On Being a Spendthrift..

I grew up in a simple family with a low-income earning parents. Middle class, probably..but still life was hard back in the Philippines. I watched as my mom has to borrow money or fresh goods just for us to have a meal the following day..my mom is a teacher (with one year before retirement) and my dad a retired Adventist pastor. However, with that setup I grew up and became a spendthrift, not because I had a choice but because I had to. If I don't cut costs, I'll end up in hunger.

Buying less and saving more became a habit and I'm thankful that we were not well-off back those days (oh, even until now ). However, when I got married...I was tied to a person who loves to shop! So...unlike me! I therefore found out that shopaholics are contagious. I began buying things I really don't need and sometimes forgot to save. But then I'm thankful to the internet who opened my eyes again into saving and investing.

I'm toying on the idea of investing in stocks and mutual funds and according to Robert Kiyosaki, we have to pay ourselves first. Pay for saving or investing because without discipline, we will never be out of the rat race.

Here's what I plan to do with my monthly income:

• After receiving salary, allot a 10% for your tithe and give back to God what is due to Him.
• A 10-20% (or higher, if possible) will be set aside for savings and invest in time deposits, mutual funds or stock investing / trading.

Saving tips when you're in Thailand:

1. For first timers in Thailand, buy sim cards (Dtac, True or AIS) from 7-eleven shops, not from the airport. 
2. On transportation -- take the ordinary bus...way cheaper and sometimes free (the red bus with the blue sign)
3. Shop in Tesco Lotus - products are  slightly cheaper than other grocery stores plus they have cash back every 3 months as well as discount coupons.
4. If you will take the skytrain often, ask the BTS staff as to which travel card will help you save more.
5. Get discount vouchers from  group buying websites like ensogo.co.th or dealdidi.com or the likes.
6. If you're a health buff, buy your food supplements online like here, cheaper than most local drugstores and shipping is not that expensive.
7. There are a lot more but my brain is failing me now...so next time, okay?

Another Rant...

Oh well, here's another rant, before we left for Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, I bought a pair of Bausch and Laumb's contact lens. The eye wear was okay so far until yesterday, my left eye turned red and this morning it started to irritate. Geez...I'm used to wearing Duna lenses but that particular day I opted to buy from another optical shop (unfortunately!). So then today, during lunch break, I went a little farther for lunch just to buy a pair of Duna lens from Top Charoen Optical in Soi Onnut. After I paid and wore the new pair, I seem to have a blurry right eye...for goodness sake, I walked back to the office wishing it'll be gone soon and my eyes are just adjusting to the new lens. As soon as I arrived in the office, I removed the contact lens and guess what, there were TWO lenses on my right eye and that caused the uneasiness I felt. 

Relief. At least I won't buy a new pair again and I won't opt to wearing eyeglasses. 

Water Fun!

Sean loves water. He anticipates bath times. Whenever I say, it's bath time, he runs ahead of me to the bathroom and splashes water everywhere (to my exhaustion!) But it thrills me to think that he's not afraid of being clean and being able to play during baths.

Simple joys of a toddler

Sean loves to play with his numbers/alphabet cups.

He fills the empty bottle and pours it to the other cups.

On Mutual Funds and Stock Investing

A newbie. Beginner. Kindergartner.

That's who I am in these kind of investing. With mutual fund, I had the experience of buying a few hundred units for several months but then was forced to withdraw 98% of my investment due to my wedding that time(2010). We needed the money. The return from the fund was really good. The initial investment was 10,000 baht and I added 5,000 baht every month. I was able to save around 70,000 baht that time. Not a bad investment at all. Yesterday, I asked my mutual fund agent if my account is still active, he replied and said it's still active and after 2 years, the return has been a whopping 158%..whoa! If I kept those 70 thousand, it probably would've have reached a little less than 200 thousand Baht. Oh well...I guess starting again is not a bad idea.

According to Bo Sanchez, comes payday...the 1st two things to be paid are:

1.  God -- through tithing, a 10% of your salary should be given back to God. It's His, He has all the right to ask you for it. So be diligent in giving Tithe.

2. Yourself -- through savings or investment... a 10% of your income is a starter but if you can save much higher, then better.

Before paying electric or credit card bills, learn to pay yourself..because in discipline, you will be able to save much for you or your family's future.

I think it's a good idea, so then I will start saving at least 10-25% of my income monthly by investing in mutual funds. With regards to stock investing / trading, I am a newbie. I don't know how it works but I'm on the learning process. I love watching every night the episodes of Pesos and Sense where that show educates the Filipino people in investing in stocks and mutual funds. 

It takes discipline and motivation to save. So help me God.

How to Quickly Lose a Friend (and Money)

In my quest to financial freedom, I invested with the wrong people. I lent them money in a promise of returning it one day (some with interest while others just a simple thank you). But was I successful, were my investments returned with a good income? A big NO. Some people I invested to, like Ms. Annie Pelayo and Pastor Rogelio Undan (he's one of our pastors, mind you) promised a good return to my investment. Time passed yet the income did not come...so then my husband went to their homes to collect what was mine. Some of the capital returned but never the income. 

