Finance Friday: 7 Ideal Summer Businesses You Can Start Today

At long last, summer break is here! It’s indeed great to finally be able to relax and get a break from school. However, there’s that minor fact that you won’t be receiving any allowance from your parents for the time being. Don’t despair though, because there are plenty of ways to make some money at minimum or no capital at all! It’s not even about finding opportunities anymore. You can actually make your own opportunities to earn money. Here are some ways how:

1. Cellphone Loading

This is probably one of the cheapest and easiest to manage business ideas for the summer. If your summer plans so far consist of staying home, go to the nearest loading center instead. Avail of a cellphone loading kit and you’re ready to start earning. Who knows, your cute next-door neighbor might come knocking one day to buy prepaid credits.

2. Merienda Stand

Sell halo-halo, fish balls, kikiam, and cheese sticks to the kids in your neighborhood. The ingredients are not too expensive and preparation is very straightforward. This is a fun venture to start with friends or family members. Got a blender? Sell fruit shakes in the afternoon. All you need to set up is a table, chair, and a small space! You’d probably need a cooler, too.

3. Garage sale

Rummage around your closet or around the house for stuff that you don’t really use anymore but those other people might be interested in. Collect old clothing, shoes, furniture, books, appliances, and even toys, and hold a garage sale! Schedule your garage sale in advance and put posters all over the neighborhood. Be creative so you get people’s attention. Come opening day, your garage sale will be a hit!

4. Online selling

There are ways for you to earn profit from the time you spend online. You’ll find plenty of people selling everything from clothing and accessories to books and pastries through Facebook! If you don’t have the inclination to hold an actual garage sale, you can definitely try selling goods and services online. If you’re into arts and crafts and would like to sell your creations, try websites like Etsy.com.

5. Car washing

Offering services such as car washing requires only your labor as capital. Offer to wash cars of family members or your neighbors for a cheaper fee compared to car washing centers. Washing cars can actually be a lot of fun. It’s a good excuse to play with water (lots of it!) under the sun—and you get paid in the process. Just make sure to ask the car owners if they’d like their cars washed any special way and adhere to those requests.

6. Tutoring

Do a little good this summer by offering tutorial services to kids. You can advertise online or have family and friends help you tell people they know through word of mouth. Offer tutoring services for Math, English, or Science. Play any musical instrument? Teach others how!

Tutoring usually pays well and you can bill by the hour. The best thing is you only need knowledge, a few reference books, and in some cases, minimal transportation allowance.

If you’re exceptionally good in English, you can try to earn by teaching English online. Websites like RareJob.com connects you with people around the world who want to learn English. All you need is a stable Internet connection. Register with the website and pass screening tests to get started immediately.

7. Sports clinics

Summertime is when a lot of parents look for activities their children might join in. If you’re quite good at any sport, offer to teach or coach young kids (or even adults in your neighborhood) for a small fee. How to get started? Advertise a free session and invite everyone to go! It will help rouse people’s interests and let them get a preview of the sort of things they can learn from you.

Have a productive summer by using your time (this is your most valuable investment) to earn some money! Starting a small business or offering your services gives you invaluable experience. When the time comes that you go looking for a real job or ready to start a serious business, your stint as an online teacher or an online seller will get you farther than you think.

If professional employment is a long way off, at least you can get some extra pocket money to buy that gadget you’ve always wanted or grow your personal savings!

This post is brought to you by:

MoneyMax.ph is the Philippines’ leading financial comparison site where you can save money by comparing financial and car insurance products and services – fast, comprehensive, and free. We aim to give the power of smart purchase decisions back to Filipino consumers by providing everything they need to become financially savvy. Like us on Facebook to get the latest tips on how to save.

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10 Money Habits to Leave Behind in 2015

Background image from exchangeratecalculator.com

Last time, I wrote about the things that I intend to not take with me in the new year. One of the things I wrote is this:

6. The mentality that being financially ignorant is cool
I've written personal finance posts for a year, but being the human that I am, I still succumb to temptation and forego saving and spend on unnecessary things. Looking at my account, which should've contained more, I learned that it is uncool.

