I hate Dreaming - Jadam Pascual feat Nevins G. Manafe (Acoustic Guitar)

my former D'Nyte Group, from the right Meljhon Estacio, Jadam Pascual, Bryce, Nevins G. Manafe

The fan blows up warm air from outside the window, it was a sad summer 2002 at Molave Dormitory room A-26, Adventist University of the Philippines.

Just several bunch of youngsters hanging out in front of the computer trying to figure out how to express their feelings through music.

This song was originally written by my friend Jadam Pascual, and we both created a simple CD that time. I still remember when both of us were interviewed by the campus tabloid to be featured on their front page. The good old days.

Everything has changed now, we are now busy with life on two separated continent, but sometimes when i reach out form my guitar, i cant help but to play this song to reminiscence that sad summer 2002.






Sheet music and high definition mp3 are available for as low as $2

Step 2 of 5 Money Management Steps - Track Your Expenses

I'm not going to sugarcoat this, this is the step that requires the most discipline.

But everyone should track their expenses.

How many times have we heard this question,  "Where did all my money go?" ?

As human, we're so bad at estimating things. Without actual records we usually underestimate how much we actually spend on anything.

Business owners know this, that's why they price their products and services using something like $399. We naturally take the first number, 3, and think that it's around $300. However, it is actually $400.

Recording expenses make sure that we can be accountable on how we spend our money.

This also prepare you for the next step in money management levels, budgeting, that we will look at next.

There are multiple ways to track expenses. 
1. My parents use pen and paper.
2. I use worksheet application in my computer.
3. Andrae from Learned Wealth Financial Coaching uses a mobile app.

How do I track my expenses?

Step 1. At the beginning of a month I look at my credit card statement online, and I put every transaction to worksheet.

Step 2. Then next to the list I put my categories, and on that category I sum all the transactions that fall into the category.

Step 3. The total of the transaction list and the category list should be equal.

click picture to see larger resolution

Count Your Blessings - Nevins G. Manafe (Fingerstyle Guitar Cover)

Malole si malole, ita nusa le malole - Lakafehan (photo by Nevins)

I love this sacred Hymn because i can relate with the lyrics.

"When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed, 
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, 
Count your many blessings, name them one by one, 
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done."

My personal life is not always easy (i appreciate that dear God).
I have lost my dream job, then again lost my dream business, lost my loved ones and people that i am looking up to..
But through it all i still believe that God have another harder level for me to be accomplished, and i just love it.

The reason i am still excited about it because God have a promise that He will always deliver us from the storm or even cooler through the storm.

When God deliver you from the storm, you almost got caught in the middle of the storm but then God interfere and move you out or move the storm out. When God deliver you through the storm, it means you need to experience the storm, you might get water on your clothes or even lots of water inside your boat of life.

Hold on tight, hear out this song on your life storm, start counting your blessings..

Music sheet available. Contact Me.

"Count your blessings, name them one by one, 
Count your blessings, see what God has done! 
Count your blessings, name them one by one, 
Count your many blessings, see what God has done."

Level 1 of 5 Money Management Levels - Write your financial goal(s)

Do you have financial goal(s)?

The journey begins

Why bother to write financial goal?

Well, it's just like traveling.

When we travel, we usually have a destination. For example, if we want to go see the Eiffel Tower then our destination is Paris, France (not Paris, Texas).

However, when it comes to our finances, often times we don't have any destination. Perhaps we fear that we won't reach it. Don't be afraid, just start small and make it yours.

Here's an example:

• Save $10 a month starting this month.

Too easy? How about this?

• Save 10% of income every month starting this month.

and it doesn't have to be saving related too, for example:

• Go for vacation to New Zealand next year, estimated budget required: $4,500

What important is the goal :

• is clear and specific target.
• has a target time (this year, next year, 5 years from now, ...).
• and has a certain amount of money part of it (so you know how much more is needed)

So, don't write an ambiguous goal, such as:

• Travel to foreign country
• What country?
• When?
• How much is needed?

or

• Be a wealthy person
• How wealthy?
• When?

Having a goal will make a difference when you're presented with options.

Let's say you see a sale at your favorite clothing store, and an item you like that is used to be $299, is on sale for $149 only (50% off).

If you have no goal, there is no other reason to compare with, thus purchasing the item seems to be a good idea.

But if you have that goal of travelling to New Zealand next year and haven't save $4,500 yet, then you can compare whether the $149 item is something that you really need now, or whether that money can help you reach sooner the $4,500 budget for the trip?

In short, it gives you a sense of purpose on where you need to spend the money.

So go ahead and write you goals now, make goals that excite you, and see you on the next level of your financial journey.

(Some more goal ideas):
- Save $5,000 to start my business 3 months from now.
- Save $20,000 for my dream house down payment next year.
- Set aside $150 every month for my kids education.
- Pay loan $100 more than due amount starting next month.
- Save $10,000 to buy gold Apple watch this year.

If you have questions or comments, please drop them on comments section below.

Do you have any financial goal(s) at this moment?

