So now is the time for some belt-tightening and change to a simpler lifestyle. You will never know when the current crisis will directly hit and affect you and your family so it is always best to be ready. I have friends and relatives who had to take paycuts to be able to continue working and some were unfortunately laid off. I guess I really still should be thankful that I still have some sort of money source to help keep our household from buckling in.

We do lack something – that is the security of the future. We live from day to day and we really need to secure some parts of our future for our kids. There are term insurance quotes I can look over – but many people are advising us not to really invest on insurance policies right now given the crisis on the global financial market.

There are things worth investing for though – health insurance plans so we are covered for in any emergency, college insurance plans for the kids if the policy has the option for a cash-out, the better. We are just holding out for now because my mom and uncle, who are both insurance agents, advised us that with the rate our inflation is rising, the investment we will be doing now will be practically worthless by the time we can enjoy it.

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It seems to me that precious metals are often under rated. While everything from stocks to mutual funds to real estate are crumbling down to bits, only one thing remains steady – the value of precious metals. Monex Precious Metals are a company you might like to invest on. They have been around for 30 years and have a loyal and trusted clientele. Rcently, it was found the world demand for these precious metals have gone beyond world production. So, needless to say, as per the Law of Supply and Demand, their prices have gone way up. And I’m talking even of silver here. While I cannot afford to get them by the bar or by ingot (coin) forms, I can do one thing:

Buy jewelry

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I think that’s how people react these days whenever they stop to fill up their tanks at gas stations. Price of fuel is so high these days – and it’s not only within the country, it really is a worldwide crisis! It is a crisis because government agencies are even seriously considering going the 4 day, 10hour work week to save on gas and electric consumption. More employees leave their car at home and commute. Worse, there are even those who have decided to sell their SUVs for a cheaper car that runs on diesel (I actually think that is a smarter move – why use a car that is so high to maintain these days?) Inflation is very high. However, analysts say that now is the time to really invest if you have the money – houses are so cheap and cars for sale in san diego come with special conditions, freebies and even fuel for a number of months. I wish we have saved for the rainy days!

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This was from the N@W thread as well. But Kathy made it into a tag so here Please leave your posts so I can see, I want to know more tips

How many sq meters is your place, and how many people live there?
Im not really sure. But this place is big. Bungalow with three rooms, garage, front and backyard. Four adults, two kids (one of which is a toddler) – We can even really invest on a business – selling food, used Harleys or an internet shop!

How much is your electricity bill monthly? Water?
Electricity – 1600
Water – 50 (yes fifty bucks.LOL). We dont have a direct line of water here so supply is every other day (yes, dont get shocked!!!!) – people here have invested in water tanks and pumps. We will be getting a water tank. But Im not really sold pa on this place kasi – I want to move closer to the Shrine, where my parents stay. Let us see until December. (We get by na, thank God for maids. We dont notice na di-igib ang tubig namin hehehe)
Drinking water is around 700-800.

Other utilities?
House Rent – 5000
Internet – 1000 (SMART Wi-fi)
Mobile Phone Plans – 899
Fuel/Gas – Included in hubby’s transpo allowance (but we still need around 2k to go around here)
LPG – 635
Matthew’s School Service – 1200
Matthew’s School Tuition (*semestral*)
Maids (Two) – 3000 (lucky no? They dont take care of the kids lang dahil ayaw ng mga bata sa kanila. One is a cook the other one is a labandera, all around maid. Mag-ina kasi (The mother is old, blind on eye, the daughter is no read-no write) – pagtyagaan na. Im having problems setting up a schedule for my studying though.

Groceries? Market?
Groceries – 6000 (1,500 per week) – includes toiletries and breakfast items, laundry detergents
Market (Menu) – 4800 (1,200 per week)
Milk – 4000 (GainPlus Advance 3 – she can consume the biggest can in around 8-9 days)
Pampers – 720 (I get pampers for her at the Silang Market (like the ones you get Peachy) for 180p/pack. A pack has 30pcs. This lasts a week)
Bread – 500 (We are big bread eaters here in fact I prefer LemonSquare over Gardenia these days. There’s also a bakery in Tags I get rolls from every Sunday).

We have lot of credit card bills to pay for though That takes a huge chunk of pay each month – we bought some appliances ksi. Once it’s paid for, we *might* have an easier load.

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I have been reading N@W a lot these days. It seems that there are interesting threads to read about – primarily the GTKY Qs (Getting To Know You Q’s). Im a lurker at the group though so I prefer to answer the Qs here (Please feel free to snag this and post it in your blog, link me up if you are done so I can read!).

GETTING-TO-KNOW- YOU Qs

1. Name: Aggie A.

2. Spouse’s name: Edil A.

2a. What you call your spouse when you’re mad: Edilberto! (I call him by his name when Im irritated na)

3. Child/Children’ s name/s and age/s: Matthew Benedict – 7 years old | Martha Blythe – 2 years old

3a. Pet’s name/s and breed/s: The Queen of the House hates pets!

4. Wedding date/s: June 3, 2004 (Civil) | June 24, 2005 (Church) – We only celebrate the Church Wedding though.

4a. Your relation to the Best Man at your wedding: Brother-in-Law

4b. Your wedding souvenir: Refrigerator Magnets

5. Your birthday: February 16

5a. How many hours your mom was in labor with you: I think I was out two hours after she entered the delivery room.

