Budgeting your way into financial success

“How do you spend your hard-earned cash?” is a question that should be taken seriously. Most of us can be careless when it comes to spending money. We use it up without thinking only to realize we don’t have enough to bring us to the next payday. There are moments that we try to be thrifty only to lose our control when sale season comes. And the solution that we think of – swiping that credit card!

How many times have we heard of the statement, “Live within your means.”? It’s not that people do not want to follow this golden rule; sometimes, they simply don’t know how. Sheila Ching, a registered financial planner and senior financial consultant for AXA Philippines stresses the importance of keeping your expenses in sync with your earnings, so you won’t find yourself always waiting for the next payday.

Create a budget. A budget plan will be your starting point to manage your income. To make a budget, Sheila advises to list down all expected and probable expenses for the month and categorize them based on your expense type such as household utilities, mortgage fees, entertainment, etc. Allocate your money to each item in the category then subtract your total expenses from your total income. An excel spreadsheet can make doing this easy.

Identify your spending habit. Take time to track where your money is going. Record your daily expenses. Do you really need to spend on Starbucks coffee every day? Do you really have to ride a cab? Think about it. You might realize you’re spending too much on things that don’t really matter.

Plan your purchases. Plan your purchases so you can better manage your cash outflow. Sheila’s suggestion is to know the estimate amount of the thing you wish to buy and plan when you intend to buy it. If for instance you intend to buy something that costs around 20,000 pesos, four months from now, it means you have to raise 5,000 pesos a month. If you think you can’t, you may consider delaying the gratification. Wants can wait, and it is better to wait than get it instantly by swiping your credit card only to realize in the end that you can’t afford to pay the price.

Use your credit card wisely. Sheila recommends using credit card only for emergency purpose or when you are certain that you have the money when the bill arrives. This is to avoid paying the interest which goes as much as 3.5% a month. Take note that the interest accumulates over time when you fail to pay in full.

Save for the rainy day. When payday comes, before you start making any purchase, take away a portion of your salary – at least 10% - and save it as your emergency fund. This is to be used when something unexpected arises such as when you lose a job or get hospitalized. If you’re having a hard time, start with 5% and increase it when you get a salary raise. Build an emergency fun that is equivalent to at least 3 times of your monthly salary. When you have saved enough, Sheila suggests putting a portion of your emergency fund in an ATM account, a portion in checking account and a portion in time deposit. WILLETH LAUS

For financial consultations, contact Sheila Ching here.

Winning the Perfect Shot

Basic Travel Photography Tips

Summer heat is now kissing our skin. I’m sure it is not only me who can’t wait to worship the sun, the sand and the sea. Summer vacation spells swimming, sunbathing, camping, mountain climbing, nature-tripping and a hundred more adventures. But one action that summarizes them all is one of my favorite hobbies in the world—traveling!

Discovering new and far-off places is one of the things I best look forward to every summer. My points of interest range from God-made to man-made—ancient trees, bodies of water, sea shores, rice fields, farm animals, nipa huts, hilltops and caves. My eyes could capture them well, but stories are always better with visuals attached. And so, with my traveling comes photography, which allows me to share my divine experience with nature to the rest of the world.

Not everyone has a knack in photography, but it is a skill that can be learned through considerable amount of practice. It doesn’t matter if what you have in your bag is a pricey SLR or a basic digicam. Just hold it high, keep your focus and aim all you want. Now, let me share some tips on vacation photography that my artsy friends and I keep in our pockets every time we go out of town.

• Do not over pack. It’s best to just bring the equipment—camera, tripod, batteries and memory cards—you need for easy traveling. A huge pack will be harder to carry as you tour from one place to another. Plan ahead what you need for where you are going.
• Get out of the hotel. Take pictures of the beach, the sunset, and other flattering sceneries. And don’t miss out on local cuisine and great architecture. Capture the culture of the place you are in, and take as many pictures as you can.
• Experimenting is your key to productive vacation photography, so try different angles and techniques in shooting.
• Get in the spotlight and prove that you’re there. You might get carried away shooting those scenic beauties and forget to include the human element.
• Make your photos tell a story. Try to get some action shots and not just you and your family or friends always standing in front of a scenery or landmark.
• If you are with your family, consider taking kids’ photos first. They may not be that fresh and game after hours of walking. Capture their excitement with that amazing scenery or landmark at the background.

Hope these tips help you in your vacation photo shoot. Don’t be afraid to take that shot. Grab your gadget, focus and snap the button! MYKA SANTIAGO

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Summer Loving with Dogs

As the weather changes from somewhat chilly to humid, sun-worshippers prepare their travel odds and ends for the ultimate summer getaway. Humans can bathe under the heat of the sun for long hours protected by sun block lotion with high SPF, but what about our best friends – the dogs which are our favorite companions for almost all occasions.