But it is a little vague, isn't it? I thought about it yesterday and figured I should remind myself (and you) of the things we should stop doing if we care to have a financially independent lifestyle in the future. Here they are:

1. The One-Day Millionaire attitude

WHY: Because I've been like this and it has always led to buyer's remorse. Also, you won't have any money left for an emergency.

SOLUTION: Pay yourself (savings) first and give to the church or the community. Then pay all of your bills next. Invest some amount, and divide the remaining into categories of your budget. With the amount remaining, I doubt you'll still be in the mood to spend.

Source: popsugar.com

2. Disregarding emergency funds

WHY: Because so many people are unprepared for real emergencies, and this is the reason why so many people get buried in debt.

SOLUTION: Build an emergency fund by making an account (preferably without ATM) and depositing a certain amount monthly.

3. Spending so much to maintain an image or make an impression

Finance Friday: How Will You Spend Your Christmas Bonus?

It's December once again! For most of us, that means Chrismas is near. For many of us who belong to the employed sector, that also means more moolah!

This is the time of the year when many of us receive Christmas bonuses and 13th month pays. Unfortunately, since I am technically a freelancer, I don't receive these kinds of benefits. What I do is work double-time (since I am in charge of my time) so that I will have extra money for Christmas.

Last year (woah time flies!), I talked about suggestions on how to use the 13th month pay. It's an awesome post so please read it haha!

But what about the Christmas Bonus?

If you read my post about using the 13th month pay, I suggested that we donate 10% of it to charity. That's because I consider this regular income. It means that it's something expected so we can include it in a regular budget.

However, the Christmas bonus is not considered regular income because first, it is not always certain, and second, we may not know how much it is or when we will receive it. So I have a different view about it.

Finance Friday: No Cramming for Christmas!

"Christmas is not an emergency; it comes every year." - Dave Ramsey

Who else thinks Dave Ramsey is on point here? No one would oppose it because it's true: Christmas comes every year and, guess what, we know exactly when it happens!

But why do we wait until the last minute to prepare for it? I'm not taking about the decorations and the planning. We usually begin celebrating Christmas on September 1 (right?), and even before Halloween, some of our neighbors have already decorated their homes.

No, I'm talking about preparing for the spending.

A lot of people (like me) cram for Christmas. The result? Impulse buying, overspending, and buying either too many gifts or too little.

Since we all agree that Dave Ramsey is right (if you don't, feel free to tell us why!), I think there should be no excuse to cram. Since we know it's already the season to be jolly, we should have already started preparing for it. Financially.

How do we do this? Here are some tips:

What is "Rich"?

You must have have heard of this advice a million times already, but I'm going to repeat it to annoy you drive the point: Live within your means. Do not buy something you can't afford with cash.

With this in mind, what do you think first when you hear the word "rich"? I used to think that being rich is an unattainable status. Growing up in a middle-class family, I was raised to think that it was virtually impossible to be rich and that only a few "chosen" people can be rich.

However, as I grow up, I began to discover a new definition of being rich. Unfortunately, this definition still entails hard work, the same hard work required by my old definition of "rich. Fortunately, though, I discovered that the mindset that it was impossible to be rich is untrue. In my opinion, everyone can be rich in life.

Photo credit: www.tourism.gov.ph

So what do I mean when I say "rich"?

On Shopping and Leisurely Spending

Background image: http://www.funnelove.com/

Like any other warm-blooded woman,  I adore shopping. But I also write passionately about personal finance. Can I do both at the same time?

I don't see why not.

I have heard about spending diets where you shouldn't shop for a period of time; a fellow blogger, Edelweiss, does that. I am amazed at their willpower because I simply can't stop shopping.

You see, I have come to terms with myself that I will always like shopping. Blame that on reading Clueless books in 6th grade. For me, budgeting and saving will be futile if you feel you're being deprived. I think it will just cause burn out,  which leads to quitting.

Just like in a diet where you sometimes go on cheat days, I believe it's healthy to occasionally spend on ourselves, too.

Passive Income: How to Earn While You're Sleeping

Background Image: http://bodyonept.com/

To be honest, I only heard of the term, "passive income," a couple of years ago when I first started learning about money. Blame that on being raised by parents who believe money should not be publicly discussed and never receiving even a day of financial education at school!

