7 Limiting Beliefs About Money That’s Keeping You Broke

If you ever feel like you’re doing everything “right”—working hard, showing up, trying to save—but still not getting ahead financially…

You’re not alone.

Sometimes, the issue is not about what you’re doing. Sometimes it’s about how you think and feel about money. ‘Yung mga paniniwala natin tungkol sa pera na nakaka-limit sa progress natin financially, ‘yan ‘yung isa sa mga pinakamalaking bagay na kailangan nating maging aware. Why? Because it can sabotage our progress even if we’re disciplined and hardworking.

Here are 7 of the most common limiting beliefs that we have as Filipinos. At sa dulo ng bawat bagay, I’ll share a more empowering belief that you can adapt instead. Game?

This one sounds noble. Humble,even. But let’s be honest, ‘yung mga taong nagsasabi nito most of the time, sila pa ‘yung mga struggling pagdating sa pera. Sila ‘yung nahihirapang mag-ipon o kahit magbayad ng mga utang at bills nila. They are justifying their circumstance with this kind of mindset.

The problem is, if you think this way (and if you really believe this with all your heart), you’ll have a hard time making more money. Kung hindi ka masaya sa isang bagay, bakit mo gagawin consistently? Why would you even attempt to do it?

Here’s the truth: Money CAN buy happiness. But only up to a certain point. In fact, according to a study featured on GMA, the average Filipino family needs ₱110,000 per month just to live a comfortable life.

At hindi pa ‘yan sobrang marangya, ah? That’s just for a life where you’re comfortable: hindi ka stressed sa renta o pambayad ng bahay, pagkain, transpo, at mga emergencies.

And admit it or not, when you’re comfortable and when you have stability, you experience peace of mind. More accurately, you don’t experience financial worries. And that adds to our baseline level of happiness.

Sure, beyond a certain level, buying more things won’t give you more joy. Once your basic needs are met, money becomes less about survival. ‘Yung struggle, wala na sa external na pangangailangan natin, nasa internal na. The struggle becomes more about finding meaning in life.

You begin to ask deeper questions:

• “Who am I?”

• “What am I here for?”

• “Is this all there is?”

But don’t be mistaken: It’s hard to chase meaning if you’re constantly worrying about rent.

So no, money is not the magic fix na mag-aayos ng lahat ng emotional wounds mo bilang isang tao. What it affords is something different, something basic na kapag wala tayo, mahirap mabuhay sa mundo.

Money buys options. It buys time, freedom, and the ability to choose the kind of lifestyle we can live. And those things? They lead to a happier life.

Empowering Belief: “Money gives me the choice, the freedom, to live a meaningful and happier life.”

Let’s be real: when you’re in your 20s or early 30s, retirement feels like a lifetime away. Wala pa tayong sense of urgency na isipin ‘to kasi sobrang layo pa eh. Hindi pa natin ramdam na kailangan nating paghandaan ‘to.

There are more immediate concerns: bills to pay, side hustles to do, a car to buy, a house to loan, travels and experiences, and so on. Ito ‘yung feeling natin na mas importanteng bigyan ng atensyon sa ngayon.

So, when someone tells you, “You have to prepare for your retirement”, it’s easy to think, “‘Di ko pa nga alam gagawin ko sa buhay ko ngayon eh, retirement pa kaya?”

I get it. I used to think that way too.

And honestly? There’s some truth to it. When you’re young, you have to enjoy the fruits of your labor and your focus shouldn’t be solely on saving for “old age”. This is the best time to invest in your skills, start a business, and take some risks. That’s the smart way to think about it.

But here’s what I wish someone told me earlier: You don’t have to choose between “investing in your future” and “living in the now.” You can do both. Even just saving 10% of your monthly income in a long-term investment fund makes a huge difference—especially if you start early.

Why? Because of something powerful called compounding. I’m sure you’re already familiar with this. Pero tignan mo si Lolo Warren Buffett. He started investing at 11 years old. But guess when he made the majority of his wealth? After he was 50.

By then, ‘yung investment capital niya, sobrang laki na dahil meron siyang ilang dekada para palaguin ‘yung puhunan niya. At dahil malaki ang capital, malaki rin ang balik sa kanya ng mga investments niya. In fact, his Coca-Cola investment alone makes $2.2 million PER DAY in terms of dividends. Grabe ‘di ba?

Time, not luck or skill, is the biggest factor in building wealth. Kapag may oras kang binigay sa investment mo para lumago ‘yun, bibigyan ka rin nito ng malaking balik. And when you’re young, time is one thing you have more than anyone else.

You can choose to use it or waste it doing things that take away your attention now, but don't bring you long-term benefits. And when you waste it, you’ll have to play catch-up (like I did). The catch-up is expensive.

