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I got scammed ₱15.9k in FB Marketplace

For the past few months I’ve been buying tiny PCs in FB Marketplace because I’m planning to create a homelab Kubernetes cluster for learning. I’ve purchased a lot in the marketplace before and everything went through. Most people are trustworthy. But of course, there are exceptions.

What was the scam?

The seller presented himself as company employee. I was told that they have a warehouse and a procedure of payment-first to process orders. This is a red flag in itself. However, when I checked the pick-up location, the company really do have a warehouse and it’s registered under the company name. This addressed my first concern.

The way the messages was structured was it addresses any hesitation that might come up. It looks like they really do have a standard procedure. I went ahead and transfer the amount agreed to.

And then he’s gone.

At first I felt my anger building up. Then shame slowly creeped in. I felt stupid for falling for it. My initial thought was to keep it to myself. Sharing it would only validate my stupidity.

I somewhat knew that if I kept things to myself, the bad experience will just linger at the back of my mind for days. Even if it’s embarrassing, I shared it to Julie and my friends.

What could I have done next time?

There are multiple ways to catch this con. It’s a little more hassle but for large transaction it’s worth it. Here’s the thing I should have done instead:

  • Call the company to verify person employment
  • Ask for an I.D. and live photo of the items
  • Most sellers offer payment only when the pickup service has arrived — insist on doing this
  • Avoid large transactions on Gcash/GrabPay because they specifically exclude swindling (transferred money but unfulfilled order) to their protection coverage

What good did come out of this?

I’m actually getting addicted on finding good deals in the marketplace. Even for things I don’t need. There’s this instant gratification in same-day shipping purchase. It’s getting harder to control myself especially when I’m stressed out and my willpower is spent. Now, I have natural aversion on buying. I don’t visit the marketplace any more haha.

Another thing that was surprising is how I was able to regulate my emotion. In less than an hour I was able to accept and acknowledge the situation. I knew that getting angry or feeling shame wouldn’t make a difference. It will only make my loss bigger (by being emotionally invested in something I don’t have control of). I was able to resume my day as planned.

This was good exercise on how I’d react when real bad things happen. I’d say this lesson is well worth ₱15.9k.

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Here’s the details for SEO: Golden Dragon Enterprise 09334498092 09687683535

Implementing a Free WiFi

When fiber internet was rolled out at my Mom’s home, I had this itch to provide internet for the whole compound. She have an ice cream business and she provides housing to ice cream vendors (sorbetero) together with their families. Around half the compound are sorbeteros. Most of which will benefit if they don’t have to add another expense for internet.

Fiber made bandwidth cheap (P2699 for 100mbps). I knew that a 100mbps plan is more than enough for everyone there. The bottleneck is the device the comes with the internet plan. The device PLDT provides is actually an all-in-one that combines a modem, router, switch, and an access point (WiFi).

To increase coverage, I need to split out the access point and use a separate device.

Project goal

  • Share internet that covers the whole compound
  • Performance should be adequate for remote learning or work-from-home (Zoom, Google Meet)
  • Have the same experience as having their own WiFi
  • Roaming-capable (when people move, their device will automatically switch to the next nearest access point)
  • Minimal restrictions

Implementation

I opted to go with a business-grade solution. Big factor is a single dashboard to manage all access points. I was initially considering Ubiquity, but then found out about TP-Link Omada which is half the price.

  • I get notified through Omada app if the internet is down or if any of the access point stops working
  • There are only 2 SSIDs (WiFi name) for 7 access points. One personal and another for the free WiFi. Each has it’s own subnet.
  • Free WiFi’s subnet is limited to 50mbps to guarantee that the personal network always have bandwidth available
  • Each device is further limited to 20mbps (initially this was 10mbps but utilization rate was low, I bumped it up to 20mbps)
  • I had to block Mobile Legends because kids from other compound started coming to our compound to have a tournament until late night. Blocking is just another ACL rule to block port 30000 to 31000. ML stopped loading after this has been applied.