But wait, doesn't my background sound familiar? Because if you're also a Filipino from a middle-class background and also got "traditional" education, you can probably relate. Right? Let's not fret, though, especially now that we understand how important financial education is!

So what's passive income?

This is basically a source of income that you don't have to consistently work hard for. In other words, this is income you get even when you're not doing anything.

Sounds great, right? Imagine not having to worry about your electricity bill because you know a source of passive income takes care of it. Work smarter, not harder, as they say!

Image: http://www.partnerswithvision.com

It's not surprising to know that if you want to achieve a level of financial independence, what you need to establish is passive income.

How Different is it from Windfall?

Windfall is money you didn't expect. For example, it could be from an inheritance or a donation or a tax return. Both are not immediate products of working. The difference between a windfall and passive income, however, is that the latter comes regularly.

In other words, it's almost like a salary that you get without lifting a finger. However, unless you have millions in your account that you can freely use to invest, please take note that passive income usually doesn't come right away. It arrives after years of work and investment (remember delayed gratification?).

Common Sources of Passive Income

5 Things You Can Do With Your 5000 Pesos

Suppose you have a spare P5,000 lying around, waiting to get used. How will you use it?

Background image from wikipinas.org

If somebody asked me that question 2 years back, I'd probably say I don't know, which is true for two reasons. First, I knew zilch about handling money (I'll probably just ask Job about it). Second, even if I was a kuripot spender, because I don't track my money, somehow it always manages to get "lost," so I rarely had P5,000 to spare.

But what if you are unlike me 2 years back and want to be financially wise? What if you're tired of spending your money on senseless things? Your spare cash could be more than P5,000, or less, but for me, this is the magic number in finance. You can do magic with this humble amount.

What it Means to Live Within Your Means

Many of us have surely thought of ways to live a financially comfortable life. I know I have, and I have my reasons. But if we all have the same aspirations, why is it that only a few actually get - and stay - rich?

What separates those on their way to financial freedom from those who, let's just say, are on the totally wrong route?

The answer is simple - too simple actually. Those in one of the two groups live within their means.

C'mon. I must've heard of that a thousand times already. Can't you give me something new? A surefire way to get rich?

Unfortunately, no. You must have heard of the advice a thousand times, and the reason for that is that it works! Coupled with the practice of delayed gratification and having financial knowledge, the principle of living within your means is the surefire route to financial independence.

Why? 

Finance Friday: You Need an Accountability Partner

Image from Google

Left to my own devices, I would have probably wasted my money on beautiful but unnecessary things.

But I did not.

I may be a master of delayed gratification but that doesn't mean I have self-control of steel. To be honest, I think of shopping all the time! One of my favorite pastimes is online window-shopping where I admire beautiful things. Bags, shoes, furniture, books, homeschool supplies - these are only some of the things in my perpetual want-list. But I haven't given in to buying any just yet.

Why?

Because I have an awesome accountability partner: my mother.

Finance Friday: Your First Investment

Just a few days ago, a friend of mine asked for my help. She wanted (still wants) me to manage her finances.

Woah!

Who would have thought I'd ever be some informal financial adviser of sorts? The way I described it makes it obvious that I'm not taking myself seriously. And that is kinda true because, hello, I don't have certificates under my belt!

But the calling to help other people fix the financial aspect of their lives? I'm taking it very seriously.

This friend of mine, her financial life is not really in shambles. Let's just say she made a few wrong decisions along the way, and now it's time to right those wrongs. And I'm so excited! I can't deny the joy I feel to be part of someone's journey to financial freedom.

Carried Away

During that conversation, I wanted to give her a crash course of everything I came to know about personal finance! She already tithes, so I wanted to tell her about budgeting, emergency funds, investing. Oh I could go on and on!

But thank God for he kept me from getting carried away. He whispered, "Wait. Doesn't she need to go through the first step first?"

Oh yeah. I almost forgot.

Some People Never Look; They Just Jump

Finance Friday: Tips to Practice Delayed Gratification

 

You may understand "delayed gratification" and what it means, but do you practice it?

A couple of Fridays ago, we talked about this secret key to wealth that we call "delayed gratification." We found out how it works and why it should be your ultimate mindset if you want to achieve success in your life.

