Tag Archives: You Want To Be Rich

Why Are You Investing?

April 17 8:04 pm ,
Within Reach

Within Reach

Today I embarked on my journey towards becoming a Registered Financial Planner.

I figured – I might as well plunge head-on into the world of personal finance.  And what better way to continue my education than by formal training.

Good too that I got a semi-scholarship / discount through MoneyDoctors partner and friend, Salve Duplito, who is a finance guru herself. (thanks, Salve, and to Mr. Henry Ong, head of the RFP – Philippines program)

So my friends, in a few months, I hope to be a Registered Financial Planner.  I also want you with me on that journey so I am cooking up something that I hope will positively impact the financial future of one (or two, or three) of you. (hint, hint)

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

An Inspirational Speech to Graduating Students

April 11 11:05 pm ,

 

Snapshots of the Future

My alma mater called and requested that I give an inspirational speech during the graduation rites of its Grade School Department.

Odd.

A week before, I made a self-assessment and determined I wanted more training / experience in public speaking.  Hmmm…  What can I say?  The universe will conspire to get you what you want, when you want it.  That is, immediately, or almost immediately.

Let me share with you the text of my speech.

Beloved director, principal and members of the faculty, proud parents, and above all, the graduates.  My congratulations.

I imagine that you are excited at graduating, a little scared of going to highschool, sad about saying goodbye to friends and teachers, and excited about the summer.  I also felt the same way when I was 12.

Looking at your faces, at this school, at the teachers, I realize that everything has changed.  And nothing has changed.

But let me tell you, tomorrow will be the beginning of one of the most wonderful, memorable, exciting part of your lives.

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Posted in: Advocacies, Children's Stories, Positive Thinking , Tagged: , , , , , , ,

More Becoming-a-Millionaire-Without-Going-Into-Business Tips

April 5 11:26 am ,

Money Can Grow On Trees

You can read the first part here.

Everyone wants millions and the dreams-come-true that go with it.  There are roads that are tried and tested – which, more often than not, involve business.  But here are some other ways to get to that golden brick road.

Real Estate

Contrary to what most think, huge capital and putting up a business entity are not really necessary to succeed in real estate.  The secret (that-is-not-really-a- secret) – foreclosed properties. The how – the property can be fixed up and rented out (buy and rent), or fixed up and sold (buy and sell). But research, due diligence, some handyman abilities, patience, a flair for marketing and a lot of guts are necessary. Yes, there’s the question of – how in heaven’s name am I going to pay for it???  Most banks require only a 10% downpayment, which you can borrow, and the rest of the payment – the 90% – you can also borrow, and the loan can be stretched to forever (think 30 years).  And this is what makes it beautiful – if you rent it out, the house will practically pay for itself, if you sell it, you get a tidy sum for a little bit of finding-house-fixing-house headache.  Kiyosaki and the local Kiyosakis swear by this system to gain untold riches. (untold!)

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

Benefits of Giving and Some Stories at Sun and Moon

March 28 11:35 am ,
Sun Moon

You can read the first part here.

A friend told me about Sun and Moon Home for Children.  This is its story:

After its successful opening in London, “Miss Saigon” went on to open in other major cities in the world.  Every year since then, Claude-Michel Schonberg became a familiar face in Manila, developing friendships and most specially developing a deep sympathy for the Filipino child.

It was on one of these many trips that he started visiting orphanages and hospices and thereupon developed a strong sense of mission for those abandoned.

Soon after, he gathered some of his closest Filipino friends and form Sun and Moon Foundation, Inc.

The foundation then established the Sun and Moon Home for Children to care for severely malnourished children, who have been orphaned, abandoned, neglected or surrendered.

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Posted in: Advocacies, Children's Stories , Tagged: , , , , , ,

Congratulations to the Winners of The Walking Eater

March 16 11:09 am ,

 

Win! Win! Win!

Win! Win! Win!

Thank you for joining The Walking Eater Contest.  Winning two (2) Walking Eaters each are … drumroll please … Patrick Carlos, Teeyah and Polinda Usero.  Congratulations!

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Posted in: Contests , Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

Domestic Diva

March 14 9:09 pm ,

Swells

I am not.

I mean I cook and bake sparingly, sweep the floor occasionally, arrange the closet (that I have ransacked for something to donate, or wear or throw away) some of the time.  But, I will admit this, I do not know how to clean the bathroom, have never done the laundry (do not even know how to operate our washing machine), and have never prepared my daughter’s school lunch (a horrible realization).  But you see, that’s how efficient my staff at home was.

Okay, I know what you are thinking.  But please hear me out.

My justification (mostly to myself) is that I work.  And when I am home, I take care of/talk to/ play with – the kids (yes, this includes the husband) that I have no time or energy to deal with housework.  And, well, yeah, I had helpers.

That was until some 10 months ago, when my maid of 5 years left me.  (sources said she fell in love, got married, got pregnant, worked somewhere else, went back to her province – there were so many versions and I do not even know the real story.)

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Posted in: Life Stories , Tagged: , , , ,

A Discovery In the Culinary Capital

March 13 9:48 pm ,

Bliss

Photos courtesy of Madelene Uyehara

Cross-post from MoneyDoctors Blog.

Pampanga. The birthplace of many chefs extraordinaire. So it is no wonder that there are some great restaurants in the province. But only some. Hubby and I wondered about this and surmised that because every other Kapampangan is a cook, every Kapampangan is a food critic. I mean, the standards are set so high! Before you can entice a Kapampangan to come hither to a restaurant – the cuisine has to better than what their mothers and lolas cook. And that is a tall order.

One brave soul is Araceli Timbol, a graduate of the Center for Culinary Arts, Manila, who also trained at The Blue Elephant, Bangkok and Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in Napa Valley. Tucked away in what was once the neighborhood of the rich in metro Pampanga is her The Village Chef.

We heard about The Village Chef from hubby’s sister and brother who were raving about it. It was hubby’s birthday and we thought, what a great excuse to splurge!

And so we did. (splurging is allowed some of the time)

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

Sometimes I Do Not Agree With Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich

March 4 10:09 pm ,

Crimson

Well, at least, one time I did not.

Because, in an email to me about his “breathtaking insight about customers and human behavior,” he discussed two categories of customers:

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