take control of your F (1)

By now you should have had a little understanding or even become amazed when you saw your own finances in writing; that is if you took your assignment seriously.  But if you aren’t going to do your assignment which I advise you to do the opposite, well, it won’t hurt me because it’s your finances anyway.

But, I tell you, if you are a person whose earning income is not enough for a month’s expenses; if you are mired in debt and rising expenses; if you are the previous me who felt insecure of his family’s future because of his financial predicament… Well, my friend, YOU REALLY SHOULD DO THIS ACTIVITY.

Again, if you don’t do this exercise and don’t mind taking a look at your finances right now and CHANGE your MINDSET, it will certainly hurt you in the near future.

The exercise is no more less of budgeting your finances. Wait! I know what’s running through that mind of yours. Perhaps what your mind is saying: ‘if it’s just like budgeting, I’m already doing it regularly whenever I receive my paycheck….” Here’s another one: “I have been doing it but my debt still keep piling up every month, so why bother?”

Hmmmm…. Let me ask you, How do you make your budget? Maybe it’s like this: you look at your money and lists all the expenses that you have to pay and after that, you keep in your pocket/wallet/ATM of what’s left. I know because I used to do that before. That’s why no matter how I budget my money, I always fall short and I have to use my credit card to cover other expenses. Then, something happened and started to write down my monthly budget in a piece of paper to manage whatever I have.

After reading books, and did this prepaid retailing, something struck me. I finally made my expenses into SAVINGS in business people terms, PROFIT!

Yes, profit! Amazing isn’t it? What we are doing, prepaid retailing, because we have our full time job, is already our profit! Isn’t that great? Even you’re doing that PART-TIME, no matter how much you gain is already your PROFIT.

Ha! You’ve just experienced first-hand how the rich turn their expenses into profits!

You see, the rich always look for ways to minimize their expenses, including taxes, and gain more profit. That explains why your boss doesn’t give you a pay raise because they only consider you as expenses!

Another thing that rich people does, is that, they don’t mix their money for business with their money meant for their household! They strictly use their money in business for business and the same goes for their household budget. That’s why the business of the rich continues to grow because they put their profit back into their business.

So, now, are you still going to say that the exercise is nonsense? And, we’re just only talking about the two columns (income and expenses) which tell your living standard today. The Asset and Liabilities, on the other hand, shall determine how you will live tomorrow. And we’ll discuss it later.

Now, grab that pen and fill that paper up. Unless we put into writing our budget, look at it, analyze it, and read it aloud so that we can hear it for our self, our budget will remain to be a mental note which we tend to easily forget. Doing the exercise makes us realize what we have and increase our self-discipline not to spend more in the budget.

I am not telling you to live a miserable life. I am only telling you to strengthen your conviction in implementing your planned budget. With this, you’ve taken control of your F – FINANCES.

budgeting 101 (2)

I’d like to share these budgeting tips that I do when I receive my allowance. I hope this article can help you in managing your hard earned income from your job.

PAY YOURSELF FIRST. I think you are like the previous me, or may be not (I may be too assuming if you are not like me before…). Before, when I receive my allowance, I would subtract all of my expenses first and after that was savings. HOWEVER, it is wrong. IT IS JUST WRONG. Why? Because YOU WORKED HARD for it but you will PAY YOURSELF LAST?! Come on, where’s the logic behind? It’s just not right. So next time you receive your salary, be KINDER to YOURSELF.

INVEST YOUR SAVINGS. Whatever you put aside for yourself is your savings. Now, majority of us will put that savings in the most safest and conservative place – in the bank! Having a savings account is not bad – not bad at all. Having some amount of money that you could pull something out is better than nothing during times of financial trouble. But, did you ever consider that that money in your account will lose its value in time? Yes? No? YES!

Let’s say you’ve managed to save a hundred thousand or even a million pesos it will never be the same after some period. Why? Have you heard of the term INFLATION? Inflation is the increase of prices of commodities and services that eventually decrease your money’s buying power. Now that you know this, think where you can invest your hard earned money for it to grow. Invest it in a vehicle which suits you. It may be in stocks, funds, or even find your part-time business. But before you invest, you have to study and learn everything you can before you make that choice.

PAY YOUR DEBTS. Nowadays, it is not strange that people are mired in debts due to increasing living standards but shrinking economy. But, a debt is debt that we have to pay. But don’t be too hasty in trying to pay all of them at once or else… Instead, program your payments. Try to negotiate with your loan and pay it regularly. Try to pay the one which has the highest interest first and pay everything else the minimum. Then, after you’ve paid that debt in full, add that to your next payment on another loan. This way, you’ll wipe out your debt. But, you have to be painstakingly patient and disciplined if you want to be debt-free in no time. Prioritize your loan payments, thru this you can sleep with less worries at night.

