crisis

Ways to Help Others During This Pandemic

Ways to Help Others During This Pandemic

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Nowadays, it is so difficult not to absorb all the negativities happening around. It is easy to feel sad, scared and lonely. How to stay sane during this pandemic? Change your focus. What you focus on determines your reality. Instead of focusing on yourself and what you have lost because of the pandemic, shift your energy on how you can help others. Helping others is not just for the benefit of other people, it is all about you too. It gives you a sense of purpose. It improves your mood. In addition, It builds self-confidence and increases feelings of competence and satisfaction. At the end of the day, it makes you a happier, healthier and better person. So, what are the ways to help others during this pandemic?

1.Follow Protocols for the New Normal

Let’s face it, we now live in a new world. In the new normal, cleanliness is the new cool. It is easy to become infected and at the same time infect others if we will not adhere to the etiquette rules for the new normal. Remember to always wash your hands. Wear your face masks. Practice social and physical distancing. Stay at home if you are not feeling well. Learn to protect yourself and others.

2. Donate

If you are one of those fortunate few who have more than enough money in your pockets, do provide financial assistance to those in need. Many people are dying. Millions lost their means of livelihood. Millions more are dying of hunger. Your financial contribution will greatly help a lot of people in need.

3. Volunteer

Depending on your skills, you can volunteer to help those in need. For example, if you have medical expertise, you can help in the vaccination drive. If you are good at counseling, you can volunteer to become a crisis counsellor.

4. Spread Positivity

Are you the type of person who loves forwarding messages and news to friends? Before you do that, ask yourself first; what kind of information are you spreading? Did you verify the source? Verify if it is not fake news. What will be the effect of this piece of information to others? I suggest you do the Four-Way Test of Rotary Clubs.

  • Is it the TRUTH?
  • Is it FAIR to all concerned?
  • Will it build GOODWILL and better friendships?
  • Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

If one item is not satisfied, don’t bother sharing it with others. Remember that many people are scared, sad and fearful. Don’t be a source of more negative feelings for others.

5. Check on Other People

Call your family, friends and neighbors. Check on them. Ask them how they are doing. Be a source of inspiration or simply listen to what they have to say. What is important is making other people feel that you are there for them.

6. Take Care of Yourself

Self-care is important now more than ever. And it is not just about physical wellness but emotional wellness as well. Love yourself. Only by truly loving yourself and taking care of yourself will you be able to truly love and help others. You will not be a toxic person to others if you yourself is healthy and happy.


Feature Image by Sasin Tipchai from Pixabay

Posted by A.L. Jonas in Social, 0 comments
The Year in Recap:  Life Lessons from 2020

The Year in Recap: Life Lessons from 2020

Reading Time: 3 minutes

It is almost the end of the year. Many people are eager to have 2020 done and over with. That’s not surprising considering the fact that 2020 has been an exhausting and overwhelming year for most of us. But before we chase the remaining few days of the year, why not look back and take a look at the year in recap and learn some of the valuable life lessons from 2020. The following top articles of the year is a reflection of what transpired during the year and the general sentiment of the readers.

1.Cherish Your Loved Ones While You Still Can

As of this writing, more than 1.76 million people around the world had already lost their lives because of COVID-19. This means that many people lost their loved ones because of this pandemic. Most of the time, it happened so quickly that they were not able to properly say their goodbyes. The grieving process becomes worse if there is regret and guilt involved. To avoid this from happening, it is better to cherish your loved ones while you still can. Don’t wait until it is too late to do so.

2.Korean Dramas About Overcoming Challenges

If there is one thing that we got from 2020, it is the gift of time. Because of the lockdowns, many people found themselves trapped at home with nothing to do. To help fight boredom, many people resorted to watching Korean Dramas. Because many had to go through challenges this year, they look for something inspirational to watch like Korean Dramas about overcoming challenges.

