Start Saving Now!

This post is inspired by the article of the same title, from the magazine Entrepreneur, January-February 2010 issue.

Lately, I have been browsing through magazines quite a lot. I even bought some back issues of Yummy and Food magazine, while the boyfriend got himself copies of old Maxim and FHM. I try not to buy too many because I still have quite a number of books that I haven’t even touched since I bought them. Besides, I figured I should try at least one or two recipes from the foodie magazines before I bought additional ones.

Two weeks ago, while waiting for the boyfriend to meet up with me at the 7/11 store outside my office building, I was compelled to purchase a magazine so there’d be something to do while waiting (he made me wait for almost two hours!). There were a lot of showbiz magazines on the racks, but I didn’t want to spend on those. So I picked Entrepreneur.

On page 29 of this issue is an article by Henry Ong, President and COO of a financial consulting firm called Business Sense. In it, he outlines how he suggests one may setup a savings plan.  That’s exactly what I need! Okay, that’s not really the reaction it elicited from me.  Personally, I had an idea for how I could save, and a year or two ago I was really following a budget that I would set every payday. But I’ve fallen off the bandwagon and I want to get on again, and this time take the boyfriend along with me.

So here’s what we’re going to do, patterned after Ong’s advise:

Start immediately. Easy enough. I commit to starting right away so I’ve already transferred the money I got left from my previous paycheck to my savings bank account. Check (did on payday Friday). I signed up the boyfriend to commit to saving as well. He’s onboard.

Allocate savings. For starters, I’ll commit to saving 10% of my paycheck. Ong suggests starting at a lower number and then incrementally ramping up to your ultimate goal. Start with 3% for example, and increase it to 6% after three months. This is to get yourself accustomed to it. Makes sense, specially if a lifestyle change is in order. In my case, I think the need to save is more urgent. I don’t want to have to wait.

The article also mentions that the amount you allocate for savings will also vary, depending on your age. If you’re already 50, perhaps 20% would be a good target.

For the boyfriend, I have asked him to turn over 3% of his next pay. Regardless of how much he gets and how much he needs for his expenses, he will have to give me 3% so I can keep it for him, as savings. Imposing am I not? Yes. We need to do this, for both our sakes. :) He’s agreed. He also expects this to get bigger eventually. We both know it’s doable.

Pay yourself first. The 10% from my paycheck and the 3% from his, will be deducted even before any expenditure is done. This will be deposited to a separate bank account. I have my own and that’s where mine will go. We’ll open a separate account for him.

Contribute more to your savings. We’ll classify our expenses – needs versus wants. I’ll also draw up a budgeting plan. At the end of the two weeks (normally the time it takes until the next payout), whatever is left will go to savings. We each are supposed to get performance bonuses. That’s where we’ll get money for rewards. No bonus, no rewards. We’ll still try to keep some of the bonus and add it to our savings.

Monitor your plan. This is a plan, it may work, but it could also fail. What we have at this point is a commitment to make it happen. We’ll re-evaluate it after sometime. Adjust our goals according to our needs and actual expenditure. In time, if there’s enough to invest, we’ll study our options.

Sometimes it also helps if you have something concrete that you're saving for: a house, a car, a wedding, or in preparation for a baby. Say for example, you'd like to get yourself some life insurance. First thing to do is to get some information on life insurance packages that would be suitable for you, once you have an idea then you divide that amount by the number of payouts that you have to make up the budget (or for the monthly payable, for example). That should give you an idea how much you really must set aside from your salary. Makes sense?

I hope I’ve helped give you an idea on how to start your own savings plan. Do feel free to share your best practices too. :)

*This is a repost from my personal blog http://verabear.net

Legend of the Seeker

Had I known that this series has been out since 2008, I'd have looked all over the net to watch it. I was finally able to watch the catch-up marathon at the Sci-Fi Channel the day after Christmas. My dad suffered through the day watching with me, LoL.

The series is loosely based on "The Sword of Truth" series by Terry Goodkind. This series is one of two epic fantasy series that my brother and I followed through the years, the other one being "The Wheel of Time" by Robert Jordan. I used the word loosely because they didn't strictly adhere to the books for the serialized TV version. Once you reconcile yourself with that, a true fan would be able to sit back and enjoy the shows. Of course, I'd still would prefer the original, but it isn't so bad really.

