A BLOGGER'S GREATEST SIN!

Hi there,

After over 2 years of hibernation.
I have committed one of the greatest sin a blogger can do and that is to stay inactive for over 2 years.

I have been so caught up with all my talks and book writing. I have been averaging around 15 to 20 talks in a month, so
that is over 150 to 200 talks in a year.






After signing over 40,000 copies of my book "Till Debt Do Us Part"


After releasing another best selling book "For Richer and For Poorer" in 2009 of November which sold over 15,000 copies as of present.



Now soon to be released book on July "Rich God Poor God" Why God Wants You To Prosper.


NOW IT IS THE TIME TO GO BACK TO BLOGGING!

I sincerely apologize for being away so long, now this is the RETURN OF THE COMEBACK. I commit to write consistently and update you with what is happening with me.

Truly yours,

Chinkee Tan
Life & Money Coach

8 PRACTICAL WAYS YOU CAN SAVE THIS CHRISTMAS OF 2008

We are now entering the "Ber Season." How do you feel when Christmas is literary around the corner? Are you happy because this is the time of the year that you will meet all of your long lost friends and relatives? Or are you stress and scared because this is the season where it drains all your money just like a vacuum cleaner?

Nevertheless we must prepare ourselves because whether we like it or not Christmas is coming very soon.

If you have a large circle of business associates, friends, and neighbors to give gifts to. Here are some ideas for Christmas presents.

1. Start preparing for Christmas during the "after Christmas Sales" of the previous year.
It is more cheaper to buy Christmas items after the Christmas season since shops just want to get rid of all inventories
and recover their cost.

2. Chip in together for a bigger gift.
What if the one you love wants a gift that is off your budget? I now combine my effort with the people who loves him to buy him a bigger gift. It will individually cost less to everybody as we pool together and the person will receive something he or she was looking for. It is definitely a great trick for those who has everything.

3. Keep presents as "generic" as possible.
One of my favorites is to give away books. I recommend the book entitled "Till Debt Do Us Part" which was authored by yours truly.
(Laugh out Loud!)
These are gifts for friends and family who have everything in life; and you don't have any idea what they want.

4. Use old magazine pages to wrap gifts.
I give credit to my beautiful and creative wife, she uses old magazines to wrap her gifts.
It looks unique, nice and yet inexpensive.

5. Make your own Christmas post cards.
Take your own family portrait and make it to a Christmas post cards.
Some extended families just agree to exchange cards.

6. Make a donation to your favorite charity.
Inform your family and friends that you are making a donation to a charitable institution in their behalf.


7. Cook home made food.
If your passion is cooking. Cook authentic dishes or make desserts like cookies, fruit salads or create your own dressing and give it as gifts. Your love ones will appreciate this more since they know it is a labor of love.

8. Potluck parties.
This is one of my favorites. I organized parties and ask everyone to bring one meal each to celebrate and have fun with each other. The best way to have fun is to be with the people you love and care most. It is not only about the gifts you are to receive but rather the relationship you are trying to build.

Let us not be pressured and stressed out during this season. We have be reminded that Christmas is not about commercialism giving and receiving of gifts. But Christmas is the season where we should be reminded unto us a child is born and He will be called as Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace and His name is Jesus. He is the reason for this season!

HOW TO GET OUT OF A CREDIT CARD DEBT?

Credit card is the most emotionless way of spending money.
You will not even feel spending over P10,000 per transaction
if we use out credit card specially i you buy it in lay away
12 month zero interest mode.

But once the billing statement arrives that is where we can feel
the crunch. Countless people are now feeling not only the crunch
but also feel the constant follow up of the call centers of the
credit card company to follow you up of your payment and outstanding
debt.

If you are in a tight situation and you do not know where you will get
your money to pay off your credit card bill. Continue to read on...

1. Pay more than the minimum.
Bite the bullet. Paying the minimum only prolongs the agony. Besides, it's precisely what the banks want you to do. The longer you take to repay the charges, the more interest they make, and the less cash you have in your pocket.
Remember in paying off your debt it is not in the amount that is more important it is in your willingness to pay.

2. Cash out your assets.
Let us look at your list of assets.
If you own jewelries, property or anything of value that you can sell.
Sometimes we are too emotionally attached to the stuffs we have it is so hard
to dispose and let go.
Maybe the practical question to ask is "Are the jewelries and property earning more interest
than what the credit card company and creditors are charging?" If the answer is no. It is
time to make the hard decision and sell because you will generate more when you sell
rather than keep your dead assets.

3. Talk to your family and friends.
Perhaps your family or friends could float you a loan. Unless they are your enemies it is time to be nice to them and be friends with them again. The best to keep things on the straight and narrow by using a written agreement. You should clearly establish the interest and repayment schedule in writing to avoid misunderstandings and hard feelings.

