Life Goes On

Jan

2021

Why I Stopped Investing in Stocks

Reading Time: 3 minutes

When I first got into the stock market I was always looking for the blue chip stock or the undervalued stock with the dream of thinking one day it will make me rich. After 2 years of getting 10%-15% returns; I realized it would take me many years to achieve my dreams. When I found Stock Options and a system that works with it, that’s when all my dreams of being financially free finally came true. In fact, if you asked me to buy shares on the stock market, it would feel like watching grass grow. That’s why I stopped investing in stocks.

Here’s 5 Reasons Why I Never Touch Stocks Anymore:

1. The Multiplier Effect

Options are a leveraged tool…when a stock goes up 5% it might make you happy but NOT wealthy unless you have a lot of money invested in that stock. For new investors with only a few thousand dollars, this is not going to make much of a positive impact on their financial situation.

But with Stock Options, a mere 5% increase in the share price can result in a 30%-50% increase in your investment. And if you can do that once or twice a month, the compounding effect over a year can be life-changing.

2. I Can Bet On Any Horse

Imagine going to the races and trying to pick the winning horse. Changes of you betting on the winning horse is very low. But what if you can bet on any horse and still, win?

Stock options investing is similar. if you know how to, you can bet on any ‘horse’ and make money. Whether the market goes up, down or sideways; you can still make money.

Whereas when buying shares, you generally can only make money if the stock goes one way…UP.

3. Protecting My Downside

The #1 greatest fear for every stock investor is that if the market has a big correction or crashes. I, on the other hand, have no such worries.

If the market crashes, my investments are well protected. Many times, I’ve made the most money when there’s a sudden huge market dip. That’s the beauty of using stock options rather than buying the actual stock.

4. Time Can be My Friend

For stock investors, if a stock goes sideways for a long period of time; they end up making no money or lose out on other investment opportunities. But for me, sideway stocks can be great. Every month I can make a good sum of money as the stock goes sideways.

That’s another benefit of using Options.

5. A Great Tool to Compliment Your Investment in Shares

Ok, so maybe you want to stick to investing in regular shares.

Options are actually a fantastic tool to compliment your investments in shares and help you get better returns.

Here’s just a few examples:

You can buy shares at a ‘discount’ to the current market price, usually at a 2% to 5% discount.
You can get ‘rent’ from your shares every single month of around 2%-5% of the value of your shares.
Protect your stock’s value. Imagine that for a small price, you can ‘lock-in’ the profits of your stock and not worry about waking up to a market crash…and still profit if the stock goes up further

But a word of caution…Options, like any leveraged tool, is like a double-edged sword. It can help you cut things but you can also cut yourself.

While Investing in Options can help you get incredible gains. There are many dangers:

Many people end up losing all their investment capital
Many people take risks that professionals would never make
You need a good system to invest otherwise you will be constantly stressed.
Time can be your enemy…the value of your Option can erode very quickly and be worthless.

That’s why you need proper education and a system that works…

PS. Warning! Once you discover the power of Options investing, you may not ever want to invest in anything else ever again.

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

Mirriam MacWilliams is a recipient of the “World’s Leading Trading Couch and Trainer” by Brand Laureate. She is the former National Director of Education of the largest investment club in the US.

A corporate high-flyer at the peak of her career, Miriam gave up a jet-setting job as the former Vice-President of Investor Relations of a large bottling company outside of the US, and a six-figure annual salary for a little known and predominantly male-dominated world of stock options trading.

Feature Image by Burak K from Pexels

Jan

2021

Ways To Make Your Room More Relaxing

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Are you feeling stressed out? Do you experience difficulty in sleeping? The best thing to do is allocate a space or room in your house for you to relax. More often than not, this space is your bedroom. You should be able to learn to forget all your worries once you enter this room. The goods news is that there are little things that you can do to make your room a tranquil space. Here are ways to make your room more relaxing.