Interesting metrics

  • 7 access points covered more than 20 households
  • Average internet utilization is only around 20{5fcd3cbc9de14e1587c4b983f08e4837fa7ae8985dc66bae235a2c5aa0d68677}
  • Average traffic is around 180GB download and 15GB upload daily
  • Max connected clients so far was 90+ devices
  • It’s been running since May 2021. Things has been relatively stable. Downtime was only when there’s no electricity.

Cost

Next step: better cable management
ItemUnit PriceQtyTotal
TP Link Router R509₱2,180.001₱2,180.00
TP Link 5-port PoE Switch₱1,440.001₱1,440.00
TP Link EAP110-Outdoor₱1,400.002₱2,800.00
TP Link EAP225-Outdoor₱2,900.004₱11,600.00
TP Link EAP235-Wall₱2,900.001₱2,900.00
Thinkcentre m73p₱2,500.001₱2,500.00
Omni plugs₱442.771₱442.77
Waterproof Junction₱580.231₱580.23
305m CAT6 outdoor cable₱2,250.001₱2,250.00
Total

₱24,443.00

I could have implement the whole thing 50{5fcd3cbc9de14e1587c4b983f08e4837fa7ae8985dc66bae235a2c5aa0d68677} cheaper but it’ll be a pain to maintain and less fun to do. Since I’m doing this for free, I might as well enjoy haha.

Why

I see this as a hobby. I’ve always been fascinated with computer networking for as long as I can remember. 

The 25k I spent could’ve easily been another gadget where only I would benefit (and add another stuff to my life). Spending it on this instead accomplishes two things 1) I had fun planning, figuring things out, and setting it up 2) It has good net effect because a lot of people are getting value from it. And that makes me happy. 

I also learned a lot. I finally understood how VLAN works. It’s nice that I can map an SSID to a VLAN to have it’s own network. Power-over-Ethernet was also nice because there’s only one cable for power and data (CAT6).

Overall it was worthwhile.

High-availability Mobile Internet

My role at work is partly DevOps. This means that there are rare instances that even if I’m not at home (where internet is reliably available), I might get an alert where a server is not working as it should.

I have mobile data plan from Globe for that. Globe is usually good within cities. The more remote I get though, the less reliable it becomes. My initial solution was to get another phone and line from Smart (competitor).

However, I have minimalist tendency. Paying for two plans monthly feels wasteful. Especially during this pandemic where I barely use both.

I also didn’t like having two phones with me all the time.

Solution: Globe eSim + Smart Magic Sim

My primary network is Globe. I don’t mind paying monthly for this because it’s the same number I used for years. Good thing that they offer eSim which is supported by my phone.

The process was easy. Go to Globe store, ask for conversion from physical sim to eSim. They will then provide a QR code a phone can scan to register the number. That’s it. The eSim solution eliminated my need to carry two phones all the time because I can put in another sim to my phone.

For Smart, I recently found out that they are offering a new product called Magic Sim. It has non-expiring data at P399 for 24GB. Non-expiring! I only need to pay for it when I use it. I dropped the Smart plan I used to have which I was paying for P3500/monthly (easy to justify pre-pandemic) and replaced it with this one.

End result is I have a single phone with two sims from different network. I’m only paying monthly for my primary network. My phone auto-switches network depending on availability of internet.

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I know this is borderline penny-pinching (which I try not to do). But I like keeping my personal lifestyle low-cost. I also enjoyed eliminating the waste I feel every time I do my budgeting.

Structure sets you free

I tried an unstructured life for a few months. No wake up time, no schedule, no commitment on deliverables. I was free to do anything I feel like doing. It seemed like the ideal state to be in, right?

I quickly realized though, this kind of lifestyle isn’t for me.

Day after day pass without anything meaningful happening. I had a list of things I wanted to do when I was super busy, but I have a lot of friction getting started.

My main issue turned out to be not having a structure.

I used to think being free means being able to do anything I want. It’s true. But what isn’t obvious is suddenly you have to decide on a lot things. Deciding on every single thing every day is mentally exhausting. “What am I going to do today? What time am I going to start? How much time should I spend on it?”

Pre-deciding is the key

A full-time job have a built-in structure. I wake up, take a shower, go to office. And in the office I have another set of routine to sit-down, identify what you need to do, do it until end of day.

