Living paycheck to paycheck is loathsome. The best way to get out of this kind of system is to start saving and be smart in spending. Budget is the initial step to make savings and smart spending work. One trouble of many people is how to make ends meet and live within the budget. The start is full of enthusiasm but never sticking to the budget in the end. So what seems to be the problem and why many fail to follow the budget?1. There are no clear priorities in saving. Goal setting is the initial step in budgeting. Motivation is what everything keeps rolling. Budgeting becomes a chore, thus, you must have the motivation or eye on something you want. Budget helps you manage your expenses at this moment so you can buy things you want and have fun in the future. So ask yourself what you hope to get from your budgeting experience?2. Setting unrealistic target is a bad start. To get started, try to track your expense at least one month. In this way, you will be able to gauge how much will be your savings and what are your major expenses. Supposing 40% of you paycheck goes to your mortgage, 20% for debt payments, 15% for food, 5% for utilities, 5% for transportation and 5% for other miscellaneous expenses. You have 10% left on your take-home pay for your savings. There are many budget worksheets online that are free to use. I personally use one of the spreadsheets in Budgets are Sexy. 3. Do not quit too soon. Succesful budgeting takes time. Accept failures and learn from your mistakes. Stick with your motivation and goals to achieve your budget. Think always that you want to stop from living from paycheck to paycheck. For sure, in the end, your successes will outnumber your failures.Taking control of your money will lead you to a thorough analysis of your spending. Seeing where your money goes and figuring out how to plug the leaks. Budgeting is the key to achieve financial security. Start a good way of saving money and be smart in spending your hard-earned money.
I have been busy these past two weeks and here's why:
My father, whose work is based in Middle East, arrived on the 9th. My sister (next to me) is getting married last week of this month. There has been a lot of preparation going on in our house (parent's house). I will be singing "The Prayer" but haven't had any practice yet!
There are so many things to do in the office right now. My boss went to UK for some training and will be out for two months. There are just so many reports that need to accomplish each and every day. But, I am happy and I love being busy.
Aside from the wedding, my husband got an offer to work in Dubai. The offer is irresistable but family status is not included. Meaning, husband will get a resident/working visa except me and his son. Therefore, since our priority is the family, we will go where husband is. My son and I will follow to Dubai maybe after two months. Hubby has to settle first and find a good flat for us, and then he can sponsor us to live in Dubai.
So, ladies and gentlemen, to all my readers, I confess, I have been busy researching and asking around about living, working and raising a child in Dubai. This is honestly a big decision and a big move for us. There will be no immediate family there whom I could ask with for suggestion. Unlike here, I have my mom and my mom-in-law plus sisters and close girl-friends. I have been medidating and thinking so damn hard about this thing and there are factors that made me decide to move to Dubai.
A. My family is my priority. I don't want my son to be away from any of his parent. Thus, we have to be close together and should sharingly guide our son growing up.
B. Good opportunity to be independent and away from in-laws. Well, since I live with my in-laws, I know my experience in Dubai will be perfectly different from what I am currently in. I am just thinking, this time, it will just be me and my husband. All decisions will be decided by us. No interventions from anyone.
C. Good work offer. My husband has a great offer and I know I can find a job there because I am an Accountant. There is no tax in Dubai. Meaning, if monthly rate is AED 15,000, that whole amount is yours and no deductions! Every employee will get to experience a diversified environment since almost everyone is an expat.
D. Start as a new life. I could say life in Dubai will be a new beginning in our marriage life. New environment, new people, new employers, new investments, new learnings.
Now above are the things I have in mind but, I am still unsure whether to find a job right away. I just have two options, find work and send my son to daycare everyday while me and my husband are both working or; stay at home and be a work-at-home mom and I'll personally take care of my son. I have been dreaming to write full-time. The last option I think is better but still, things may change and I might end up in Australia!
J
I first came to Sydney for a 3-month work from Philippines. I fell in love with the place and now working for my papers to get a Permanent Residency Visa including my hubby and son. Here’s my Top 6 Reasons Why I Fell in Love with Sydney:
1. Weather – I live in a tropical country and being in Australia is no different when it comes to climate. I love the golden rays of sun. I love autumn and winter in Sydney! I can definitely grow old in here without suffering from extreme snowy winter like Canada. 2. Manly and Bondi Beach – I am a beach sucker! I love summer! Bondi is one of the beautiful beaches in Sydney. It is a must–see place if you are in Sydney. Manly Beach is also one of my fave spots. I remember I visited this place every week and listened to the waves while reading my book. I usually pack my things after taking a dip or when the place gets crowded come past 10 in the morning.