4. Renegotiate terms with creditors.
This one most of the people are not really aware of.
This is where I am going to spill the beans.
Let your creditors know your situation. Tell them that if you are unable to renegotiate terms, you'll have no other recourse but to declare bankruptcy. Ask for a new and lower repayment schedule; request a lower interest rate; and appeal to their desire to receive payment. Faced with the prospect that you may resort to such a drastic step, creditors will do what they can to protect themselves against a total loss.
Believe me it works!


5. Seek legal advise.
If the creditors are threatening to sue you or harassing you that they will go to your office
and report you to your HR or superiors. It is time to seek legal advise. Yes, we may made dumb
decision in the past that led us to debt. But we are not criminals who are running away from the
responsibility if we have plans to pay back what we owe. Talk to your lawyer and ask for legal options on how
you can walk this out.

Are You As Hungry Like a Wolf?

Wolf are one of the best hunters in the animal kingdom, but one problem the wolf have is they cannot seem to be satisfied. They practice what they call as "Surplus Killing." It is defined as as the killing of several prey animals too numerous to eat at one sitting. Wolves sometimes only eat a part of their surplus-killed prey, like the tail or the internal organs. They always hunger for more!

One day, a wolf saw a blood Popsicle, a ball of ice dipped in his favorite seal blood. He was very intelligent and knew that such things can be risky and dangerous for his life but he went on and started licking it. “What a taste! I am enjoying it!”. He felt as if he is so involved it in and enjoying it thoroughly. Time was just passing by and he kept licking until he was already licking the knife. But he was feeling a little weak as if his energy was going away but he kept licking. His vision was dimming a bit but he kept licking because he cannot satisfy his pleasure. Now he couldn’t see much and he knew something went wrong and before he could decide to take a step back he fell and saw his tongue bleeding, he wanted to help himself but could not get up. Until he bled to death and died.

The problem with the wolf is greed.
Greed is one thing we have to protect ourselves from, particularly when it comes to money.
I’ve met a lot of people who, even after accumulating so much money, still want to have more.
This isn’t to say that accumulating money is wrong. But if we overdo it, then it is a different story.
We will be just like the wolf, hungry and thirsting for more. Without us being aware that our family time is
bleeding. Overdoing it is when accumulating money reaches the point of destroying relationships with families and friends.

It does not necessarily mean that rich people are greedy and poor people are not.
It is not dependent on any social status of society.
Actually, people who are rich and people who are poor are similar in some manners.
Why? It is because both can say the same thing.
People who are rich says, “I want more. I must have more.”
On the other hand, people who are poor says, “I don’t have enough. This isn’t yet enough.”
But on the same token, people who are poor, after making some money, can also say, “I want more. I must have more.”
People who are rich, after making lots of money, can say, “I don’t have enough. This isn’t yet enough.”
Both crave to get more.

Whether a person is rich and has lots of money or he is poor and doesn’t have enough, his feelings are the same. Why? Because both greed and poverty say the same thing. This is a heart issue. Greed is not just a state of mind. When being put to the test, money will just reveal what’s inside the heart in the first place.

Let us be wise and learn from the mistakes of the wolf.
Learning how to spot an opportunity is not enough.
Learning to say no at times if it will take so much time away from your family.
Learning to be content with what you have and not wanting for more.
Learning to say I have more than enough, this is only what I need.

At the end of the day, how much money does a person need to make in order to get by?
Be wise! Be thankful! Be grateful!

Saving Money High on New Year's Resolution List in 2008

LONDON (Reuters) - Saving money tops the list of 2008 resolutions for young people, taking priority over more common vows like dieting and exercising, research shows.

Some 54 percent of 18 to 24-year-olds say they want to put more money away for a rainy day next year while 44 percent resolve to exercise more and 31 percent to go on a diet, according to a poll by ICICI Bank.

It said this showed that the credit crunch was making people think about their financial future and rein in their spending.

Overall, one third of 2,100 adults surveyed said they would resolve to make savings high on their agenda for 2008.

That was beaten only by the intention to exercise and diet (44 percent and 38 percent respectively).

Some 18 percent said they would make being "green" a New Year's resolution, 8 percent plan to give up smoking and 2 percent want to give up alcohol.

_________________________________________________________________

With this startling statistic, this only shows that more and more people are realizing the value of savings.

Saving for your future is every persons dream. But for it to become a reality. We must carry the right philosophy in money "It's not how much money you make but how much money you save."

We have to be consistent in disciplining and controlling our spending habits.