1.Use Cool Colors

The color of your bedroom will play a significant role in how you feel, think and act. Warm colors are stimulating. They are best to use in rooms that have a lot of activities and movements. On the other hand, cool colors are relaxing and calming. Thus, it is recommended to use cool colors in the bedroom. Cool colors include blue, green, purple and other variations of the three. Use muted shades, neutral or pastel colors.

2. Put Warm Lighting

Use warm lighting in your bedroom. Leave your white and bright lights in other parts of your house. Warm lighting is the color of a candlestick. It is not stressful in the eye and helps promote relaxation. The natural circadian rhythm of the body predicts the external environment such as sunset and sunrise. Warm lighting gives signals to the body that it is time to unwind for the day and prepares the body to sleep.

3. Use Your Bed for Bed Activities Only

Beds are created to help you sleep and relax. Doing other activities such as working or watching television on the bed will make it more difficult for you to sleep and relax. Your brain associates your activity with your surroundings. If you work on the bed, your mind will associate the bed with work rather than sleep. Thus, it is best to allocate a space for work or studying. In the same way that the light emitted from the television set tricks the body into thinking that it is still daytime. It hinders the secretion of melatonin, the sleep hormone. So it is highly recommended not a television set in your bedroom.

4.Use Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is the use of oils that are extracted from plants to promote relaxation and relieve stress. It is also used as a healing treatment. The oils are either applied directly to the skin, sprayed in the air, inhaled or you can put it on bath water. Essential oils are supposed to stimulate the nerves in the nose that is directly connected to the brain creating a calming effect.

5.Use Blackout Curtains

Blackout curtains are made of thicker fabrics or materials resulting in pitch dark blackness in the room when drawn shut. They minimize the amount of light going inside the room making it feel like it is nighttime even though it is daytime outside. They also reduce the amount of heat going inside the room making the room cooler. This effect will improve your overall sleep quality.

6.Put plants

Bring nature in your room by Instilling bedroom plants. Real plants can help improve the quality of your sleep by giving you fresh and oxygen to breathe in.

7.Play Soft Sounds

A sound can either be soft or loud, depending on the volume. Soft sounds have a low volume and can be very gentle. That’s why soft sounds can help you relax. Examples of soft sounds include audiobooks, classical and soft pop music, clock ticking, guided meditation, nature sounds like birds or cricket chirping and a voice of a loved one.

8. Declutter

Numerous studies suggest that clutter has a negative effect on a person’s overall well being. It increases levels of cortisol, the stress hormone in the body. Thus, it is always important to declutter and keep your surroundings clean and orderly.

Feature Image by DarthZuzanka from Pixabay

Jan

2021

5 Under Rated Destinations in The Philippines

Reading Time: 4 minutes

These are just 5 of the most under rated destinations in the Philippines. Blessed with many beautiful places to explore, the Philippines has a lot to offer. This makes it really difficult to pick a favorite as each location has its own unique appeal.

There are certain places around the country that are not as popular. The good news is, travelers who have visited them end up with wonderful memories of their trip. That’s why these travel destinations are worth a spot in your travel bucket list.

1. Bukidnon

Bukidnon is one of the under rated destinations in the Philippines. It is a landlocked province in the northern part of Mindanao. It is nestled in a plateau and surrounded by hills and mountains. Bukidnon actually means “mountain dweller” or “highlander”. It is considered as the country’s food basket. You can enjoy the sight of vast plantations of sugarcane, pineapples, bananas, rice and corn.

Alalum Falls, Bukidnon | Photo: kleo-marlo
Info: Tourism Philippines Bukidnon

It has weather similar to Baguio; making it a great summer destination. Enjoy forest parks, mystic caves, spring resorts, mesmerising water falls, and great mountain views. Take your pick and create your own adventure in discovering Bukidnon’s hidden gems.

2. Camiguin Island

Camiguin is the “Island Born of Fire”. It holds the world record for the island with the most number of volcanoes for every square kilometer. Mount Uhay, Mount Hibok-Hibok, Mount Ulan and Mount Mambajao are all volcanoes on this island. The island hosts the Lanzones Festival, which is one of the most popular festivals in the country.