6. Spouse’s birthday: January 28|29 — blame it on clerical error.

6a. what you guys did for his/her last birthday: I dont remember anymore. Ano ba yan, ulianin na.

7. Address / General location: Amadeo, Cavite

8. Your job / company / line of work: I stay at home, watch Barney, wash poo-poo on dimpled butts and kiss baby faces all day long.

9. Your spouse’s job / company / line of work: Sales – Pharmaceutical Company

10. Your school course : UST BSMT 2001

11. Your spouse’s school course : MIT BSME 2001

12. Your interests: digiscrapping, taking photographs, nice things

13. Business: (if you have) I am engaged in the business of making nonsense – hehehe (joke)

14. What part of the Philippines/ world are you from? Good Ole’ Manila

15. What part of the Philippines/ world is your spouse from? Ang mapayapang lugar ng Tondo

16. Last celebrity you saw in person: Sino nga ba – nakalimot na naman ako LOL. I saw Heart Evangelista, Aga Muhlach, John Llyod (gwapo pala eto no) at ABS before. We were drinking coffee whereelse but Starbucks.

17. The number of SMs (as in, Shoe Marts) you’ve been to: Five pa lang ata.

18. Social networking or blogging chuva you’re part of: Frienster, Multiply, MySpace — all of which are so not updated . I own several blogs – and if you know all of them — you have a freakingly good knowledge of what has been happening in my life

18a. Your IDs on those sites, if you want NaWies to find/add you: Find me na lang Im very easy to find!

19. Kapamilya o Kapuso? kaPUSO

20. Complete the sentence: One time I got drunk…that I can smell and taste alcohol 24 hours later. Yuck.

—–
And that is the end of the GTYK Qs

The other one that has gotten me interested was the thread about how much household expenses are nowadays – based from what I read, I think I have been doing a good job budgeting things (Money lang talaga problema). We are at the lower end of the budget consensus, and I think that has to do a lot with me going to the market every week now. Ill share more later when I get to have some free time but there was a nice Momma Stuff Question of the Week for that a while back — nice tips!

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For years, I have relied on my payroll savings account to keep everything that I “save”. Five years worth of salaries, bonuses and even PayPal money went directly there. Now that I am no longer working, I’m thinking about giving it up, converting it into a personal savings account or just closing it and open a new one. The only thing that is keeping me from getting a new one is the online banking feature I have from my current bank. I really rely online to get my bills paid on time – since I really hate lining up at the bank. However, I also want a passbook to keep track of everything, which my bank doesnt support. Savings Accounts at WaMu are flexible and Im keen on opening a new one for myself. For example, they have online banking savings account and a statement savings account, which I can all apply online. Their online banking feature has a safety guarantee feature. I can save and download up to 13 months of my transaction history and even 7 years worth of statements!!! Their online bill payment service comes free as well. I want to be able to manage our finances and still be able to save. I think I would be inquiring about WaMu services in our area soon.

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Grabbed this from Yen! Thanks Yen!

There was a one hour interview on CNBC with Warren Buffett, he was ranked by Forbes as the richest person in the world as of March 5, 2008 , who has donated $31 billion to charity. Here are some very interesting aspects of his life:

1. He bought his first share at age 11 and he now regrets that he started too early!

2. He bought a small farm at age 14 with savings from delivering newspapers.

3. He still lives in the same small 3-bedroom house in mid-town Omaha , that he bought after he got married 50 years ago. He says that he has everything he needs in that house. His house does not have a wall or a fence.

4. He drives his own car everywhere and does not have a driver or security people around him.

5. He never travels by private jet, although he owns the world’s largest private jet company.

6. His company, Berkshire Hathaway, owns 63 companies. He writes only one letter each year to the CEOs of these companies, giving them goals for the year. He never holds meetings or calls them on a regular basis. He has given his CEO’s only two rules. Rule number 1: do not lose any of your share holder’s money. Rule number 2: Do not forget rule number 1.

7. He does not socialize with the high society crowd. His past time after he gets home is to make himself some pop corn and watch Television.

8. Bill Gates, the world’s richest man met him for the first time only 5 years ago. Bill Gates did not think he had anything in common with Warren Buffett. So he had scheduled his meeting only for half hour. But when Gates met him, the meeting lasted for ten hours and Bill Gates became a devotee of Warren Buffet.

9. Warren Buffett does not carry a cell phone, nor has a computer on his desk.

His advice to young people:

“Stay away from credit cards and invest in yourself and Remember:
A. Money doesn’t create man but it is the man who created money.
B. Live your life as simple as you are.
C. Don’t do what others say, just listen to them, but do what makes you feel good.
D. Don’t go on brand name; just wear those things in which you feel comfortable.
E. Don’t waste your money on unnecessary things; just spend on things that you really need.
F. After all it’s your life, then why give others the chance to rule your life.”

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With the house move next year and my impending resignation from work, I have been racking my brains out for a small business I can start with that can help us get by with only one of us working. Of course, I am so sure whatever money we have would not be enough so I might need to get a small business loan. Small Business Lines of Credit are actually something that EZUnsecured.com can offer. They have a very easy process for application, fast approval rate and great customer service.

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