3.Redesign Your Life Through a Bucket List

The world is now totally different. What used to work before this pandemic may no longer work in the new normal. Thus, now is the perfect time to redesign your life through a bucket list. What is it that you want to accomplish in life going forward? What needs to change? It is time to create new dreams and goals.

4.It’s Okay To Not Be Okay

Let’s admit it. No matter how big or small the effect of the pandemic is in our lives; at some point this year, we can honestly say that we were not okay. But, it’s okay. It is all a part of life. Sometimes, it’s okay to not be okay. The only way we can only move forward is if we learn to embrace our negative emotions and our pain. That is how we grow as a person.

5.How To Survive This Economic Crisis

Unfortunately for us, the COVID-19 pandemic is more than just a health concern. It has also turned into a full-blown economic crisis with millions of people losing their means of livelihood. So many people found themselves at a loss just trying to figure out how to survive this economic crisis.

6.Wealth Rules from the Richest Man in Babylon

Because of the economic crisis, people now realized that working hard alone is no longer enough. There is also a need for financial literacy. Knowing and understanding how money works can help people prepare and survive a financial crisis. What better way to learn about money than learning from the wealth rules from the richest man in Babylon.

7.Crossroads: Making Life Changing Decisions

In a nutshell, 2020 is all about change. Since the world is changing, people found themselves in crossroads, making life changing decisions. It sounds easy but change is a difficult thing to do.It is scary most especially if we don’t know what lies ahead. Should I move away from the city? Should I change jobs? Should I change my lifestyle? All of these questions involve choices. Many people were forced to make difficult decisions in their lives this year because of this crisis.

8.The Power of A Smile

When everything around us is negative, it is difficult to stay positive. However, did you know that a simple smile can do wonders for our health and overall well-being? That is the power of a smile. A smile can make us feel better, albeit temporarily. It reduces stress. It boosts our happiness level, even if the smile is fake. So the next time you feel gloomy and sad, force yourself to smile.

9.Stock Options: A Way To Earn Amidst A Crisis

Since many people experienced a reduction or even a loss of income, people are now searching for an alternative source of income. Although there are many investment vehicles available out there, only a few can give positive and substantial returns even in times of crisis. Stock Options trading is one of them. Stock Options is a way to earn amidst a crisis. With stock options trading, it is possible to earn regardless of market direction.

10.Six Dimensions of Wellness

Because of the lockdowns, people have realized that the absence of disease alone does not mean that one is healthy. To be truly healthy, one needs to be healthy not just physically but emotionally, intellectually, socially, spiritually and environmentally as well. There are six dimensions of wellness. All of these dimensions are equally important in the overall well-being of a person.

That is the year in recap and life lessons from 2020. Hope we all learn from the experiences. Let us all look forward and visualize better days ahead of us.


Photo by Markus Winkler from Pexels

Posted by A.L. Jonas in Intellectual, 0 comments
Stock Options: A Way to Earn Amidst A Crisis

Stock Options: A Way to Earn Amidst A Crisis

Reading Time: 4 minutes

This pandemic is more than just a health concern. The social and economic impacts are also quite devastating. Many people were laid off from their jobs. Entrepreneurs lost their businesses. Stock market investors watched in horror as the stock market crashed at an unprecedented speed in the global financial market history. During this time of extreme uncertainty, what do you do if you are an investor? The good news is that there is still a way for investors to earn money despite all these uncertainties. And that is through Stock Options. Stock options is a way to earn amidst a crisis. 

What are Stock Options?

Stock Options are actually contracts. They are contracts that allow the investor to buy or sell shares of stocks at a predetermined date, at an agreed upon price. Although investors have the right, they are not obligated in any way to buy or sell the shares. 

Types of Stock Options

There are two kinds of stock options, the Call Option and the Put Option. While call options give the investor the right to buy a stock, a put option gives the investor the right to sell the stock.