The island is a secluded destination. It has refreshing waterfalls, cold and hot springs and an untouched sand bar. The sunken cemetery, the well-preserved ancestral homes and churches that are centuries-old are popular tourist spots. If you’re going to Cebu, be sure to include Camiguin in your itinerary.

3. Camotes Islands

Be sure to add Camotes Islands to your Cebu itinerary. The islands are located between Cebu and Leyte; composed of four towns in Cebu: Port, Tudela, Pilar and San Francisco.

According to local folklore, the Spaniards asked the locals the name of the place; the reply they got was the word “camote”. The locals were harvesting sweet potatoes (camotes). They thought that the Spaniards were asking what they were digging. That was how the group of islands got its name.

Santiago Beach in Camotes, Cebu | Photo: cebucitytour

The islands boasts of beautiful white beaches, amazing caves and a lake. You can enjoy scuba diving, free-diving or snorkeling, and other beach sports like volleyball and frisbee. You can immerse yourself in the beauty of nature by taking island tours. Take a tour of Lake Danao, Timabu Cave, Buho Rock, Bukilat Cave, and Busay Waterfalls, to name a few.

4. Catanduanes

Is Batanes on your bucket list? If you can’t afford Batanes yet; Catanduanes is a great altertnative. Nicknamed “land of the howling winds”; typhoons often visit the area. Prepare your travel essentials for such weather.

Tuwad-Tuwadan Lagoon, Catanduanes
Photo: catanduanes.gov.ph

Aside from the howling winds and strong ocean breeze; the beauty of Catanduanes will sweep you away. Enjoy gazing in awe and don’t forget to take pictures of its serene mountain tops, scenic grasslands and towering cliffs. It has historic sites just like Batanes and rock formations that will look gorgeous on your Instagram feed.

5. Siquijor

Another one of the most under rated travel destinations in the Philippines is Siquijor. It is popularly known as one of the most mysterious places to visit in the Philippines. It has a serene cove which is believed to be the haunting ground of witches, sorcerers and even mythical, supernatural creatures. The mystery of the place is heightened by these rumors which are all untrue.

Paliton Beach, Siquijor | Photo: designthinktravel

Travelers who have visited the place are mesmerized by the beauty of its natural wonders. These include waterfalls, parks and beaches like Kagusuan Beach, Paliton Beach and Salagdoong Beach. Pick a curious bunch of friends who are eager for an adventure and book a trip to this mystical location.

There are sure to be other places around the country that should be on this list. We would love to hear your recommendations.

Travel safety is a big concern for all of us. Fortunately, the safety of air travel is each airline’s major priority. Airports have stricter health and safety measures too. Don’t decide on a destination yet. Booking flights have undergone a lot of changes in the new normal. Read up on the new requirements and processes first. Don’t want to go too far? Consider going on a road trip instead.

Updated. First published on Pinoy Smart Living on 08.16.2019.
Feature Image: Original Photo by Adrianna Calvo from Pexels.

Jan

2021

10 Symptoms of a Poverty Mindset

Reading Time: 6 minutes

Do you have a rich or a poverty mindset? Did you know that a poverty mindset can lead to financial scarcity? Yes, our belief about things can influence our decisions and behavior about money. Thus, if you want to have financial abundance, you need to start with your mindset. So, how do you know if you are suffering from a poverty mindset. What are the 10 symptoms of a poverty mindset?

Half Full or Half Empty

Look at the featured image above. Do you see the glass as half full or half empty?

Some of you will probably say it is half full while some will say it is half empty. Your answer will depend on your attitude and perception of reality.

It is amazing how a single photo can be perceived in two completely opposite points of views. This simple test is actually used by psychologists to determine whether a person is an optimist or a pessimist.

Why is our perception so important? It is important because it will affect how you live your life.

Our life is shaped by our mind; we become what we think.
– Gautama Buddha

Our mindset greatly affects the direction of our lives. It influences our happiness, health, relationships and yes, even our finances. The financial gap between the rich and the poor is not because of the money, neither is it because of level of education, nor any other external factors; but rather it is all because of the difference in mindset.

