Would You Take This Bet?

It's actually not about gambling.

I've posted about Loss Aversion before, but this 7:19 video explains it much better.

If you aren't investing or have just started to, this helps explains what you're probably feeling. Heck, I've been investing for yeas and I feel it still.

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3 Silent Traps That Hold Back Your Finances

A lot of threats to our finances are external - from rising retail prices, sneaky charges or big red signs(sale!) at the mall.

Some are more internal - something we do to ourselves without realizing it.
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If You Want To Achieve Your Goals, Don't Focus On Them

Keep your eyes on the prize, right? I mean, that's how it's supposed to work.

Once you have a goal, keep it mind, right it down, tell people about it, yada yada yada.

Apparently that's not how it works, or at least that's not enough...
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Keep It To Yourself

In order for you to achieve your goal, it's been said that you should tell your family and friends. So that way they can hold you to it.

But telling someone your goal may actually lead to you not achieving your goal...
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On Living Simply

(This is going to be another one of my longer posts...)

My opinion has always been that to live simply means not trading in my years-old smartphone for the latest model. Or basically not chasing any of the latest trends.

That's true, but apparently that's not the entirety of it.
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Life is like a jigsaw puzzle

Life is like a jigsaw puzzle.

The good news is you get to decide what the picture looks like. Sure, you're dealt a specific set of circumstances at the start, but change is constant.

The bad news is the picture gets put together anyway, even if you don't do anything. You can go through your whole life just going with the flow. But you may end up not liking the outcome.


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On Expenses, Passion and Savings

If you've read a lot of personal finance articles or attended seminars on the same, you've probably become aware of a few similarities.

For one, starbucks is a popular target. Inevitably, a quick summation of designer coffee expenses is bandied around.

After that, the "list" usually includes gadgets, shoes, clothes, and high-end (or high-priced) food.

There's probably a good reason for that. Keeping finances in check is the first step towards financial independence. You can't invest without money and how can you have money if you don't save, right?

But life is usually more complex than what we are able to verbalize. And the same is true in this case.
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8 Traits of Successful People

We all want to be successful, right? But what does it really take?
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The Mindset to Succeed

"Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right."

Today I'd like to share this12-minute video about how important it is to believe in yourself - and believe in each other; and just how much impact it has.
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On Losing Weight And Saving Money

There used to be a time when losing weight was "in vogue" as summer approaches. That's not true now, of course. Losing weight is "in vogue" throughout the year.
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The Comprehensive Guide To Breaking Bad Habits And Making Good Habits Last For Good

Unfortunately, it's going to be another one of those rambling, self-absorbed posts. But if you stick with it, I promise it's actually helpful.

So I've had a spending problem for a few months.

Nothing big. I was still saving for retirement, the emergency fund, college education, yada yada yada. The problem was my personal savings.

After all those other savings, I've got a little left for myself. It's usually for direct stock investment, mini-mergencies, and the like. Ultimately, it's going to be my seed money for a potential business.

The problem started at Christmas. I normally, and on purpose, spend a lot on gifts plus occassional treats - both for myself and others.

I was able to still save half my 13th-month pay, but noticed I was spending what was supposed to be my personal savings. It didn't bother me during the holidays, but then it spilled over into January... then February... and even up to mid-March.

For some reason, my saving habit was backsliding. Anything I didn't pay myself first was getting spent. After years of not having that problem, I was very curious - and more than a little anxious - as to why that was the case.

So I did some research and found some interesting things.
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Ownership, Stewardship, and Entitlement

Disclosure: This article was originally written for and published in Each Peso Counts. Sadly, the blog isn't around anymore.

Companies typically have what they call core values. And in one of my previous companies, one of the core values was stewardship.

I still remember our executive talking about it. He explained that we should act not as employees but as part owners of the company. That we should take responsibility and help in the growth and success of the company because we should realize that the company's success is our success.

But recently, I began to understand this more deeply after reading a quote from Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala on the importance of stewardship in the continued success of Ayala Corporation:
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1 Good Technique To Stop Worrying And Start Doing

At various points in our lives, there are always things that make us question if we're going to get through them. From projects, finals and removal exams to deadlines, debt, tuition and mortgage.

Invariably though, we get through them one way or another. But regardless of that fact, worrying is unavoidable.

Even though it shouldn't be.
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