In 2013, I released my No Nonsense Personal Finance : A Step by Step Guide book with one clear goal: to help Filipinos become more financially responsible and free. Through years of mentoring, speaking, writing,teaching, and learning, I’ve realized that while financial strategies may evolve with time, the fundamentals remain constant. So today, I want to revisit the 5 Steps to Financial Freedom I’ve shared countless times, especially for those who are either starting their journey or finding themselves stuck somewhere along the path.

Let’s walk through the five steps again—with clarity, conviction, and a heart for lasting change. And as a bonus, I’ll share a sixth step that has made all the difference in my own journey.

Step 1: Increase Cash Flow

The first and most important step is to create positive cash flow. It’s impossible to build wealth if you’re consistently spending more than you earn.

This step requires two things: discipline and diligence. You must learn to track your income and expenses—yes, even the small ones like that daily milk tea or your streaming subscriptions. Once you see where your money goes, you gain the power to control it.

But increasing cash flow isn’t just about cutting back; it’s also about increasing income. Can you take on side gigs? Freelance work? Sell items you no longer use? Perhaps you can improve your skillset and position yourself for a raise or a better-paying job.

I always say, “If it’s important to you, you’ll find a way. If not, you’ll find an excuse.” Increase cash flow not just for survival, but so you can take the next crucial steps.

Step 2: Get Out of Debt

Debt is a thief. It steals your peace, your future, and even your relationships if left unchecked. And sadly, many Filipinos have normalized consumer debt as a way of life.

But here’s the good news: you can get out of debt. I’ve seen people dig themselves out of hundreds of thousands of pesos in loans simply by being focused and intentional.

Start by listing all your debts—credit cards, personal loans, salary loans, etc. Then, use a strategy like the debt snowball method, where you pay off the smallest debt first while making minimum payments on the rest. Once a debt is cleared, you roll over that payment amount to the next one. The psychological victories here matter more than you think.

Debt may have become your normal, but it should never be your future. My hope is that being debt-free is the new status symbol for every Filipino.

Step 3: Build an Emergency Fund

Once you’ve started freeing yourself from debt, it’s time to protect your progress with an emergency fund. Think of it as your financial shock absorber.

An emergency fund ensures that unexpected events—medical emergencies, job loss, car repairs—won’t derail your entire financial plan. Ideally, you want to save at least 3 to 6 months’ worth of your basic expenses, depending on your life situation.

And no, your emergency fund shouldn’t be in stocks or mutual funds. It should be liquid, accessible, and separate from your day-to-day account. High-interest savings accounts or money market funds are good options.

This isn’t just about being smart—it’s about being prepared. Life is unpredictable, and this fund gives you peace of mind and financial stability.

Step 4: Protect from Life’s Risks (Insurance)

One thing I often remind people of: the goal of insurance is not to make you rich; it’s to prevent you from becoming poor.

Many of us hesitate when it comes to insurance—especially life and health coverage. But what happens to your finances (and your family) if the unexpected happens and you’re uninsured? A single hospital bill can wipe out years of savings. Worse, if you’re the breadwinner, your untimely passing can leave your loved ones in a financial abyss.

You don’t need to over-insure yourself. But you must be adequately protected. Start with term life insurance if you have dependents. Make sure you have health insurance (PhilHealth + HMO + critical illness if possible).

Insurance is not an expense—it’s a hedge against financial ruin.

Step 5: Invest for the Future

After you’ve stabilized your present, it’s time to plan for the future—and this is where investing comes in.

Don’t get caught up in hype or what’s trending. Instead, start with the basics: know your goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance. Are you investing for retirement? For your child’s education? For long-term wealth?

In the Philippines, you can explore mutual funds, UITFs, stock market, PERA (Personal Equity and Retirement Account), and real estate, among others. But here’s a truth I will never get tired of saying: There’s no one-size-fits-all investment. Educate yourself before you invest. Seek professional guidance if needed.

And remember—investing is not gambling. It’s a long-term commitment to your future self.

Bonus Step 6: Start Tithing

Now, let me share something deeply personal and spiritual—something that has had a profound impact on my financial journey: tithing.

I firmly believe that everything we have is ultimately from God. Tithing isn’t about giving back a portion—it’s about honoring the Giver. Proverbs 3:9 says, “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce.” (ESV)

When we tithe, we realign our hearts. We break the grip of greed and acknowledge that God is our true provider. I’ve seen it in my life and in the lives of countless others: when you put God first, He faithfully provides—not always in ways we expect, but always in ways we need.

Tithing isn’t just an act of faith—it’s also a powerful habit that shapes our character, our financial decisions, and our purpose. If you want real financial freedom, it must include surrender—because money is a heart issue, not just a math problem.

A Brotherly Reminder

Financial freedom isn’t just about numbers—it’s about mindset, discipline, and for me, faith. It’s about understanding that your financial life is a journey, not a quick fix.

My 5 (now 6!) Steps to Financial Freedom may sound simple, but they require consistent action and heart-level change. Whether you’re just starting or rebooting your journey, I want to encourage you: It’s never too late to start making wise financial decisions.

I’m still walking this journey too, and I’m glad we can do it together—one no-nonsense, God-honoring step at a time.

