02/27/2026
Hey friends, just a quick share since I know a lot of us are in the same boat here in Metro Manila I just put out my working paper: "Economic Realities of a ₱50,000 Salary in Metro Manila" (Public Version 1.0). It's a simple breakdown using 2025 numbers—after deductions, rent, food, commute, bills, etc., how much is really left? Spoiler: not much for savings. Even saving ₱5k a month takes 16+ years to hit ₱1M (and inflation eats into it more). But it also shares real tips like side gigs, building skills, being smart with money, and easy investments (MP2, index funds, REITs) to grow faster.If you're curious what ₱50k actually feels like these days, check it out here: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16995296 (PDF downloads straight from there).No pressure to read, just thought it'd resonate with some of you. Open to chats about it!
This working paper authored by Hans Lacida provides a comprehensive analysis of the financial challenges faced by single professionals earning a gross monthly income of fifty thousand pesos in Metro Manila. It explores the gap between perceived financial comfort and actual economic constraints in an...