Living Well on a Middle-Class Income in the Philippines
Practical money, home, and family guides for the Filipino middle class, whether you’re building your life here or sending it home from abroad.
No more sweldo-to-sweldo or petsa de peligro
The website is just the starting point. Follow us on social media for your daily dose of saktong burgis realities, relatable memes, and thoughts we can all vibe with. See you there!
Money & banking
Budgets, digital banks, and growing your sweldo
How to Build an Emergency Fund on a Middle-Class Filipino Income
Only 3 in 10 Filipinos can survive a financial shock. Here’s what an emergency fund is, why it matters, and how to build one on a middle-class income.
Home & property
Renting, buying, and building without growing broke
Condo vs. House and Lot: Which is Better? (2026)
For the burgis, choosing where to live is often a toss-up between living in a condo versus a house and lot in a subdivision. So which is better?
Family & education
Raising kids and paying for school realistically
How to Build an Emergency Fund on a Middle-Class Filipino Income
Only 3 in 10 Filipinos can survive a financial shock. Here’s what an emergency fund is, why it matters, and how to build one on a middle-class income.
For OFWs & retirees
Coming home, investing, and building from abroad
How to Build an Emergency Fund on a Middle-Class Filipino Income
Only 3 in 10 Filipinos can survive a financial shock. Here’s what an emergency fund is, why it matters, and how to build one on a middle-class income.
The guides worth your time
How to Build an Emergency Fund on a Middle-Class Filipino Income
Only 3 in 10 Filipinos can survive a financial shock. Here’s what an emergency fund is, why it matters, and how to build one on a middle-class income.
Condo vs. House and Lot: Which is Better? (2026)
For the burgis, choosing where to live is often a toss-up between living in a condo versus a house and lot in a subdivision. So which is better?
SRRV vs 13A vs Balikbayan vs Tourist: Which Long-Stay Path Fits You?
Comparing the four ways to stay long-term in the Philippines: SRRV, 13A marriage visa, Balikbayan privilege, and tourist visa extensions. Costs, rules, and who each fits.
The Real Cost of Getting Sick in the Philippines (2026)
How much does it really cost to get sick in the Philippines? Real prices, out-of-pocket data, and the PhilHealth fund mess – explained, with sources.
Lifestyle Creep: The Silent Inflation Eating Your Sweldo
Lifestyle creep quietly swallows every raise and bonus you get. Here is how this silent inflation hits Filipinos, and a kuripot’s way to dodge it.
Budgeting on a Middle-Class Income in the Philippines: A Practical Guide for the ₱30K to ₱120K Earner (2026)
A practical 2026 guide to budgeting on a ₱30,000–₱120,000 monthly income in the Philippines. Sample budgets, the 50-30-20 rule, where to save, and common mistakes to avoid.
Written by people actually living it
Saktong Burgis is managed by middle-class Filipinos working through the same questions you are: where to live, how to budget, what’s truly worth it. No get-rich-quick, no maarte na lifestyle. Just honest, researched takes on living life, sakto lang.
The main writer, Alex, is an editor and a business development consultant. Most recently, he’s helped brands stabilize and grow their businesses through e-commerce. He’s also a former teacher, marketer, and HOA president. He delves in photography in his free time.
What does “Saktong Burgis” mean?
sakto sak·to
a shortened form of “eksakto,” meaning “just right”
burgis bur·gis
from the Spanish “burgués,” a borrowing from the French “bourgeois,” referring to the middle class