Christopher Cervantes

MILK tea. Sweet, creamy, Instagram-worthy — and for many Filipinos, the perfect stress reliever after a long day at work. At P120 a cup, it feels harmless. After all, what’s a hundred pesos here and there? But here’s the uncomfortable truth: that daily cup is more expensive than you think. Not because of its price today, but because of what it costs you tomorrow. Let’s do the math. One milk tea a day at P120 means P3,600 a month or P43,200 a year. Multiply that over 10 years and you’re at P432,000.

FILIPINOS today are hustling harder than ever. With inflation still biting into every paycheck and basic goods like rice and other agricultural products hitting ridiculous prices, it’s easy to feel like we’re always playing catch-up. Social media is filled with side hustle tips, online selling trends, and motivational quotes. And yet, many still feel stuck, broke, and exhausted. It is because financial growth isn’t just about income. It’s about mindset.