This works because things are pre-decided for me. I didn’t have to think about it. I just have to follow it. That’s why it’s easier to do things.

I still don’t want the 9-5 lifestyle. It’s too rigid for me. What I end up copying is only pre-deciding on things. I start each week with a weekly planning where I check my calendar with upcoming commitments. I then list things I have to deliver within the week and arbitrarily put them any day depending on when it’s expected.

This significantly reduced the friction on how I start my day. Because it was pre-decided already. I just have to sit down and do it.

Structure sets me free in a way I don’t have to think of what I need to do everyday.

Blame it on me

Put me in a bad situation and I’ll find a way to blame it on myself. Be it lack of action, lack of insight, or lack of preparedness.

This isn’t some self-pity indulgence. It’s more of putting myself in a position where I could do something.

Imagine the alternative: blaming it on another person. What I’m doing here is just unloading an unwanted feeling to another person. How the other person will react is out of my control. Most likely, nothing is going to change.

Putting the blame on myself let me focus on things I could have done instead. Learn from it and apply it to similar situations moving forward.

Do this only if you have a healthy sense of self-awareness

Lately, I realized that this is only applicable if a person have a healthy sense of self-awareness. There’s a thin line between this and “everything is my fault” attitude.

The key difference is knowing deep down that any mistake is not tied to one’s being. Simply put even if I failed on certain things, I’m not a failure. That’s not how human works. I know that a single failure couldn’t possibly define my whole being.

With this mindset, I’m always forward looking. I see failures as learning opportunities. I don’t feel helpless.

Rather, the discomfort I feel blaming myself is similar to the discomfort I feel when lifting weights. Both increases my capacity. Mental capacity with the former, physical capacity with the latter.

Don’t fake it till you make it

I heard the idea “fake it till you make it” back in college. I tried it a few times. But every time I do, something always felt off. The whole interaction that comes after is usually stressful. I put myself in a position where I have to be careful with my words, where I can’t be fully myself, or share challenges I encounter with what I have to deliver.

It’s a big disservice to the other person because expectations were not properly managed. If they knew I couldn’t do certain tasks, they could’ve tap other people to do the work instead.

Beyond this, faking doesn’t align with my values. I value truthfulness (even if it hurts). If I don’t practice it myself, how can I expect other people to do the same? This incongruence with how I want to live versus how I’m living makes me uneasy. It’s essentially lying to myself.

A better alternative: face it till you make it

The way I approach it now is saying what I’m lacking upfront. I’m straightforward with things I don’t know. I’m more willing to appear like a fool now. No one is expert on everything anyway.

I lay all my cards. I share what I’m good at and how can I help them achieve their goals. I share my plan on how I’ll address my lack of skills.

It’s a risk if they want to continue to work with me. But it’s a risk they can decide for themselves. The other person can make an informed decision.

If they do decide to go ahead, I’d be grateful for the trust. I’d go extra mile to deliver what they need. If not, that’s okay. There are countless other people. I just need to match with people that will benefit with my current expertise.

Scoop of Work

Scope of work presented by a contractor
Scope of work presented by a contractor

I used to be too critical with grammar and spelling (on myself and other people). I had instances when if I’m not sure I’m absolutely correct, I’d choose to stay silent than say what I wanted to say. Out of fear of being wrong.

Misspelled words here doesn’t mean I’m better than this person. I couldn’t even do anything listed here myself. I don’t have his skill.

I understood that “scoop” meant “scope”, “high silling” meant “high ceiling”. I understood the breakdown of work and it’s cost. Which is exactly what I asked for.

Words are just tools for communication. If another person was able to convey what he wanted to say, then the tool served its purpose. No need to be too critical. That’s what matters, right?

Gaining self, losing self

Gaining self

In my younger years, my goal was to be self-reliant, self-sufficient, self-made. Focused mostly on self. I want to be able to accomplish things without relying on anyone. And I was fairly becoming good at it.

The mindset I had was anyone can leave me anytime and I’ll be fine. It seemed like a nice idea at that time. However, this has limited the relationships I had to reach up to surface-level only. I was always on guard. It was very easy for me to cut people off as soon as there’s unpleasantness. There was no chance for relationships to grow.

