52-Week Money Challenge for FY 2014

It’s the start of the New Year and what would be a better way to start it than by starting your own savings plan for the year? A lot of us probably end up broke or worse – with zero-balance on our accounts due to our numerous expenses these past holidays. So to avoid the last-minute financial stress we went through last holiday, why don’t we start saving as early as now? Yep, that’s right. Not tomorrow or next week or next month. But NOW!

 

Many have probably heard of the 52-Week Money Challenge. For those who haven’t, it really quite simple. Every week, you deposit the base amount multiplied by the week you are in to your savings account. For example, you decided that your base amount is P10.00. For week 1 of the year (January 1-7), you should deposit P 10.00 (P10.00 x 1) to your account. So on the second week, you will have to deposit P20.00 (P10.00 x 2)  and on the last week of the year (week 52) you will have to deposit P520.00 (P10 x 52). By the end of the year, you’ve accumulated P13,780.00. The basic idea is that you are gradually increasing your savings every week.

 

The base amount may vary depending on your financial capability. So, if you’ve decided to start at a base amount of P50, you’ll end up saving P68,900!!!  Here’s a table showing the amount you’ll accumulate by the end of the year depending on the base pay:

 

 

There are also various ways on which you can do the 52-Week Money Challenge. Here are some that I’ve read from blogs (The PROs and CONs are based on some of my observations and insights of others who tried this challenge):

 

1. The classic 52-WMC. As described on the example above, this means gradually increasing your savings each week.

 

PROs: If you end up broke from the previous holidays, this won’t hurt your current budget as this starts at the least amount. Moreover, once you’ve grasped the idea that you have to increase your savings each week, you’ll refrain more and more from spending for unnecessary items.

 

CONs: The bulk of the savings swells in the last months of the year – the Christmas Holidays! If you are planning on using part of your savings for the holidays, well, you’d be drained of cash before the year ends. (Emphasis on ‘part’. By all means, never use up all your savings to spend on something. Use it in a more productive way.)

 

2. You can do it backwards. Referring to the table above, if your base amount is P10, you’ll have to deposit the amount corresponding to week 52 and working backwards till you reach week 1.

 

PROs: You’d get to eliminate the bigger amounts first. As such, before the Christmas Holidays arrive, you are only required to pay the smaller amounts. Plus, you’d reach about 75% of your target amount by the middle of the year (26 weeks). 

 

CONs: The bulk of the savings starts early in the year – that is week 1. So if you are still paying some of your debts from last year, this may not be advisable for you. Moreover, for some who are still new to this savings scheme, it may shock your wallets out of their wits (happened to me) especially when your base amount is quite high. Unfortunately, being unable to keep up with the savings discourages others and eventually decides to give up on the challenge (also guilty on this account too).

 

 

3. Cross-out System. It basically means that you can pay for whichever week you choose and cross it out from your list once you’ve paid it off. Example, (please refer to Base Amount at P10 on the table above) you decided that you want to set aside P300 for this week. This means you can cross-out the required amount to be saved for Week 30. The main idea is still, you have to cross-out all 52 required amounts for the entire year.

 

PROs: This is the most flexible scheme amongst the three. This is advisable for those who don’t have a fixed weekly income as you can deposit P10 for this week then P300 next week, depending on whichever amount you can spare.

 

CONs: Flexibility will not instill a sense of “responsibility” to save. The former two schemes somewhat obliges you to deposit a certain amount. This scheme lets you pay whatever you can afford at the moment. For others, irregularity or not having a predetermined fixed amount to save makes them feel not obligated to save now and opt to procrastinate.

 

There are other schemes that one can use to fulfill this challenge. Just be sure to pick out whichever suits you best.

 

To fulfill this challenge, it is best if we have discipline. That is ensuring that we fulfill our weekly requirements for the challenge. Much like most of all our New Year’s Resolution, at first, a challenge like this may seem to excite a lot of people but later on, the excitement wears off and there goes your savings as well. That is why it is crucial that we discipline ourselves into setting aside money to save.

 

So how do we discipline ourselves? Here are some tips that may be useful:

 

1. Set a target. What are you planning for your savings? It can be your tuition fee or emergency fund or trip with friends abroad. When you have something to look forward to, you are motivated to keep up with your savings.

 

2. Have a savings buddy/ies. Invite and encourage your family, friends or co-workers to do same. When you have other people doing the same challenge, you will have someone else who will help remind you to keep up with your savings.