So, if you feel like you have been working so hard all these years and yet you are being held back, maybe you are suffering from a poverty mindset.

10 Symptoms of A Poverty Mindset

To verify if you really have a poverty mindset, take a look at the following symptoms and ask yourself if you have it in you or not:

1.You Complain A Lot

You complain, complain, complain and complain. Did you know that complaining is the worst possible thing that you can do to yourself? When you complain, this means you focus on the negative aspects of your life. You focus on your problems when there are in fact a lot of things to be grateful for.

Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.
– Oprah Winfrey

Your mind is like a magnet. What you focus on expands. If you focus on the negative, more bad things will happen in your life.

2.You Play The Blame Game

You blame your parents. Sometimes, you blame your siblings. At work, you blame your boss or your employers. You also blame the government. At home, you blame your spouse. Some even blame their genes. You practically blame anything and everything around you. It is always somebody else’s fault but you. You refuse to take responsibility for the undesirable things. That’s a poverty mindset.

Many people who always blame the government for their situation. Yes, that may be true. After all, governments are far from perfect. However, how come there are people who became very successful in the same environment? The difference lies in the mindset. You can either play the blame game all you want or you can begin to take responsibility in your life and do something to change your situation.

3.You Believe You Are Always Right

Do you love saying “I told you so“? Do you always have to have the last word? If you answer yes, then you are a narrow-minded person. A narrow-minded person is a person who is not open to new ideas. They believe that their opinion is always right. You will never win an argument against this kind of person. If you are this kind of person, then that is another symptom of a poverty mindset.

To become successful, you need to accept that you don’t know everything. You need to be open to new ideas and embrace new ways of thinking.

The only true wisdom is in knowing that you know nothing.

– Socrates

4. You Won’t Invest in Yourself

You have money to spend on travels, gadgets, clothes and entertainment but you don’t have a budget to spend on further studies, seminars or even to buy a book. Some argued that they simply have no time. All those things are just mere excuses. What people do not realise is that the greatest investment that they can do is to invest in themselves. Your future is largely dependent on your willingness and ability to invest in yourself.

For example, if you work in a company and you think that your salary is very small, then ask yourself this question, is there someone else in your organization that is earning more than you do? Then why do you think the company is paying that person more? The answer is simple, most of the time, your compensation is based on your knowledge and skills. You want to earn more? Then invest in yourself.

5. You Believe is That Money is the Root of All Evil

If you believe that money is the root of all evil and all rich people are greedy, then you are already unconsciously derailing your way to success. These negative beliefs about money are products of your environment. If people around you believe in this idea, then your belief and value systems were definitely influenced.

For the record the bible verse where this belief system originated did not state that money is the root of all evil.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
– 1 Timothy 6:10

The verse clearly states that it is not money per se that is evil but rather it is the love of money that is the root of all evil. Money is nothing but a tool. Money can also be use for the good of others.

6. You Avoid Your Finances

Do you know your personal net worth? Your net worth is the amount of everything that you own minus everything that you owe.

People who have a poverty mindset avoid looking at their finances or they simply don’t bother at all. Some people are even scared of looking at their monthly credit card statements. If you are scared to take a closer look and examine your finances, then that’s a symptom that you have a poverty mindset. You are scared to face reality. You keep on buying stuff you do not need and you don’t want to pay attention to where your money is going.

You need to keep track of your personal cash flow. You can only improve your financial situation if you are fully aware of your present financial situation to begin with.

7.You Focus on the Now

What are your plans 5 years from now? How about 10 to 20 years from now? If you have no idea how to answer these questions, then that is another symptom that you have a poverty mindset.

You put importance on the short-term rather than the long-term. You want everything now without considering the future consequences. You have no plan for the future. A financial goa l should be a must for everyone.

