4 personal policies I am adopting in my 30s

So this formally marks my entry to adulthood. Though I have long embraced the responsibilities attached to seemingly fairy-tale-endings like marriage and having a child, it is only now that I am setting guidelines and healthy boundaries to help in my decision-making each time I am confronted with choices A and B.

The below summarizes what life taught me during the past decade on varied areas such as time, money, self-respect, and growth.

1. Limit gift-giving items only to wellness-related products. This 2-edged policy would free me up of the burden to overthink what another person may appreciate for a gift, and would help popularize my personal wellness advocacy. Sure, it may be more convenient to give away store-bought cupcakes over sugar-free home-made chocolate brownie bars. But the effort may be worth it if health consciousness is bought by the other party, and the act of going after healthier options multiplies.

2. Invest >80% of my child's monthly budget on resources that would enhance his social being and creativity. For 2 years since I became a mom, I hardly bought my child any overpriced toys, shoes, and clothes. I argue that he would easily outgrow these, and he wouldn't discriminate between a Php30- vs a Sgd30-toy, anyway. He may appreciate or ignore both toys just the same.

Instead, I consciously purchase items that can help develop long-term life skills. These can span from age-appropriate dining ware to enhance his hand-mouth coordination during eating, and hygienic items such as toothbrush and toilet seat cover to introduce basic self-care.

Further, I would always choose for my child real boat rides over miniature boats, outdoor parks with neighboring children over expensive themed park tickets, and admission to live musical plays over cartoons shown on ipads. As much as I can, I will allow my child to experience life in its rawest, purest form. These choices marry child rearing with smart spending.

3. Put a substantial portion of my savings to an investment portfolio. I have always been on saving mode since I started working more than a decade ago, but my money never grew!!! It is now high time to put a fraction of my modest savings into something that would eventually grow - whether its purchasing stocks from blue-chip companies or putting a down payment for something with potentially high appreciation value. Though this definitely requires research, careful planning, and time. Part of this self-imposed policy is to increase my financial literacy rate. I shall blog separately on this once I have gotten the metrics to record the increase.

4. Never ever allow anyone to be a bully. I used to tolerate disrespectful people till I reach my limits, but I have learned it is better to shut them off right away at a mere show of contempt. Otherwise, they are prone to abuse. I promised myself that I will no longer bear any form of disrespect to ensure that I pass on a bully-proof attitude to my child.

Many times prior to this, I was fickle-minded and emotionally immature. This led me to many wrong decisions I am certainly not proud of. Thankfully, God has allowed me so much more chances to restart with a brand new self powered with these life principles.