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How to Manage Your Money: A Short Lesson on Personal Finance

February 6, 2017 by Ray L. 1 Comment

Tagalog Version (Click Here)

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We don’t all have the time to read a 300-page book. We might not even have a few minutes to read a 2,000-word article! If you want a short and simple guide on the basics of how to manage your money, then this article is for you!

“A big part of financial freedom is having your heart and mind free from worry about the what-ifs of life.” – Suze Orman

Before we begin, don’t forget the GOAL of managing your money:

Financial Stability and Financial Freedom

It’s difficult to enjoy life when you’re buried in debt, worrying about where to find money to pay the bills, and when your entire family is suffering from poverty and lack. On the other hand, it’s much easier to enjoy life when you have more than enough money and resources to pay the bills, buy good food, buy entertainment, travel, help the needy, and more. It gets even easier when you no longer need to work at a nine-to-five job because your investments earn money FOR you and you have the time and resources to do the things you want WHEN you want.

That’s the goal of good financial management, and that’s what you’ll learn here.

“No one can feel easy or safe who is living from hand to mouth.” – Orison Swett Marden

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Basics ng Personal Finance: Ang Beginner’s Guide tungkol sa kung Paano Palaguin ang Pera

January 17, 2017 by Ray L. Leave a Comment

English Version (Click Here)

Noong kabataan ko, naaalala ko ang isang nilaro kong role-playing game na tinatawag na Fable 2. Kahit medyo komplikado ang kwento nito, ito’y karaniwang RPG kung saan kinukumpleto mo ang mga quests, sumusugod ka sa mga kalaban, at nagliligtas ka ng mga baryo at siyudad. Ang isang bagay na may malaking impact sa akin ay bukod sa paglaban sa mga halimaw at pagresolba ng mga quests, pwede ka ring “magtrabaho” (mga minigame) at bumili ng mga tindahan at negosyo para kumita ng pera.

Sa simula ng laro, ang “gold” (pera sa game) ay mahirap makuha kaya hindi ko palaging mabili ang pinakamalalakas na sandata at armor. Kapag naipagpatuloy mo ang laro, saka lalabas ang mga trabaho gaya ng bartending (barista) at blacksmithing (panday). Kaysa lumaban sa mga halimaw at magpatuloy ng kwento, ilang ORAS ako sa mga “trabahong” iyon para makakuha ng pera. Matapos makaipon ng ilang libong gold, hindi ako bumili ng bagong sandata o armor. Bumili ako ng tindahan ng gulay at iba pang tindahan na kumikita para sa akin ng kaunting gold kada sampung minuto.

Sa pagdaan ng oras at pagdami ng kita mula sa mga tindahan, inipon ko ang kinita ko at nagpatuloy ako sa blacksmith para makabili pa ng MAS MARAMING tindahan. Pagdaan ng panahon, kumita ako ng ilang daan hanggang ilang libong gold kada sampung minuto sa laro. Pagkatapos ng ilan pang oras, kinaya ko nang bumili ng mga malalaking negosyo na ilang milyon ang presyo gaya ng mga taverns at blacksmiths at malaki ang naidagdag nila sa aking kita kada sampung minuto.

Ano ang susunod na nangyari? Iniwan ko muna ang laro para gawin ang aking homework, magbasa sa internet, atbp. Noong pagbalik ko, ang mga negosyong binili ko ay kumita ng ilang libong gold na ginamit ko para bumi ng pinakamalalakas (at pinakamamahaling) sandata at armor. Ang paglaban sa mga halimaw at pagligtas sa mga siyudad ay naging napakadali na noon.

Bakit ko kinuwento iyon sa iyo? Simple. Kapag natutunan mo ang mabuting paghawak ng pera, magiging napakadali din ng iyong buhay. Isipin mo lang. Hindi mo na kailangan pang mag-alala tungkol sa biglaang emergency at kung paano magbayad ng mga bayarin dahil may pera ka para sa kanilang lahat. Malaya ka mula sa nakakasakal na utang dahil binayaran mo na silang lahat at marunong kang umiwas sa karagdagang utang. Malaya ka para maghanap ng mas-mabubuting trabaho, negosyo, at iba pang oportunidad dahil may ipon ka para sa kanila. Higit sa lahat, hindi mo na kailangang mag-alala pa tungkol sa mahirap na pagkayod sa trabaho, matatagal na commute, at masasamang amo at malaya ka para sundan ang iyong mga layunin at pangarap dahil ang mga investments mo ay nagbibigay ng matibay na pangkabuhayan para sa iyo at sa iyong pamilya. Kahit ang pera ay hindi ang pinakamahalagang bagay sa mundo (ito’y kagamitan lamang na magagamit para makagawa ng mga bagay), ito’y makakatulong sa iyong buhay kapag ginamit mo itong mabuti.