The older I get though, the more it’s evident that self-sufficiency at a cost of relationships isn’t worth it. Okay, I can manage by myself. Now what? It turns out that dealing, facing, fixing the unpleasantness is a big part of what makes life a more meaningful experience.

Losing self

The second lie, is that I can make myself happy. That’s the lie of self-sufficiency. As anybody on their deathbed will tell you, the things that make people happy is the deep relationships of life, the losing of self-sufficiency. 

The lies our culture tells us about what matters — and a better way to live (David Brooks)

I’ve accepted that I can’t do it all. I’ve been learning how to depend on other people. I try to share my problems even if it’s not natural for me to do. I do this to let them know that they’re safe to do the same. That they can depend on me when they need to.

I also actively reach out. I intentionally keep connections open. I show up to their life events. And it’s worth the effort.

I realized that losing of self-sufficiency is actually expanding of self. There are parts of me that shows only when I’m with people I trust and depend on. I did not lose anything. It’s quite the opposite. I gained a better understanding of myself.

Age of Money

I remember getting shocked with my first credit card bill. Total amount is almost the same amount as my full-time job salary. 😅

That was 8 years ago.

Mabilis ako madala e. Soon after that, I looked up how to properly manage my money. This is when I found YNAB (You Need A Budget). It’s a budgeting software. Its value isn’t in the software itself, it’s in their methodology. It provided me structure on how I should think about money.

First phase is explicitly deciding where to put in all my money.

The goal here is to have an idea where my money is going. I can’t improve what I can’t measure right? Having a handy list of my budget, upcoming expenses, and current state of my net worth made it really easy to decide on unplanned purchases.

This also made me treat credit card spendings as money spent. It’s instantly deducted to my net worth as soon as I spend it.

Second phase is aging my money.

YNAB have this concept called “Age of Money”. It means how long your money stays with you before you use it.

I recently got to a point where my age of money reached 180 days. This gave me flexibility to plan ahead, take risks, and try new things.

Beyond YNAB

What I’m looking for to do next are investing on a business and stocks.

I’m like a sponge now absorbing information from r/phinvest. Taking action to things that’s starting to make sense to me.

Let’s see where this takes me.

Getting back on track

No matter how much I plan, I still go through a phase where I just have zero motivation to do anything at all. I find myself wasting my day away. I know what I’m supposed to do, but I can’t find any energy to do it.

I used to wait it out until I get tired of being unproductive. However, that isn’t always possible. Especially being adult and having people depend on me. I have to find a way to get around whenever I’m in that state.

I have developed a checklist I follow that helps me back on track.

Getting back on track checklist

  1. Sort out finances
    • This is one of the easiest tasks because it involves a clear goal: checking bank accounts, credit cards, and cash. Having a clear understanding of my financial standing significantly reduces my anxiety
  2. Brain dump – Write down everything that’s on your mind. You don’t have to act on it, but acknowledging its presence through writing helps you make sense of the thoughts in your mind.
    • Things I need to do, want to do, don’t want to do
    • Things I’m trying to avoid thinking about
  3. Exercise – Walk, run, push up, pull up
    • I don’t need to complete a full exercise routine; the primary goal is to elevate my heart rate. In some instances, the body influences the mind. When my heart beats fast from exercise, my mind shifts from low-energy to an excited state, as if my body dictates my emotional state.
  4. Eat the right food
    • Eating the right food is crucial because an unbalanced diet affects both mood and cognitive function. The mind and body are closely connected, so if I lack essential nutrients or consume too much junk food, it can lead to feeling off
  5. Disconnect
    • We have become such experts at being always in touch, informed, connected. Now we must relearn how to be silent, disconnected, alone. – Alain de Botton
    • Food for the body is like information for the mind. If I constantly consume anxiety-inducing news, my body can’t helped but feel anxious.
    • Pay attention to what I pay attention to.
    • Optimize on output

It may not work out immediately, but with consistent effort day by day, there will come a point where I’ll surprise myself that I’m already doing fairly well.

2020 © Jerico Aragon