1.Call Option

Think of the call option this way. Let’s say you want to buy a car. You already found the perfect car but you don’t have money to pay the full amount for the car yet. So, what you should do is to give earnest money.

An earnest money is a deposit made to the seller to hold the car in reserve for you for a certain period of time. Because of your agreement with the seller, the seller cannot sell the car to any other person during the period of the contract. You on the other hand were able to buy time to raise the money. The earnest money gave you the leverage to control the sale of the car during the period of the contract. So, even with a price increase, you as the buyer can still purchase the car at the agreed price.

From an investor’s point of view, a call option works in a similar manner. Although you don’t own the stock itself; by owning a contract, you have control of the stocks. What you have is leverage. With one contract, you can control 100 shares of stocks without paying the full value of the stocks.

2. Put Option

The put option on the other hand works like an insurance. Let’s say you bought insurance for your newly-purchased car. You paid a small amount or a premium to have your car insured to cover damages for a fixed amount called the coverage value. If by chance your car gets damaged or stolen, the insurance will then pay for damages amounting to coverage of your insurance. Thus, the insurance served as financial protection. Similarly, if an investor wants to protect his/her portfolio, the investor then buys a put option to protect the stocks from future drop in market prices.

Hedging

Although there are many strategies in trading stock options, hedging is one of the strategies used to lessen the risk of the investment.  In finance, to hedge means to offset the chance of a particular investment in losing its value. The Hedge Strategy in Stock Options is a good way to earn money even in a pandemic.

In stock options trading, a trader buys a call option if there is a future expectation of an increase in stock prices in a given time. On the other hand, a trader buys a put option if there is future expectation of a decrease in stock prices at a given time. 

If the trader is not sure of whether the stock will go up or down, it is possible to buy both call and put options at the same time as a hedge strategy.

Parts of an Option

Each option contract has the following components:

1. Underlying Asset

Since option is a derivative, meaning something that is based on another thing, all options contracts have an underlying asset. The asset can be a stock, an index or an exchange-traded fund.

2. Size of Contract

Each option contract is equivalent to a certain number of shares. Each stock exchange varies in number as far as contract sizes are concerned. If you are trading in the United States, each option contract is equal to 100 shares per contract. 

3. Expiration Date

All options contracts have different expiration dates. The expiration date is the day where the option to buy or sell is supposed to be exercised. There are contracts that are as short as a week while others can last longer than four months. The standard is a monthly contract that typically expires at the third Friday of the month.

4. Strike Price

The strike price is the price where the contract can be bought or sold. In layman’s term, it is similar to a target price.

5. Premium

The premium is the price to be paid by the buyer for a stock options contract. The premium is basically the price of the contract.

With Stock Options trading, you don’t need to worry about the market going down because there is a way to earn a profit regardless of market direction. There is also no need to wait for months or even years to get possible returns because there is a way to earn profits in less than a week’s time.

An investment in knowledge pays the best interest. When it comes to investing, nothing will pay off more than educating yourself. Do the necessary research, study and analysis before making any investment decisions.

– Benjamin Franklin

Whether you are a seasoned investor or a newbie, stock options trading is a good investment alternative especially during difficult economic times. But before you open your trade account and start trading, just know that like any other investment vehicles, stock options trading is not without risk. Thus, it is highly recommended that you read and learn more about stock options trading. 

Interested in knowing more about stock options trading? Register for a free webinar now.


Feature Image by Image by Sergei Tokmakov, Esq. from Pixabay 

Posted by A.L. Jonas in Financial, 0 comments
How a Crisis Brings Out the Best in People

How a Crisis Brings Out the Best in People

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Have you ever wondered how a crisis brings out the best in people? We know a challenging situation can also bring out the worst in people. Compare that to how many people you know who successfully overcame difficult circumstances. Most of these people even came out of the experience in better shape than before they encountered their challenge.

