My Happy Place » money

Prepared for the Worst

admin — Mon, 03 May 2010 11:38:10 +0000

Talking about funeral costs seems morbid but I’m the type of person who’d rather be ready with inevitable things such as this than have the rug pulled out from under me when I’m least expecting it. Friends who lost their elders talk about how much of a burden it can be financially so why not be prepared when you can? I may sound insensitive to others but I will do this not just for my elders but for myself so my children won’t have to worry about it at all. It’s no different to purchasing an insurance package so your dependents will have something to get by when you leave.

More Insurance

admin — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 09:22:43 +0000

I’m now taking advantage of instant life insurance quote that’s being offered online by several insurance companies. We’re planning to upgrade my package or possibly replace it if we find something better. It wasn’t as lucrative as The Husband’s and with the new baby on the way, we’re thinking of getting something that offers higher return. We’ll also have to get a dollar plan for our baby just like what we did for Sandy. Thinking about all these expenses, not mentioning the hospital bills, baptism and future birthday parties is giving me a headache but I know that it will benefit us in the long run.

Moving and Catching Up

admin — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 10:38:51 +0000

I chatted with a friend through Facebook today. I was so happy that they are finally moving to a bigger place in New Jersey. They need the space very much after having a baby plus they both agreed that raising a kid in a one-bedroom flat isn’t ideal anymore. I asked whether she hired one of those movers but she said they did it themselves and with a help of some friends. Since most of their furniture are for childless couples anyway, they had to sell and start anew. Whatever’s left was transferred back and forth using their 2nd hand SUV. When she mentioned this, I can’t believe how much she hasn’t changed. She’s always been careful with money which is probably why they finally got a nice property of their own.

Personally though, I’d hire a mover because how much would it really take? I’ve tried doing it my friend’s way before and believe me, it wasn’t fun. She said it could get a little expensive so I googled Movers NYC and was not surprised to see plenty of listings that could keep me busy all day. I also came across a site – CityMove.com that lets you post a moving job for free and then receive several bids from competing movers. Then for each bid, you can read reviews and feedbacks, compare the costs and even change details any time. Posting is free and once you find your suitable mover, you’ll have to leave a review so other users can benefit from your experience. That’s what I love about the Internet. You can always find a cool service / product without ever leaving your desk.

Anyway, I hope we’d need one soon because that would only mean that we too, have found the house of our dreams.

Cash in Hand

admin — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 16:23:42 +0000

On most households, having the option of easy cash advance is very important. This is very useful if paycheck is still a couple of days away and you need to pay for something urgent. It could be an emergency trip to the hospital, a credit card bill that you don’t want to pay the interest for, a car repair or even purchasing a good deal that just can’t wait. Regardless, cash advance is designed for solving immediate short cash flow problems. It’s not a solution for long term loans like mortgages or starting up a business. For one, most companies can only loan you $100 up to $2500 depending on your credit standing or capability to pay. They are not strict when it comes to credit history though. You just have to have a steady recurring income, must be employed, has a bank account and a gross income of at least $1,000 per month. So keep this in mind the next time you find yourself strapped for cash.

Investing on Gold Coins

admin — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 09:26:23 +0000

I’m so tempted to buy gold coins after reading the benefits from the US Gold Bureaue site. Almost all our investments are in paper, stocks so I want to diversify some more. Gold, for centuries, have been proven to be the best way to protect your money from inflation. It’s also the most effective so far in increasing one’s wealth.

A few more days of researching and I might contact their sales agent to provide a quote. Their minimum order is $50 per transaction and can be any combination of items. Their FAQ mentioned that one should invest 10-20 percent of your assets in precious metals but it’s still up to you. What’s important is to diversify. When purchasing, consider a mixture of gold, silver and platinum to help you reduce your risk.

House Protection

admin — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 02:13:08 +0000

I’ve never thought about home insurance until we decided to go out of the country. I learned that some houses near our village is being targeted by thiefs for the last two months. They make sure that the occupants are out of town or out of the country and then that’s when they’ll attack. Just like Home Alone except it’s real and you can lose almost everything you’ve worked for. Home insurance is not just for burglary attacks though. With the recent damage that typhoon Ondoy left, just imagine how many repairs / constructions your home will have to go through before you can live there again.

Gold Investing

admin — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 01:58:15 +0000

One of the things I’d like to do this 2010 is to buy gold bullion. For thousands of years, gold has proven its stability and reliability in preserving one’s wealth. There’s no better way to protect your money against inflation than buying gold coins or bullion. It’s still valuable even if it breaks, melts or cools.

But just like every investment, it’s very important to do a thorough research before spending huge money. At UsGoldBureau website, you can learn all kinds of things related to gold investment. Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned investor, you will benefit from the sites numerous articles and eventually learn that diversifying your portfolio is the safest way of growing your money.

admin — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 01:17:55 +0000

The Husband just reminded me of the things that I need to budget in the next three months. Most of them have to do with our car making me think that we really need to find another option for our insurance. Know the cheapest car insurance? Email me! I know how important it is, we’re still paying for it, aren’t we? But I think we can do with a cheaper package. I learned from other friends that theirs are much cheaper but probably it’s because their vehicles are newer. I’m thinking we’ll have to upgrade soon too because of the latest addition in the family.

Cost of Health

admin — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:22:54 +0000

I’ve been receiving too many health insurance leads lately. It’s like a constant reminder that someone in the family will get sick soon. Luckily, we have a very nice health plan from The Husband’s company so we’re all good. We can choose from any hospital that we like which is usually Medical City (because Sandy likes their Starbucks) or Makati Med (because of the location, not expertise/service). If you don’t have health insurance though, I highly encourage you to get one. You’d be surprised on how much you can save simply by paying a low premium annually.

Gold – Safest Bet

admin — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 04:32:02 +0000

One way to preserve wealth and purchasing power is trough gold investment. Unlike paper, gold is durable, does not wear out from being passed hand to hand and universally accepted. It also protects you from inflation and natural disasters.

If you’re interested, check out Monex.com for their gold coins, bullions and other precious metals. They have been in the industry for more than 40 years so you can guarantee that your investment is in good hands.

More advantages of gold investment:
Can be easily carried.
Can be easily bought and sold around the world.
It’s a solid hedge against the declining U.S. dollars.
Offers outstanding price appreciation.