Seeing this fantasy world on-screen made me want to reread the books. I haven't even read Phantom and Confessor, the last two books, partly because I don't really want the epic to end yet. Haha. My brother lent the first book, Wizard's First Rule, to a friend and I don't think we got it back so if I want to read them again I'd actually have to make another purchase. I wouldn't mind that. Perhaps I'll try looking for it in second hand bookshops ;)

Anyway, I can't get enough of Bridget Regan; I love Kahlan, even when I'd much prefer to pronounce her name as Kah-lan, rather than Khay-lan as they do. They picked the perfect actress. I might just go ahead name a future daughter after her. :)

Here's another fan-made vid:



*This is a repost from my personal blog http://verabear.net

The Innocent Man - John Grisham

The Innocent Man was the book that kept me company on my trips to the hospital in the past few weeks (oh and also French Women Don't Get Fat). Since we don't have our TV here in the living room in the aftermath of Ondoy, and the PC wasn't setup yet (like I've said before, we're still not done with the cleanup and our living room is still a mess), I had the chance to sit down and finish Grisham's first work of non-fiction on Saturday last week.

In the beginning, it was dragging. It's a lot like reading a legal brief, as I would imagine it (though I wouldn't really know). But as the story unfolds even further, you would really want to read it through to find out how the truth will eventually come out.

My thoughts? If this injustice can happen in small town America - what of those suffering in the Philippine justice system?

Here, there was no graft and corruption included. Simple incompetence. Or law enforcement's sheer will to find their scapegoat to get the public off their backs. In the Philippines, you have cops, lawyers and judges on payola (allegedly).

One of the most oft used arguments for the death penalty is its power as a crime deterrent. But how many of those executed in the past really were guilty beyond reasonable doubt? Until the state can guarantee a fair justice system, more so for the poor, then the death penalty will not be effective. Then of course there's the right to life argument.

The book does not talk about the death penalty though it did give us a glimpse of Ron Williamson's horrifying experience at The Row and the H Unit. It also shows how dreams are accepted as confessions, and how jail house snitches will say just about anything just to get off their own crimes.

It's also about prejudice. And how some people on trial are presumed guilty until proven innocent.

The stories of Ron Williamson and Dennis Fritz, as well as of Tommy Ward and Karl Fontenot, should be an example of how law enforcement and the prosecutors ought not to act.

*This is a repost from my personal blog http://verabear.net

Eat, Pray, Love

After posting about this book months ago, I finally have it in print.  It was enlightening to read this woman's journey to self discovery. She set out to straighten herself after going through a tumultuous divorce, but she ended up doing so much more.

I am amazed by her journey, and I envy her at the same time. I can't even watch a movie by myself, let alone travel to three different countries on my own. And with very little planning at that.

She doesn't claim to have the formula for healing a broken heart, or mending a broken spirit. What she does is just relate her experiences, and by doing so, I think she has shared many gems that will help countless women find their way in the world too. She also talks of finding balance, and isn't that something we are all looking for?

She inspires me, not to travel alone but to chart my own spiritual course. It would be wonderful to once again understand what my personal relationship is to God. I pray to him, sometimes. I thank Him, sometimes. And that won't do.

Recently, I saw these beautifully made rosaries online. They are being made by a family, and they sell it to raise funds to care for their baby's medical bills. Read up on Hannah's story, and order a rosary or two. Just let them know verabear sent them your way. Anyway, as I was saying... So I saw their rosaries and there was a particular style of the cross that appealed to me but I felt it would look even more beautiful matched with a certain type of beads. I just felt like I had to own one according to a certain specification that they are even willing to accomodate. The thing is, I don't pray the rosary. In my experience growing up in the Episcopal Church in the Philippines, I haven't seen anyone pray the rosary.

I attended an all-girl Catholic high school and I learned to pray the rosary there. For some time, I prayed the rosary regularly at bedtime, and whenever we were asked to do so in school. I wasn't bothered by this and I most certainly didn't see any conflict with our Church. I didn't have any special requests when I would say the rosary, I was just praying. I still prayed in a way that I was conversing with the Lord, but somehow following the beads of the rosary was something I found comfort in doing. I have to be honest though, there were countless time that I'd fall asleep in the middle of the rosary! Do you think Mama Mary minded those times? I don't think so.

So I told the boyfriend about me taking up the rosary, and he was like, are you going to use it? He's Roman Catholic and he doesn't regularly pray the rosary. Still, he said he'd show me how to do it if I'd already forgotten. Hmm. We'll see.

Back to the book. I highly recommend this to everyone, not just women seeking balance in their lives. She's very witty too, and I can hear her voice in my head while reading (but maybe that's because I listened to parts of the audio book before I actually read it).

