Breaking Free PART 2: My Battle with Debt – One Month Later

It’s been a month since I bared my soul and shared my journey through financial crisis. Writing that article was cathartic—and hearing from others who related to it made me feel less alone. So here I am again, one month in, still fighting the same battle but armed with new moves, fresh bruises, and—surprisingly—a sense of excitement for what lies ahead.

The Bank Visit (and the Waiting Game)
I finally made it to the bank. I sat down with a representative and discussed my situation. They explained their repayment assistance program and assured me someone would call to follow up. That was two weeks ago. I’m still waiting for that call. It’s not ideal, but at least the process has started. It’s progress, however slow.

Teaching More, Sleeping Less
I took my own advice and increased my online teaching hours. It’s paying the bills (barely), but the trade-off? I now average five hours of sleep a night. It’s not sustainable, but for now, it’s what I have to do. I’m constantly running on caffeine, determination, and the occasional power nap.

Cutting Back... Even More
I used to think I was already living frugally. Turns out, there’s always more to cut. I’m now trimming down on food expenses—which, honestly, was the last area I wanted to touch. The silver lining? It’s forced me to cook healthier, lighter meals. Maybe my waistline will thank me later… though at this point, that’s a whole other struggle I’ll save for another day.

A Small Writing Gig with Big Hope
I started writing articles for the online teaching company I work with. If they approve and publish an article, I get an extra ₱500. It takes about two weeks for them to let me know if it’s accepted. It’s not much, but every bit helps. Plus, writing is something I love—so this side hustle feels less like a chore and more like reclaiming a small part of myself.

Still Writing the eBook—Slowly
This has been cooking for years now. Yeah, still working on it. The biggest challenge is time. Between teaching, writing articles, managing the spa, and surviving on minimal sleep, carving out even one uninterrupted hour to write feels like trying to catch the wind. But I haven’t given up. It’s not just a project—it’s a promise I made to myself.

Hanging On (and Weirdly… Curious?)
Here’s the wild part: I’m not scared. I should be. But instead, I feel this strange sense of thrill, like I’m a character in a story, turning the page to see what happens next. I want to know how this ends too. Will I make it? Will something unexpected happen? I don’t know—but I’m still here. Still trying. Still curious.

If You’re Reading This
If you’re also in the thick of it, waiting for calls that don’t come, doing more than you thought you could handle, and still feeling like it’s not enough—just know, I see you. We’re in this together.

And maybe, just maybe, when the dust settles, we’ll look back and say: That was the chapter where I didn’t give up.

Until then, we keep writing the story.