This post contains affiliate links, this means that, if you make a purchase from the links featured below, I will get a small commission from that sale at no cost to you. Please refer to my Affiliate Disclaimer.  Imagine opening a FREE online store selling products that you don’t have to buy, stock, make or ship yourself. Your investment is just the time and effort involved in setting up the free store and placing designs on selected merchandise. After that, once everything is set up, your store pretty much runs on its own. In short, that’s what Zazzle is.     I opened my Zazzl ..read more

I’ve noticed nowadays that financial advisors are scrambling to find ways to serve millennials. This group is defined as those between ages 15 to 34 and born between 1980 and 1999. (Yes, I am part of this millennial generation.) Like all generations, millennials have unique qualities, quirks and preferences when it comes to dealing with (money and) financial advisors. Here are a few thoughts. “If the ‘financial advisor’ is trying to sell me products which are too expensive and not right for me, I don’t trust them.”  #1 Solutions, Not Sales. One of the most important things financial advisors n ..read more

If you are reading this, you (or your family or friends) have probably encountered a pushy financial advisor – you feel that it’s a waste of time and it’s never fun. They keep saying, “You need this NOW. Time is running out. You’ll save more if you buy it now, etc…” Many advisors sell commission-based products for a company, so of course they are “pushing” their product on you. While this might not be the case for all financial advisors, I’m sure there are reasons (like the ones listed below) why you may not want to talk with a financial advisor. Before you go off trying to ignore financial ad ..read more

“If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” –STEVE JOBS Last year, I was ‘lucky’ to have been given a chance to read a book by Robertson Sy Tan. When I first read the title, I thought it would be some kind of YOLO (You Only Live Once) book that would just encourage me to seize the moment and explore the world. But, I after reading it, it was much more than that. Mr. Tan was generous and excited to have shared much of what he has learned in his journey in becoming the founder and CEO of Blade Auto Center into seven lessons life has taught him ..read more

Before you start getting worried wondering if you did something wrong at work, don’t be. In this case, being FIREd is a good thing! I’m talking about a term being thrown around in personal finance: FIRE. What is FIRE? FIRE stands for “Financially Independent, Retiring Early.” I know it literally sounds like early retirement, but it doesn’t mean you have to quit your job. Financial independence is having enough money invested and saved to provide you enough of a return that you don’t have to depend on traditional income anymore. FIRE, put simply, means having the freedom to choose to work (or n ..read more

Getting advice about what to do with your money, when you don’t actually have very much or (worse) when you don’t have any money at all, sounds quite ironic. Hold on.. What does it mean to not having any money? Are you living paycheck to paycheck? Are you financial dependent on someone- like your parents, siblings, relatives, social security, Santa Claus, etc? Do you find yourself spending money by borrowing it from someone and not earning income at all? If you answered YES to any of the questions above, then you definitely don’t have any money. To help you out, I’ve rounded up some ..read more

There has been a surge of popularity of cryptocurrencies among Filipinos with many buying or investing in Bitcoin. Since its inception in 2009, early adopters of Bitcoin have made a lot of money like celebrities Ashton Kutcher, Paris Hilton and Floyd Mayweather. This earlier this month, another record was broken with one (1) bitcoin being worth US$6000 (versus the price in July 2010 at US$0.06 per bitcoin). With the significant price increase, it seems like investing in bitcoin is a fast track to getting rich. Honestly, this bitcoin mania has reminds me of the 17th century tulip bubble. (What ..read more

Have you approached by real estate agents trying to sell you a condominium (as an investment)? Investing in real estate properties (like condos) has been a popular option for many Filipinos who want to diversify their investments beyond stocks and mutual funds. But, unlike those more mainstream investments, there’s more to this type of investment than just choosing the right property and looking for a tenant to lease it to. Owning rental properties can require significant hands-on work, including dealing with tenants and keeping up with maintenance. Before you take the plunge into condo invest ..read more

Let’s pretend that you have been given Php100,000 to invest in the stock market, how would you do it? Many would probably say: “Invest in a company (or companies) that you think will do best.” While that seems completely logical, investing is not quite simple (and also not as complicated) as you think. Sure, the stock market is confusing and scary at times. You might even think that investing in the stock market is a lot like gambling. But you can’t take advantage of rising markets with your money stashed away in your bank savings account earning 0%. On this post, I will illustrate you on ..read more

Getting affordable healthcare in the Philippines is often challenging. It can get real expensive, especially when you have a chronic illness or a major surgery. How Much Do Filipinos Spend On Their Health? [Infographic] Source: www.imoney.phHow to better plan for possible healthcare costs in the future? I’ve compiled a quick guide to reduce your healthcare costs that could save you money. Maximize your Philhealth benefits. Make sure your employer remits your Philhealth contributions regularly. If you are self-employed or an OFW, be a voluntary member. For just P200 a month, it’s definitely af ..read more