One thing to highlight about the Utang-Free Diary is that there are interactive parts. There is one part of the book where I am kinda guilty about and its about that part when we say that, “I earned this money through hard work and I should be able to enjoy its benefits.” Let me tell you, when you buy an expensive item the joy that you will feel is going to be short-lived. One thing to note is that we do not pile this kind of debt on top of each other, we really try to save, then buy. I and my wife have struggled greatly keeping ourselves away from the traps of debt we try to save money to buy stuff that we need…and even those that we want, and in the few instances that we do buy something on credit, it is always through 0% installment. Sure, I made a few mistakes (who doesn’t) that caused me to be in debt a few times, but those are the exemptions, rather than the rule. On a personal note, it is such a tremendous blessing that God has not allowed me and my family to be in serious debt. Sir Chinkee, as I fondly call him, is particularly clear about the goal of the book: to help the reader, the reader who is in deep debt, get out of debt. Sir Chinkee will describe this reader and it is my sincere hope that this reader will be able to relate and identify himself and take the measures outlined in the book to get out and stay out of debt. The book describes the people who you and I may encounter at least once in our lives, who will ask for our help, and by help, means to make utang…a loan.
Wittiness aside, My Utang-Free Diary is a very helpful and practical book especially for those who are, you know, dealing with a lot of debt. Sir Chinkee is in his usual witty self in the book as he writes in the vernacular ( Tagalog) and in an easy to understand, contemporary tone.
My Utang-Free Diary is Chinkee Tan’s third installment in his Diary ng Pulubi series of books with a fourth and possibly final one to arrive later next year.