Our personal challenges helps us grow individually. A crisis that affects a whole community of people can bring out both the worst and best in people. The media mostly highlights the negative, so let’s focus instead on the bright side – how a crisis brings out the best in people.

Awakening Compassion

Most of us may see people, even ourselves, as essentially selfish and cruel. Then we find ourselves sharing and giving aid to other people who are in need. We even do so without asking anything in return. This seems to be a conflicting picture. This is even more noticeable in times of crisis.

Disasters overhaul our negative assumptions about human nature. Deep down, we know that human beings are compassionate and can be selfish when they choose to be. We tend to suppress this compassionate nature and develop an instinct for selfishness to survive instead. The world is harsh and people can be cruel after all. We protect ourselves from these elements by being harsh and cruel ourselves.

A crisis unmasks in us all these layers of protection that we have put on through the years. Disasters have brought about so many acts of kindness and self-sacrifice. Through the suffering of other people, we are shown a reflection of our own vulnerability and our own need for some one, other than ourselves, to help us and protect us.

Seeing other people struggling because of things that are not under their control makes us realize that this can also happen to us. We resonate even deeper with their situation if we have gone through a similar experience. This is how a crisis unlocks our sense of compassion and brings out the best in people. Even if the disaster is in another country, the human struggle we know is happening beyond the news, still tugs heavily at our hearts.

Realizing Fellowship

A crisis shows us our vulnerability as humans. It also shows us the weakness of other human beings. We expect people to fend for themselves when a natural calamity strikes. More often, the opposite is what actually happens.

There are many stories of people following instructions calmly instead of panicking as they go out a burning building. They calmly file out instead of shoving each other forward. They let the elderly, children and women go out first instead of running ahead themselves.

Stories of unsung heroes who carried injured fellows on their backs to help them survive a natural disaster abound. Complete strangers taking care of others who are injured in a cave-in always brings tears and pride in our hearts. The disaster almost cost them their lives but it also taught them a lesson in kindness and caring. They end up being lifelong friends because of overcoming a shared challenge together.

We are often told when we were young to be our brother’s keeper. To take care of our fellow humans. We often don’t take these words too seriously. Disasters make us realize the value of these words. It gives us clarity on what’s most important in the moment. The value of another person’s life takes on even greater significance. The value of more lives takes on greater importance than our own life. This is where the capacity to sacrifice for others comes from. This is how heroes are born, both known and unknown.

Community Solidarity

The news is almost always filled with the negative side of a crisis. We see acts of violence and selfishness, panic and fear. Some of these scenarios are true but there is a bright side to all of this. Amidst all the desperation, there are moments of joy.

A crisis usually results in a surge in solidarity among people of different backgrounds. We see people supporting campaigns to help the affected community. Some offer financial help, some are there to help physically and some provide support by providing supplies in kind. Everyone comes together in their intention to alleviate the condition of other people in difficulty. There is a sense of collaboration that is created when everyone is willing to listen to everyone else. Each one is only interested in how they can help. Most importantly, they offer their help without complaint and without expecting anything in return.

Even organizations take the initiative to show support. Sometimes it’s because the disaster is within their area or is of interest to them. In most cases, simply because they genuinely want to help.

The affected group of people themselves become even more solid in their sense of community. They take care of each other in various ways. Family members tend to prioritize the children and the elderly when distributing basic needs such as food and shelter. Those physically able take in extra effort to provide and help those who are weak and injured. The youth who are usually complaining at the small discomforts exert effort to work together to entertain or to help their community. Everyone acts as though they are a member of one community. There is solidarity to work towards a single cause.

Genuine Gratitude

The giver and the receiver benefits during a disaster. The giver is able to practice and express their kindness. The receiver is able to express their gratitude for the helping hand.

The giver also experiences gratitude in these trying times. They realize that they are lucky compared to the other. The giver becomes grateful for their luck. They see that they have more than the other. Their act of sharing is also an expression of gratitude for the good opportunities they have.