Growing up in the Philippines, the image of Jesus that surrounded me was always tender, soft, and often helpless. I saw Him in Sto. Niño statues—chubby, smiling, childlike. Or I saw Him bleeding, limp, and nailed to a cross. These images were deeply ingrained in Filipino religious culture, and they served a certain emotional and devotional purpose. But over the years, I began to wrestle with a difficult but necessary question: Is this the full picture of Jesus according to Scripture?

The answer, of course, is no.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Jesus was a child. And He did suffer immensely for our salvation. But if we stop there—if we only worship the baby or we only reflect on the suffering—we miss the full glory of who Jesus truly is. And perhaps more importantly, we rob ourselves of the victorious hope He offers as the risen and reigning King.

Looking at the Whole Story

When we apply deeper study and understanding, we learn that every text of Scripture must be read in its context. That includes its literary context, cultural background, and place within the larger narrative of the Bible. The Gospels don’t end with the crucifixion. They continue into the resurrection and the ascension. And the New Testament doesn’t stop with the Gospels—it moves toward Revelation, where we see Jesus as the conquering King.

So why do so many of us still hold on to an image of Jesus that is either perpetually in a crib or perpetually hanging on a cross?

I believe part of it is because these images are familiar and emotionally accessible. A baby is non-threatening. A suffering man draws out our sympathy. But a King—a conquering Lord—that demands submission, obedience, and reverence. And perhaps that’s what we, as a culture, often shy away from.

What the Bible Actually Says

If we look at Revelation 19:11–16, we get a breathtaking image of the risen Christ:

“Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True… He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God… On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.”

This is not a soft, sentimental Jesus. This is not the baby Sto. Niño or the bloodied statue in a glass coffin. This is Jesus in power, majesty, and dominion. This is the King who has conquered sin, death, and the grave. This is the Jesus we need to know in order to walk in victory.

And yet, He is the same Jesus. The same one who was born of a virgin. The same one who healed the sick and wept at Lazarus’ tomb. The same one who was mocked, beaten, crucified—and rose again. The difference is that we are now invited to see Him in His full glory.

Why This Matters for Us

A faith that only sees the baby Jesus might never grow in maturity. A devotion that only focuses on the suffering Christ might remain stuck in guilt. But a faith that sees the whole Christ—from the cradle, to the cross, to the throne—can walk in resurrection power.

When I think about my own life, my challenges, and the brokenness in the world around me, I need more than a tender child or a dying man. I need a King. I need someone who has overcome and who empowers me to overcome. And that’s who Jesus is.

In a nation like ours that is still very much influenced by traditional religious imagery, I believe it’s time to rediscover the biblical Jesus—the conquering, reigning, and soon-returning Lord. This isn’t just a theological shift. It’s a personal one. It changes how we pray, how we live, and how we hope.

A Final Thought

Let’s honor the fullness of Christ. Let’s remember the Incarnation. Let’s never take for granted the suffering of the cross. But let’s also lift our eyes to the heavens and see the Lamb who is also the Lion—the one who reigns, and who is coming again in power.

And when we do, our worship deepens. Our faith strengthens. And our lives begin to reflect not just devotion—but victorious living under the reign of our King.

Soli Deo Gloria.

“Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.”

— Proverbs 3:9–10 (ESV)

For many years, I believed that honoring God with my finances started and ended with the tithe—the first 10%. And while the tithe is a good and biblical practice, the Lord has been gently challenging me not to stop there. In fact, He’s been showing me that true stewardship isn’t about giving a portion, but surrendering everything.

When we read Proverbs 3:9–10, we’re reading a portion of wisdom literature—a father instructing his son to live a life that trusts and honors God. Verse 9 commands us to “honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce.” This would have meant giving the first and best of the harvest, an act of trust that placed God above personal security or self-preservation. The firstfruits were a statement: “Lord, You come first.”

But when we apply deeper understanding (hermeneutics)—asking what it meant then and what it means now—we realize this passage doesn’t limit “honoring” to the firstfruits alone. It begins there, but it doesn’t end there. The phrase “honor the Lord with your wealth” covers the totality of our resources. It means our entire financial life—how we earn, spend, save, invest, and give—is under the lordship of Christ.

I used to treat the 90% as if it were mine to manage however I pleased. After all, I gave my 10%, right? But that’s a shallow view of stewardship. If God is truly Lord of all, then all of it must be surrendered. He’s not just concerned about our giving—He’s concerned about our living.

How I use the 90% reveals my heart just as much as how I give the 10%. Do I spend wisely? Am I content? Do I save intently? Do I invest prudently? Do I practice generosity even beyond the tithe? Do I plan for the future with wisdom? Am I a blessing to others with what remains?

The promise in verse 10—“your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine”—is not a blank check from heaven. It’s a picture of God’s faithfulness to those who live wisely and honor Him fully. It’s about sufficiency, not luxury. It’s about walking in God’s economy, not the world’s.

So today, I remind myself: the goal is not just to be a good giver, but to be a faithful steward. The 10% honors God, but so does the 90%. The tithe is an act of worship—but so is budgeting, saving, blessing others, and resisting greed.

Another thing I have to remind myself: Before I am a steward, I am first and foremost a son.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for all that You’ve entrusted to me. Teach me to honor You not just with the tithe, but with every part of my financial life. Help me to be faithful with the 10% and the 90%, knowing that all of it comes from You and belongs to You. May my financial decisions reflect trust, wisdom, and worship. Amen.