HAPPY HEART’S DAY!

Love is in the air. When the month of February starts, I can hear people say that it is the love month and feel excited about it. Well it is! May it be for couple or single (taken or available), the love month really make some noise. Facebook is full of “hugot lines” and it targets to tease most of the single ladies. J

ALL ABOUT CREDIT: TIPS ON HOW TO MINIMIZE/ELIMINATE DEBT

 

 

                Every person I meet, everywhere I go has debt. Even I have loans and credit card bills. Personally, I don’t like debt. I don’t want to owe anything to anyone. But I guess it is a part of our society. But I learned that it is better to minimize my debt or totally eliminate it so that I can gain ownership of my monthly income. It is my choice.

                                                                                                                                                     

Every peso (or Dirham, in case of UAE) that comes into your life is going to build someone else’s wealth. It could be you or someone else (Merchant, Media, Advertisement or Credit).  

 

STOCKS: A LONG TERM INVESTMENT

 

In 2011, I began to invest in the Philippine stock market with the guidance of Bro. Bo Sanchez as my mentor. I was a member of Truly Rich Club since 2010 but I really didn’t concentrate until late 2011. Since I was in abroad, it is advisable for me to open an online account to check my portfolio anytime. Bro. Bo recommended the COL Financial (previously named Citisec Online) so people can invest in the Philippine Stock Market even in abroad and with little amount of investment. I was inspired by the book that Bro. Bo wrote titled, “How my maid invests in the stock market and why you should too.”

 

IS PERSONAL LOANS A GOOD DEBT OR A BAD DEBT?

 

When I was in my first year with my employer, I was convinced by my colleague on taking a personal loan who is also taking a loan at that time. She told me about the advantages of taking a loan. She said that she has plans for the money and since the money depreciates over time due to inflation rate it is better to take a loan and use it to finance a business venture or invest it in things that will appreciate its value overtime.

THE LITTLE BY LITTLE DISCIPLINE OF SAVING

 

 





When I started to work as an OFW, I already made an inventory of my salary. I planned on putting aside some percentage for my family, for my expenses and for my savings.

That is how I lived my life. Most of my income went in supporting my parents and the rest I saved it to finance my goals.

During the first few months, I didn’t have much to save because I am still paying for some debt I made before I come in the UAE. But later on, I had enough to save.

CONDOMINIUM: A GOOD OR BAD INVESTMENT?

 

In 2010, my brother has invited us to attend an event related to real estate investment for condominiums. I was hesitant to come as I am not really convinced on condominium investment, for me, I’d rather go for conventional real estate such as house and lot or lot only. But I went with them anyway.

 

The presentation was in a nice hotel and food and beverage is being provided. I enjoyed the presentation made by DMCI Homes International and almost convince that I should invest on it.

 

During the question and answer portion, one guest commented that it was a good location, near schools, hospitals and the LRT station. She said that her daughter is renting an apartment at a certain price with her two friends and cost her Php10,000.00.

 

SEVENTH CURE TO A LEAN PURSE: INCREASE THY ABILITY TO EARN

 

“Cultivate thy own powers, to study and become wiser, to become more skillful, to so act as to respect thyself. Thereby shalt thou acquire confidence in thy self to achieve thy carefully considered desires.”

 

SIXTH CURE TO A LEAN PURSE: INSURE A FUTURE INCOME

 

“Provide in advance for the needs of thy growing age and the protection of thy family.”

 

FIFTH CURE TO A LEAN PURSE: MAKE THY DWELLING A PROFITABLE INVESTMENT

 

“Own thy own home.”

 

FOURTH CURE TO A LEAN PURSE: GUARD THY TREASURES FROM LOSS

 

“Prevent thy purse from being emptied once it has become well filled. Guard thy treasure from loss by investing only where thy principal is safe, where it may be reclaimed if desirable, and where thou will not fail to collect a fair rental. Consult with wise men. Secure advice of those experienced in the profitable handling of gold. Let their wisdom protect thy treasure from unsafe investments.”

 

THIRD CURE TO A LEAN PURSE: MAKE THY GOLD MULTIPLY

 

“Put each coin to laboring that it may reproduce its kind even as the flocks of the field and help bring thee income, a stream of wealth that shall flow constantly into thy purse.”

 

SECOND CURE TO A LEAN PURSE: CONTROL THY EXPENDITURES

 

“Budget thy expenses that thou mayest have coins to pay for thy necessities, to pay for thy enjoyments and to gratify thy worthwhile desires without spending more than nine-tenths of thy earning.”

 

FIRST CURE TO A LEAN PURSE: START THY PURSE TO FATTENING

“For each ten coins I put in, to spend but nine.”