There is talk that a studio has bought movie rights for the book, that's definitely something to look forward to. I wonder who's playing Liz? What about Luca Spaghetti? And Richard from Texas? And Felipe? That's going to be one yummy movie for sure. Haha.

Oh, and I have a new word too - attraversiamo!

*This is a repost from my personal blog http://verabear.net

The Year of Pleasures - Elizabeth Berg

There's one thing about going to the hospital alone - the wait time allows me to start or finish a good book.  In April when I started visiting doctors to see what was up with the never ending cold that I had since the year started, I took The Watchmen with me. Many times though, I found myself not being able to concentrate on reading so I only managed a couple of chapters.  This time around, Elizabeth Berg was my chosen company.  I had the book The Year of Pleasures with me when we went to Baler - it appealed to me like a book fit to read while on vacation. I thought about reading while we were on the road but it was impossible with the bumpiness of the ride, and also because I found admiring the view of the countryside a better pastime.  While Alfred was taking a siesta (still at Baler), I was out at the 2nd floor verandah, put my feet up and started to read. But the cool breeze and the lightness of the surroundings just took over me.  I felt that the afternoon was too beautiful to just spend on reading.  So I gathered the kids who were with us  and tried to do something with them instead (right before heading to the water again!).

Today, I finally finished the novel.

I've read Berg's True to Form and Never Change and remembered really being moved by both stories.  I knew what I was in for when I picked this one up.

The Year of Pleasures is about Betta Nolan who lived a very happy life with her husband John. But the novel isn't about Betta and John really, because the novel starts after his death.  Betta sells their home, and then drives to the midwest in search of a new life.  It's wonderful how she found her new home, made new friends, but also reconnected with old ones - friends from before she met her late husband.

The book showed me that there is no single proper way to grieve the loss of a loved one. But it's also a good resource for someone who may be suffering, so that she may find strength and pleasure in everything that happens around her, even in the small things.

It talked to me about dreaming too. And that it's never too late to pursue something, specially when it is what will make your heart happy and your life full.

It also made me aware of how true it is for some of us women to totally lose ourselves in our relationships. Not lose in the sense that we have no identity, but... That we get too engrossed in our own little couple-world that we shut everyone else out - without meaning to.

It gave me comfort that Betta reconnected with her college roommates whom she hasn't seen nor heard from in decades. They remained friends, but they never forgot her. It was amazing how they were automatically there for her when she let them know she needed them. No resentment. That's what true girlfriends are about.

I fell in love with Betta's house and her new neighborhood. I could live there, I would love to live that life. I love the idea of her quaint shop - What A Woman Wants, though if it was me, I'd setup a pastry shop/bookshop.

But I was also thinking how stupid it was to move in to a new place, all by yourself, and not install an alarm system! I mean Jovani (a character in the book) had a point - what if someone came in through the door and you didn't hear it? I lived in a quiet neighborhood and I was left on my own a lot of times, even when I was younger. But no matter how safe you feel, it's still better to be secured. I know that installing alarms systems is not the norm in most Philippine households, but Betta's in the States - she should know better! Haha.

There are gems of wisdom in the book, but what stuck with me was a line John spoke to Betta - Don't let your habits become handcuffs.  Just because you've been used to something doesn't mean you can't do it a different way or have something else entirely.

Sometimes I think about what will happen to me if the boyfriend dies...

Then I was also thinking, having been away from work for three days because of these flu-like symptoms, that I really don't want to work anymore. And it's not because I hate work, or that I don't like what happens at work. No. Because I was actually happy to be at work these past two weeks. Conflicting, aren't I? Hear me out.  I like what I do there, but I know I could be happier doing something else. So I think that's what I'm going to work on.  I will prepare my life so that I can leave and do what I really want. It's going to take a long time to get where I want to be to do this, but I will work on it.  If I can make half my current month's salary doing what I love to do, I will quit my full time job. Seriously.  I don't want to wait until a tragedy happens (like in Betta's case) before I find an excuse to be daring and to live the life I've been imagining for myself.

(It's probably not going to happen, but it's good to think about these things, you know? Haha)

I just dug through my blog archives, and you know what I've found? This book has been on my to-be-read pile since September 2008! Crazy!

*This is a repost from my personal blog http://verabear.net

The Nanny Diaries

I read the novel last week.  It reminded me a bit of The Devil Wears Prada.  In both novels, the protagonist was at a job they didn't necessarily want and they had dragon lady bosses.  They also wanted out, but found themselves totally immersed in the work, unable to distance themselves easily.

