budgeting 101

the third part of our financial literacy seminar in SFC is budgeting 101.

here are some tips on how to take care of your finances.

1. give first the ten percent (10%) of your net monthly income (less tax) to God as tithes. this is a priority. remember it is God's money as discussed in our previous topic on financial stewardship. so don't focus on the 10%, but on the 90% we keep for yourself.

note: if the situation is really tight then you can ask for an excuse. you can give to God whatever amount you can. after all, what is important is the condition of your hearts when you give.

2. allot another ten percent (10%) to your retirement fund. why retirement fund? because you cannot just entrust your future from your Social Security System (SSS) or Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) monthly pension when you retire. it may not be enough to sustain your daily expenses specially your medication. remember, you may live longer than you expected. invest your retirement fund through long term financial vehicles such as mutual funds, bond funds, etc.

note: if your money is not enough to buy shares from mutual funds, you can save it first in your preferred bank or cooperatives. when your savings is enough then transfer it to financial institutions that offers financial management like mutual funds. whatever happens don't touch it. you should only use it when you retire.

3. again allot another ten percent (10%) for your emergency fund. this is to ensure that your retirement fund is safe from your emergency needs. put this to your preferred bank or cooperatives to maintain the liquidity of your money.

note: for emergency purposes, you will need at least six (6) times equivalent of your monthly income.

4. live on the remaining seventy percent (70%). yes, you read it right--live on the remaining 70% of your monthly income. you will need to prioritize your expenses. avoid unnecessary spending. delay self-gratification. learn to simplify your lifestyle. don't spend more than what you earn. that's suicide. if you think that you cannot do it, think again. if there's a will, there's a way. you must have will power, determination, discipline, patience and hard work.

note: if your expenses overshoot your budget and you still need to get more money to augment your expenses, try looking for other means. try selling anything. as long as it's legal and moral. remember, money problems are just mind problems. you can solve it.

5. ensure your family. your insurance is for your future needs if you live longer. but what if you die young or become physically handicapped? what will happen to your family? what will happen to those people that are dependent on you and your income? don't leave them helpless. if possible, get a life insurance to protect your family/dependents.

note: to compute on how much insurance that you really need to get, multiply your annual expenses by 10.

source: Bo Sanchez, 8 Secrets of the Truly Rich

my to-do list this 2008

here's my to-do list this 2008. better write it down so that i will not forget anything.

a. finances. this is inspired by Bo Sanchez' 8 Secrets of the Truly Rich.

1. to invest. during the last month of 2007, God bless us enough that made us think to start investing. we will divide our investment into two.

1.1 stock market. i've been playing the Stock Trading Game of the Philippine Stocks Exchange since november 2006. it's more than one year so i think it's about time for me to test the waters. though stocks are very volatile it is where the return rate is very high. i will consider the online trading.

1.2 mutual funds. we're currently looking for a mutual fund company that we can entrust our initial investment. if i don't succeed in my bid in the stock market at least in mutual funds our money is in good hands with the investment experts. we will include here the aguinaldos received by our two kids last Christmas.

2. to save. though my combined earnings with my wife is not that much, i think we can still allot some for our savings. this will serve as our emergency fund and at the end of the year we will add this to our investment

2.1 budget. we should put in writings all our expenses and allot our income just to make sure that our expenses would not exceed our combined monthly income.

2.2 prioritize. to minimize our expenses we will prioritize our buying according to its importance and our need.

action plan: from our net income (gross income less tax) i will take automatically 10% for our tithes, 10% for our investment and 10% for our emergency fund for a total of 30%. we will live within the remaining 70%. we can do it! ika nga, "kapag maikli ang kumot, matutong mamaluktot".

3. to explore. i will still look for other business opportunities that we can ride into to further boost our stock.

3.1 franchise. last year i won a Kettle Korn Negosyo Package from attending the Go Negosyo, Go Gobyerno at the Philippine Trade and Training Center, Pasay City. this year, i will claim my prize and try it.

