Looking at my married friends, siblings and acquaintances, I noted that most of marital arguments and worries spring from money issues. One partner usually has a different attitude towards money, one likes to spend frivolously while the other likes to budget. Thus, the importance of screening the men we date, before committing ourselves to a lifetime of money squabbles with a partner. … More Benefits of dating a frugal boy
As an avid reader of personal finance articles online, I observed that not one pinoy has talked about this subject, or what it costs to live anywhere else in the Philippines, for that matter. Pinoys can be coy (see Pinoys coy revealing net worth) about revealing money facts about their lives. … More What it really costs to live in Makati City, Philippines
In the Philippines, home ownership is and will be beyond the reach of a lot of twenty somethings. Workers are taxed heavily, resulting in meager take home pay that must be allocated to ever increasing prices of goods and services. Career-oriented millenials working in the city feel the crunch and must succumb to sky-high rents of tiny apartments located within walking distance from work. … More Squeezing into micro apartments and micro condominiums makes sense for the short-term
Before saving for retirement, a vacation, or funding your investment account, it is important to build an emergency fund first.
What is an emergency fund?
An emergency fund is to be used to well, fund any unexpected expenses that may come in our lives i.e. unemployment, illness, car or home repairs, dental work, etc. As such, it should be liquid (in the form of assets that are easily convertible to cash when the need arises) and may take the form of certificates of deposit, cash or shares of stocks, bonds or t-bills (the latter are relatively liquid). … More Don’t let inflation eat up your emergency fund.
So, what’s left to spend? Haha. There’s still some. I try not to totally deprive myself lest I get into a shopping binge. Lessons learned from my shopping-happy past. In sum, I allocated and saved/invested 83% of the total windfall and set aside 17% thereof for discretionary spending. … More How I spent a sudden windfall
Nothing in life can go on perfectly forever. The sooner we accept this, the better we will feel. The pivotal point should be how we get up from a fall. Let us see the positives and tiny good things that happen daily. This is my call to action, let’s start appreciating every little good thing that happens each day. … More A call to action
Imagine this, an unmarried 11-year lawyer and now junior partner. After several years of law practice in Makati, what does he have to show for it? A car, a lavish lifestyle that includes travel to faraway countries, eating at lavish restaurants, fancy clothes, hot nights out, and nothing much else. On his eleventh year as a lawyer, he realizes he wants his own home so that he could stop renting. … More Why 20-somethings should start learning to budget
The Joint Security Area (JSA) is a small area within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) of Korea. Previously, north and south Korean army personnel could stay within the area where both are able to roam free (hence the term “joint”) and conduct their duties . Due to some violent incident, an invisible demarcation line now exists in the JSA completely parting both countries. … More Review of attraction: Joint Security Area, Paju, Seoul, Korea
Marina Bay Sands, Singapore – a great place to start a night walking tour of Singapore … More Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
