Category Archives: The Basics Of Finance

How to Be A Millionaire Without Starting a Business (and a Mention at Cosmopolitan Magazine!)

March 31 9:22 pm ,

Cosmopolitan March 2011

Page 158, Tips 3 and 4 are Mine 😀

When I got the email from Kristina Monica Guerra of Cosmopolitan Magazine requesting for an interview, I was more than thrilled – I was ecstatic.

She said she got to know of me from Anton Diaz’ list of upcoming Bloggers and wanted my two cents on how one can be a millionaire without starting a business.

The question stumped me.  I am a business advocate and champion of those who dare to change their lives through the wonderful, maddening, exciting world of business.

Being a millionaire without going into business – is it even possible?

The March 2011 issue of Cosmopolitan Magazine featured some of the answers I submitted to Monica.  I was quoted alongside Francisco Colayco, author of several books, speaker, entrepreneur and mentor – what an honor!  I could not believe my eyes when I saw my name and my blog mentioned (yey!).  Thanks again, Monica.

But back to the question: Can one get to millions without getting his feet wet in the grime and grunge of business?

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Posted in: Financial Education, The Basics of Finance , Tagged: , , , , , , , , ,

If It Does Not Make You Money, Cut the Time You Spend Doing It In Half

February 23 9:25 pm ,
Cut It

Cut It

Or obliterate it altogether.

But boys will be boys.  Will be boys.

And my husband, is a boy. (still a boy)

He always has gadget fads that he swears will not last.  But they keep morphing into some other fad, that I want to scream to him: Yes honey, they do not last but they always, always get replaced with something else that take your time away from us!

Like now, it is his PSP and his Tekken game.  He plays it every chance he gets – when waiting for an appointment or before the start of a meeting, in the bathroom, in his office (I bet – but he owns it so I think it is okay), in my hospital bed (when I was recently hospitalized), downstairs in our house when my children and I are having playtime and how-are-you-time upstairs, in our bedroom when the lights have been dimmed and my baby boy who is trying to sleep could not sleep because he is distracted by the eerie disco lights and slightly muted sounds from the PSP game.

I could go on.

Please allow me.

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Posted in: Financial Education, Life Stories, The Basics of Finance , Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , ,

How We Prepared for Baby

February 11 8:23 pm ,

Art by Chiarra Briones

Crosspost from the MoneyDoctors Blog.

With every kick at my gut, I was reminded that I was not alone. With every fluttering in my stomach, I knew he was there, his father’s son, and he was coming very soon.

He came and I did not have any idea what I had to do.

How does one prepare for baby?

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Posted in: Financial Education, Life Stories, The Basics of Finance , Tagged: , , , , ,

A 90-Day Credit Card Moratorium

January 29 8:24 pm ,

Illumination

At our post-Christmas party, my partners at MoneyDoctors started talking about a credit card moratorium for their families – this meant they will not use their credit cards for 90 days.

With the Christmas indulgence, I also engaged in some wanton (haha!) and indiscriminate spending and have not been able to pay my credit cards in full.  I still do pay way above the minimum but at the rate I am going, and with my steady monthly purchases (not to mention the interest payments, grrrr!), I do not know when I will be free (or if I will be free).

I knew then had to do something that drastic too – and fast!

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Posted in: Financial Education, The Basics of Finance , Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,

When I Manned the Store

December 2 1:08 am ,

The Art of Selling

The first time I manned a store – I think I was 14 at that time (maybe) – I chased the customer away.

Yes, I had one customer.  Because my mom would not let me talk to any other customer after that.  I think.  (my recollection is a little hazy)

We were selling batik clothes and some imported goods in a dry good stall and I was being very enterprising, butting in the conversation, giving the one customer (a man, I think) this option and that.  He almost bought something but I think he got confused because I kept showing him stuff after stuff. (giggles)

He left without buying anything and I was kind-of blamed.  I never really tried to sell after that.

But last weekend, I had to.

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Posted in: Art, Green Products, Life Stories, The Basics of Finance , Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Experiences Over Possessions

November 28 1:02 am ,

Life's Simple Pleasures

A friend of my husband asked me how in the world I do not own any Louis Vuitton, Prada, Tod’s, Burberry or Chanel bag, the carry-on status symbol of choice for the modern woman.

I had to smile.

Okay.  I have to admit that I am not immune to their charms.  If anything, I love soft leather, and I certainly can appreciate wonderful craftsmanship.  The ooohs and aaahs of the woman who realizes what it is is also a great incentive, I will not lie.

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Posted in: Financial Education, Random Thoughts, The Basics of Finance , Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,

Invitation to A Webinar: What You Can Do With Your Christmas Bonus

October 25 4:39 pm ,

Learn the Many Ways You Can Advance Your Finances

My mom had this to say about my video invitation to my webinar: You should have tied your hair.

Because I kept flipping my hair this way and that. (chuckles)

But I just had a haircut and the complementary blow dry and the hair was falling smoothly across my face and I did not want to mess it up and I was feeling good anyway and …

Yeah, I should have tied my hair.

Not-tying-my-hair aside, I hope you can join me for my webinar on October 29, 2010 from 12 noon to 1 pm.  I will be talking about what you can do with the bonus that you are going to get.

I’m sure it’s on your mind.  But before you blow it on that special something, know that it can be your startup money for a project, or your ticket to being debt-free.

(there’s also a great company that will have an initial public offering soon and you can invest on that – ask me about this during the webinar)

I hope you can join me.  You can register here.

Special thanks to Medicol.ph and Didi of LovingtheDistance.com for making this happen.

Article and Poster by Issa.  Copyright 2010.
Website: www.YouWantToBeRich.com
Email: issa@youwanttoberich.com

P.S.  I will be on live chat during the webinar – you can ask me anything.  You will also get a certificate at the end.  I hope you register now.  See you!

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Posted in: Financial Education, The Basics of Finance, The Beginning , Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

Free is Good

August 10 9:38 am ,

Yours for Free

Free is wonderful.

So I spend about 5 minutes of my time everyday signing up for free stuff.  I do not even have to look for offers of the free stuff, it comes to my e-mail box every day.  And all I need is time on my hands (and for most free stuff offers, a US address).

See the picture on the left? I got all of those for free.  Included there is a big can of baby formula, baby magazines, lotions, creams, diapers, shampoos, conditioners – yes, most of them are minuscule and in sample form but I still got a giddy feeling getting them (weeeee! and you have to agree – they are great for out of town trips).  And I got coupons too, lots of coupons.  I am not sure I will be able to use everything, but the feeling of free is good.
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Posted in: Financial Education, The Basics of Finance, Wealth Attraction , Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,