8.You Have All the Latest Trends on Credit

Take a look at all your possessions. Do you own the latest gadget? Are you a walking advertisement of signature brands? If you can afford it, then that’s a different story. However, if you have been using your credit card to pay for the purchases in monthly installments, then you have a problem. If you are this person, then that’s another symptom of a poverty mindset.

Spending on things will only make you feel better temporarily. Remember, you have nothing to prove to anyone. Don’t be so concerned in showcasing your wealth to people you don’t even like.

9.You Focused on Me, Myself and I

A poverty mentality focuses on getting rather than giving. If you are not willing to do anything for anybody without receiving anything in return, then it is a sign that you have a poverty mindset. You always think of yourself first. You always look into what’s in it for you.

For example, in business, are you more concerned about how much profit can you make rather than how much value you can add to your product or service? In a relationship, are you focused on what your partner can do for you rather than what you can do for your partner?

You need to give first before you can receive. That is the law of the universe. The most successful businesses in the world gave value to consumers first before their businesses grew.

10.You are A Consumer Rather Than An Investor

A few days before your salary, you are already thinking about what you will buy. You prioritise spending rather than investing. You spend first and save whatever is left behind. Most of the time, there is nothing left to save. So basically, you work to spend. All wealthy people save first before spending.

If you score 0 to 2, congratulations! You have a wealth mindset. It is just a matter of time before you become wealthy, if you are not one yet.

If you score 3 to 5, you are not yet there but you are on your way to overcoming your poverty mindset. Having the correct mindset is your first step towards financial freedom.

If you score 6 and above, that is a clear indication that you have a poverty mindset. Fortunately, mindsets can change. You need to deliberately immerse yourself on a growth mindset on a daily basis. That’s the only way for you to change your financial situation.

Edited Version. First Published in Pinoy Smart Living on 08.07.2018

Feature Image by Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay.

Jan

2021

How to Not Get Stuck in the Past

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Last November of 2018, Ariana Grande’s single, “Thank U, Next” broke records when the single became the most streamed song with almost 50 million streams in the first week of its release. The song garnered much attention because the singer publicly revealed her past. In the song, Ariana said that each time a relationship ends, she felt pain but at the same time she is grateful because of the lessons that she learned from each one. She knows that all those past experiences will help her somehow with her future relationships. She is now a better person and a stronger one at that because of what she had to go through. More than simply controversial and entertaining, the song has a valuable lesson. That is, how to not get stuck in the past.

Bad things do happen in life. Things don’t always come our way whether it is our career, business, health, family, love or relationships. It can be very painful especially if we did our very best to make it work. Some people get stuck and allow the hurt from past experiences to continue to hurt them. However, not moving on can only succeed in jeopardizing future happiness. After whether we like it or not, life goes on.

Here are some tips on how to not get stuck in the past:

1.Learn from the Past

Have you ever wondered why we have to take up History in school? That is because history gives valuable lessons. Learning from past mistakes will allow us to grow and not repeat the same mistake over again. Even the COVID-19 pandemic has lessons that we can apply to make our lives better. Learn the lesson, no matter how painful so that you can start to move on.

2.Be Grateful

Yes, it is possible to be grateful even in tough times. Be grateful for the experience. It may sound cliche but challenges are blessings in disguise. Whatever it is that you had to go through was really meant for you to grow and become a better person. Moreover, by being grateful you are shifting your focus from the negative to the positive. A positive attitude can help ease the burden that you are carrying.

Thank you, next.
– Ariana Grande

3. Forgive Those Who Wronged You

When you forgive someone, it does not mean that you are condoning the wrong things. It does not mean forgetting and reconciling with the other person.What it simply means is that you are now releasing and freeing yourself from the anger, resentment, guilt and other negative emotions. This will do wonders to your emotional state and general well-being. The act of forgiveness does not only pertain to other people but also yourself. You need to learn to forgive and love yoursel f.

4. Make Clear Goals

You will forever be stuck in the past unless you are very clear on what you want and where you want to go. Start by redesigning your life through a bucket list.

5. Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

Did you know that success happens outside of your comfort zone? Your comfort zone is your safe place. Since you are comfortable in that place, there is really no room for growth because there is no need to. Stepping outside of your comfort zone means doing new things that you are not comfortable with. You will need to learn new skills and adapt to a changing environment but there will be transition and growth in the process. It is similar to a caterpillar undergoing metamorphosis. Don’t remain a caterpillar all your life. Find your genius zone and be a beautiful butterfly.

6. Remove Toxic People From Your Life

Did you know that you are the average of the five people you spend most of your time with? Your thoughts, beliefs and actions are highly influenced by the people around you. Thus, it is important to choose the people you spend most of your time with. Remove negative people from your life. Spend time with positive and supportive individuals instead.

7. Believe in Yourself

Fear is crippling. It can hold you back in life. That is why it is important to learn how to overcome fear. Conquer your fears by trusting yourself. Believe in yourself. Trust that you can do great things.

In short, allow yourself to feel the pain then move on. Don’t dwell on it. Get yourself ready for the next adventure.

Updated version. First published in Pinoy Smart Living on 11.17.2018

Photo by Rodolfo Clix from Pexels

Jan

2021

The Power of Hope in Our Life

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The power of hope is often mentioned only in times of crisis. In fact, it is a major component in motivating us to work hard to succeed in our goals. We know that being successful is a hard process. There are a lot of sacrifices before victory is achieved. One goes through many ups and downs during the journey.

During the down times, it is always hard to keep going forward; to stop ourselves from quitting; to decide to keep going on. It is during these times that our determination matters the most. What motivates us to keep going on is our hope for better things to come.

What is Hope?

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines hope as “desire accompanied by expectation of, or belief in fulfillment.” The Cambridge Dictionary defines it as “something good that you want to happen in future, or a confident feeling about what will happen in the future.”

What these definitions have in common is the concept of hope as a desire for a better future. But in reality, we always don’t get what we hope for. Yet we still hope. We have an intrinsic belief that as long as we have hope, things will always turn out for the best.

I am prepared for the worst but hope for the best.
Benjamin Disraeli

This concept is hard to define or describe. Dr. Jerome Groopman, M.D. defines hope based on what his patients taught him as an oncologist for 30 years. He was quoted by Dr. Asa Andrew in his book The Anatomy of Health:

Hope is one of our central emotions, but we are often at a loss when asked to define it. Many of us confuse hope with optimism, a prevailing attitude that things will turn out for the best. But hope differs from optimism. Hope does not arise from being told to think positively, or from hearing an overly rosy forecast.

Hope, unlike optimism, is rooted in unalloyed reality. Although there is no uniform definition of hope, I found one that seemed to capture what my patient had taught me. Hope is the elevating feeling we experience when we see — in the mind’s eye — a path to a better future. Hope acknowledges the significant obstacles and deep pitfalls along that path. True hope has no room for delusion.
Dr. Jerome Groopman, M.D.

The Power of Hope

Hope is more than optimism or positivity. It is not just an attitude or a mindset; it is more of a belief. A belief in oneself as well as a belief in a power bigger than you. This belief also assumes that there is someone or something outside of you, that is more powerful than you, that is looking after you and helps you when you need it most. All you need is to ask and believe, and continue believing even when it seems you are being pulled in another direction.

If you read the autobiographies of many successful individuals; you will find that most of them never lost hope in times of crisis. In fact, their hope became stronger during these times. They surrender to a power beyond themselves. They believed in that power to help them get through their struggles. That is why they never gave up on their dreams. Sometimes, they didn’t get what they want. But because they kept working hard towards their goals, they always found a way to succeed; even if it wasn’t in the original way they intended to.

Hope is being able to see that there is light despite the darkness.
Desmond Tutu

There are many stories to attest to the power of hope in our lives. From miracles to coincidences, serendipity, and even the sight of a beautiful sunrise; we find hope every where, every day as long as we keep believing. The power of hope is what enables us to still keep on smiling, despite the negative circumstances.

What are your hopes for this new year? What are you hopeful for each day?

Feature Image: Original Photo by Mateus Campos Felipe on Unsplash.

