Dear husby,
I could say that I have lived a relatively comfortable life. Yes, there were times that we were really financially constrained, especially during the latter part of my medical education. I experienced skipping lunch, walking home from school, making do with 200 pesos for the whole week etc. But these are nothing compared to what some of my colleagues and professors had gone through. Let me relate to you some of them.
I have one professor, a PhD holder and a Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World (TOYP) awardee. If you look at him now, with his classy clothes and conio air, you wouldn't think that once upon a time, he was among those you could call "poor''. The night before his UPCAT exam, his mother didn't sleep. She was afraid that they might oversleep and that that his son would miss the opportunity to go to college. UP was the only university that they can afford. She even cant accompany him to UP since they only have enough fair for one person.
Another is a neurosurgeon from UP, a stellar student by any other standard. His father's salary was slightly above the minimum wage. They were seven in the family. He wanted to go to medicine, but as the eldest child, it would be selfish of him to do so. His relatives were pressuring him to go take lucrative courses then go abroad instead. (would surely be a waste of intelligence and talent). Fortunately, he was able to enter UP Intarmed.
Now back to me. When we met, I was still living the high life. Not as glamorous as that of my classmates, but I could still afford to go to Areneo without scholarships. In the middle of our relationship, our finances crashed. With very little savings and no investments, we were close to dirt poor! They managed to scrape money and provide for our basic needs, but couldn't afford to pay for my other necessities. I remember pitying myself, thinking, "I was a med student from one of the most prestigious schools in the country, and yet here I am applying in a call center." You saved me, my dear husby. You bought me my phone, laptop and tablet. You paid for my steth, pulse ox etc. You gave me my allowance. You helped me get through med school.
Fast forward to the present, we both have high earning jobs. We can now afford to buy stocks, property, rheeze and s8+. We are living comfortably. But husby, reflecting on these, mahal ko, am I living EXCESSIVELY? Has my spending this past few weeks been unjustifiable? Is this way of life a betrayal of the hardships I had experienced in the past? Is my head to high up in the clouds that my feet are no longer on the ground?
I know of one military doctor, a passionate and humble one. Who also traversed the social strata, from being too poor to earning 70k per month. And yet, he still uses the same laptop he was using in med school. He has a smart phone but is not pressured into buying the latest model.
Husby, I'm sorry if I was acting like a one-day-millionaire. I am becoming the person I used to hate. I used to tell you to live below our means. Please keep reminding me of this piece of wisdom. Please don't spoil me.
I promise to take care of my gadgets. Make do with what I have and not spend excessively.
I love you so much.
With all my love,
sexy wifey