THE RICHEST MAN IN BABYLON BY GEORGE CLASON: LESSON LEARNT

 

“Money is plentiful for those who understand the simple rules of its acquisition.”

 

Are you tired of living paycheck to paycheck? Do you have a scenario in your life that you actually wait for the month to end to receive your salary and when it is delayed you feel anxious (pay your bills & debts)? And when you receive your salary, it is like gone in the wind. It comes and goes. Money is difficult to earn but it is so easy to spend.

 

How come the rich becomes richer and the poor become poorer? Why other people’s purse are abounding whilst others were empty.

 

IS CREDIT CARD A FRIEND OR AN ENEMY?

 

Only during the time that I am an OFW and owned a credit card did I fully understand how it works. Back in the Philippines, I’ve only process credit card payments as a cashier in a big supermarket and I thought of people using it are rich people because rich people can only apply for credit card because they can afford their payment based on their income.

HOW BLOGGING BECAME MY FIRST PASSIVE INCOME

 

Is there a good thing about being laid off? Yes there is I believe. The Bible says; we should give thanks in all circumstances, good or bad. When we stay positive we will find more things to be thankful for. There are blessings always hidden in every situation we face, we just have to open our eyes and heart to see it.

“ASENSADONG PINOY SULIT MAG-ABROAD” SEMINAR FOR OFWs

One of my colleagues at work invited me to attend this FREE seminar as part of spreading financial literacy to all OFWs.

LET'S GET STARTED!!!

About Me

                Hi, there! My name is Julie, an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) for more than a decade here in the United Arab Emirates. I am an amateur or will I say “budding” writer or blogger.

Being an OFW is tough because I am away from my loved ones, but when I realized why I have to do it, it became easy to accept the circumstances and be thankful for the opportunity to earn more and help my family.

I created this blog with a desire to share my knowledge, skills, experience and testimonies in order to inspire and encourage other people.

I plan to retire from being a full-time employee at the age of 40 (God’s will) and instead managing multiple businesses; where I could have the freedom to serve God more, spend quality time with family, and travel the world to see the beauty of the creation of God (people, culture and nature altogether).

About this Blog

In this blog you will find post sharing my faith in God, family concerns, finance tips, food trips and ideas and all about having fun while doing all these things.

FAITH. I am a believer of God, an ambassador of Jesus Christ. Since I started my journey as an OFW, I have been quite serious about my spiritual growth. Although, I haven’t really reached that point of maturity like what Paul said, but I am straining towards the goal.

I am also fond of music especially Christian music so I made a blog which focus on Christian music (check it out here).

FAMILY. Close family ties is one of the characteristics of the Filipinos that I am proud of. I am close to my family especially with my mom and sisters. We share our personal struggles and success with each other. My family is one of the greatest blessings I received from God.

FINANCE. I personally believe in financial education. That is why I started to read about handling finances on the onset of my career as an OFW. I have a goal to accumulate enough money to retire comfortable so I need to know how to attain that by educating myself. Money is a blessing from God where we can be tested if we are trustworthy steward of His blessings. Money is a tool that can be used either for good or for bad depending on the person handling it. Money is not the root of all evil rather the love of money is the root of all evil. So we have to watch out on that and ask wisdom from God on how to handle our material wealth.

FOOD. I am fond of eating, I admit to that. I don’t mind paying a reasonable amount of money to eat what I want. Most of the time, we cook our food at home to save money and to also keep us healthy. To be honest, there’s no food that can compare to my mom’s cooking, I really love and really missed it. And even if I tried to copy and cook it here, sadly I cannot get her taste. I think she put a secret ingredient that makes it so delicious even if it is a simple recipe (lots of love I believeJ). In this blog, I will be sharing some cheap dishes that we usually cook at home as well as the restaurants I / we dine in to give you an idea about how much we spend on food.

FUN. Who don’t want to have fun? I personally like nature and travel. Initially, I am not an adventurous person but as I grew older, I realized that there is a world outside that needs to be explored and a lot of lessons to learn outside home. Some of the lessons are meant to be learned outside the four corners of our house. And it is fun when you meet new friends and see new sights and experience a new culture, there is so much to see and learn.

As I have mentioned a while ago, I consider myself to be an amateur in writing (so please excuse any wrong grammar), novice in personal finance (so I might refer other sites that can help you) and I will be sharing things based on my own experience and research.  

I created this blog to document my journey as an OFW to inspire others that the things we receive and we will receive are all coming from God and we should be a good steward of it (that includes our life).

I pray for our abundance in all areas of our lives.

God bless us more...