Saving vs Investing

Here is a good article why investing is better than saving. Read the article here.

After the Money Expo

It was a rainy morning when I went to SMX for the Money Summit and Wealth Expo. It was my first time to go to SMX. I was unsure where the Expo was held since I saw a Travel Madness expo in the first floor. Thought I was in the wrong place. Good thing I saw a tarp near the escalator indicating that the Money Expo was held in the second floor.

After freshening up, I went to the room where free talks where held. I was able to attend the talk about Investing 101 Parts A and B.

Part A was given by finance blogger Fitz Villafuerte. He started the talk by commenting on the cold, rainy weather that day. Wouldn't it be nice to stay at home and sleep? But since we are employees, we don't have that kind of luxury. By that opening remarks, I was hooked! Mr. Villafuerte talked about the difference between saving and investing. He also discussed the important things before you invest. You can read his blog here.


After Mr. Villafuerte's talk, there was a speaker from an insurance company. The speaker held a P100 bill and asked who among us wanted money? An audience member immediately grabbed the P100 from the speaker's hand. The speaker said that was a test. All of us wants money but we don't grab it even if it's in front of us.


Investing 101 Part B was by My. Rienzie Biolena, a Registed Financial Planner (RFP). He talked about Objectives, Risks, Returns, and Diversification. He advised us to put our eggs (investments) in different baskets, and put different sizes of eggs in those baskets. I will always remember what he said, time is the only thing in life that you cannot recover. You can recover lost money, failed relationships, etc. but not time. So, it's better to invest early on.

After the talks, I went to the expo to see the different booths of companies offering investments products from mutual funds to real estate. I got some freebies and lots of brochures. I even bought a book by Robert Kiyosaki, "Guide to Investing".

Money Summit & Wealth Expo

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I'm excited to attend the "Money Summit & Wealth Expo" on July 20-21, 2012, at the SMX Convention Center. I saw its flyer when I went to COL Financial office a few days ago.


The entrance fee is P100 but you can get a free pass. Just go to this website: http://conference.money-summit.com.


There are paid seminars and free talks during the expo. Of course, I'll be joining the free talks. :)


My goals for attending the expo:
1. Learn more about investing
2. Know other investing vehicles
3. Meet other financial savvy Pinoys


I don't want you to think I have lots and lots of money to invest. I just want the savings that I have to work hard for me. As the expo's website says: You can invest in stocks , government securities, and mutual funds for as little as P5,000!

Coins for Nails

Last year before Hubby left to work overseas, he made a savings container from a sunglass case. On top, he put a note which says: COINS FOR NAILS. "Nails" here means the nails to be used in the construction of our house. The money we will be able to save here will be put in our savings account for the house.

I only put P10 coins in this pseudo-piggy bank. Whenever I get P10 coins as change, I put them in it when I get home. It seems second nature to me to keep the coins and put them in the piggy bank. Now, it's nearly full! Wonder how much is in it?

dual incomes

Hubby and I are in the Dual Income, No Kids (DINKs) category in the world of finances. He receives his salary monthly while bi-monthly for me. He has a salary for 9 months in a year and I have it all-year long. When I first faced this combining of incomes task, I was sort of perplexed. I thought about how to make a feasible budget with this. We receive our salaries at different times and for a limited time for the year (on his part). I have to save for our several plans and for the months wherein we will have to do with one income only.

After alot of thinking, researching about combining incomes and prioritizing plans, here is the saving plan/budget that I've come up with:

• Retirement - 10%
• Emergency - 10%
• Long-term savings (House) - 25%
• Short-term savings (Car) - 14%
• Workup (acupuncture, OB GYNE) - 5%
• Vacation - 4%
• Expenses (present and future) - 32%

As you may notice, I am saving for alot of different things. We have many plans and things that we want to do so a budget is definitely a must. Also, I have to make sure we have money during his vacation here and we only have to rely on my income.

I hope other wives of seamen start creating a budget too (if they have not yet done so). Sure, our husbands' income (or any family member) is more than what normal employees in our country earn but we should be financially-wise. It is a sad truth that there are families of OFWs who are left penniless even after years of working abroad. We must avoid this situation by creating a budget and sticking with it.