Dog-owners love to drag their cuddly-wuddly pets anywhere, anytime like during a morning jog in the park, an afternoon stroll in the mall, or an evening dinner at a nearby pizzeria. And during this season, those who have considered their pet dogs as part of the family will not forget to bring them along to lovely summer destinations like vacation houses in the province, beach resorts, and even on out-of-country trips.

But do you know that traveling and other outdoor activities are not actually recommended for dogs during hot days? It does not take a genius to know that a dog’s body is heavily covered by furs and that they do not have sweat glands. They release the heat from their bodies through deep breathings. And so, you may observe how warm they feel inside by the way their tongues droop from their mouths.

Lovepets.com President Joey Tiosayco says, “It is not just about the sun being out and hot. A bad humid climate condition could be worse to our dogs. When we feel hot and sweat up, our dogs feel much worse than that. How many times worse? It depends whether your dog is acclimatized or not, more coaty or not, hyper or not—just like humans who move a lot, they sweat up more than the inactive ones.”

However, dog-lovers need not worry! Your bonding moments with your charming pets are not really over this summer season. Hear out some tips from Lovepets.com on how you can spend happy times with your dogs outside the coziness of your house.

Minimize your dog’s sun exposure between 10am to 3pm. The Animal Welfare Law Republic Act 8485 of 1998 says it is not advisable to expose your dog under the direct heat of the sun from around 10am to 3pm (when it is hottest).

Have a bowl of water ready all the time. When you bring your dog out, chances are your dog would play and run around with you or with other dogs in the area. So, always bring water and a bowl then, have it ready in a spot as you and your dog settled in a particular place. Dogs will find their way there every time they feel the need to drink. It is actually better that way than you initiating them when to drink or not.

Let them have their water ice-cold. Bring along a small cooler with lots of ice and store the bottled water inside. If you want to travel light, put the bottled water in the freezer the night before your trip until it gets icy. Wrap the icy bottle with towel and pack it safely in your traveling bag. The ice will slowly melt along the way and you will have a real cold drink for your dog.

Give your dog an extra support. Water is enough but it pays to give your dog a rehydration support like the one from Royal Canin. It is a powder that has to be mixed with water for instant rehydration and energy booster.

Keep them refreshed with instant cool wipes. Dampen a small face towel with clean water. Place the damp towel in a plastic bag, then keep it in the freezer overnight. Pack it safely in your traveling bag. The cold towel will come handy in helping your dog beat the summer heat. Do not wait for your dog to react negatively with the hot temperature. Just wipe the towel on the areas where there is less coat (fur)—face, belly, hip and armpit—from time to time.

Don’t make your dog a fashion victim. Don’t force your dog to wear clothes especially when going outdoors and in places that are not properly ventilated. Imagine how hot a dog feels with that built-in fur which is impossible for them to take off for a while, unlike the piece of jacket that we, humans, wear which we can easily remove from our body anytime we like.

Check on their needs every now and then. Yes, you can bring your dog to the beach. Just be more cautious with dogs that are into it as a first time experience. Sporting breeds like Labradors and Golden Retrievers may love and enjoy the water more than any other breeds. Let your dog feel the summer fun, and don’t forget to check on all their needs from time to time.
Seek help from a veterinarian when the need arises. It is hard to tell if a dog is about to suffer from a heatstroke. The signs would only show when the condition gets irreversible, and that stage could be very fatal. When your dog collapses, rush it to a vet and apply cold body rub right away on the face, belly and other areas that have less coat (fur). MYKA SANTIAGO

Lovepets.com is a pet welfare group that promotes responsible pet ownership. Join their cause. View ad.

Baking with Love

There is no gift better than the thing you personally craft for your special someone. Cards, scrapbooks, portraits, bracelets and shirts are just some of the most popular items that can be personalized. The word “personalization” can actually be defined as the practice of exerting an effort to churn out a present for someone whom you want to feel extra special and unique. This simple act makes gift-giving sweeter and more appealing to both the giver and the receiver.

Try forgetting the boring memorabilia for a while, and consider offering your darling with yummy treats that you especially baked just for him or her. Remember that sweets, aside from flowers, never fail to serve as a charmer.

Bake with your love one in mind and take some cues from Executive Chef Rudolf Ranada of MOST Institute Culinary School. Here are some tips on baking brownies, that will sure bring you closer to your girl’s heart

1. Be very patient. (especially when you are not that much into pastry)


2. Follow the recipe. You will produce lesser quality if you don’t do so. If the recipe says one cup of sugar, you have to put one cup of sugar. Making “tantsa” simply wouldn’t work because there is no discipline in it. When you become a professional chef, that’s the time you make your own recipe.