Here are some practical ways on how we can save for 2008:
1. Quit smoking.
If you spend P30 pesos a day for smoking, that will be an equivalent of P900 a month and a total of P10,800 a year.

2. Quit buying coffee from expensive coffee shops.
One cup of coffee will cost you P80 a day, that will be an equivalent of P1,600 for 20 days and a total of P19,200 per year.

3. Control your mobile phone bill expenses.
If you can save at least P500 per month that will be a total savings of P6,000 per year.

4. Quit using your credit cards.
Statistics shows that you increase your spending by 30% if you use your credit cards for purchases. As much as possible use cash. If you need to use your credit card for convenience. Make sure you pay the following week to avoid penalty charges.

5. Eat at home.
Eat out less often. If you and your spouse will spend at least P500 for every meal for just even once a week. That will be a total of P2,000 a month and a grand total of P24,000 a year.

From this 5 tips alone you can save around P50,000 a year.
There are many more things you can cut down in order for you
to start a new life this 2008.
So start the year right and you will experience a fruitful and a
debt free year of 2008.

Will Your Parents Have Enough When They Retire?

To all parents,

You sacrificed a lot to raise your family, sent your children to school, and provided to the best of, and at times even beyond, your abilities. But once your children graduate from college, I think it’s time for them to start earning and become responsible individuals. That’s the ultimate goal of every parent ⎯ to train and teach their children to become independent adults.

Sad to say, I have seen young adults in their 30s still living with their parents and dependent for allowances. Some even have started their own families but still living with their parents under one roof. This will put so much strain in the financial resources on any family. Everyone is just dependent on one breadwinner.


Parents, it is time for you to let go. You have done your part. Now is the time for you to think about yourselves. Once you reach your golden year of retirement, the only people who will be next to you will definitely be your spouse. Regardless of your age, sex, or marital status, you need to know a few things about your and/or your spouse’s retirement plan. When setting your retirement goals, you shouldnot leave anything to chance. Getting the answers to these questions can eliminate future surprises.

These are the questions we need to ask ourselves before we retire.
1. How much money do you have in your savings before you retire?
2. Do you have a pension retirement plan already in place?
3. What will be your expenses when you retire? List everything down.
4. Just in case you lose your capacity to earn, will you still be able to pay for all your bills even if you don’t have to work for another day in your life?
5. What are your passive sources of income once you retire? Will this be enough to cover for all your expenses?

If we don’t handle our finances well while we’re still young, we will definitely experience hard times once we retire.

In life, “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”

Money Behind 80% of Separations

Fifty percent of all marriages fail, and financial problems are the leading cause of separation by a factor of 4:1 or 80% of all causes. Isn’t that alarming? Yet, it is true that the number one cause of marital problems are arguments on money. This is one sad fact about money, but this is the reality.

I don’t know if you have experienced this, but financial problems usually do not even emanate from either you or your spouse. It can be because of a third party. Do you get what I mean by third party? Well, as Filipinos, we are clannish. There is always that probability that one side of the family, say your immediate relatives, needs money.

I would like to share with you some practical tips on what my wife and I have agreed on how to avoid conflicts with regards to money.


Tip No. 1: Open Only a Joint Account

Never keep a separate or secret account from your spouse. Friends and relatives will usually come to the wife or the bride-to-be and offer unsolicited advice, such as “If I were you, I will open another bank account. You do not know what will happen in the future. You know what I mean, just in case.” If you open another account and listen to the advice, unconsciously you have opened the idea of a possibility that your husband will cheat on you someday. You have already allowed the negative idea that your husband will not remain faithful in your marriage. The foundation of all marriages is trust. Trust must be preserved right from the first day of marriage.

Tip No. 2: Keep Your Personal Income Private

Never allow any of your immediate relatives to know how much money you are making in a month and how much money you have in the bank. Why? Let’s say your brother knows that you have saved P100,000 in the bank. The money is intended for the tuition of your children. All of a sudden he needs P30,000 for personal reasons. Who do you think your brother will call for help? Ghostbusters! I don’t think so. The first person he would think of and call will be you. Even if you explain that the money is for the tuition of your kids, he may still feel sad that you weren’t there for him when he needed you most.
What if your immediate relatives ask how much you are making in a month? My wife and I have agreed on a standard answer, “Just enough!” If they insist on asking how much specifically, we just tell them that we are making just enough to meet our needs.
These issues, if left unresolved, will cause strain as well as a tense environment in the relationship as husband and wife. So discuss, disclose, and agree as a couple on what are the limits you want to set in terms of extending help and support to your immediate family. This will help avoid miscommunications, disagreements, and stress in your relationship. In reality, money will be a constant concern in our lives.