EXPAND YOUR INCOME. I don’t recommend that you find another part-time job. If you do that, you’ll just dig your grave faster than ever. Plus, you’ll be taking away more of your precious time to spend with your family, friends, and even for yourself. People need to rest as machines and gadgets also take a time out. Just what I said (written) why don’t you find a part-time business? Start one until you can now while we are still young. You should seriously start owning one today while you can still infuse capital in it little by little thru your salary. Run that business without quitting your daytime job. Remember, what you earn in that business is already your profit which will make up your fortune in the future.

BUDGETING 101

Gusto kong i-share sa inyo ang mga artikulo na naisulat ko noong nakaraang taon. Nai-share ko ito sa maliit na grupo pero ngayon ay ibinubukas ko sa lahat. Pasensiya na lamang at nakasulat sa english, paki tiyaga na lang. Apat (4) na magkakasunod na artikulo ito na sana ay makatulong sa inyo.

How do we make our budget? Or more correctly, what kind of budget are we making every month?

You might be asking: what? Is there any other kind of budgeting other than what we do every month? Am I kidding? No. I’m dead serious.

The usual budget that we do every moth usually leaves us in indebt or need to ask a loan from someone or somewhere. This is called DEFICIT BUDGETING.

It describes that we move heaven and earth to minimize our expenses and try to leave below what we have every month because our INCOME is SMALL that it is just NOT QUITE ENOUGH.

And this is what we do and even governments do.

s goes up and always hear time and again that we have huge budget deficits. The reason why budget cuts on social services such as health, education, and housing - are increasing due to the prioritization debt payments which is very unacceptable.

That’s why the government debt alway 

And it mirrors our practice in budgeting. We cut on expenses such as buying new clothes or eating out with the family. The result is detrimental to each member of the family which could result in frustration if not despair of our current living standard. The only saving grace of our race, we Filipinos do not sulk in depression just like other countries. And they are amazed that we can manage to smile even in the direst of situation.

So, let’s go back to budgeting.

As I said, the other kind of budgeting – as Robert Kiyosaki calls it – is SURPLUS BUDGETING.

In SURPLUS BUDGETING, we are not just programming our expenses but we are also PLANNING on how we can EXPAND our INCOME. Say it again, EXPANDING INCOME not just programming to spend.

And, again, I do sincerely congratulate you that what we have done which is the exercise that we did, is our first step in learning on how to do surplus budgeting. It’s still not that much but if we still want to grow it bigger, we should go on with the other phase of the business (not just prepaid retailing) which is NETWORK MARKETING.

We’ll provide detailed discussion on NETWORK MARKETING in the weeks to come plus training on how to be a successful network marketer for you to GAIN what for us now an UNIMAGINABLE INCOME. Thus, would surely PREVENT the SQUEEZE or STRESS that we suffer every now and then from MANAGING our MEAGER INCOME.

ACHIEVING SUCH WILL TAKE TIME BUT CAN BE REALIZED EARLIER AS WE TAKE ACTION NOW.

And remember just as the popular ad says: Plan, You Only Live Once (PYOLO)!

PERA (2)

Pera pa rin ang paksa natin ngayon. Hindi naman dahil sa mga mukhang pera tayo, pero malaki kasi ang epekto nito sa buhay sa kabuuan. Kahit na dapat tayong mamuhay ng simple, may mga bagay na idinudulot ang pagkakaroon nito na nagbibigay sa atin ng isang antas ng saya at seguridad.

Ready na ba kayo? Hindi pa? Errr... isang buwan nga ako nawala.... Ready or not... Heto na...!

Marami sa atin, gaya ko ay mga manggagawa o empleyado. Kahit ba bise presidente ka ng isang kumpanya at hindi mo naman ito pag-aari, empleyado ka pa rin. Sinasahuran o sinuswelduhan para gawin ang isang gawaing mahalaga sa pinapasukang negosyo.

Pero sa tantiya ko naman, alam na natin kung paano ibadyet ang kung magkano man ang natatanggap natin sa araw ng payday. Tama ba? Ngunit, tama ba ang pamamaraan ng pagbabadyet na ginagawa natin? Mahalagang punto ito, maliit man o malaki ang sahod natin, DAPAT, uulitin ko: D-A-P-A-T TAMA ang paraan ng pagbabadyet natin sa pera natin. Bakit?

Una sa lahat, ang perang naitabi at naipundar natin sa buong panahon na tayo ay nagtatrabaho ang magsasabi kung ano ang magiging buhay natin sa panahon na wala nang tumatanggap sa atin para magtrabaho. Sa madaling salita kapag retirado na tayo.