Everyone wants to give and share what they can in a disaster. The recipients are genuinely grateful. They too realize that they are lucky to survive the situation. Lucky enough to be able to receive help and to express back their thanks.

Both sides realize the things that they have to be grateful for. Both parties give each other hope in different ways. The disaster may have resulted in huge losses for one party. As a result, two parties end up gaining more in life experience and hopefully, in wisdom.

A lot of what is most beautiful about the world arises from struggle.

– Malcolm Gladwell

A disaster makes us realize that humans are deeply kind and compassionate. That strangers are actually caring and nurturing. That a community can act as one for a common goal.

A crisis can be life-altering. It shows us the ugly side of life and the worst side of people. It can also be enlightening and beautiful. A crisis is an opportunity to act and care for others. It helps us recognize that we need others but also that others need us. A crisis allows us to remember the things that we should be grateful for. It reminds us that there is hope and joy to be found even in the darkest times, and that we can be the source of both. This is how a crisis brings out the best in people and in groups of people.


Feature Image: Original Photo by Dan Meyers on Unsplash.

Posted by H.J. Rangas in Social, 0 comments
Finding Joy in This Challenging Time

Finding Joy in This Challenging Time

Reading Time: 3 minutes

It is normal to feel overwhelmed and unmotivated with all the things happening in the world right now. Yes, life is so stressful for many people nowadays. The health crisis is still there. We have not yet fully adapted to the new normal. And yet at the same time, we found ourselves trying to survive this economic crisis that was brought about by the pandemic.

It is okay to not be okay in times like this but to dwell on it for a long time is a different story. We must not fall prey into unending negative thoughts. The only way to counter this is to fill ourselves with positivity by looking at things to be grateful for in our lives. Finding joy in this challenging time is the key to staying positive amidst all of these.

The art of being happy lies in the power of extracting happiness from common things.

– Henry Ward Beecher

Finding Joy in the Small Things

As life slows down, let’s take this opportunity to be grateful and joyful for all the small things that we normally take for granted.

1.Waking Up

Did you know that about 150,000 people die each day? This is based on a research that was published in 2017. Today, that number may be higher because of Covid-19. The fact that you woke up this morning alone is already enough reason to be grateful for.

2.Family Bonding Time

We live in a fast-paced life. Most of us spend our time chasing money and growing our careers that we tend to sacrifice our relationships in the process. Then suddenly, the pandemic strikes and we found ourselves with too much spare time. If there is anything that this pandemic gave us, it is the gift of time. More than ever, we now have time for family bonding. Here is the perfect opportunity to reconnect with loved ones and create happy and lasting memories together.

3. Access to internet

A few years ago, unless you have an encyclopedia at home; if you want to learn something, you need to go to the library. Online learning and work from home are unthinkable. Nowadays, everything is just one click away. You can work, study, watch shows, movies and concerts online. You can even contact any person around the world without having to pay exorbitant long distance fees. Regardless of the speed of your internet or the model of the gadget that you are using, be thankful that you now have access to the internet.

4. Time for Self-Reflection

Did you find yourselves questioning your thoughts, beliefs, actions, career and other decisions in life lately? If you did, then congratulations! By asking yourselves important questions about who you are, where you are in your life right now and where you want to go from here is an indication of growth. It is the first step towards self-improvement. Now is the perfect time to look within yourself and find your purpose in life and unleash the genius within you.

5. Your Health

Your heart is beating. You can walk, run and do whatever you want. You are not sick. Aren’t you grateful for your health? You used to take it for granted. You party like there is no tomorrow. But now you know that health is the most important thing in life. You now find yourself, making healthy lifestyle decisions. You can experience the joys of life only because your senses allow you to see, hear, feel, taste and smell the beauty around you.

6.People Around You

Challenges are a lot easier to handle if you are surrounded by people who love you and support you. Be grateful that you have them in our life.