3. Taste it. Good chefs are known to be good eaters. If you are too conscious with your abs, the kitchen is not the place for you. You have to taste whatever it is that you’re cooking or baking.
   
4. Underbake it. Brownies are the easiest to bake because they are basically melted chocolate, butter, sugar, eggs, nuts and flour. To prevent brownies from becoming too dry, underbake it. If the recipe calls for 30 minutes in 3500F, take it out from the oven after 25 minutes or five minutes earlier. This will make brownies gooey in the inside. When you cut the brownies, you will have a fudge layer in the middle portion. You may also start baking the classic recipes of apple pies and chocolate cakes.


5. Research and experiment. Instead of using almonds, try hazel or macadamia nuts if your budget is not tight. Add a little twist to your brownies. Cut a small piece, put it in a plate and microwave. Get a scoop of ice cream and add it on top. Now, share a plate of this divine dessert with your dearest! Myka Santiago

Want to learn more about baking and pastries? Enroll in a culinary course at Most Institute. Click here for contact details.

How Not to Crash as a Comic Artist

Comics has succeeded in creating its own tradition in the Philippine Literature, owing history to Filipino artist-writers who contributed art and stories to Hapi, Holiday, Hiwaga, Aliwan, Tagalog Klasiks, Espesyal Komiks and other popular comic magazines of long-ago. And then, there were the likes of Alfredo P. Alacala, Nestor Redondo and Francisco V. Conching who became well recognized in the field. Now, young readers still choose to patronize the great works of Larry Alcala and Pol Medina Jr., as new names aspire to be included in the list of Filipino comic artists.

In contemporary days, a college barkada headed by Jescie James “Da Bhoss” Palabay started a Filipino Comic Magazine publication. “Ilabas ang utak ng Pinoy” was their art’s primary thesis, and “Culture Shock” was the first title they came up with. After a short while, they changed it to “Culture Crash” which basically concerned the rowdy crash of cultures taking place in the Filipino system. Culture Crash Comics was launched in the year 2000, with the appearance of the very first issue on August. Issue No. 14, the last one to be sold in the market, was released in 2004. Culture Crash followers were disheartened when the group stopped their publications. The artists said, comic-making seems easy but it never is. Unsurprisingly, the biggest challenge they encountered was the lack of resources—time and finances.

Despite the breakup, each Culture Crash artist still has his presence felt in the comics industry. And to relate the stories of a few, Mark Navarro is now a creative director of Level Up and a freelance comic books seller, while Jon Zamar is a freelance graphic artist (concept art and digital art) for local and international companies.

And in line with their group and individual success, Jio Beltran, Jon, Mark, Melvin Calingo also known as Taga-Ilog and the rest of the gang willingly shared some tips for aspiring independent comic artists.

• Passion. Every comic artist must love what he or she is doing. Passion will drive you to create more and more comics. It will also help if you find a graphic art-related job to complement your hobby. With this lifestyle, you will get to earn and have fun at the same time.


• Support. Find a financier who believes in you and in what you do. However, Jio related, your product must already be in good quality to start with.


• Publicity. Let the public feel your presence. Release as much comics (books, magazines, etc.) as you can.


• Controversy. Create buzz. Take advantage of the functions of the Internet and popular social networking sites to promote your works.


• Media. Since everything has already started to roll up in the Internet, web comics are now gaining popularity in the online scene. You may choose to upload your comics in the cyberspace and make it accessible to the public as what Jio plans to do. Or just put supplements in the net and publish the real thing as Indie like what the Taga-Ilog prefers.


• Time Management. It is difficult to find time and funds, especially if you are already raising your own family. In this case, it is always better to take comics as a sideline. But if you have a financier who can really carry you on, do it full-time.


• Decision Making. If your comics are now in hype, think hard before accepting any television offer. Be sure you have already completed a series before doing so and that the television company that will buy your publication is a trusted one. As Mark stated, “TV is a very different animal (compared to comics)”.

The popular artists behind Culture Crash Magazine continue to amaze their fans with their achievements in the arts. Perhaps, the legendary comic magazine has not suffered an upsetting crash at all. Kubori Kikiam is still in business and if only each of them would have enough reserves, more Indie komiks will be released under these well-liked names. Myka Santiago

Meet some of aspiring comic artists here.

Making It Right in the Online Business

Shopping is, without doubt, one of the favorite pastimes of many people. No wonder, bazaars which you can find not only during Christmas but all year round, are frequented by shoppers who like me are always on the look-out for good deals. Going over all the stands in line always allows me to find cheap alternatives for the bits and pieces in department stores and signature boutiques. However, for those who do not have the luxury of time and energy, there is of course a way to leave some of the shopping hassles behind. Shopping online will definitely help you save some resources if you only know the right merchandising business to contact, as well as the safe way of doing it.