Ikalawa, kung tama ang pagbabadyet ng pera, magkakaroon tayo ng batayan kung kulang o sobra (mas madalas kulang) ang kinikita natin. Kapag ganito, mas madalas sa hindi gumagawa tayo ng paraan kung paano natin madaragdagan ang perang hawak natin.

Ikatlo, kung episyente nating nababadyet ang perang hawak natin, magagawa natin ang mga bagay na gusto natin dahil naipaplano natin ito.

Ikaapat, nagkakaroon tayo ng proteksyon sa mga hindi inaasahang paggasta o emergency kung napapamahalaan nang tumpak ang perang hawak natin.

At panghuli, sa tamang paraan ng pagbabadyet, kaya nating itakda kung kailan natin gustong magretiro sa pagtatrabaho.

Ang limang bagay na ito ang magiging paksa natin sa buong buwan ng Hunyo. Binata/dalaga ka man na nagtatrabaho para lamang sa sarili; breadwinner ng pamilya; o may sarili nang pamilya, importante na hindi lamang tayong humawak ng pera kundi episyente rin dapat natin itong napamamahalaan. Dahil, una sa lahat, pinaghirapan natin ang perang ito kaya bawat sentimong nasasayang ay pambabalewala sa pagod at sakripisyo natin para kitain ito.

Kaya, isa itong paanyaya sa lahat ng mga interesadong matuto at guminhawa ang buhay. Sama-sama nating pag-aralan ang mga batas kung paano lumago ang pera natin na siyang ginagamit ng mga mayayamang tao para lalo pa silang yumaman. Walang pilitan ito.  Kaya, ngayon pa lang, salamat sa pag-antabay at pagsubaybay.

PERA

Kung sa tingin mo na ang puno’t dulo ng problema ay pera, sa tingin ko kailangan mong basahin ito.

Noong una, may ganyan din akong paniniwala. Pero, may parte rin naman sa akin na gustong guminhawa ang buhay. Pero, (may kontra uli) may isang bahagi rin sa akin na parang hindi tama na marami kang pera habang ang dami-daming naghihirap.

Ang gulo ‘di ba? Nakakaasar na nakakabaliw. Gusto mong yumaman pero… Laging may pero. Hindi ba pwedeng period na agad at wala nang pasubali?

Pinagdaanan ko iyan kaya alam ko. Buti na lang may mga napakinggan at nabasa ako para unti-unting palisin ang mga alinlangan ko. At isa riyan si Bro. Bo Sanchez, ang lumikha at personalidad sa likod ng Truly Rich Club.

Kay Bro. Bo ko natutunan na ang pagiging masama at mabuti ng pera ay depende sa layunin ng gumagamit nito. Parang baril, pwede itong gamitin para kumitil o ipagtanggol ang isang buhay.

Sa madaling salita, ang pera tulad ng ibang bagay ay nagiging masama at mabuti batay sa pagpapahalaga ng partikular na taong may hawak nito. Hindi ito ang ugat ng problema. Nasa tao ang problema dahil tayo ang may kakayahan at katalinuhan para magpasya. Kasangkapan lang ang pera at anupamang bagay kung magdaragdag ito ng halaga o magdudulot ng pinsala sa sarili o sa ibang tao.

Kaya hindi problema ang pera hindi ba? Tayo ang gumagawa ng sarili nating problema. 

Dahil sa pagbabago ng mentalidad na ito, nagbukas ito ng mga panibagong ideya at pag-aralan objectively ang karanasan ng mga taong patuloy ang pagtatagumpay laban sa kahirapan at pagtulong sa mga taong determinadong umahon mula rito.

Mas naging bukas din ako sa pag-unawa sa mga behikulo na pwedeng gamitin para higit pang lumago ang ating pinaghirapang pera.

Hindi na rin ako nagdadalawang-isip na bumili ng mga bagay tulad ng libro na makatutulong para higit pang pataasin ang kaalaman ko hinggil sa mga batas na nagtatakda sa paggalaw ng pera. Dahil aminin man natin o hindi, ang mga bagay na natutunan natin sa loob ng paaralan ay hindi naging sapat nang salubungin tayo ng reyalidad ng buhay. At ang mahalagang parte: B-O-B-O tayo sa pera. Hindi ito itinuro sa atin. Ang pangaral sa atin ay ganito: mag-aral nang mabuti para makahanap ng magandang trabaho sa isang magandang kumpanya na magbibigay sa atin ng malaking sweldo.

Babahagya lang nabanggit na mas malaki ang kikitain sa negosyo at mas mainam kitain ang tubo.