Money lost...sadly, even the friendship was gone.

So now I swear to myself that as soon as I have money for investment, I'll invest it with  more secure means like stocks, mutual funds or government funds. This way, I am more confident I can get it back as soon as I want to. The income would not be as high as investing in other people but at least the risk is way lower than investing with them. Plus, I will not lose a friend. (Oh well, I guess I'm better off with those so-called 'friends' anyways)

I have got to use my BRAIN! I'm a business management graduate, am I not? Or probably I need a refresher course. 

However, I need to keep going.. these failures will not stop me from investing. I just need to learn more about financial literacy.

On Being A Fool....Again!

I do not know who to talk to so I will blurt this all out here in my blog.

I am so down right now because I felt I have been cheated, lied to and fooled once again. Yes, not the first time..this is the 3rd major time that I have lent a big amount of money and that borrower fled to nowhere. 

First was with Kreeze, the lady who I bought tickets from for more than 5 years. Whoever would have thought a lady like her is a smart ass, she ran off with a big stash of money not only from her sub agents but from her boss as well. She ran off with my 46,000 Baht cash and left some of my tickets unissued. Dang...who does that? A whole lot of them, I realize now. She is as cunning as a fox.

For everyone's awareness, her name is Mary Cristy Siena and she has a son named DJ. So, beware..you might be her next victim.

Second time was with my highschool friend classmate, her name is Chime Joy Romo (I don't know her last name now that she is married). A few months back she asked me to lend her 10,000 pesos to cover for her ovarian surgery as prescribed by her OB-GYNE and told me not to tell anyone even her mom because she doesn't want to worry her. Yeah right!!! Well, I do not know if the surgery was true or not but until now she has not paid my money yet and my mom has been asking for it from her from day 1 and all she told were lies.

Liars, do they really go to hell? I'm sure they do...

Third and hopefully the final one (please, I got to stop being a fool!), Ms. Cherry Oribiana Mansalapus asked me to fund her ink business because she has an order worth 65,000 pesos with 25% mark up and the investment will be back after one day. I had 'many' second thoughts, so to speak. I even prayed about it, asked for two signs which did happen. So the next day(that was Friday, August 31, 2012) I was confident and transferred the amount of 31,200 Baht (40,000 pesos) to her. I was even in a hurry to transfer the money for her to deliver the ink on time. That was Friday and today is Friday, a week later. A week is the new one day now? When did that happen?  Her brother said that she is confined right now at the hospital. After my countless sms and calls, she is asking for two more days. Two days for her to redeem herself. That remains to be seen.. Oh well, at least she's making a promise. I hope this time it won't be broken.

What  the hell is my problem? Not once, not twice but thrice...

Can't believe that I'm the fool again..this song has been ringing in my head right now. Is tenderheartedness a no-no nowadays? Is cheating the new trend? I still believe there are good people on this earth but I hope that FINALLY  I have learned my lesson...

NEVER LEND MONEY TO ANYONE. capital N-E-V-E-R!

on Royale Business Club...

I'm diverting from this blog's name... oh well, it is still about learning although not only for my child but learning for me as well.

Last July 29, 2012, after much internet reading about MLM (Multi Level Marketing) I joined Royale Business Club, a networking company on going to their 6th year. My upline is my cousin, kuya Dave who's staying in Japan. He's doing big there now...and hopefully, we will follow. 

But I need to learn...

I need to learn how to plan and implement marketing strategies. How..Where? Internet? Which site? I've been trying to find but most of the sites are selling something..or probably that's how they teach?

With regards to the company, the things I learned are mostly based on my internet readings, conversation with my upline as well as testimonials from users. I have been a user of their soap, Kojic Acid Soap for a month now and I can say that the product is good..it effectively and immediately dries up pimples and it softens the skin after every wash. I love the soap and because I have proven its effect, I find it easier to sell. Hey, that's marketing lesson number 1: Be your product's model...lol!

I hope many people will find Royale's products effective to alleviate their health, wealth and beauty. Who does not want those things, eh?

So I guess, all I need is to continue what I started, be consistent and I'll be there...winners never quit!

A proud Royalista, here!

It's the BER months...already?!?!

I believe TIME has wings...because they fly so fast! It's the 3rd day of September and Christmas songs are now being played in my home country.

Big event for this month:          Travel to Saigon City!!!

Well, yes, Ho Chi Minh City not Hanoi...disappointing I know, but then I mistakenly booked for HCMC while all the while thinking of seeing Halong Bay. Geezzz! Oh well, at least I haven't been to HCMC yet, that's a consolation. My dad, my hubby, me and baby Sean are booked for September 19-21 travel and hopefully my husband will be able to get off board his ship in time for our departure to Vietnam. Otherwise, it's going to be a drag... well, you know, life is happier when you spend it with your better half, right?

Hopefully I can post pictures of our trip in this blog. (I post here in the office, you know...and uploading of pictures is a big no-no).