Empowering belief: “The earlier I start preparing for retirement, the more freedom I’ll have in the future.”

Have you ever told yourself, “Wala eh, magtatrabaho talaga ako hanggang 65. Swerte na lang kung may pension.” Filipinos still believe in the “pensyon”. That’s why a lot of people would maximize their contribution to social security or would do anything just to get a job in the government.

There’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, if you love what you do and you’d want to work all your life doing that, go ahead! But we also have to be open to the fact that you don’t have to work until you’re 65 to experience retirement.

Retirement through old age is a common belief here in the Philippines. However, it can leave you feeling stuck in the rat race for the next 30 to 40 years. At ang hirap lumabas kapag gano’n ang perspective mo.

So, let me share with you a perspective about retirement that changed the way I viewed things: Retirement is not about your age. It’s about your capability.

You don’t retire when you hit 65. You retire when your assets (your capabilities) can pay for your life. Let me explain.

Retirement happens when your investments, savings, and other income-generating assets (like real estate, stocks, or a business) are enough to cover your lifestyle expenses. At kapag nangyari ‘yun, kahit 35 ka o 65, pwede mo nang i-consider ‘yung sarili mong retired.

And here’s the exciting part: You don’t have to wait until you’re “old” to retire. You can do it in stages.

This is when you have enough savings to quit your job for a while (maybe a year) to rest, reflect, or reinvent yourself. You use that time to learn new skills, travel, or start a passion project.

For me, I’ve had a couple of mini retirement “episodes” in my life kung saan umalis ako ng corporate world to try and start a business. At kasabay no’n, I was resting, improving my skills, getting skills, expanding my network, and so on. The result? Kahit nag-fail ‘yung mga business ko, I went back to the corporate world knowing I can contribute more value. At mas mataas ‘yung sweldong kaya kong i-expect from them.

Mini retirements give you the mental reset you didn’t know you needed, especially when you’re burning out from corporate life.

Dito sa stage na ‘to ng retirement, hindi mo na kailangan ng traditional na trabaho para lang maka-survive ka sa mundong ‘to. You have enough assets and those assets cover your basic needs: rent, food, bills, etc.

Ang catch though, kung gusto mo ng mas maraming pera at mas kumportableng retirement, you can still work. You either work to start your own business or find gigs that will give you extra income. But the thing is, you work because you want to, not because you’re desperate for a paycheck.

Ang maganda sa stage na ‘to, you start to become “choosy” about the work you do. You start choosing projects that excite you. You decide to work with people that help you improve, not exhaust you.

PS: Active retirement is also good to keep your mind active. 

At this point, you’ve built enough wealth to fully cover your lifestyle. Covered na hindi lang ‘yung needs mo tulad ng rent o pagkain. Kasama na rin ‘yung wants mo: travels, eating out, buy clothing, etc. Your assets make enough returns para mabili mo ‘yung ilan sa mga gusto mo.

Aside from that, ito ‘yung point na hindi mo na kailangang magtrabaho para kumita ng additional income. You don’t have to work unless you really want to. Your money works for you instead, at hindi na ikaw ‘yung nagwo-work para lumaki pa ‘yung pera mo.

For government employees, ito ‘yung time na nakakatanggap na sila ng pensyon galing sa GSIS. For private workers naman, pwedeng galing sa kumpanya nila o galing sa SSS.

Getting to this stage a lot earlier is possible if you build an asset portfolio na kumikita ng pera. Ang role mo na lang ay i-maintain ‘yung asset portfolio na ‘yun. That happens in two ways: (1) No overspending and (2) rebalancing your portfolio.

This is the level most people never reach—but it’s possible. Your assets not only cover the basics but fund your dream lifestyle: Frequent travel, fine dining, supporting causes you care about, giving to family. And you do that without worry about running out.

Anyway, here’s the best part: You can slowly move from one stage to the next, starting now. You don’t need to make millions overnight. You just need to shift your mindset and start building your asset base intentionally.

Empowering belief: “I don’t have to work until I’m old. I can retire in stages by building income-generating assets today.”

A lot of Filipinos dream of earning six digits a month. And let’s be honest, it’s a good goal! 

Money solves a lot of problems, and a high salary can open many doors. Bukod sa naaalis nito ‘yung most stress natin sa buhay, nabibigyan din tayo ng opportunity to prepare big para sa future natin.

But here’s the truth they don’t tell you: A high salary doesn’t automatically make you wealthy.

We’ve all heard stories of celebrities, athletes, and even top executives who made millions, then went broke. They drove luxury cars, wore designer clothes, stayed in five-star hotels, but ended up drowning in debt. Why? Because income is not the same as wealth.

Income is how much you earn. Wealth is how long you can survive without working. Here’s the difference:

Let me say that again: Wealth is measured in time. If you stop working today, how many months can you survive with your current savings, investments, and cash flow? If the answer is “not long,” then it doesn’t matter how high your salary is, you’re still living paycheck to paycheck. Just on a bigger scale. 