Jan

2021

5 Big Ways to Save on Electricity in Your Home

Reading Time: 5 minutes

We use a lot of electrical devices and appliances in our homes and there are a lot of ways to save on electricity so we don’t get a shock when our bill arrives. Here are 5 big ways, and small ways often ignored, that will help you save on electricity in your home.

Save on electricity in your home in big and small ways.

1. Maximize Natural Means

Utilizing your home’s features to combat cold or warm weather issues will help you save on electricity costs in your home.

Curtains are not just decorative but are useful to control your house’s temperature too.

Close doors and windows to trap heat or cold air. Especially when using electrical devices in a room, be sure to close doors and windows to trap in warm or cool air when using a heater or an aircon unit.

Use your curtains and beddings to trap more heat during cold months. Your curtains serve as natural ventilation for your whole house so open or close them to help regulate temperature inside the home in different weather conditions. Use thicker blankets during cold months and thinner ones with lighter materials during hot months.

Let plants help with ventilation. Place plants indoors to provide shade as well as encourage natural air circulation inside the house. Plants can be placed in all parts of the house including the kitchen and bathrooms. They not only get rid of unpleasant smells but also generate a lot of oxygen to cool and freshen up a room.

Turn off electrical devices when not in use. A common and simple, but often forgotten method to save on electricity, is to turn off appliances when not in use. If you are going out of a room, make it a habit to switch off the lights and the aircon or heater especially if you will be gone for a while.

2. Resort to Low-Cost Alternatives (Whenever Possible)

We need to evaluate what types of appliances we really need to use. As much as possible, choose the option that will be less costly.

Do you really need to turn on the aircon unit or will a ceiling fan do?

Use a ceiling fan instead of the aircon unit if it’s not too hot. If you’re feeling hot in a room, evaluate if you really need to turn the airconditioning on or if a ceiling fan will do. If it’s not the height of summer, perhaps the electric fan is a better and cheaper choice.

Install a dimmer to control your use of light. There are rooms in the house that we access at different times of the day which means that we also need different amount of lighting each time. Install a dimmer to control the amount of light you use at different times during the day. This way you ensure that you only use the amount of light you actually need.

Use a power surge strip with switches. Plug common standby devices such as phone chargers into a power surge strip with individual switches. This way, you don’t have to unplug the charger each time. You can just turn off the switch instead.

3. Save Energy in the Kitchen

We have a lot of energy-sucking devices in the kitchen but there are lots of ways to tame these electrical vampires. The kitchen is an area where we can save big on electricity in our home.

Use your stove and oven wisely to reduce electrical costs.

Thaw food in the fridge to shorten cooking time. The night before, transfer food from the frozen section of your fridge to the cooling section to thaw them instead of leaving them outside in room temperature on the day you will use them. Doing this will help you thaw food while keeping them safe from contamination. They will be ready to cook when taken out from the refrigerator so you don’t have to wait for them to thaw, reducing your cooking time.

Allow food to cool before putting them in the refrigerator. Let food cool properly to room temperature to maintain your refrigerator’s temperature. When putting in hot food, this will cause your refrigerator’s cooling system to work harder to quickly cool the food.

Don’t put uncovered food or drinks inside the refrigerator. Condensation from uncovered food and beverages, especially when they are still warm and steaming will cause your refrigerator to work harder to maintain the cool temperature.

Keep your fridge full. If you have a lot of space inside because you have used most of your groceries, use bottles of water to occupy the space. Your refrigerator will use more energy to cool the empty space than if there was something inside to occupy the space.

Turn-off stoves and ovens earlier when cooking. The remaining heat will continue to warm the cooking vessel which will continue to cook the food.

Preheat the oven only when needed. Preheating is important for foods that take a long time to cook such as meat. Otherwise, preheating is not really necessary.

Cook with lids on. To further make cooking faster, cook with your cooking vessel’s lid on. This will maximize the use of heat and hasten cooking time so you use less energy.