Let's admit it. Living this kind of lifestyle is easier than done. But another cliché that speaks truth is this: it always seems impossible until it's done. Oh yes, it's hard, but it's not impossible!

In fact, if you begin taking baby steps now, I'm sure your future self will thank you. And me. Haha! Kidding aside, if you're clueless and don't know where to begin, fret not because I'm about to give you practical and doable tips:

1. Create a budget and maintain it.

I firmly believe that writing down should be the first step in reforming your personal finances. This does not only tell you how you can save on your finances but also show you how much money you really have after taxes. The latter is important in keeping in mind how to live within your means.

For more information on budgeting, please click visit this post: Why You Need a Budget.

2. Know the difference between needs and wants.

This is a no-brainer. I'm sure this is self-explanatory. No, a pair of Raybans is not a need.

3. Stop acting on impulse!

Finance Friday: The Secret Key to Wealth

So I guess many of us have already heard of the famous Marshmallow Test.

You know, the study conducted by Stanford University in the 1960s on 600 4-year old children. A child was given a marshmallow and was told that if she doesn't eat it right away, she'll have another one later.

Basically, the two options were these: one now or two later?

Image from Youtube

It sounds like a no-brainer, but to 4-year olds, that's tough. I mean, who wants to wait? But only 30% passed the test. Later in life, the researchers also discovered that this 30% are the more successful of the group. Interesting, right?

So what's the point I'm driving? Simple. The secret key to wealth is more than self-control; it's more than sheer will-power. The secret to wealth is this:

Finance Friday: The Social Climber

Photo: http://www.andbethere.com

The social climber, for me, is someone who "needs" to have the latest and the current best. She feels the "need" to upgrade her lifestyle to keep up with what's new. Thus, while she earns more, she also spends more and saves less, a decision that only she and her family will suffer.

If you're looking for a blog post that badmouths a certain social climber (or, well, gold-digger), I'm sorry; you're in the wrong place.

It's not that I don't write about gossip (which is somehow true).

It's because the social climber can be easily you. And me.

Now that I have your attention (I hope), come to think of it. Since you started earning money, how many times you have received a raise? From that answer, how many times have you upgraded your lifestyle? Once? Twice? Each time your income increased?

Because let's face it:

Social-climbing is dangerously easy.

I'm confident to ask you these questions because I am on the same ground. Just recently, I realized that on good months, I am now earning almost 50% more of what I used to earn last year. As a freelancer, I technically don't receive a raise. However, as Yuri becomes more independent from me, I am also able to do more work in a day. Hence, more income.

And I'm not complaining at all! I'm praising God for this increase in His provision! The problem is that there is no increase in my savings. On the contrary, there is a big increase in my spending.

Finance Friday: An Excerpt from 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad'

I wasn't able to prepare a full post for this week's Finance Friday mainly because I just discussed a "heavy" topic over the last couple of weeks: the emergency fund. 

Here are the two posts in case you missed it: Why You Need An Emergency Fund Right Now and The Emergency Fund: Tips on How to Build It.

Also, I've been stressing over our internet connection. It has been five days since the last day we had a connection. We've called PLDT twice already and still haven't seen any action. Hello, PLDT?

Anyway, last night, I was reading this very short e-book sent to me via email. It's called Managing Your Money, and it is written by Robert Kiyosaki. Yes, the Robert Kiyosaki who wrote Rich Dad, Poor Dad. 

Image from store.richdad.com

Unsurprisingly, it contained an anecdote from the latter, and I'd like to share it with you because it reminded me so much about our discussion on emergency funds. (I don't think it's illegal to do so since this is just a mini-book that is shared freely over the internet.) Here it is:

I remember asking my rich dad about the habits of the rich. Instead of answering me outright, he wanted me to learn through example, as usual.

“When does your dad pay his bills?” rich dad asked.

“The first of the month,” I said.

“Does he have anything left over?” he asked.

“Very little,” I said.

“That’s the main reason he struggles,” said rich dad. “He has bad habits. Your dad pays everyone else first. He pays himself last, but only if he has anything left over.”

“Which he usually doesn’t,” I said. “But he has to pay his bills, doesn’t he? You’re saying he shouldn’t pay his bills?”