 

3.  Open a separate account for your savings. Opening a separate account will ensure that you don’t end up “accidentally” using your savings. Besides, a separate account will help you track your savings better than having it mixed up with your other money for your monthly requirements. If your savings account comes with an ATM, better keep your ATM away from you as much as possible so you’ll resist the urge to use it. On a more creative side, you can always put a little sticky note on your ATM reminding you of your target such as, “Use this and say bye-bye to Paris”.

 

 So, who’s excited to save some money? If you are, then let us all do this challenge for a more fruitful 2014! Happy saving!

Do we ever learn?

It was our first day class during my second year in high school. Our history professor walked inside our classroom and what we noticed is that he was carrying only his class record, a pen and two pieces of chalk. He placed his class record ...and pen on the desk and then proceeded to write something on the board. I was confused at what he wrote on the board. It wasn’t certainly the subject of our lesson. It wasn’t even English or Tagalog. Upon seeing our confused faces, he said that it was his name that was written on the board. He said he did it because teens like us, always tend to do the opposite of what we were asked to do.

After a brief introduction, he proceeded to our lesson. I was expecting the standard question you’d expect on the first day like “What is History?” However, the first question he asked was, “Why do we need to study history?” Our answers were, “to know our origin.” or “to know the events that took place in past.” More or less, all our answers implies so that we will be informed about the events that took place years ago.

When our entire class of less than twenty has given their answers, he then answered his own question. He said, “We need to study history because history tends to repeat itself. If we know our history, we are prepared for what is happening in our present and what we perceive to happen in the future. We study history in order not to make the same mistakes we did in the past.”

When he said those words, it was as if it was forever imbued in my memory. I never knew why, but those words seemed to make an impact on me. It’s been a decade since I heard those words and with the events that are currently unfolding, I can’t help but remember those words.

Currently, wars are unfolding both inside and outside our country. I am not an expert on wars or military strategies and tactics. I hardly remember the dates on which war took place when. They say in history books, that a particular side won this war because of tactics, or because the people knew the terrain better, or that they intercepted certain information which they used to their advantage or that they were clever enough to use pseudonyms and codes when delivering messages.

As I grew older, I’ve seen enough documentaries, interviews or movies about war. I’ve even read books or watched musicals depicting war scenes. That’s when I realized, nobody truly wins in a war. There is only loss, sadness and destruction. Over and over, we learn in our history class that after a war, a lot of lives were lost. Nations are destroyed. War has damaged the people both physically and emotionally.

So why then that after a rebuilding everything that war has destroyed, people still resolve to violence? We know the consequences of war so why do people still do things that may lead to their destruction?

What do we gain from war? Freedom? Independence? Is this reason enough to have lives and nations destroyed? We have learned more than enough to know the casualties of war. Isn’t there any other way to gain these things without us destroying each other? Do we really have to respond to violence with violence?

It was only now that I realized how truthful the words that my professor said. History really does repeat itself. They teach us in class of the horrors of wars and yet somehow it fails to teach some of us not to repeat these horrors. We’ve been taught what triggers a war. We know what happens when we retaliate. Yet we make the same mistakes over and over.

In schools, religious institutions and even in our home, we were always taught to do the right thing. We were taught to not to resolve to evil deeds. But do we ever learn? Maybe my history professor was right. We are a world full of teenage-minded beings. We do the exact opposite of what we are asked to do and what we should’ve done.

“We are fickle stupid beings with poor memories and a great gift for self destruction.” – Suzanne Collins, Mockingjay

What's up with Dan Brown's Inferno?

What's up with Dan Brown's Inferno?

Daming bashers at ranters.

I haven't read the book, though I might say Brown's statement is a bit exaggerated.

But then again, its FICTION right? Siguro naman entitled siya sa sarili niyang opinion. Fiction is sometimes a stretched form of reality (credit to whoever said that).

We live in the Philippines that's why we know that living here is not as bad as it seems. Sanay na kasi tayo kaya hindi "gates of Hell" ang tingin natin. Eh para kaya sa mga foreigners? Galing sila sa mga developed countries kaya almost utopian ang mundo nila. Therefore, ang opinion nila sa bansa natin is worse than it seems.

He sees the Philippines in his own eyes and what he sees may be different from what we see because we came from different places. Some say that Brown doesn't have any right to depict Manila in that manner as he has never been in Manila. Well people, meron ng media ngayon. Merong internet, meron international news channel. One way or another, pwedeng nakuha ni Brown ang image ng Manila out of news articles, documentaries, blogs or even first-hand account of his friends (who may have visited Manila).