And the movie version's worth watching too. Harvard Hottie was yummy. hahaha :)

Nan was just like Andy - an achiever, does really well at her job. No matter how good she is at it, and how over-qualified she may be for a nanny job, this isn't recognized by her employers.  She also does not get the respect she deserves.  At first I was thinking how the novel was placing Upper East Side moms in a bad light, how it seemed to have been passing judgement on moms who could not take care of their children full-time and have had to hire nannies to do that. But eventually I realized that it actually pays tribute to all moms - every single one.  Moms like Mrs. X actually takes the time to choose the right nanny for her boy, which means she tries to find someone qualified to be her child's primary caregiver.  She wants someone who can help her son with his school work.  I guess she admits she won't do much good in a primary caregiver role, and that means she needs to find someone who can.  Maybe it at least tries to open their eyes a bit to see how their kids need more of their attention, and that isn't so bad.

I love kids, but I don't think I'd do too well as a nanny.  I can probably babysit for a few hours, but it's not something I can do on a daily basis, and certainly not full time.  Sure I'm looking forward to having kids of my own, but that's different from caring for someone else's.

There are Pinoy nannies the world over - rearing children of other families, while they leave their own kids back home thousands of miles away.  Filipinos have learned to take pride in this fact.  In fact, Princess Lara Quigaman won a beauty pageant where she was asked about this very topic.  What's to be proud of being a nation known for it's nannies?  Well, it means that we know children and how to raise them.  It means that we can be trusted with the care of the most important members of families and societies. We can influence the lives of young minds. We play a big role in building future leaders.

*This is a repost from my personal blog http://verabear.net




PS I Love You - the novel by Cecilia Ahern

Last night, just before going to bed, I ripped the plastic covering off the book that I bought many months ago.  After reading the first few chapters, I went to sleep (not because it was a boring read mind you, but it was really waaaay past bedtime).  In the morning, I woke up and picked it right up and devoured it.  I read untill well after lunch.  I stopped only for a few minutes to pour myself some toasted oats and mueslie with milk for breakfast; and then again for a snack of yoghurt; and finally a Twiggie for lunch.  Oh, I had put it down to watch the first E-heads reunion concert in August last year on DVD (the one I didn't see Live!), while I put some Tea Tree Oil antiseptic on Zune's insect bites.

But I finished the whole thing.  And just like the effect the movie had on me, there were moments that were just heart-wrenching.

I've got to say, I don't know if it's just Gerard Butler and all his sexiness, but I seem to like the movie version better.  But remember, I liked the movie version a lot. So even while I say I liked it better, that by no means translates that I didn't like the book.  I did.

Though the screenplay adaptation was different in many aspects from the original novel, it still remained true to the core messages that Ahern communicates through her pages.  Finding your soulmate.  Love.  Friendship.  Loss.  Grief.  Picking up the pieces.

If the movie focused on the love between Holly and Gerry, and in Holly learning to open herself up for a new love, the book was more about the reality of grieving.  How it's a selfish process, really, even when you don't mean it to be.  Though Gerry's letters were very much the center of it all, there was also the very important role her friends played in Holly's road back to living her life without Gerry.

Oh, another difference is that the book is set entirely in Ireland, versus the movie being set in America with the ladies' vacation having been in the land of the Irish.

I found myself wondering again, what would I do if this happened to me? How would I move on?



I have a confession to make, I'm a little loony this weekend.  That's probably why I haven't been posting like crazy, and why I finally picked up this book to read. It's Alfred's first day at his new job so that meant a break in routine.  I usually stay up on Sunday nights and have breakfast with him on Monday morning when he gets home from work.  During my rest days, he is always around to worry about what we'll have for lunch; even if he had to work on those nights, he'd be game if I had wanted to go out.  Today was so much different.  He wasn't here. I had talked to him on the phone many times during the course of the day, but it still felt like I was losing something you know?  I won't get to see him everyday anymore, and I would be sleeping alone again for most of the time.  There wouldn't be breakfast or lunch dates at work to look forward to.

I'm crazy, I know. He's still here and he's just an hour away, and that's where he was before he kind of semi-moved in here (we really have an odd living situation) and everything was just fine. But I've just been so used to having him around all the time, I don't want to go back to how it was before. I surprised myself though;after his long day at work and running around to fix his stuff, he called to tell me that he didn't have to be back at work until 11am tomorrow morning, which means he could actually come over now if I wanted him to. I had given him the choice to decide for himself, and he very well wanted to come. But I pointed out that it'll be tiring for him, considering he had had to go shuttling around so much today. So there, we decided for him to stay home instead. It was the right thing to do, right?

Boy do I miss him already.

*This is a repost from my personal blog http://verabear.net