DIVICOM Marketing is a reliable online business where you can easily purchase bulk giveaways such as bags, clothes, accessories, shoes, and office and school supplies. Just state the item you need and the budget you can afford, and DIVICOM will aim to provide it for you.

And when it comes to secure online shopping, DIVICOM owner Roman Ubaldo shares some tips:

• One way to know if an online shopping business can be trusted is if it has a permit to operate. DIVICOM Marketing sends a properly signed scanned copy of the power of attorney form to his client. Then, the client signs it as well and scans it after. Roman ensures that both parties involved have a copy of the updated form. In such case, if ever he would fail to meet the terms of the contract, the client can simply file a lawsuit against him.


• Roman accepts payments in the form of G-cash and through banks. These are the more traditional methods of payment, along with PayPal. Be doubtful of sellers proposing a complicated payment scheme.
  
• If there is a delay in the delivery of the products ordered, it might be the fault of the courier. Maximize your patience and communications skills. Coordinate properly with the seller before taking any harsh action.


• Avoid lopsided bargaining. Negotiate with the seller moderately to prevent unwarranted arguments. A good buyer-seller relationship will always mean a favorable deal on both factions.

He also provides advice for those selling online:

• Understand the competition by visiting ukay-ukay stalls, Divisoria malls, and other similar stores. Keep yourself updated with the hottest products and general market pricelist. Widen your list of contacts. Develop relationships with more business partners and suppliers. These actions allow Roman to put the prices of the products he sells in the lowest possible quotation.
  
• You can’t stop fragile items from being damaged during deliveries. This, of course, adds to the company expenses. If a client complained for damaged products, ask him or her to return them to you as soon as possible. After checking the breakages, resolve the conflict by negotiating with the client properly.


• Lastly, Roman claims, a real client will provide you ample time to prepare and deliver the ordered products while a potentially bogus one will insist on obtaining them within the day they were ordered. Myka Santiago

So, if you are looking for an online merchandising business worthy of your trust, DIVICOM Marketing is the name to go for. Contact Roman Ubaldo here.

On Pest Alert

Sharing a home with the creepy crawlies is like living on some quasi anti-terrorist battlefield where war tactics include silent attacks and seek and destroy stratagems to ultimately outwit, outplay, and outlast the enemy. It’s all about winning sole survivor.

An effective scheme would be deploying a special unit particularly trained in pest annihilation. That team from TOPBEST Pest Services, Inc. will fill in the shoes of the S.W.A.T. squad and will fight like there’s no tomorrow. Note to enemy: be ready to raise the white flag.

TOPBEST Services, Inc. is a family-managed organization founded in 1997. With a staff of more than 50 trained technicians and personnel, servicing thousands of residential and commercial clients, they’re the fastest growing pest control company in the country. Using biodegradable and environmentally-friendly products and state-of-the-art equipment, the company puts a premium on safeguarding life and providing the best service for their clients. It’s a commitment to their namesake.

Frances Grace M. Lazaro, Senior Marketing Executive, shares some valuable tips we could use to keep our homes pest free.

There are different preventive measures for different kinds of pests. Household pests such as ants, cockroaches, flies, and rodents come inside our properties for food and shelter. Some steps we could take would be the following:

• Eliminate food, moisture and harborage. Rigorous sanitation (cleaning and disinfecting) causes stress on pests, so they will forage more actively and may be controlled more readily by pesticides.


• Garbage cans should have tight-fitting lids. They should be cleaned regularly and placed as far from doors as possible. Clean garbage cans with boiling water to kill maggots. Likewise, garbage should be regularly disposed to avoid further infestations.


• Always keep doors and windows closed. Seal cracks and crevices to eliminate hiding places and reduce passageways. Seal gaps around plumbing, wall outlets, and switch outlets.


• Ensure proper ventilation in humid areas, such as stock rooms and attics because these are ideal breeding places for pesky pests.

Termites, on the other hand, are a much more complex case. They continuously but silently build one colony after the other and can wreck our precious properties. Proper attention should be given to termite prevention and control.

• Keep it dry. Check your gutters to make sure water drains away from your home and doesn’t pool around your foundation. Fix faulty drainage and any plumbing or roof leaks that cause moisture to accumulate.


• Keep all firewood, lumber, or wood products away from your home’s foundation or crawl space.


• Signs of mud tunnels or “bug size” tracks of damp dirt denote that termites are present, as these serve as means of traveling. In the meantime, do not sweep away these mud tunnels because termites will be driven away only temporarily.


• Immediately call a professional pest control such as TOPBEST Pest Services, Inc. to survey your property and give you treatment options and recommendations. Romina Tobias

Live in a pest-free environment. Consult a TOPBEST Pest Services professional today. Click here.