Rather than ranting, we can prove that there is still something good in our country that is worth living for. At a glance, some may not appreciate the beauty of Manila because in reality, poverty is abundantly seen in Manila. Some are really resorting to "reacting on primal instincts for survival". But there are still a greater number of people who are resilient, with strong faith and will always find something to smile about knowing that somehow tomorrow will be a better day.

One thing I do know about being a Filipino is that we value our morality. We are people known for hospitality, respect and compassion. Nasaan na ngayon ang respect kung magra-rant tayo dahil lang sa opinion ng isang author? Paano ngayon tayo matatawag na hospitable and friendly kung ang opinion ng isang tao ay di natin kaya tanggapin at bagkus ay sinasalubong ng mga masasamang salita? Instead of being hospitable, nagiging hostile ang reaction ng mga tao. Is this what you call the welcoming nature of Filipinos? 

I do not mean to turn a blind eye on Brown's depiction of Manila in Inferno. As a Filipino, masakit marinig na yan ang nakikita ng ibang tao sa capital natin but it doesn't mean na wala ring basis ang sinabi niya.  No matter where he got his depiction of Manila (even if it is his imagination), let us not deny the fact that poverty (sometimes caused by overpopulation and eventually resulting to prostitution and child labor) is an existing problem in our country . Some may say that Brown's depiction is exaggerated (only a bit for me), some say it is almost near truth and some claim that it is inaccurate. But hasn't anyone noticed that nobody claimed that those problems DO NOT EXIST in Manila?

What I do hope is that people will take Dan Brown's opinion as an eye-opener for us. We cannot deny the fact that poverty is an existing problem in our country.  The government and other organizations are addressing the problems depicted in Brown's book. It may seem to others that this is hardly felt, but please keep in mind that in order to properly address those concerns, we should cooperate with those trying to help us. We cannot rely nor be dependent on the government and other organizations that they will magically solve our problems. We must also help ourselves.

Going back to Brown's Inferno, I've only read the plot summary from Wikipedia and from reading that (This is a bit of a spoiler so for those who are curious to read it, please do not read the following sentences):

I love how the ending of the book helps us appreciate the real value of one's life. I  just imagined that if the ending did happen - which will be very devastating and sad; [ I do not (in any means) want that catastrophe to happen] people will almost never resort to abortion, suicide or murder and each breath of life will be rejoiced knowing how precious and valuable it is.

Imagine a world like that? So while the world we currently live in is thankfully not as catastrophic as the ending of Brown's Inferno, I want people to appreciate the real value of one's life. (I wish people would rather delve into that than keep on ranting).

(Wow, this is a long post. I'm almost ranting (Well, am I?). If I am, then I am almost being a hypocrite. This is just my opinion so please bear with me.)

Adventure 1.2 : Mae San's Cupcake Invasion

Yesterday, I bought a couple of Mae San’s Cupcakes. Unfortunately, I left my cellphone at home so I wasn’t able to take pictures of their customized birthday cakes. Well, at least their cake displays are cleaner this time and organized.

A Character (sorry I can’t remember which..I promise I’ll take a picture next time I go there) rectangular cake I saw there costs P1,080  and P1,250 (for size 1 and 2, respectively). Angry Birds Theme Cake has 3 sizes (size 1,2,3) which costs form P1,080 to P1,400+.  One thing I noticed was that the cake toppers they used on their display cakes are mostly actual toys – not the regular cake toppers made out of molds. The Toy Story Set was made out of  plastic toys and the Winnie the Pooh and Hello Kitty Toppers were actual Stuff Toys placed on top of a podium or placed inside a basket. The background and other designs are made out of styro and sugar icing. The Disney Princess and Tinkerbell Toppers were made out of regular toppers (mold) but they almost actually resemble the characters. They also have Justice League, the avengers, Ben Ten, Barbie (actual Barbie toy) and Blues Clues.

So, I bought the much-anticipated cupcakes and to my delight, they come in individual cupcake boxes. (Yeay!)

I bought a Cookie Monster Cupcake, a Basketball Cupcake and a regular Chocolate Cupcake.

The character cupcakes (Sesame Street and Basketball) were heavier than the regular cupcake. They were chocolate moist cupcakes with buttercream frosting. The cake part was heavy though I can taste the cocoa used for the cupcake batter wasn’t the one with good quality. The Buttercream frosting was too buttery for me so I can’t eat it on its own. (hey, mahilig ako magpapak ng frosting..so, no comments from anyone please)

The regular chocolate cupcake was lighter with a sponge-like texture and a marshmallow frosting. The frosting was sweetened perfectly and it matched the spongey cupcake.