“Of course not,” said rich dad. “I firmly believe in paying my bills on time. I just pay myself first. Before I pay even the government.”

“But what happens if you don’t have enough money?” I asked. “What do you do then?”

“The same,” said rich dad. “I still pay myself first. Even if I’m short of money. My asset column is far more important to me than the government.”

“But,” I said. “Don’t they come after you?”

“Yes, if you don’t pay,” said rich dad. “Look, I did not say not to pay. I just said I pay myself first, even if I’m short of money.”

“But,” I replied. “How do you do that?”

“It’s not how. The question is ‘Why?’” rich dad said.

“Okay, why?”

“Motivation,” said rich dad. “Who do you think will complain louder if I don’t pay them—me, or my creditors?”

“Your creditors will definitely scream louder than you,” I said, responding to the obvious. “You wouldn’t say anything if you didn’t pay yourself.”

“So you see, after paying myself, the pressure to pay my taxes and the other creditors is so great that it forces me to seek other forms of income. The pressure to pay becomes my motivation. I’ve worked extra jobs, started other companies, traded in the stock market, anything just to make sure those guys don’t start yelling at me. That pressure made me work harder, forced me to think, and all in all, made me smarter and more active when it comes to money. If I had paid myself last, I would have felt no pressure, but I’d be broke.”

“So it is the fear of the government or other people you owe money to that motivates you?”

“That’s right,” said rich dad. “You see, government bill collectors are big bullies. So are bill collectors in general. Most people give into these bullies. They pay them and never pay themselves. You know the story of the 98-pound weakling who gets sand kicked in his face?”

I nodded. “I see that ad for weightlifting and bodybuilding lessons in the comic books all the time.”

“Well, most people let the bullies kick sand in their faces. I decided to use the fear of the bully to make me stronger. Others get weaker. Forcing myself to think about how to make extra money is like going to the gym and working out with weights. The more I work my mental money muscles out, the stronger I get. Now I’m not afraid of those bullies.”

I liked what rich dad was saying. “So if I pay myself first, I get financially stronger, mentally and fiscally.”

Rich dad nodded.

“And if I pay myself last, or not at all, I get weaker. So people like bosses, managers, tax collectors, bill collectors, and landlords push me around all my life—just because I don’t have good money habits.”

Rich dad nodded. “Just like the 98-pound weakling.”

I haven't read Rich Dad, Poor Dad yet, but now I'm interested. What are your insights on the excerpt above? I'd love to hear them!

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The Emergency Fund: Tips on How to Build It

Hey there! This is Part 2 of my "talk" about emergency funds. If you didn't read the first part last week, I suggest you read it first to understand why I'm insisting you create one. Just click here.

Okay, ready?

I am no financial adviser nor am I saying that I'm doing so well with my finances. I'm just your regular, info-hungry 20-something mom.

I'm also just your regular working gal who finds it so tempting to spend all of her income on shopping. It's a monthly struggle really!

But that's just the thing. Many of us don't really need the credibility of finance gurus. Most of the time, we just need someone who's on the same ground as us., someone who experiences the same "temptations." I'm as average as one can get, so you can be sure that what I am saying is not only relatable but also practicable!

I admit that out of all the non-negotiables in my budget (check this post for more about non-negotiables), I find it the hardest to allot money for the emergency fund. It just looks so pointless because I don't know what I'm saving up for or why I need to do it.

But I also have to admit that during times of emergency, I praise God for his imparted wisdom and for convicting me that, yes, an emergency fund is necessary.

I already wrote a post detailing the reasons why one should have an emergency fund, so let's go straight ahead to the practical tips and how-to's. Here are some of the commonly asked questions about emergency funds and my attempt to answer them.

1. How much should I save?

Why You Need An Emergency Fund Right Now

Wow, it had been a while since I last wrote a Finance Friday post! I planned on writing one last week, but Yuri and I were both sick which didn't inspire me to write.

This was also a busy week as some of our relatives arrived in the city and we got busy touring them around and generally making them feel welcome. Just last night, they were up late because Mama was teaching them how to bake macaroons and her famous moist chocolate cake:

 And my toddler found a new friend in his cousin:

To be honest, I still wouldn't have gone around to writing an FF post if I didn't get to read this interesting post about Jesus having an emergency fund. Interesting, right?