Here’s a classic example: Napoleon Hill, the author of Think and Grow Rich, was a brilliant salesman. He earned a high income during his peak years. But near the end of his life, he was broke and had to be rescued financially by his mentee, W. Clement Stone.

He had income, but not real wealth. And you don’t have to look far. Some of the highest-paid employees or salespeople you know may be earning more than you, but still have nothing to show for it.

Because no matter how big your income is, if you spend everything you earn, you’re not building wealth. You’re just running on a bigger hamster wheel.

Better belief: “High income is good but true wealth is about building assets that let me stop working anytime.”

This belief keeps so many people stuck. They say things like:

• - “Wala pa akong malaking ipon, paano ako mag-i-invest?”

• - “Kapag may sobra na akong pera, doon na lang ako magsisimula.”

• - “‘Di ko pa kayang mag-invest ng pera ngayon, ‘di ko pa ‘yan priority.”

But here’s the truth: You don’t need to be rich to invest. In fact, you need to invest in order to become rich. 

Let’s clear one thing up first: Investing isn’t just about money. You can invest time, effort, attention, relationships, energy, and knowledge… long before you invest cash. Here are the 3 most important things you need to invest in (even if you’re not rich yet):

Your income will only grow as fast as you grow. The more skilled you are, the more value you can bring — and the more you can earn. This doesn’t mean getting another college degree. It can be as simple as:

• - Taking a short online course on digital marketing

• - Learning a high-income skill like copywriting or design

• - Reading 10 pages a day of a personal finance or business book

• - Improving your communication skills so you can lead better
  

The best return on investment is the one you get from improving yourself.

Don’t just work hard — make your money work too. But before investing your money in stocks, real estate, crypto, or business… invest your brain first: Study. Ask questions. Learn how your chosen vehicle works.

You don’t need millions to get started. Some investing platforms allow you to start with as little as ₱500 or ₱1,000. But you need to know what you’re doing.

Ang pinakamabilis na paraan para mawalan ng pera ay ‘yung mag-invest ka nang wala kang alam.

You’ve heard the phrase, “Your network is your net worth.” Strong relationships are an invisible asset. They can:

• - Lead to better job offers

• - Open doors to new clients or business opportunities

• - Connect you with mentors who’ll guide your growth
  

And just like financial investments, these relationships need deposits too. Invest in them by offering value without expecting anything in return, listen more than talking, or being trustworthy and generous.

Every relationship you build today can multiply your opportunities tomorrow.

The bottom line? Don’t wait until you’re rich to start investing. Kailangan mong mag-start mag-invest so you won’t get stuck on where you are.

Empowering belief: “I can invest now with what I have, where I am, and who I know.”

We’ve all been sold this image. From teleseryes to TikTok, we’re made to believe that wealth looks like:

• - A multi-door mansion with 6 bedrooms and 4 baths

• - A BMW or Benz

• - A closet full of luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, Balenciaga, and Rolex

But as I started meeting REAL millionaires, I noticed something unexpected: They weren’t flashy. They didn’t try to impress anyone. And some even looked like regular titos and titas you'd pass in the mall.

They’re not living for likes. They’re building wealth in silence.

Because here’s the truth: The fastest way to lose money is to try to look rich before you are. Many wealthy people in the Philippines don’t care about brands, they care about freedom and impact.

Luxury is not a sin. But if you’re buying it to prove something, you’re playing the wrong game.

Empowering belief: “Real wealth is quiet.”

This belief has caused so many people to borrow money too soon and fail. They take out loans, they swipe credit cards, they pour money into a business they haven’t even tested. Then what happens?

• Zero proof of concept…

• Zero sales…

• Get deeper into debt…

But here’s what most people don’t realize: In today’s digital world, you don’t need a lot of money to start a business. You just need a simple idea that solves a problem and the courage to offer it.

This is the age of the solo business. A solo business is when you:

• - Offer a solution to a specific problem

• - Sell it directly to people online

• - Deliver it digitally or automatically

• - Don’t need employees, office space, or huge capital

For example, magbebenta ka ng eBook para makatulong sa mga taong mag-mange ng finances nila. Nag-ooffer ka ng coaching o consulting para sa mga kumpanya na gustong matutong gumawa ng content. Gumagawa ka ng templates, guides, o iba pang digital products na nakakatulong sa mga business owners na i-promote ‘yung business nila.

These businesses often start with ₱0 to ₱5,000 capital, just enough for a domain name, Canva Pro, or ads. But they can grow to 6–7 figures if you learn how to sell and serve well.

Empowering belief: “I don’t need millions to start. I just need to solve a problem better than anyone else.”