to live the lifestyle we’re supposed to live and there’s no end in sight for that vicious cycle.  Yes, I was a slave to employment before but thanks to my hubby I was able to give up my work.  We chose a simple life as long as we’re together.  My hubby is still working in the office and I’m telling him to not be afraid to quit his job.  It doesn’t mean he had to become a bum though as he will still look for better opportunities online where he can earn without a boss breathing down his neck and at his own schedule.  I know he can do it and I’m happy slowly he’s seeing the things the way I see it.

HOW MOST FILIPINOS ARE SLAVES TO EMPLOYMENT

It really bugs me down to think that MOST FILIPINOS ARE EITHER POOR OR MIDDLE CLASS BECAUSE THEY LACK THE VALUES AND THE EDUCATION. I’ve been through employment for many years. I was the type of employee who followed my boss and didn’t really have problem with authority. I would laugh at the “ugly boss jokes” but I didn’t really show any resistance to authority. I was practical, and I knew life was not permanent in the corporate world. So why the heck would I waste my time with the petty exchange of rumors and those little parties and after-work dinners with colleagues. Maintaining relationships pre-requisite to promotion was never my priority. I knew I would soon quit.

Because I chose to be behind the limelight, I had the advantage of observing what’s going on around. Here are some of the traits I find common in the workplace:

1) CRAB MENTALITY – In the corporate world, the bosses are always considered the evil ones. The idea of leadership is distorted that the subordinates follow the boss only because they don’t have a choice (they don’t want to lose their job) and not because they really have high regards for the leader and what they’re doing. At the workplace, it’s like a jungle where competition is stiff and the common thinking is that “resources & opportunities are limited”. This “scarcity mentality” leaves the workers no choice but to pull whoever’s on top so they can get a portion of the ‘gold’.

2) PAYCHECK GOES TO GIMMICKS – This is most especially common in workplaces where young employees would build their own “barkadas”, gather those whom they think are of similar interests to them. They would ‘plan’ trips to El Nido, Boracay or Palawan . And once in a while, visit the bars and clubs for the “good times”. Not wanting to feel left out, most of the “barkada” members would say yes despite the pending expenses at home & in the family. Since habits develop through time, these people are not aware how dangerous it is for their financial future to not handle their finances well today & not allocate their income to worthy purposes.

3) ADDICTION TO SECURITY – Employees live in a world where there’s life during paydays, and soon they’re back in the state of being broke. These are usually the people who are fooled into thinking that Savings, Insurance, Mutual funds can grow & multiply their money tremendously. They’re mislead by the wrong information from the wrong sources. Robert Kiyosaki in his book “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” referred to these people as the Rat Racers. It means, day in and day out, they spend their paychecks for their present lifestyle instead of building assets necessary to have passive income, & eventually financial freedom. They’re chasing something yet just keep moving in circles. And unless they educate themselves now, it would be really hard to escape.

4) GOALS ARE UNCLEAR or DREAMS ARE GIVEN UP – This is showcased by those who have been employed for many years that they have no options left for their future. They just stop dreaming, wait for the next robotic day at the office, and laugh at another colleague’s dreams. They know in themselves that they could never have time to pursue their passion or whatever it is they’ve written in their kiddie dreams list.

It is funny to think that ALL these traits mentioned above are the complete opposite of what can be found in the business world: (1) Businesspeople build each other & leverage on each other’s success; (2) They are knowledgeable & skilled in handling their financial statements; (3) They take calculated risks by getting themselves educated; and (4) they definitely make their dreams and other people’s dreams a huge reality.

Yet given opportunities for growth, most employees would still stick to their 8-hour regular dayjob. It may be out of fear of the unknown, or simply ignorance to the vast amount of opportunities present around. This is really scary because if there’s one thing that has been constantly proven in history, it’s that – NOBODY GETS WEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL BY LIVING IN FEAR & IGNORANCE.