This leads us to the topic of the day: emergency funds.

If I can categorize my friends into those who are financially "okay" and those on the brink of getting broke (I really can't, but this is hypothetical), I'm sure the main dividing factor would be the emergency funds - or the lack thereof.

You see, it is considered "common sense" to set aside some amount of money for the rainy days; however, only a few actually do it.

Unfortunately, even Christians can belong to the "other" category. I have many Christian friends who are buried in debt simply because they don't have an emergency fund. In fact, I'm still waiting for a Christian friend to pay back the debt she has owed me for 3 months now.

Before I proceed, let me clarify that I am not pressuring her to pay me because, praise God, we still have just enough to get by. This is just for illustration. Now, the reason she borrowed money from me for the first place was because of a medical - you guessed it - emergency. She is young and single, was working full-time then and was earning a good amount of money, but in the time of emergency, she had nothing to cover the expenses with.

The debt could have been avoided had she begun an emergency fund prior to the emergency.

Finance Friday: Which Credit Card Suits You Best? (Guest Post)

In our household, we only have one credit card. I wouldn't go into details as to what bank it is, but we maintain just one credit card among all of us (5 family members). This credit card is essential to us especially when the banks are closed and we haven't withdrawn money yet. This is also very handy when we make transactions such as booking flights.

However, we only use one credit card because we don't want to become slaves to it. We try to live by this rule: a credit card is just a transaction tool, not an actual fund. This means we only use a credit card when we know we could purchase what we bought even without the card. But how would you know which credit card suits you best?

To know this, here's a very informative guest post from our friends from MoneyMax.ph.

Find Which Credit Card Suits You Best

Credit cards offer great convenience, especially to moms who are in charge of budgeting the family’s income and taking care of the needs of each family member. If you’re smart about using your credit card, you can earn rewards and be able to enjoy its maximum benefits.

For one, a credit card can help you keep better track of your expenses, since it keeps an electronic record of every purchase you make. A card can also serve you well in times of emergency, when an important expense arises and you find yourself short of cash.

If you’re just planning to get a credit card, here are ways on how to know which one to pick:

Consider Your Needs
What do you need the credit card for? As the home manager, you can use a credit card for shopping purposes, particularly the daily needs of your spouse or children such as groceries, clothing, and school supplies. You might need a card to be able to buy your college student a new laptop, at more affordable terms. Credit cards can now even be used for paying tuition fees in some universities.

Finance Friday: God Increases

Photo: http://www.amendesigns.com/

If I could describe my general mood for the past weeks, I would say it would be anxiety. I've been worried and stressed over many things that I also failed to spiritually connect to God on many occasions. It really is true that worrying is the opposite of faith.

I worried about many things: the length of time it has taken for my camera to be fixed, the lack of payment from a friend who borrowed money from me, and the problem regarding my house loan.

Money sure knows how to make the world go round.

Now, faith. Faith is what is what should have made my world go round, but I succumbed to worrying. Because of this, I almost did not hear the prompting of God within me.

My primary problem - concern - is the housing loan. As a little bit of background, we're almost done paying the equity. In a few months from now, we should be starting paying the amortization.

However, to do that, my application for bank financing must be approved. You see, I'm currently on my "single mom stint" now. Even if Job financially supports us, it is my name that appears on the papers. Long story.

So anyway, to apply, of course I need to submit work-related documents. I had problems securing a contract from my current "work provider." While I did have a contract I signed 3 years ago, I was advised I couldn't use it because of some legal changes in the system.

Okay, I could live with that. The problem is that I no longer received updates about an alternate document I can submit to the bank. Worse, my follow-up request was not met so well (I actually wrote about it here). Uh oh.

My mom, who is also my real estate agent (shameless plug: Davao Real Properties), scrambled to find another way. She tried to get me officially employed by her real estate office; unfortunately, that backfired. We tried other ways including talking to the developer himself but they didn't work out the way we exactly planned.

I wanted to question God on why this blessing was becoming a burden. I was so sure He wanted to bless us with a home, but why was it so difficult?