3. Nature – I love nature. I go with friends to climb and camp. So, when I heard about The Three Sisters and Blue Mountain, I didn’t think twice to drive west to see the famous mountain. I remember it was Good Friday when I went down at the bottom of the Three Sisters. I used to climb and reach summit, but here, I must cliff walk to reach the bottom of the mountain. I also went to Cronulla and went bush walking in the Royal National Park (the oldest national park in the world). 4. Taronga Zoo – Everybody loves zoo! You don’t need to be a kid to like a zoo. The park is made for the family. They’ve got a kiddie zoo. They also have shows with sea lions. I wish I could bring my son to this place someday.
5. Harbors – Sydney has spectacular harbors. The place just makes it welcoming to any visitors in the city. Walking in Circular Quay and feeding your eyes with spectacular views like The Opera House, Harbor Bridge, Luna Park and the North Shore. The place makes you slow and relaxes you. It fades tension away,
6. Paddington – This is the place where cheap items are sold. I bought some stuff here and at the basement of the market is where the fresh vegetables and fruits are. I actually cook food like I was in my own homeland because I buy my weekly foodies here.
 Last year, I wrote an article in an online directory about freelance writing as a passion and a part-time gig for a working mom. Today, I would like to share this article and may this serve as an inspiration to all mothers out there who like to take a dive in a world of freelance jobs.
Freelance Writing As a Part-Time Gig For a Working Mom
Being a working mom is not easy. One has to consistently monitor the cash inflows of the family. Raising kids means increasing expenses and increasing your investments. It is important to always expand the passive income.
A couple of months ago, I found a really good paying part-time job suitable for working moms who are looking for additional income. I came across a forum and the poster was looking for a part-time article writer. So, instead of spending hours browsing on the internet, I took the job and wrote five articles. After five articles, another five came. This just happened in a matter of days. After more than a week, another twenty articles were requested. I was just so happy! My PayPal account balance suddenly moves.
My writing interests increased again when I started to have writing projects. Researching, writing and reading. These three are the tasks that give free flowing ideas. I'd say writing stimulates my mind. Actually, it is very addicting. After each project, I wanted more and more. I want to have a continuous project. Honestly, I have stopped writing after I graduated college. Stepping the real corporate world and facing my profession stopped me from writing. Writing became less demanding since my work required me to be more analytical and reports are repetitive periodically.
My search for additional income as a working mother helped me realized that aside from reading, I love freelance writing. My very first client is very supportive up to now. I actually had a foreign client and requested my writing services and I was just referred.
There is no harm in trying for any job. As long as it pays and credible then, it's good to start. Any moms looking for part-time work is easy. As long as there is a will of finding one, there is always a way of landing the right one.
 I totally envy couples who both share their passion in planning for their future.
My husband is an Architect and I am an Accountant. When it comes to saving plans, I do all the planning. When baby arrived, I shopped for the best Term Insurance. My reason is to protect our child. Whatever happens to any of us, we are both insured and our child will be supported until he finishes his college.
Well, since hubby doesn’t know anything about insurance, I took the liberty of choosing the right plan for him because boys will always be boys. Men prefer to talk and read about their collection toys instead of reading about investments and passive incomes! So, I have been thinking maybe we are really made for each other. Shortcomings of any one of us will be delivered by the other one. Well, honestly, I don’t know anything about pets or sports but hubby does. I don’t know anything about cars, but he does. I don’t have any leisure, expensive hobbies (except buying books!) but hubby shares his hobbies and ideas to me. He brings me to places to relax. Therefore, everything is in balance.
To show you how different our minds work, here is an example:
ME HIM
Plan to get term insurance for both of us at low cost He plans to buy Jordan Nike or Lacoste shoes
I plan to invest in Variable Life Insurance He plans to buy a brand new car
I want open another new savings for child He plans to upgrade his computer
The good thing really is that my husband is a good provider. He supports me with all my investing /savings plan and gives his share of income. He trusts me with this task J On the other side, whenever he wants to buy another toy for himself, I just couldn’t take it! I always ask, “Do you really really need that? How much will that give to you in return?”