I’m loving the freedom that I have.  I have quit my job as a transcriber last month because I can’t handle the pressure anymore with me suffering from first trimester pains and all.  I figured that since I would be resigning anyway once our second baby is born on December I might as well quit now and spend as much time as possible with Z while I’m not yet busy with a new baby.  I certainly owe it to him.  I found out first hand how hard it was to work at home especially if you have a deadline.  My job had a 12-hour deadline so I was always in a rush to finish it.  When I’m taking a break to take care of Z my mind is still on the unfinished job and I can’t wait to get back to working to get it done.  Once it’s done I’m already too tired to do anything.  Poor Z, he has been neglected the past years.

Now we have so much time talking together and watching his favorite shows together.  I don’t hurry him anymore to have his assignment finished and I’m certainly less cranky.  I’m thankful to my hubby for understanding why I had to quit.  Thankfully, I’m still not fully out-of-work as I still make money on my blogs.

So what have I learned during my work-at-home stint?  I found out that working at home is as hard as working in the office.  I was physically with my child but psychologically, I was absent.  It was a hard balancing act and I salute the work-at-home moms out there who can balance everything.  Now that I have tried that I have also learned that the most ideal work-at-home job is the one where you don’t have a boss to answer to and you have a flexible schedule where you can work only at times when you’re free – whether during the night when all are asleep or in the early hours in the morning before everybody wakes up.  Finding a job like that is doubly hard but if you’re still looking for one please do take that into consideration, don’t jump at the first job that was offered to you, and choose wisely.

I submitted my resignation letter today.  After two years of working I am finally calling it quits.  I remember two years ago I was so ecstatic to land a homebased job.  When I started working I cried many many tears before finally becoming comfortable with my job as a transcriber.  It has helped us in our finances when we needed it but it also took a lot of time away from my son. Yes, having a homebased job is as tough as going to the office to work.  You’re physically here with your family but mentally and emotionally you’re absent because you have to concentrate on your work.

Now that I’m having our second child I have decided that it’s time to move on.  It doesn’t mean that I’m ungrateful for my job but I think I have reached the point where I have to move on.  Back then I accepted this job because I had no experience in working online but two years later I’m now a different person.  Yes,  I have acquired some knowledge that I could use in a new online job but this one is a lot flexible in terms of schedule.  I’m also keeping my fingers crossed that this will pay more compared to my previous one.

So right now I’m enjoying time with my son.  I owe it to him after being “absent” for two years.  I want us to spend quality and quantity time together before his new sibling arrives.  I want to reassure him that I love him even though we’re having a new addition in our family.  I’m also working hard as ever but this time around I can choose to stop when I want to and I’m doing just that.  Leaving my job was hard but now that I finally did it it’s such a relief for me.  I feel that I made the right choice.

I finally did it.  I ended one chapter of my life.  Today I sent my resignation letter to the transcription company I was working for for the last two years.  It has been a long journey full of joys as well as tears as life as a work-at-home mom is not an easy ride.  For two years I worked hard as I try to beat deadlines and typed more words than I have ever typed in my entire life.  My job has helped us financially for the past two years but now that I’m having a second child I have decided that it would be impossible for me to do my job and give my kids the attention that they deserved.  Still, I’m very thankful for the company that hired me and trusted me when I was still inexperienced in homebased jobs and now, although I still have a lot to learn I’m confident that I can move forward and find work that would suit my schedule better.  It’s a sad farewell but I feel I have reached the end of the road for this chapter in my life.

I finally got my Eon card and I thought I could verify my Paypal right away but sadly, I found out that there are so many steps for me to do first. *sigh  I have paid the annual fee of P350 but I didn’t deposit any money in my account which is required because Paypal will deduct money from there during the verification process.  So I’ll go back tomorrow to deposit and double check my account information so I won’t have any problem next time.

By the way, this is what I found at myLot – the step-by-step process of verifying your Paypal through Eon.  It’s really helpful so I hope you read it.

1. Go to the nearest unionbank to apply for an EON card. Tell that you would apply for an EON card. They would ask you for 2 valid ID’s, one photocopy each. I brought my student ID and certified true copy of NSO birth certificate and they accepted it. They have a list of valid ID’s at their website, just check them out.