Yes

No

Poll Maker

Five Levels of Money Management

Five Money Management Levels by Djitz from Trijito Santoso

Are you doing good when it comes to managing your money?

Here are five questions that you can quickly answer to know where you are in the five levels of money management.

1. Do you have financial goal(s)?

• Financial goal motivates and guides you.
• Gives you answer to the question, "Does spending money on this gets me closer to my goal?"
• The goal should be specific, have an amount, and a deadline.
• Most people wants to be wealthy, but they don't have the amount in mind nor when they want to have that amount.

My answer:

My financial goals:

• $100,000 at 30 yrs old
• $1,000,000 at 40 yrs old
• $10,000,000 at 50 yrs old

2. Do you know how much you spend every month?

• What is not measured is not managed.
• Answers the popular question, "Where did all my money go?"

My answer:

Yes, I track my expenses on a spreadsheet.

3. Do you spend more than you earn?

• Live according to what you have, not what you want.
• Never take consumer debt, those stuff lost value and you pay more due to interest.
• Remember your goal before you spend,  "Does spending money on this gets me closer to my goal?"

My answer:

No, I spend around 40% of what I earn every month.

4. Do you have emergency savings fund (6x monthly expense)?

• Provides buffer when large amount of money is needed urgently.
• Save you from bad financial offers.
• We can't predict the future, but we can be ready when it happens.

My answer:

Yes, I have more than 12x monthly expense emergency savings fund.

5. Do you invest your money with an average return greater than inflation rate?

• Today's $100 worth only $55 20 years from now.
• You will need more amount of money to sustain your current lifestyle in the future.

My answer:

Not completely, I'm still working on this one.


How about you? Up to what steps are you now?

If you like this and feel that your friends will benefit from it, please share it.

Also please submit the poll below, and don't worry it's always anonymous.

Where are you in five steps of money management?

Step 1 - I have financial goal(s)

Step 2 - I track my expenses every month

Step 3 - I spend less than what I earn every month

Step 4 - I have emergency savings fund

Step 5 - My investment average return rate is greater than inflation

Poll Maker

The Entertainer - Nevins G. Manafe (Scott Joplin Cover)

Scott Joplin - Imagebuddy

The Entertainer by Scott Joplin

The first time i ever heard this song was during my freshman year.

I heard a neighbor's son is playing this fun piece on his piano.

Today i am trying to share to all of you the joy of hearing this song on a very different perspective. 

Violins, Violas, Violoncellos, and Contrabasses are playing the pizzicato technique throughout this song.

You can purchase the full musical sheet and also including individual parts (Violin I, Violin II, Viola I, Viola II, Violoncello, Contrabass) for as low as US$1.50

Or if you really don't want to buy and desperately want to play the song, just share this post to your social media, and contact me. I will email you the music sheet in pdf format in return.

Cheers

Emergency Savings Fund

Metal by Wax115

Do you have emergency savings fund?

If you have more than  6 months expenses of your household in savings, go ahead and skip this message. If not, I humbly ask you to read on.

The reason I write this article is because of someone's testimony that I heard recently.

A person had just totaled his car due to bad weather (snow and ice) in Texas. To keep his job he needed a car, so he looked for a car around to buy.

The problem is he couldn't find car that fits his budget easily. Thank God, he found one. Unfortunately, again due to his limited budget at hand, he didn't have many financing options. So, he took the only available one and he has to pay monthly payment for four years that will sum up to at least TWICE of the actual car price.

The outcome of this situation can be better if that person has enough emergency savings fund. He would get better finance rate, or, buy a used car in cash.

This is only one example of how emergency savings fund can help. As the name suggests, we don't know when this fund is needed. But life is more dynamic that we hope for, and although we feel that we're financially stable because we can afford our lifestyle every month, most of the time it only takes one single unfortunate event to turn everything around. Accidents, repairs, natural disasters, sickness, job loss are some of the examples of these events.

How much emergency savings fund do we need?

Ideally, 6 months of your household expenses. This will make sure that in case of job loss, you have enough buffer to pay bills and keep food and housing.

But, we got to start somewhere to achieve this amount. So, here are the steps that I suggest.

• Have $0 emergency fund? - achieve to save $1,000
• Have $1,000 emergency fund? - achieve to save 1 month expenses
• Have 1 month expenses emergency fund? - achieve to save 3 months expenses
• Have 3 months expenses emergency fund? - achieve to save 6 months expenses

This emergency fund should be in form of cash savings in bank that we can withdraw anytime. Don't count on other type of assets that are not liquid such as house, lands, vehicles, etc. They need to be sold first, and when you need the money fast you might take the lowest offer.

Sacrifice short term happiness if needed

If you think that having that amount of savings is hard, don't forget that it's even harder to be in a bad situation. So, if you need to change your lifestyle in order to achieve the amount of emergency savings fund you need, then do it.

I'm done.

Please submit poll below. Don't worry, it is completely anonymous.

Do you have emergency saving fund?

No, help me!

Yes, about $1,000

Yes, 1 month of my expenses

Yes, 3 month of my expenses

Yes, 6 month of my expenses

More than 6 month of my expenses

Poll Maker