3.2 foreclosed properties. i've read Robert Kiyosaki's Rich Dad, Poor Dad and Larry Gamboa's Think Rich, Pinoy! and Grow Rich, Pinoy! i also attended Larry's Think Rich, Pinoy! Workshop and played Cashflow 101 Boardgame last year. i've met new friends and future partners in this real estate business. hopefully, i can come up with my first property soon.

3.3 benefits. we will study how we can avail the products and services of different government institutions like the GSIS and PAGIBIG and use it to our advantage.

4. to ensure our future. no one really knows what lies ahead. only God knows. so whatever happens either we live longer or we live a short life we are insured. we will be at peace knowing that our loved ones will be financially secured. hopefully we still have enough savings for this.

b. service

1. my advocacy. as part of my service, i will continue my financial literacy advocacy for the poor and the youth--diskarte, Pinoy! i'll start with the members of the SFC in our chapter, to the different ministries and organizations in the parish, then to the different puroks and so on... so help me God. hehe

2. plan. we will schedule our planning workshop to plot our activities this year for the Singles for Christ (SFC) members in bicutan.

3. refresher. i will try to attend Bukas Palad Online Community Choir in EDSA Shrine to further improve my knowledge in singing and to learn new songs. i will try to echo it to the Angking Tanglaw Choir (ATC).

4. atc facelift. we will change the ATC into a music ministry. we will include the instrumentalists to serve during mass. live band tayo! hehe

c. family

1. less tv. television shows are so dominating that we became addicted to it. we should limit our watching time to give more attention to our kids, especially to my first born, nico.

d. others

1. drivers license. i will have my drivers license this year no matter what it takes. hehe.

to be continued...

giving is receiving

"less for self, more for others, enough for all." - Gawad Kalinga

i love Christmas! i love gifts. i love opening the gifts i receive. i love the surprise of knowing what's inside the specially-wrapped package. that's why i love Christmas.

only in the Philippines that we can experience the longest celebration of Christmas. when the "-ber" months starts (september to december) people will start buying gifts, parties are left and right, concerts are here and there. people are everywhere. and Christmas motifs will soon cover the whole archipelago before sundown.

from the smallest tiange in divisoria to the biggest mall in asia, people will try to look for the perfect gift that one can give for their love ones. it's because Christmas season is the season of giving and sharing. not only here in the Philippines, but people around the world will take this opportunity to celebrate this gift giving.

but somehow it's not enough. poverty still lurking around and affects majority of the people. if the spirit of giving and sharing is within us then why is it poverty still exist? there is an imbalance distribution of wealth. the rich are getting wealthier and the poor are being buried under their tons of debts.

the GK approach

Gawad Kalinga (GK) translated in English means to “to give care”, and it is an alternative solution to the blatant problem of poverty not just in the Philippines but in the world. GK’s vision for the Philippines is a slum-free, squatter-free nation through a simple strategy of providing land for the landless, homes for the homeless, food for the hungry and as a result providing dignity and peace for every Filipino.

its main thrust is "less for self, more for others, enough for all". if everyone will follow this and make it as his/her personal mission, i think we will celebrate Christmas everyday.

"no one is so poor who cannot give and no one is so rich who does not need."

one of my friends and kumpare, paolo, even though they are not yet financially blessed, he and his girlfriend, donna, still managed to allot some amount to prepare for their gifts. they went to divisoria. tiniis nila ang pagod, ang sikip at siksikan, ang pawis at gutom just to fit in to their budget. they are blessings for their families and friends.

as for me, i will prepare early next year so that i can also budget my finances.

at sa mga matatanggap ko, ok lang kahit hindi mamahalin. it's the thought that counts. hehe.

the blessing

did you know that in giving you actually receives? yes, that's true! by giving, you actually receive God's grace and make yourself an instrument of God in giving His blessings to other people. God uses His people in distributing His wealth and not through some kind of magic. we, as His children, are the key in opening God's door of abundance to His people.

so keep on giving and be generous in sharing your blessings to others especially those who are in need and receive God's grace!

merry Christmas, everyone and a blessed new year! be rich and bless more people!