A Simpler, More Affordable Lifestyle: This Dad Says Moving To The Province Was A Game-Changer For His Family
If leaving the city life has ever crossed your mind, read on.
In the seemingly unending pandemic situation, many people have made major life decisions according to their lifestyle, finances, and most especially their mental health and that of the members of their family. It has been grueling to do day-to-day tasks with no promise of better circumstances, and even more difficult for those who are raising kids.
With their children locked down at home, with no social interaction aside from virtual classes, this new normal is taking its toll on parents, especially, and even for those who are just starting to build their family life.
Joey Ong, 42, left the city with his family in December 2020 to reside in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. They used to live in a condominium in Salcedo, Makati, but decided to move to a small house in the province because of their newborn child Joselito.
“We had our first baby last year, in April 2020, during the start of the pandemic. It was okay at first, but after a few months, it felt that being stuck in a condo, although comfortable, was not the life we wanted. [Raising] a child in the city is really difficult given all the restrictions, plus the fear of [going] outside,” he shares.
For Joey and his wife Ciara, making the decision to move was easy. “One day we tried going to the park, and we felt that it wasn't the safest for us. [We were scared,] so that day we decided that it was time to explore an alternative.
“I visited a friend who was already living in Nuvali. I am very familiar with the area because I bike here a lot even during the pandemic. [I] met [up with] a broker, she showed us a house, then right there and then, we signed for three years,” he adds.
The move
The Ongs moved immediately right after. “The physical move was okay. It allowed us to simplify and get rid of all the junk we had in our condo. We only kept maybe 20 percent of everything we had—this was the most refreshing feeling. Bringing our stuff to Nuvali is another story given the restrictions. We rushed everything because we wanted to spend our first Christmas in our new home. And we made it: December 23 was our first day in the south,” he narrates.
Adjusting to their new life in Laguna wasn’t that hard, given that they were isolated for a few months already, says Joey. Except for a few conveniences of the city life like 24-hour corner stores and food delivery, he says there is nothing else they miss.
Since Joey and Ciara both work in advertising and public relations, they are able to do everything online, except for the rare face-to-face meetings. He says this was a huge advantage for them because they can work anywhere with a Wi-Fi connection.
Expenses
One of the bigger advantages of their move was cutting down their family’s expenses to more than half.
“We are saving so much more, even with utilities. [Our] electricity bill was cut in half and [our] daily expense is down by 60%. That's pretty big. Here in the province, [there are] no convenience stores, and delivery is limited. Plus, Makati is definitely an expensive place to live in,” he explains.
Pros and cons
Joey says that there are definitely more pros than cons. Fresh air, no traffic, and lots of new places to explore are some of them.
“Our kid can play outside, and everything is closer to normal here. Kids are still playing outside and definitely it is more peaceful. We have a park across the house, [there’s] a small garden, and I can bike anytime I want. Our home is big enough for us to clean ourselves and we don’t feel boxed in,” he adds.
None of these would have been possible if they still lived in their condo. They may miss the city life sometimes, but they always realize how much they enjoy the provincial life better. He even wishes that they had moved to the suburbs sooner.
For Joey, the only con is not having access to some of their favorite restaurants.
Their future plans
Joey says he and his wife don’t regret the moving outside of the city, and they have no plans of moving back. Their condo unit in Makati is already being rented out. They are currently building a small farmhouse in Alfonso, Cavite (“deeper” South) where they could spend their weekends in the near future.
Joey used to have a different notion about provincial life but now considers them as mere misconceptions; among them:
- Probinsya life is slow in a bad way. (They actually enjoy the slower pace.)
- It’s unsafe in the province. (It always depends on your location.)
- It is less developed. (May be true, may be false. But for Joey, this is the reason why they moved.)
Joey encourages people who can afford it—financially and workwise—to go for it. After having lived in Laguna for close to a year now, he is convinced this was a great decision for himself and his family. “The developed urban life has zero appeal to us now,” he adds.