7. Nature

If you have experienced being locked down at home during this pandemic, you probably realized by now how important nature is to our lives. The flowers, trees, parks, mountains and oceans have become places to unwind because of their calming power. Nature has become a sanctuary in this pandemic world.

By finding joy in this challenging time, you are shifting your focus from the negative to the positive. As a result, life becomes not just bearable but fulfilling and amazing.


Feature Image by Larisa Koshkina from Pixabay Images

Posted by A.L. Jonas in Spiritual, 0 comments
How to Survive This Economic Crisis

How to Survive This Economic Crisis

Reading Time: 5 minutes

We are nowhere near the end of the Covid-19 health crisis yet we are faced again with another challenge – the economic crisis that was brought about by this pandemic. Millions of people around the world lost their jobs. Many businesses closed. It will take years before we can ever go back to the way it was before. The challenge now for many is how to survive this economic crisis?

I recently attended an webinar on Transformative Leadership. It was about developing business strategies on how to survive a crisis based on lessons from a leading conglomerate in the country. The key point is transformation. There is no way to survive this crisis without making some changes. Abandon the old model and create a new one. I found the lessons applicable on both businesses and individuals.

Here are my notes on the transformation guide and some insights and lessons on how you can apply them not only in your business but in your personal lives as well:

1. Ensure Financial Sustainability

The very foundation for everyone right now should be financial sustainability. Financial sustainability means being able to meet the cash flow requirements of the operations of the business or the monthly household expenses of the individual. There is no telling until when will this crisis last. So, liquidity is very important. It is time to cut down any unnecessary expenses and preserve cash.

For Businesses: Do you have enough cash? Do you have access to capital to continue operating your business? Do you have enough funds to continue paying your obligations? How to continue earning profit amidst the crisis?

For Individuals: How was your income affected? Do you have enough savings? Do you still have enough money to pay for your monthly household expenses? Are there already warning signs that you are living beyond your means? How to continue earning amidst the crisis?

2. Serve Customers

The customers are the foundation of any business. Knowing and understanding the customer needs at this time is essential for any business.

For Businesses: How will you be able to serve your customers without sacrificing your financial sustainability? There is no point continuing a business without profit. You also need to take into consideration that this is a health crisis. So, it is best to consider how to continue serving customers without putting their health at risk?

For Individuals: If your income was greatly affected by the crisis, it is time to look for other sources of income. Ask yourself, how can I serve others now using the skills and talent that I have? What can you offer to the community? Instead of chasing the money, focus on how you can be of help to others. Money is a by-product of the service that you rendered. The most successful businesses in the world addressed and solved an existing problem.

3. Protect Your People

The employees are the most important resource of any company. In these trying times, it is important that you have motivated and healthy people around you.

For Businesses: How do you protect your workforce? They are the ones who has a direct relationship with the customers; so, it is important that you protect your people. The success of any business heavily relies on customer satisfaction. In order to stay motivated to do their jobs, employees must first feel safe. Is their work environment safe enough?

For Individuals: Protecting your family and those who are dear to you should be one of your main concerns. It is hard to adjust to the new normal but it is the only way to stay healthy and safe during this crisis. Always remember that first and foremost, this is a health crisis.

4. Abandon the Old and Create A New Plan

Change is a necessary part of life. It is crucial for growth and success. However, it is also one of the hardest things in life. There is always that fear of the unknown. That’s why many people choose to stay in their comfort zone simply because it is familiar and comfortable.

Unfortunately, Covid-19 is here to stay. The world will not go back to 2019. Unless your industry benefited from the pandemic, it will be difficult to stay afloat and survive this economic crisis without some changes. Yes, it is ok to abandon the old plan and change to a completely different one.

For businesses: Assess your business model. Is it still applicable? If not, you need to abandon the old business model and create a new business plan for your company that will adhere to the new normal.