The verdict: the character cupcakes are yummier than the regular ones (cupcake-wise and frosting-wise). However, it is not the “wow” cupcakes that will let you crave for more. However, if your looking for cupcakes for giveaways for a sport-themed or sesame street-themed party, this will be perfect as each cupcake comes in individual packaging.

Adventure 1 : The Pink Bakeshop of Sta. Cruz, Manila (Mae San)

Yesterday, June 17, 2012, I decided to visit Mae San's Bakeshop. I've only heard of that bakeshop from a post at SmartParenting. One of the moms in that forum recommended their mocha cake. So there I was, on my trip to the Pink Japanese-Inspired Bakeshop at the corner of Oroquieta and Fugoso St. at Sta. Cruz, Manila.

Mae San was quite easy to spot at it really stands out. Something about the shop will entice you to go in and have a look. With my agenda of having a taste of their mocha cake, I immediately went inside the shop.

The first thing I noticed was their vast display of greeting cakes, cake rolls, breads and (yehey!) cupcakes! At the north-east corner of the shop was their display of celebration cakes - birthday cakes, wedding cakes, graduation cakes, etc.

Some of the celebration cakes on display were quite pretty. I especially the Hello Kitty Two-tiered Round Cake, the Angry Birds Cake and the Blues Clues Cake. (I'm so sorry I wasn't able to take pictures of them, but I'll repost them as soon as I visit the store again.) I only wish they dusted the cakes so that it will look nicer on display.

On the right side of the counter was their display of cupcakes, leche flan, tiramisu and blueberry cheesecake. Here's the photo:

(Regular Cupcakes- P22each; Character Cupcakes - P35 each)

As shown on the photo, they have the regular cupcakes with sprinkles on top and the character cupcakes ranging from Sesame Street Designs, Basketball, Baseball, Soccer, etc.

Now, they also have a range of greeting cakes and cake rolls as shown below:

Cake roll flavors are Choco Roll, Mocha Roll, Mocha Caramel Roll, Yema Roll, Malacañang Roll, Brazo de Mercedes and more! Price ranges as follows:

Half Roll: 105-115

Whole Roll: 195-220

The rectangular cakes on the picture have two sizes: Size 1 and 2. (Simple huh?)

Size 1 costs P450 while Size 2 costs P550

The Choco Roll looks so yummy while the Mocha Caramel Roll also makes my mouth water. So instead of buying a whole roll, I decided to buy half of both flavors. I also bought a square of brownie and a pack of Piaya for snacks.

All in all, here are my purchases:

Choco Roll (Half)                     – P 115

Mocha Caramel Roll (Half)       - P 115
Piaya (5pcs)                             - P  30
Brownies (single)                      - P  23

TOTAL                                   P 383  

Choco Roll- The chocolate frosting is yummy! It’s almost similar to Red Ribbon’s Triple Chocolate Roll. They only differ in the cake itself. Red Ribbon’s cake is moister than Mae San’s. Also, Mae San’s Choco Roll has vanilla cream filling unlike Red Ribbon’s which has chocolate filling.

Mocha Caramel Roll - It reminded me of the butterball candy I ate when I was a kid. My hubby loves it. For me, the frosting is a bit too sweet (I don’t like cakes whose frosting  are too sweet. My hubby says it’s just perfect. So I guess, taste, as well as the level of sweetness is subjective). Well, it's caramel frosting so I guess it’s supposed to be sweet. I still love it though. The mocha cake blends well with the buttery caramel frosting. When I ate the cake the next day, the cake tastes better. The sweetness of the caramel balanced perfectly when it was chilled.

Mae San also happens to be a restaurant. You can order sandwiches, cake slices, mami, rice and viand menu and dine inside the shop. The place was actually a bit crowded when I went there.

They also have all kinds of bread displayed near the entrance. Bread rolls, loaves, banana cake, butter chiffon, hopia, ensaymada and many more! It's actually a bakeshop that caters to almost all types of bread normally found in bakeries plus the specialty cakes.

OVERALL: I would definitely go back to Mae San’s. For those on a tight budget but still want to eat a delicious cake, this is the perfect place for you. I especially prefer the Mocha Caramel Roll over the Chocolate Roll.

So with all my heart, this is all I have to say to that Pink Bakeshop on the corner of Sta. Cruz: I SHALL RETURN and eat some more!