Air dry your dishes. Instead of using the dishwasher’s dryer, opt to air dry your dishes instead to save on energy.

Plan and cook your meals ahead of time. Plan a meal preparation schedule once or twice a week so you only use your kitchen appliances during those times instead of every day.

4. Save Energy with Your Laundry

Washing clothes, like cooking, take up a lot of energy. Here are some ways to reduce electricity usage when doing your laundry.

Laundry can be such a chore but you can save big on electricity bills if you do your laundry right.

Wash with cold water instead of hot. This will not only prolong the life of your clothes but reduce your washing machine’s energy use too.

Use shorter wash cycles. Again, this is a way to preserve your clothes life longer and reducing energy cost at the same time.

If possible, air dry your clothes rather than using the dryer. The dryer in your washing machine is one of the biggest energy vampires in your house. If the sun is shining outside, air dry your clothes instead.

Use dryer balls. If you do use the dryer, toss dryer balls with your clothes to help dry the clothes faster. This will also help make your clothes softer and fluffier when you take them out from the dryer.

5. Practice Regular Maintenance Habits

To keep your appliances and devices in tip-top shape so they don’t become huge energy vampires; follow these tips to save more on your electricity budget for your home.

Clean and maintain your appliances to maximize their use and save money.

Regularly clean your appliances. Appliances can accumulate dust and gunk which will hamper their normal working condition. Regularly clean them to keep them in efficient working condition.

Stick to maintenance checks. Don’t forego scheduled maintenance checks especially for appliances with lifetime warranties. This ensures that potential issues will be readily addressed so you don’t need to spend a big amount for a replacement later on.

Get repairs done as soon as you detect them. When an issue has been detected, have the repairs, replacement parts or cleaning requirements completed as soon as possible. This will save you from incurring more expensive repair cost later on when the problem progresses and will save you money on buying a replacement for an appliance that has gone beyond repair.

We’re sure you have other tricks to add to these tips to save on electricity costs. Share them with us in the comments below or on our Facebook page. Your monthly budget will surely be looking great with more savings.

BONUS TIP: Track your expenses so you can see where you can save even more.

First published on Pinoy Smart Living on 2018.12.03.
Feature Image: Original Photo by Rodolfo Clix from Pexels.

Jan

2021

Life Goes On

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The year 2020 has been tough. But no matter how tough it has been, you were able to survive it all. So, congratulations! You made it at this point. It is now 2021. The New Year signifies new beginnings. Life cannot remain in a standstill. At some point, people need to move on and accept that life goes on.

Challenges are part of life. Even without this pandemic, every human being will go through challenges in their lives. What is important is how individuals will react to challenges that will come their way. It may sound cliche but everything happens for a reason. Learn the lesson and move on. That is the essence of life.

The COVID-19 pandemic literally caused the world to a standstill. the world which we are used to ceases to exist. Suddenly, we have no choice but to adapt to the new normal. It happened in the blink of an eye that no one was prepared for it. But now that it has been months since the start of the pandemic, people need to learn the lessons from COVID-19 and move on. There is no point resisting the new norm. It will only cause stress and more problems. Unfortunately for us, it will be difficult to go back to the world that we were used to. So, there is nothing left to do but to embrace change.

Life Goes On is a promise of a better tomorrow. We don’t know when it will come but it will come. One day, all these things will remain just a distant memory.

Close your eyes for a moment. Hold my hand to the future, let’s run away. Like an echo in the forest, the day will come back again as if nothing happened.
– BTS, Life Goes On

New Beginnings

The New Year is the perfect time to redesign our life through a bucket list. The goals that we had before may no longer be applicable in the new normal. So, take this time to reflect on what it is that you really want in life. Visualize your ideal life. Unleash the genius within you. It is okay to start from scratch. Just believe in yourself. Believe that you have the power to create your reality. You can be happy, healthy and wealthy. It is all up to you. Listen to your hear t.

No matter what happens, or how bad it seems today. life goes on, and it will be better tomorrow.
– Maya Angelou

Let’s all work for a better 2021. Happy New Year!