For individuals: Was your work greatly affected? Were your future plans and goals disrupted? Instead of merely just waiting for things to go back to normal, it is now time to reassess your goals and make some adjustments or changes. Redesign your life through a bucket list.

5. Come Up with a Transformation Recovery Plan

A total recovery will not happen overnight. Recovery would be done in stages. Without a plan, it will take longer to recover. This is also the time to have tough goals in order to make it through. Remember, your main concern now is SURVIVAL.

For Businesses: The business transformation recovery plan should include strategies and timeline. It should also include procedures and responsibilities. Tough goals include reduction in workforce, following strict schedules and time frames and coming up with new goals that are totally different from the past. Once in place, regular testing and validation should be done to make sure that the plan is working.

For Individuals: The transformation recovery plan for individuals should start by the creation of SMART goals based on the bucket list that you just made. To ensure success, your goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-based. Tough goals may include doing work that you have never done before.

6. Transform Corporate Culture

Corporate culture pertains to the shared values, beliefs and behaviors of a particular organization. The transformation recovery plan will only be successful if there is cooperation of all members of the organization. It is impossible to do it alone.

For Businesses: There will be a need to retrain people.You need to work hand-in-hand with your staffs. Make sure they understand. Make sure you are on the same page. You need the complete support of the organization to make it through the crisis.

For Individuals: Just like in businesses, the whole family should be in the same page. Each member of the family should understand what is going on. Everyone should do their share for the common goal.

7. Embrace Digital Transformation

Digital transformation is basically using technology to reach customers, transform processes and implement business solutions. The new normal would be heavily dependent online. That’s why, an online presence is essential for survival. Digitize what you can.

For Businesses: Do you already have on online presence? Can you reach your customers online? What part of your business processes can you digitize? Integrate digital technology in several areas in your businesses.

For individuals: Whether you are selling products or offering your services, you need to take advantage of the digital world. If you are looking into changing careers, there are lots of courses available online. The possibilities are all in your finger tips.

Good luck and let us all emerge from this economic crisis successfully!


Feature Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay Images.

Posted by A.L. Jonas in Financial, 0 comments
How Financial Literacy Can Change Your Life

How Financial Literacy Can Change Your Life

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Are you constantly worried about money?  How is your financial situation during the lockdown? Are you struggling to make ends meet? Do you have enough savings to go through this pandemic? Are you struggling to meet debt obligations?  Are you living from paycheck to paycheck? Do you feel that your salary is not enough to cover your monthly expenses?  Are your financial worries so stressful that they are already gravely affecting all aspects of your life including your health and personal relationships? Well, there is a solution to your problem. That is, a basic understanding of finance. Financial literacy can change your life for the better.

What will you do when you have money problems? Most people will look for ways to earn more money by sacrificing their time and health. They will either get a second job or work overtime just to raise the needed money. Other people will resort to borrowing money. However, not all loans are created equal. There are good loans and bad loans. Some loans like credit cards charge high interests and can easily spiral out of control especially if you don’t know how to use them. There are some who will simply rely on government support. While these strategies may help ease your financial burdens in the short term, it is not going to permanently solve your money issues in the long run.

There is only one solution to money problems and that is financial literacy. 

The single biggest difference between financial success and financial failure is how well you manage your money. It’s simple: to master money, you must manage money. –

T. Harv Eker

Financial literacy is essential in having a secure financial future. Unfortunately, financial literacy was never thought in school.  For most people, the yearning to learn financial literacy  only comes when they are already faced with financial crisis.

Academic qualifications are important and so is financial education. They’re both important and schools are forgetting one of them.

Robert Kiyosaki

So, what exactly is financial literacy?  Wikipedia defines financial literacy as ” the possession of the set of skills and knowledge that allows an individual to make informed and effective decisions with all of their financial resources”.  

