It makes perfect sense. That is, for a person to save at least 3-6 months’ worth of his monthly expenses for emergencies (prolonged sickness, job insecurity).  But really, that concept (that comes across as almost common sense, but not really) – does not even cross the mind of those uninitiated in money matters. Well, it [...]

I am waxing nostalgic about some trainings and seminars I attended in the past. (some of them do that to you, you know)

A memorable one was the scholarship I received for voice and dance – it was through the generosity and kind-heartedness of Dong Alegre (of Miss Saigon fame). In that “school”, I met many wonderful and talented people, including two people whom I still consider my best friends, M and A. The people in that school rose to great fame in theatre, both locally and internationally (and sometimes I catch myself wondering where I would be now if I had pursued that path). I will always remember those years as one of the most exciting.

Then there are others I still want to experience…

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Not all insurance are created equal. While appearing equal, most appear to be bloody sharks, feeding on the murkiness of our ignorance. And sometimes, this is what they actually are, devouring the unsuspecting. But an enigma too, because their “numbers” could, at once, become flexible as if by magic. If you ask nicely. Okay, forget nicely. If you ask. There is something about knocking that opens doors.

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The first few days of “The List” were hard. The Indays were on the defensive track. They knew they were being monitored and they did not like it. They staged pseudo-hunger strikes and then asked me for a budget for them for food so they will not eat ours. I finally sat them down to talk and I explained to them that I was not at home all the time and it was hard for me to understand why the food is being consumed so very fast when my husband and I hardly eat at home, or why the Meralco is so high, or why four long bars of laundry soap will only last 2 weeks. I told them that I was sorry to have made them feel that way but The List was just a way for me to understand. I did not know how long food or water or gas should last and usually, my expectations are not very reasonable. I wanted to be free of delusions. I did not say it but I also wanted to be free of suspicions. It was not a very good way to live. For either me or the Indays.

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It could be quite frustrating to be told that you cannot buy something that you really, really want to have. But that is the function of a financial planner – he will tell you if you can, when you can, how you can. He is my personal financial brakes, someone to tell me that I am going overboard, or that I am just being silly.

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In fact, in his report, the financial planner said, “While the couple’s Emergency Fund Ratio (EFR) will be over 1x by the end of 2007, the ideal ratio is 3x. The couple would need to add around Php149,000 to their annual income to meet such a ratio. To raise their savings rate to 18.1% from 6.7%, the couple would need additional annual income of Php262,000, or add 24% to their current annual income.” After this analysis, without ever explaining what the hoot it meant, or if there was any hope for us, we never saw him again.

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