This Working Student Couple Proves That You Are Never Too Young to Get Your Dream House

2 July 2022

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When you fall in love at a young age, it could last for the meantime or for a lifetime. One thing is for sure, though — the relationship will be full of fun, romance, and responsibilities. When you are in a relationship, it means you are signing on to being with your significant other through ups and downs. You are navigating together as a team whatever life throws at you, and this includes making a lot of decisions.

For Mharvic Micco Bartolome and Vivian Diego, they have been through a lot as a couple. But they are not the ordinary couples out there. They were both working students who dreamed of having their own house one day.

With studies and work being challenging already, how can the two manage their time well to balance everything? Given their financial situation, how can these two young lovers achieve their big goal of owning a house? Find out how Mharvic and Vivian navigated the life of being working students, how they were able to buy their first home after graduation, and their success story; we hope to inspire you.

Balancing studies, work, and relationship

Mharvic Micco Bartolome graduated from Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina with a degree in Business Administration with a major in Financial Management. He is currently a Sales Assistant at Puregold Jr. Marikina. Vivian Diego graduated from Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina with a degree in Hospitality Management and is currently working at Greenwich Market Con as Team Supervisor.

For many students, time at the university is difficult, but it is a lot more challenging for the couple because they are working while studying. Being a working student is not easy. You have to juggle your time to work while maintaining a passing grade to graduate from college. Being a working student means you have less time for yourself. If this is the case, how could it be possible for working students to manage time between studies, work, and relationships? Time, as they say, is your friend and enemy, and it applies to Mharvic and Vivian’s case.

Vivian can attest to that. She says, “Sa relasyon namin for 4 years, parang ‘yung [time] lang naging problem namin, lalo na nung nag-pandemic. Kasi mula nung 1st year, magkaiba talaga kami ng pasok, so bale umaga pasok ko sa school, then mula hapon hanggang 2am, nasa store ako. So, kapag nag-uusap na lang kami “uy nakauwi na ko” or minsan once a week na lang kami nagkikita in person kasi sobrang salungat ang sched. Pero ayun gumagawa pa rin sya ng oras kahit na hectic.”

“May time na kapag sobrang hectic ng schedule sa work, tapos ang pasok sa work ay graveyard na 12am - 6am, tapos pasok mo sa school 7am - 12pm, ang hirap pagsabayin kung paano mo sya iha-handle tapos ‘yung time pa namin sa isa’t isa. Pero awa naman ng Diyos, binibigyan pa rin kami ng time sa isa’t isa,” Mharvic recalls.

They have become each other’s comfort person. While the working student life is unquestionably difficult, Mharvic and Vivian were able to get through the obstacles together.

A young couple’s dream home finally unlocked

Buying a house and lot at a young age, say in your 20s, may seem like a pipe dream. There are a lot of things to consider. You might have no enough funds to pay for the monthly mortgage because, hey, you are still a student, after all. Or, you are a fresh graduate, employed yet earning only the bare minimum. While buying a house and lot in your 20s is daunting, it does not mean that it is impossible. To be honest with you, a lot of young professionals have already done it. Mharvic and Vivian did.

“Nung nag-one year kami, inisip lang namin, pangarap naming magkabahay. Pangarap namin ‘yun ang magiging regalo sa pag-graduate. Kasi being working students, tapos nagkasabay-sabay ang finances sa school, parang suntok sa buwan na sabihin nila na magkakaroon ka ng bahay habang nag-aaral ka,” Vivian shares.

But for you to do that, you must be informed and financially disciplined. Vivian agrees, “Inalam naming ‘yung wants, ‘yung needs sa budget namin. Para sa payment sa bahay, ‘di kami mahirapan.”

It was in 2021 when they had finally ticked their dream home off of their bucket list. They saw a post about Lumina Pililla, and they messaged the agent right away. They were referred to a different agent to help them find the house they were looking for. At first, the agent brought them to Pililla Baras, but Mharvic and Vivian thought something was missing.

Vivian said “Si sir JC, ina-assist niya kami sa Lumina Baras pero may hinahanap pa kami, then dumiretso kami sa Lumina Pililla which is ‘yung parang pagpuntang-pagpunta namin doon, papasok pa lang, alam mo ‘yun, parang may felling ka na “ah ito na ‘yun.” Tapos nakita namin ‘yung view nung sa Lumina Pililla, sobrang relaxing.”

Lumina Pililla, to them, is “the one.” Not only will it serve as their future home but also their escape from the hustle and bustle in their workplaces.

If you think you are still too young to invest in your dream home, here’s what Mharvic and Vivian have to say:

“‘Yung isip mo dapat naka-focus ka lang sa goal mo. Tapos think positive lang, kung may nega sa tabi mo, sa paligid mo, isipin mo lang ‘yung goal mo, ‘yung nais mo sa buhay. It’s nice to invest nang maaga. Mas magandang mag-invest kapag bata pa,” Mharvic advises.

“Bilang millennials, dapat alam mo yung needs and wants nyo. Yun yung pinaka naging key namin para makamit to lahat. ‘Wag kang matakot sumugal. Totoo namang nakakatakot sumugal sa bahay. Lalo kung may partner ka. Mahirap talaga kung mahirap. Pero wala eh, masaya kasi kami sa ginagawa namin,” says Vivian.

Investing at a young age is surely risky, but with the right mindset and knowledge, you will do just fine, just like how Mharvic and Vivian did.