Author Archives: Issa

Abundance for the New Year

January 2 10:50 pm ,

The Green Book: On Saving

I found this lone piggybank in a toy store and embraced it right away, looking suspiciously to my left and to my right to check if someone will get it from me.

No other takers.  I breathed a sigh of relief.

Kidding.

But to tell you the truth, when I got it, I initially thought of giving it as a gift to one of my nephews or nieces but then as the countdown to Christmas lost digit after digit, I started wanting it for myself (it would be perfect too for my daughter…).

Read More →

Posted in: Financial Education, Financial Planning , Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,

Abundance and a Happy New 2011 For All

January 1 11:20 pm ,

Posted in: Wealth Attraction , Tagged:

Lessons from a Restaurant Business

December 27 10:56 am ,

Year End Musings

We got into a business and we did not manage it.  That was the fatal mistake.

But let me just say that from both ends, from the beginning until the end, there were a lot of good intentions.

Last year, we were invited to invest in a new venture – a restaurant.  Hubby always wanted a restaurant to call his own and since we could not fulfill his dream yet because we are both so busy in our careers (design and law, respectively), we dived in, one eye closed.

Read More →

Posted in: Financial Education , Tagged: , , , , , ,

A Happy Christmas to You from You Want to Be Rich

December 24 9:48 pm ,

Posted in: The Beginning

Sunday Buffets and A Birthday Celebration at Dusit Thani

December 23 12:37 am ,

Sunday Buffet: A Comparison

We broke the bank.

Of course we did not.  But, well, the day was certainly not one of our frugal days. (we try to be frugal some of the time and fail some of the time)

It was my birthday and usually, we go overseas.  But, as they say, a baby changes everything (everything) so this year, we had to stay put.   I am not complaining, though.  I am so in love with baby.  With him and our daughter in tow, we headed straight for Hotel Dusit Thani for their Sunday Crossover Brunch.

We love buffets and are partial to Sofitel’s Spirals.  But we were ready for a change.  There were rave reviews about Hotel Dusit’s brunch.  It was a restaurant tour concept and there were four cuisines we can feast on – Thai, Japanese, Italian and an-around-the-world offering.  It all sounded very appealing.

Read More →

Posted in: Food, Life Stories, The Philippines , Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

(Hopefully) Not Too Late Christmas Tips

December 19 11:07 am ,

You Can Make this a Special Christmas

At Christmas time, the mall is particularly stressful.

I mean the crowds are massive and stifling, the parking is horrible, the merchandise are disgustingly overpriced.

Christmas never used to be this way.  It used to be special.  The glittery, dreamy, new-clothes-new-shoes-lots-of-gifts-and-sparkles kiddy kind of special.

(Or is it because, then, I was not in charge (and not spending)?)

But I have grown up (as I must) and now it is my turn to make it special for my brood.

(And I wonder, was it stressful too for my mom and dad, or is it more stressful now because the world has become more fast-paced, more guilt-ridden, more material-focused?)

So ever since the countdown for Christmas began, I have been on the lookout for other alternative ways to give or buy gifts without breaking the bank or losing my sanity.  Here are some of my picks:

Read More →

Posted in: Financial Education, Green Products, Random Thoughts, The Philippines, Travel , Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Guest Post: The Way to San Jose

December 19 2:16 am ,

Endless Sun

You might want to know the following jargon to understand (or rent or buy) into the San Jose real estate market, or into any real estate market:

If you are renting:

  1. Common Area maintenance (CAM): This refers to the money that is paid by the tenants to the landlord so that property taxes can be covered, as well as insurance and maintenance.
  2. CPI: This is the Consumer Price Index, which is often used to calculate the increase in annual rent that can compensate inflation.
  3. Estoppel Certificate: This a signed letter that is provided by the tenant confirming his/her agreement to the rent and terms and conditions.
  4. Gross lease: This means the lease in which the tenants only pay the rent while the landlord pays the taxes, insurance and any cost for maintenance.

Read More →

Posted in: Financial Education

If the Only Prayer You Said Was “Thank You”

December 12 10:37 am ,

He Made it and It Was Beautiful

I read it from The Secret but it was Johannes “Meister” Eckhart who allegedly originally said this.

If the only prayer you said in your whole life was thank you…

I do not know who Eckhart is, except that he was a German theologian, philosopher and mystic born during the 12th century who wrote such controversial articles that he was tried as a heretic by the then-pope.

But this is not about Meister Eckhart or the Secret.  This article is about certain prayers, and thank you.

Read More →

Posted in: Life Stories, Random Thoughts, The Secret, Wealth Attraction , Tagged: , , , , , , ,