*They don’t offer online applications anymore so you personally have to go there.

2. After reviewing your ID’s, the teller give you an application form. While filling up the form, make sure to give correct details and clear handwriting.They actually misread my address there that even though I stated “Regina Village”, they put in their records “Regina Street” and my zip code was 1100 even though what I’ve written was 1116. So make sure to double check. It is important you have a valid information because you will need that later on in verifying you paypal.

3. Submit your application form. You don’t have to pay anything yet by this time. They will give you a calling card and tell you the date when your card will arrive. It will take 7 banking days so if you applied monday, your card will be ready by tuesday next week. Make sure to call before going there and ask if your card is ready to be claimed.

4. Once they tell you that your card is ready for pick-up, go to the branch you applied for. You will have to pay 350 pesos for the annual fee then they will give you your card along with its PIN number on a sealed paper.

*Once they receive the payment, your card will start to be activated and it will complete in 24 hours.
*EON is also a deposit account, meaning you could use it as bank account in paypal which I would show in later.

5. Fill-up a deposit slip and have 100 pesos deposited in your EON account. The account number can be found below your name on the card.

*For paypal, you need to load your eon card at least 100 pesos for the code they will later on send you. You could load as much as 500 pesos because if you input the wrong details that they would ask of you during the verification process, you will be charged 250 pesos. Well, that’s just to be safe and avoid problems.

6. Go online and log-on to unionbank’s EON cyber account log-in. Click “Enroll Here”

7. Input the card number which is found at the middle portion of the card and then input the PIN number which is the PIN found on the sealed paper that they gave you. Then nominate a username.

8. Once you’ve enrolled, wait for two banking days for the cyber account to be activated. If you enrolled your EON on a weekend, your cyber account will be activated on a tuesday.

*The cyber account is needed in order to see the transactions that paypal will make with your account.
*If you cannot log-in, it means your cyber account is not yet activated so have to wait longer. You will receive and email from them anyway that your cyber account is activated.

9. Once your cyber account is activated, log-in using your nominated username and PIN number. Check if the 100-peso deposit was reflected in your account. Then check your profile and put in the necessary information, especially the address.

10. Sign-up for a paypal account.

11. Verify your account using your EON card. Choose VISA as the card type. Type in your name (which should match the one on your card). Type in the address. Make sure it is the same with the one on your EON cyber account profile. Then put in your 16-digit card number which could be found in the middle of your EON card, the one above your name. Put in the expiry date located at the left of the VISA logo of your card. Then put the security number which is the 3-digit number located at the back of your EON card.

12. After linking your card, paypal will send you an EXPUSE number which would be reflected in your EON cyber account in no less than a minute.

13. Go back to your cyber account. You will see that your 100 pesos was deducted. Click ” deposit accounts” under account type and in the options choose “last 10 transactions”

14. You would see VISA-****PAYPAL–*EXPUSE with the four asterisks being the paypal verification code. Copy the code and paste in on your paypal verification code. Then you’re done. You wouldn’t have to wait for 3 days to a month in order to get the verification (EXPUSE) code. You will recieve a paypal bonus which is the amount they deducted from your EON account. So basically, you would get you 100 pesos back.

15. On your paypal page, click on profile and then add bank account.

16. Put in your name and then put in UnionBank of the Philippines as your bank name. Put in 010419995 as the bank code. Put in your 12-digit account number found below your name in your EON card. And then click continue.

You now have a bank account which you could use to withdraw your paypal earnings to. It would be cheaper that way compared to withdrawing it to your card.

Working two jobs at home while reviewing my kid. That’s the situation here. Although I’m surprised I haven’t reached my breaking point and I’m still alive. Maybe it’s because I’m happy with my new work. It’s different from my other job where speed in typing is the key. Here I can research and take everything slow and think what I have to write. I’m happy I can still do both while guiding my little one in his review. I’m also happy Z is so smart that he can easily get things because I’m so impatient and get mad easily. Our struggling point is Math where he really tests my limit but in other subjects we’re A-okay.