Insurance For You and Your Family

Thursday, January 26, 2012
Posted by Pearl

As a homemaker who is always on the lookout for ways to save money for my family, scouting for the best insurance provider for my home, car and important assets is a must. Of course, it comes as no surprise that I always try to search for the best, but at the same time, I still consider the budget constraints of my family.  Income Protection Insurance is a priority and a non-negotiable part of my family's budget.  Together with looking for the best Car Insurance Quotes, searching for other important insurance coverage for my family are very important and are high on the list of my priorities.  

A site like www.incomeprotectinsurance.co.uk which compares several insurance providers in terms of the services that they offer always come in handy whenever the need arises, and I always refer to their list every time I find a need for a certain insurance coverage like medical and life insurance.  I'm sure anybody can benefit from this site also because everything is laid out on the site, all I have to do is to choose which one is best suited for my needs. 

A Future Doctor in the Family

Thursday, January 6, 2011
Posted by Pearl

My son is taking pre-med course and just recently, he informed me that he is excited to wear medical uniforms during the next semester.  He said at last he won’t be wearing his old uniforms anymore which have turned gray/white over the two years that he has been wearing them, in fact, this has been a never-ending concern in our household, but then again, of course, this should be expected because his uniforms have been serving him for quite a long time already.

He has been consistent in his dream of becoming a doctor someday. Ever since he was still in grade school, his dream did not change, and now, he hasn't gone astray, everything that he does is still focused towards that dream.  Just as he is excited to be a future doctor, he admitted that part of it is the feeling of pride whenever he anticipates the thought of wearing his own doctor uniform someday, and maybe a few years from now, that will become a reality. We just keep on reminding him to remain focused in all the things that he does, and we assured him that everything will fall into place.  It’s a good thing that right now, I can see that he is really dedicated to his studies, and he really studies hard.  He is also responsible enough to make sure that his lab coat uniforms are washed and pressed every time he needs to use them.  His dad has instilled this in his mind that he should be responsible for his own things, and he should make sure that everything is clean before he use them, because that’s part of his training as a future doctor.  

I hope he sustains his focus in his studies, because I’m also excited to have a doctor in the family.

Have You Tried Online Casino Games?

Monday, June 7, 2010
Posted by Pearl

I have a friend who is hooked on online casino games. I think he started a few months ago, and he swears that he has won several times already which afforded him the opportunity  of buying the latest gadgets like cellphone, digital camera, laptop, and from what I heard, his latest purchase was the new iPad. I guess, there are people who are really lucky in gambling, and according to him he has always been like that from as basic as the slot machines, to the more complicated and tricky ones whenever he visits land-based casinos. Even after he discovered online casino, his luck continues. 

But, of course, there are also times when he lose money, but this does not discourage him from betting more, because he knew that he will still win and will earn a lot more money than the amount that he lost.  When he started with land-based casino, he enjoyed so much playing the slot machines, but when he discovered the online casino slots, he said he liked it more than the conventional slot machines. I think this was where he won a lot of money, because he's good at it.

As for me, probably in my retirement days, I will also try this,  and my friend promised to teach me the techniques that he has learned along the way. 


Invest in Gold Buillion

Friday, May 21, 2010
Posted by Pearl

I've been thinking of ways to invest my money when I retire, and I'm studying lots of options to make sure that I will not make a wrong decision when the time comes.  During my studies, I came across articles which mention the great opportunity of investing in gold.  So, I investigated and made further readings, and I became even more interested.  So, if you're looking for ways to invest your money, why not try investing in gold bullion?   This would be a wise decision on your part and you wouldn't have any difficulty in learning the ropes, because a lot of websites provide detailed information on how to go about it.     

If you do decide to buy bullion, asset managers would be available to help you manage your investments, and to make sure that you are making the right decision.  They provide step-by-step guide for their clients, and will be with them all the way. In this volatile world, it is very important to be wary of several offers from different companies when it comes to luring you to invest your money in their companies, but if you buy gold bullion, you can be assured that your hard-earned money goes into wise investments.  There are unscrupulous people out there who can make life difficult for those who want to earn big profit for their money, so, it's very important that a lot of research is made before trusting anybody with your money. 

I'm sure when my retirement comes, this is one option that I would make when it comes to investing my hard-earned money.



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How to Talk about Money

Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Posted by Pearl

Money is one of those issues that's difficult to talk about, especially among couples who do not communicate well from the very beginning. Particularly couples who were raised with definite roles in mind.

Men are expected to be always stable, very reliable, the protector of the family. With such high expectations, this may be a source of conflict if financial difficulties arise.

What's important is not how couples disagree over money, but how they work things out. When a couple nurtures good communication habits on a day to day basis, they'll find it easier to stay together and face difficulties when they arrive. Where money talk is concerned, most couples need work.

Open communication channels --- constantly. Communication certainly begins way, way before. A husband and wife should be able to talk to each other about personal difficulties from the beginning. But it's not too late to develop this habit. The best thing a couple can do is talk to each other every day about tings that affected them that day. That way, when adversity arrives, it's simply natural for husband and wife to deal with this as a team effort.

Each spouse should have his and her own money space. Each should have a monthly allowance from a joint account that is unquestionable by the other. The amount doesn't have to be equal, but the golden rule is one can't tell the other what to do with other's money, and vice versa.

Store financial records in one safe place. This gives both partners equal access to financial information when they need it. Better yet, this discourages either partner from feeling that the other is "hiding" something important.

Get to the root of what you are fighting about. Most of the time, it won't be about money. Psychologically, cases like this are often a manifestation of a deeper need. Insecurity, helplessness, anger --- money is often just a front for other irritants.