Hindi ba mabuti iyon? Posible lahat iyon kapag natutunan mo ang tamang paghawak ng pera. Kung gusto mong matutunan ang basics ng personal finance, ipagpatuloy mo lang ang pagbabasa. Ito’y napakabuting simula ng iyong paglalakabay.

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Personal Finance Basics: The Beginner’s Guide to Wise Money Management

January 17, 2017 by Ray L. 4 Comments

Tagalog Version (Click Here)

When I was younger, I remember playing a role-playing game called Fable 2. Although the story is a bit complex, it’s a typical RPG where you go on quests, fight enemies, and save towns and cities. One thing that had an impact on me is that aside from hunting monsters and completing quests, you can also do “jobs” (minigames) and buy stores and businesses to earn money.

At the start of the game, “gold” (the game’s currency) was difficult to obtain so I couldn’t always buy the best weapons and armor. Later on the game, however, some jobs like bartending and blacksmithing became available. Instead of fighting monsters and continuing the story, I literally spent HOURS on those “jobs” to earn money. After saving up a few thousand gold, I didn’t buy any new weapons and armor. I bought vegetable stands and street stalls which earn a few gold every 10 minutes.

As time passed and those stores earned money, I saved the profits and continued at the blacksmith job to buy even MORE street stands. After a while, I started earning a few hundred to a few thousand gold every 10 minutes in the game. Later on, I was able to buy the big businesses that cost millions each like the tavern and the blacksmiths and they added even MORE to my 10-minute income.

What happened then? I just left the game on for a bit to do my homework, browse the internet, etc. When I returned, the businesses I bought earned thousands of gold which I used to buy the best (and most expensive) weapons and armor available. Hunting monsters and saving cities then became laughably easy.

Why did I tell you that story? Simple. When you learn how to handle money wisely, life will also become much easier. Think about it. You no longer need to worry about sudden emergencies or how to pay the bills because you have enough money for all of them. You’re free from soul-crushing bad debt because you’ve already paid it all and you know how to avoid them. You’re free to pursue better jobs, businesses, and other opportunities because you have more than enough money saved for all of them. Best of all, you no longer need to worry about the 9-5 grind, long commutes, and terrible bosses and you’re free to pursue your life’s goals and dreams because your investments earn a steady cash stream for you and your family. Although money isn’t the most important thing in the world (it’s just a tool you can use to do things), it can certainly help you in life if you use it well.

Doesn’t that sound nice? It’s all possible when you learn to manage money wisely. If you want to learn the basics of personal finance, then keep reading. This will be an excellent start for your journey.

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Ang Isang Tanong para Makatipid ng Pera

November 22, 2016 by Ray L. Leave a Comment

English Version (Click Here)

“No man is rich whose expenditure exceeds his means; and no one is poor whose incomings exceed his outgoings.” – Thomas Chandler Haliburton

(Walang mayaman kapag ang gastos ay nakahihigit sa kakayahan; at walang mahirap kapag ang kita ay nakahihigit sa gastusin.)

Noong nakaraang linggo pumunta ako sa SM Aura, Market Market, at Bonifacio High Street para bumili ng ceramic non-stick frying pan para sa aking pamilya. Noong namimili ako, naisip ko ang mga bagay na gusto kong bilhin para sa sarili. Doon ko natutunan ang aral dito.

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The One Question that can Save Money

November 22, 2016 by Ray L. Leave a Comment

Tagalog Version (Click Here)

“No man is rich whose expenditure exceeds his means; and no one is poor whose incomings exceed his outgoings.” – Thomas Chandler Haliburton

Last Sunday I went to the SM Aura, Market Market, and Bonifacio High Street area to buy a ceramic non-stick frying pan for my family. While shopping, I thought of the things I wanted to buy for myself. That was when I learned the lesson here.

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