Above is just a sample of men vs. women ways of doing things but in the end wives take the work that husbands forget to include in their itineraries in life.
 Nothing is simple in this world. We are in a world full of competitiveness. If you lack information, it could significantly change the way of your life. I am so inspired of the people who live in a well-balanced life without so much fuss.
Living a simple life means living a balanced life. How do most people do this? Here's my own components of living a simple balanced life.
Avoid multi-tasking
Take down notes. Singles, mommies and daddies are all full of daily tasks. Multi-tasking is one common thing at the moment and also the reason for stress. Try to write down all those tasks on a paper. Try to free your mind of all the chores and write them all down. Isn’t the feeling wonderful having a free mind? You may then prioritize your list based on what’s important and what’s urgent. This will help in the meantime to relieve stress of so many things to do.
Start Your Day With A Focus
Notice that there are many people wake up and jump out of the bed without thinking what they really want to accomplish for the day. Well, personally, I am guilty of this but trying to be more organized in thought and action make things light and easy. Starting the day happy and with the sense of direction will definitely make the day productive.
Socialize Outside Your Work
To achieve a fulfilling life also means meeting other people outside of work. Expanding your exposure to people you don’t work with is a healthy way of balancing life. For a start, you may try signing up for a photography class, joining the gym or doing a volunteer work. Meeting other group of people enhances one’s social skills and abilities.
Assess Your List in #1
In your list, how many hours do you spend in work? Family? Self? Friends? God? Do you a lot time for each area of focus in your life? Living a simple life means you have a time allotted to every part of yourself.
 Actually, I have a lot of things to write about and really thinking very hard what topic should be my first blog post. But, since I mentioned about me being happily married, might as well good to write about marriage.
I am no expert when it comes to a successful marriage because I am only married for two years. For these two years, I never had any issues with my husband. We never quarreled (and we both don’t want to). We discuss petty things, yes, but never end up to “not talking to each other for a day” type. I would like to share what I think are the best ways to do to stay happily married.
Think of Reasons of Being Together
So, what are the reasons to be together? I married my husband not only because I love him, but because I commit my self to him and I trust him. The word commitment will always make me stay in this relationship. Whatever happens, I will uphold that commitment and my promise for him. I will stand by his side in all our endevours. I chose him to trust me also with this relationship.
Simple as that! Being happily married is staying to the commitment and trusting your partner.
Married but Independent
I mentioned independent because I meant about finding your own self. Being married is not about being dependent to your husband or wife. Remember that marriage is composed of two individuals. Each individual has its own existence. One cannot live as someone like his or her partner.
For me, it is important to have a so called “separation.” Too much dependence is not healthy in marriage. In my case, I get to go out with my friends. I have my own job and passive incomes. He, too, has his job and own ways of earning extra. He’s into the sports or activity he likes. But, in the end, we share our earnings, pay things that need to be paid, save and budget. I am good in money, thus, I take charge of the family’s finance. (Besides, I am the Accountant anyways!)
Continue Dating
Having a baby is a remarkable thing that happened to us. The experience is extraordinary but I still think that it is good for the relationship to spend time alone with your partner. Dating once a week or bi-monthly maintains a healthy marriage. You get to know more about your partner. You get to spend time alone and reminisce the past when you were both singles and dating.
The reward of having a scheduled date nights is priceless. Eating out give us time to share from simple things to major improvements we need in our lives. Dating gives me a feeling of being excited and dressing up for him and enjoying his company alone again.
Communicate Everyday
Whenever I read online or from magazines and books about having a perfect marriage, communication is always one of them. Talking to your spouse about how your day was is a good way to start a good communication. I work in a traditional 8-5 job. When I get home, I have a son to attend to. In order for me to chat with my husband is to wait for him for dinner. Thus, I play with my son first while waiting for my husband to arrive from work for about 2 hours. When baby sleeps, we eat dinner together and talk about the day. A simple touch and kiss are forms of communication. Touching communicates something that just a couple would understand. For me, the best form of communication is making love more often. J
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