Stick to the plan. Don't make plans and change your mind midway. don't break any agreements made beforehand; live with the decision.



Take Control of Your Family's Finances

Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Posted by Pearl

What is it that makes kids force parents to go into debt for the latest techie phones, or the newest gadget? And why do parents give in?

Lead by Example

Going into debt or spending over one's means for toys or brand names in shoes, clothes, and accessories are a common thing nowadays. A leading bank reports a whopping 17% of loans go unpaid. A friend shared recently that he was surprised to see his secretary, who earns a modest income and supports two kids, with a new MP3 player, that she sheepishly admitted, she got through credit card.

So, how indeed, can we minimize our kids' (and our own) attraction to what is in, what is new, what is hip, and especially if it means going into debt to get it?

We simply pass on to our family the values we know and practice ourselves. If we teach them that persons are more important than possessions, and truly believe it, then laughing together at the dinner table is much more entertaining than eating while facing a huge flat-screened TV set Daddy just bought with his new credit card.

Here are six rules we can live by:

1. The purpose of family is "to grow people". With this in mind, when making tough decisions on whether yet another pair of rubber shoes is needed or not, ask oneself, "Will this help my son or daughter grow into a better person?" As a parent, usually know the answer.

2. Reward big goals with big-ticket items. Whether it's good grades, good behavior, or consistently great work at home and in school. Emphasize that you are saving for the item, so that there is a sense of value in the reward.

3. Don't espouse total deprivation. I tell my kids we split on the item; I pay 50% and the rest comes from their allowance. Usually, there is a pregnant pause after this statement, and an "Oh well, never mind, Mom. It's not so important."

4. Work on your own bad spending habits. You've heard it before. If you have too many credit cards, cut some up, literally. You will feel a liberating peace, much like that of sleeping without clothes between sheets.

5. Set goals together. If you want to go to Hongkong or the US as a family, you'll need to save a lot of cash for that, especially if you have more than one child. Remember, it's not only the tickets and the accommodation, it's the theme park entrance fees, the food and drink, the rental cars, the shopping you have to budget for!

6. Work on your and your kid's self-worth and self-esteem. Look into your own issues. Did your parents use gifts and toys to buy your love? Do you really need that expensive suit to look successful? Did you grow up deprived and not want your kids to ever be that way? Surprise. It's not so bad to be deprived when growing up. There is that impetus to do more, and to succeed where others give up.

Family Affair

Stewardship, simplicity and sharing: words we seldom hear these days. These are the activities of a happy, healthy family. Are they easy to practice? Yes, easier than we believe. Remember, you are growing people. Your kids are putty in your hand. But most of all, don't forget, they are God's putty, not yours. Impose His values on them and you won't go wrong.

Involve the kids in your saving and spending rituals: shopping, depositing money, budgeting. Take them to work to let them see how hard you slave at it. But usually, it starts with saying "No" to that bag that calls your name from the shop window, as it whispers gently to you, "use your card, zero interest, pay later."

Pay later? No. If you really have to, pay now, and pay in cash. That's the final lesson to teach your kids and yourself in our never-ending battle against debt and the temptations of this material world.





Is your home secured?

Friday, October 30, 2009
Posted by Pearl

We all know how important it is to have our homes secured against burglars. These days, although we can say we live in a nice neighborhood, with a far-fetched possibility of being a victim of a crime, it's still better to have a peace of mind by installing home security systems in our place.

Most of the time, my husband and I are out of the house, leaving our kids and my parents at home. We always worry about their security especially during the nights when my husband and I are out of town. That's why, with the ADT security system installed in our home, we are assured that our home is monitored 24-hour security, 7 days a week. This is really one less worry on our part whenever we leave our kids behind. And of course, we can sleep soundly at night without worrying about burglars that can enter our home while we are sleeping.

The home security packages that they offer are very affordable, and of course, we can never discount the fact that the security of our family is priceless.

Investing in Gold

Saturday, October 24, 2009
Posted by Pearl

A few years from now, I am due for retirement. At this early, I’m already thinking of ways in which to invest my hard-earned money. I’m doing my homework, reading on various financial tips from the experts, and the idea on how to buy gold bullion always come up. So, this got me thinking, is buying gold really the way to go in terms of the new way of investing? I’m asking around, and I’m still learning. But so far, the articles and write-ups that I’ve seen discussing about the safe way to purchase gold bullion have been very helpful and very informative. I’m taking my time because these kinds of things cannot be rushed. But one thing is sure, buying bullion will be one of the investments that I will make in the future.

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The benefits of credit repair services

Posted by Pearl

Most of us in one way or another get in a mess financially. When this thing happens, it's really difficult to get back on track, especially if our credit history gets bad. We might all have the best intentions, but we are sometimes held back by unavoidable circumstances which cause us to have a bad credit rating. I've been there, and I'm talking here based on my own experience. I know that undergoing credit repair will really help that's why credit repair services are a must. This is the first step to a new life. Looking for credit repair companies is not so difficult, and everything will be all worth it once we get a clean credit record.

A Specialty Store for the Whole Family

Monday, October 19, 2009
Posted by Pearl

As I was searching for ideas for gifts this coming Christmas season, I came across a website which offers lots of gift ideas for the whole family. Since I have plenty of nieces and nephews to give gifts to, I know the items found in this online store will come in handy. I'm also thinking of buying one of their jellycat items because I'm sure my youngest daughter would love to have it. And if only we still have a baby in the family, I would love to buy one of the barefoot dreams items that the store offers. These are just simply adorable! And although I don't have a baby anymore, I would still love to have this for my niece. The store's appaman line is also one of the reasons why I fell in love with it. What's more? the store offers free shipping for orders above $65, perfect for early Christmas shopping, don't you agree?