"NO OTHER WOMAN": Love Triangles and Personal Finance

"Love is a circle not a triangle" - Sara Starr

Sorry gents, this one's for the ladies. I'll be going showbiz this time. =)

We had our weekly meeting last Monday.  Aside from business as usual, the other "important" agenda was this movie, "No Other Woman".  The ladies were so enthusiastically discussing about it, how nice was the story, what they've learned and the generalization that men are really "babaeros" in nature.  They say that the movie is a box office hit!!!.  Marami daw nakakarelate kase once in their lives, they were either Derek (the husband), Cristine (the wife), or Anne (the other woman)...

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So what can we learn from this in terms of "personal finance".  Let's analyze per character.  Hey I did not watch the movie ha!.  Kinuwento lang nila. hehe

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Let's start with Cristine, the faithful, loving wife.   She could be likened to "SAVINGS".  She could be  not exciting but she will always be there for YOU.  She's ready to give YOU a bright FUTURE but sometimes YOU just ignore her or don't give her importance.  Tsaka na lang tutal bata pa naman ako!!!  She can give you security, but sometimes YOU prioritize something/someone else.

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Anne, the other woman, could be likened to "SPENDING".  She entices you to BUY high-end cellphones, laptops, watches, cars etc. because its exciting and exhilarating to get one!  YOU can show her off to your male friends.  YOU are just simply hypnotize by her beauty, her youth.  She is your NOW.  YOU are not concerned of the consequences, of the FUTURE, basta all you know is YOU are happy with her NOW.  Its the whole world against you and her.  You are willing to sacrifice your work, yourself, but more importantly your family.  You don't care about losing money, you just need to have her.  "Bahala na!"

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Derek, the husband, is like everyone of us, the consumer public.  Everyday, we are bombarded by different ads/media.  Do we save ("Cristine") or do we just splurge and spend recklessly ("Anne")?  Do we start saving for our retirement or our kids' college education or get that life insurance?  Or do we really need to have the latest gadget or go travel abroad or have that new car?

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A finance psychologist once said that if we want to improve our financial health, we should not just focus on making more money, but instead we should develop a better and healthier relationship with it.

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I learned from a recollection that in order for us to solve any problem (money and relationship problems included), we need to have a "reality check" and first understand our "being".  Our being is made up of our personality type, behavioral patterns, values, beliefs, experiences, family upbringing, strengths and limitations.  Then we need to reflect on what are the things we still need to "outgrow" and what specific steps we need to take in order to improve or solve  that money or relationship problem.

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Now on the question, whether are all men generally "babaeros".  Di naman!  You have to find out and understand his "being"  =) 

There is a funny quote that says:  "To be happy with a man you must understand him a lot and love him a little. To be happy with a woman you must love her a lot and not try to understand her at all."

Hope this helps.

Ge

Gerald Cantor is a Registered Financial Planner graduate and a Financial Consultant of Pru Life UK.  He is also a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Internal Auditor.  Ge is proud to be an ex-OFW, a "career-shifter", a baller, a newby entrepreneur and most importantly, a "proud" dad of Gia (4yo) and Clarie (2yo).