Photo: aelbow.tumblr.com

Now, this same developer is opening a new subdivision with the same low-cost units. The location is different, farther from the one we originally bought from, but it's good in its own way because it's near my parents' house (where we live now) and even nearer another lot my parents bought.

What made it a practical option is the fact that in this subdivision, the developer offered 5-years 0% interest cash payment scheme. In other words, I don't have to go through bank financing anymore. In other words, I shouldn't have anything to worry about!

On top of that, it's not officially open yet so there are still many corner lots to choose from. Perfect, right?

But I didn't want to consider it because, I don't know, maybe I was ready for a change in environment? Maybe it was because I really wanted to be neighbors with George? Maybe it was because I wanted to transfer to my own home right away?

As opposed to the original house and lot we were paying for, where we can transfer within this year, we would have to wait for around 3 more years in this new one. And that was a major con for the impatient me.

Impatient. Patience. Wait. Wasn't God teaching me a lesson about that? Isn't it one of the ungodly traits I should remove, one of the reasons behind this waiting season?

Upon that realization, I began to have an inkling of what God was directing me to do. One morning, my mom told me that the bookkeeper had trouble fixing my ITR (for some reason!). In addition to that, the developer offered to have us pay the balance for 5 years instead of just 4 years because we had already paid for a year for the previous development. Because of that, our monthly payment became lower than what it should have been.

Right then and there, I made the decision to transfer. Yes, I wasn't able to consult Job about this one, but there was nothing he can do, too, and time literally was running out for my parents to still grab a good lot. Most importantly, I'm sure God will talk to him Himself.

Yes, there's a bit of belt-tightening involved. I couldn't name figures here, but compared to what we were paying previously, now we have to pay almost 50% more. That's huge but the reward is a lot that would be more than 20% bigger than the original one. On top of that, it's a property that would be completely ours in just 5 years.

Wow. I'm amazed myself at the turnout of the events.

Sure, there are moments when I ask myself if we could pay that bigger amount every month but God reminds me not to worry. He is in control, and He is faithful.

The point of this post is to tell you that God increases. A lot of us might know this on the theological basis, but it's hard to see it work in the practical daily life.

Here are the ways God increased me during this ordeal:

God increased the problem with the original subdivision; at the same time, God increased the "potential" of the new subdivision. It's like He lowered the old option to raise the new and better one.

Photo: http://missindeedy.wordpress.com/

God increased our income, and as a result, we increased our giving. Since God cannot be outdone in giving, He increased our income even more. Because of that, He gave us the provision to be able to follow His plan about our address.

God increased the amount of money we need to pay for every month, but He also increased the land's size. Oh it's still very little compared to what you may be thinking but God will increase it over time!

God increased what we have to pay for every month; at the same time, it increases self-control and restraint and would increase our knowledge on personal finance.

God increased the time we have to wait for this house to be built; thus, He is also able to increase what patience and fortitude (???) we have inside.

God increased the anticipation we must have and personal sacrifices we must make but He also increased the provision to go through it and the reward to look forward to. God increased the season of planting and, by faith, I claim He will also increase the harvest.

Photo: http://year27.com/

God increases. I increase in God. Siksik, liglig, at umaapaw.

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Finance Friday: Why You Should Track Your Finances

I'll tell you a secret.

The only way to achieve prosperity is to be conscious of every penny.

Oh diba, it rhymes? Haha!

Well, unless you're the heir of Henry Sy or plan to marry some millionaire dude. But you and I know that's not what I mean.

Photo: brucegerencser.net

I was supposed to write about the importance of building an emergency fund when God made me realize that, hey, all the blog posts in the world wouldn't make these people tithe and save if they're not aware of their spending habits.

Without stressing the importance of tracking money, it is hard to know what your true money habits are. Then you'll be forever trapped in the web of lies that tells you you can't give or you can't save because you don't have enough.

Thus the domino effect of not tithing and not creating an emergency fund.

Thus the absence of prosperity and the presence of a poverty mindset (which, again, keeps you from giving). It's a vicious cycle!

It might seem like such a small detail, but tracking where every peso is spent goes a long way. Trust me. Here are the things you need to know.

1. What is money tracking?

Simple. As the name implies, it's the act of tracking your money. It means being conscious of your spending, giving, saving, and, in some cases, borrowing.

2. Why should I track my money?