In short, financial literacyis simply understanding money and how it works.  It is knowing how to budget, how to pay your bills, how to borrow money responsibly, how to save, invest and prepare for retirement.  Financial literacy will help you make good financial decisions in your everyday life that will ultimately affect your overall financial situation and change your life for the better.

Working hard is simply not enough. You can be a graduate of a four-year course, have a master’s degree or even a doctorate degree but know nothing about personal finance. Even if you are earning millions, you can still end up poor if you know nothing about how money works. It is not about how much money you make but it is all about what you do with the money that you earn that matters. 

It is not about how much money you make. The question is are you educated enough to keep it.

Shaquille O’Neal 

More so, have you ever wondered why the rich is becoming richer and the poor becoming poorer? Contrary to popular belief, it is not because the rich are all crooks. Neither it is the government’s fault. If you want to know the answer to this question, invest your time in financial education and soon you will find out that the only thing that is stopping you from being wealthy is you.

Make your first step and start your journey towards financial literacy now.

And remember, financial literacy is a lifelong journey. It will not end by simply reading just one book.  It is something that you need to learn throughout your life if you want to achieve complete financial freedom.


Edited version. First published in Pinoy Smart Living 10.19.2018Feature Image by mohamed Hassan from Pixabay Images

Posted by A.L. Jonas in Financial, 0 comments
How To Improve your Finances During a Crisis

How To Improve your Finances During a Crisis

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The current crisis has not only negatively affected the people’s health and wellbeing, it has also affected the world economy. Many industries are now falling. Companies, factories and stores are closing. People are losing their job. Unless this crisis will end soon, many people might find themselves with money worries in the near future. Although income might stop coming, household expenses will not. Debt and mortgages are piling up. Thus, it is important for everyone to how how to improve your finances especially during a crisis.

Here are some things that you can do right now on how to improve your finances during a crisis:

1.Review your budget

Take a good look at your monthly budget. If you don’t have any budgeting plan, now is the perfect time to start having one. The money jar budgeting system is a good way to start creating your survival budget in this tough time. If you are already having a rough time, then you need a budget more than ever. A budget will help you track down where your money is going. It will also help you plan on your future spending.

2.Cut Expenses Immediately

Take advantage of the times. Refrain from going out unless necessary. Focus on the basics. Nutrition and health should be the main concern of everyone. Do not buy non-essential items. Stop eating out. Your main goal right now is to cut down on expenses. You don’t know how long this crisis will last so it is important to have as much emergency money as possible.

3.Talk to Creditors

It is almost impossible to keep up with bills if you are being quarantined especially if you have no savings. The best approach is to talk to your creditors and explain your situation. Ask about your options.  The good news is that since you are not alone in this crisis, many governments already issued indefinite moratorium for those affected. Banks and insurance companies have started implementing assistance programs. Utility companies are following suit by waiving fees and postponing disconnections. 

4.Look for Other Sources of Income

If your income has already been affected, now is the time to look for other sources of income to boost your cash flows. There are many ways to earn even from the comfort of your home. Search online. Look for something that you are good at.You can be someone’s virtual assistant. You can do online tutoring.You can start creating your own blog or vlog. You can create webinars. The possibilities are endless.

5.Improve your Financial IQ

If you are worried about your finances during this pandemic, that is an indicator that there is a need for you to improve your financial IQ. To be financially literate means having the ability to manage personal finance matters. That includes having an emergency survival fund in times of crisis. 
It is not yet too late to start now. Take advantage of your time at home. Read about personal finance on books, magazine and the internet. Listen to podcast. Study the lives of millionaires and other highly successful people. Educate yourself and apply it in your life. Start by setting financial goals.

6.Don’t Panic

If you are already an investor; Warren Buffet, the most successful investor in the world, advised investors not to panic. It is best to stay invested and look at the long-term outlook of the stock market. Although it is only natural for investors to be fearful, it is never a good idea to buy stocks based on headlines. 

Be fearful when others are greedy. Be greedy when others are fearful. – Warren Buffet


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