Masyadong konserbatibo ang pananaw natin sa pera. Ang turo sa atin, mag-ipon sa bangkko man o alkansiya dahil kung may isinuksok may madudukot. Tama naman kaso kung naunawaan natin agad ang terminong invest at ginawa itong regular nung mga bata pa tayo, siguro ang bawat Pilipinong nabuhay 30 years ago ay isang milyunaryong retirado sa susunod na 30 taon.

Gets na ba natin? Unfair ‘di ba? Isa ito sa mga dahilan kung bakit ang mga mayaman ay nananatiling mayaman habang tayo ay nananatiling mahirap.

Panahon na siguro na baguhin natin iyon. At mainam na masimulan natin iyon ngayon sa mga sarili natin at ituro nang maaga ito sa mga anak natin o nakababatang henerasyon sa atin.

Kailangan ngayon na! Kung hindi, baka lalo pa tayong mawalan ng pera sa paglipas ng bawat sandali.

INTRO

Marami sa atin ang nagsasawa na sa kahirapan. Sino ba ang hindi nagnanais na makalabas sa animo kulungang ito? Wala, hindi ba? Pero kung ang iniisip natin na ang pagkakaroon ng pera – limpak-limpak na pera, ang mag-aahon sa atin sa kahirapan, mukhang may mali sa values natin kung ito ang nakikita nating solusyon.

Tama naman sa isang banda na mainam na may maraming pera kaysa wala o kulang. Aminin man natin o hindi, may mga bagay na nasosolusyunan kung meron ka nito.

Pero para sa akin, isa kasi itong ang pinakamadaling dahilan, scapegoat, alibi, o anumang katawagan sa ganitong pangangatwiran dinaranas na kahirapan natin sa bawat araw.

Bago ninyo ako awayin, lilinawin ko lang na hindi ko sinasabing tamad tayo kaya tayo mahirap. Hindi ako papayag na tawaging tamad ang lahat ng taong tapat at ipinupuhunan ang dugo at pawis para maitaguyod ang pamilya.

Ang sinasabi ko lang ay ito: kadalasan natin – take note: NATIN, naiuusal sa sarili kapag dumarating ang isang sitwasyon na may nais bilhin o sinuman sa mga mahal natin sa buhay lalo pa’t anak natin ang nagsasabing, “Tatay, ibili mo ako niyon,” at hindi natin magawa dahil kakapusin ang budget natin, ito ang naiuusal natin sa sarili natin matapos natin silang mapaliwanagan at sabihing: “Next time na lang anak.” And we wonder, kalian kaya magaganap ang next time na iyon.

Hanggang sa malilimutan natin at muling mauulit ang eksena. Alam ko iyan kasi naranasan ko iyan. Una, noong bata pa ako at ngayong may anak na ako.

Nakakalungkot ito para sa akin sa tuwing bumabalik o nauulit ang mga tagpong iyan. At tiyak ako na gayon din kayo. Kaya nga ito ang nagtutulak sa atin na isipin na kapag tinanong kung anong problema ang unang-una nating isasagot: PERA!

Pero sabi sa amin ng namayapa naming executive director na isang pari: ‘Huwag ninyong problemahin ang pera, ang pera ay solusyon. God will provide.’

Ang ibig sabihin ni padre, ang problemahin natin ay ang mga ideya o pamamaraan para pasulputin ang pera.

Sabi nga ni Robert Kiyosaki:"Money is just an idea." Maraming taong nagkamal ng yaman beyond their imagination dahil may naisip silang ideya at naisalin nila ito sa riyalidad na nagbigay sa kanila ng oportunidad na magtamasa ng yaman na higit pa sa kanilang inaasahan.

Itinuturo sa atin ng mga karanasan ng mga taong matagumpay na tinalo ang kahirapan na hindi nila ginawang problema ang pera sa halip ang pinagtuunan nila ng lakas at panahon ay kung paano gagawing materyal ang naisip nilang ideya, pangarap, o panaginip!

Bukod diyan, ayon sa mga mentor ng financial literacy, maraming mahirap dahil limitado ang kaalaman natin sa mga batas kung paano palalaguin ang pinaghirapan nating panustos. 

Kaya ang unang hakbang kung gusto nating talunin ang kahirapan ay baguhin ang values at pagtingin natin sa pera. Huwag nating asamin na magkaroon nito sa kagyat tulad ng pagtama sa lotto o sugal dahil anumang bagay na hindi pinaghirapan ay napakadaling abusuhin.

Sa susunod, ibabahagi ko sa inyo kung paano ko hinuhubog ang sarili na baguhin ang values at pagtingin sa usapin ng pera.