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
Why Filipinos Leave Plastic on Furniture and Appliances (2026)
Ever wonder why Filipinos wrap furniture in plastic cover or never remove protective plastic films on appliances? Here are four reasons why.
Family & education
Raising kids and paying for school realistically
Why You Should Let Kids Take Extracurricular Activities in the Philippines (2026)
Most school programs still give emphasis to academics but having variety in experiences help make kids more well-rounded individuals, making extracurricular activities a must for today’s students.
Home & property
Renting, buying, and building without growing broke
What is a Homeowners Association (HOA) in the Philippines? (2026)
Homeowners’ associations or HOAs are an integral part of life within gated subdivisions, villages, and residential complexes.
For OFWs & retirees
Coming home, investing, and building from abroad
Healthcare on a Middle-Class Budget: PhilHealth vs Private Insurance (2026)
What healthcare really costs in the Philippines on a middle-class budget. PhilHealth 2026 rates, HMO prices, the coverage gap, plus rules for OFWs, SRRV retirees, and Balikbayan visa holders.
The guides worth your time
Essential must-reads for those looking to achieve a comfortable middle class lifestyle in the Philippines
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The latest on middle class living
Check out our latest articles and posts on life as a middle class citizen
How Much Money Do You Need to Be Happy in the Philippines? (2026)
Money does help in the pursuit of happiness. But are you earning enough to afford things that make you smile?
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