Friday 29 November 2013

CMK READS : TOP 5 LESSONS FROM NO NON SENSE PERSONAL FINANCE BY RANDELL TIONGSON

It's good to have mentors specially if you are a newbie in financial investing. Reading is one of the sure-fire ways to keep those information running. Noteworthy to mention that while one needs money to invest, another equally important chunk is what we call INFORMATION. And Financial Literacy is all about that.

Randell Tiongson is the author of our book for today. He's also part of Registered Financial Planner (RFP) of the Philippines. During summer of 2013, I embarked myself into another financial literacy journey and all I can say is: it's worth it.

He recently launched a book that details a step by step guide on personal finance. Reduced into 5-easy steps, this gem will jump start your plans and eventually, your actual steps on how to better your financial life.



DETAILS:
NO NON SENSE PERSONAL FINANCE 
Publisher: YOUnique Publishing Philippines
Available at: All major bookstores
Price: Php 499 (approx) | Got the book from HERE


There is a risk.
Beyond this 'thing' being proportional, one has to be mindful that in investment, there is an element of risk. An uncertainty. That your money can be in bloom or doom. That is why we attached another word to risk to make it sound less scary. CALCULATED RISK. Yes, that's the name. We take risks, but well-informed one. Chances are, it {the returns} would be worth the risk.

High Risk. High Return.
If you want a higher yield for your buck, higher risk is also involved. It usually is in terms of equity {stock market} investments. Low risks, on the other hand, generates low return. Just look at the tiny interest income on your bank passbooks. Now, there is no right or wrong risk preference, but rather - it's a question of what amount of risk can a person be willing to take.



Master your finances before it masters you.
And that's just the way it is. You have to control your spending before it controls you. Tricky part is - this process is so subtle that you don't notice it at all. It's just that one day - you'll wake up with a reality that your financial life is in chaos. To arrest that fall, ALLOCATION is important. It is simply telling your money where to go. 

Whether you use the 70.30 rule (spend 70%, save 30% of your income) or 70.20.10 rule (spend 70%, save 20%, tithes 10%) - bottom line is you are aware where your money is going. Sometimes, it's easy to take for granted minute details like these, but if you'll think long term (like that dream Europe trip) - you'll find a boost of inspiration and do these simple steps as early as now.


A sneak peek of the famous 5 steps.
Book talks about cash flows and getting out of debt. It also tackles the need to setup an emergency fund. Take it from the expert that an insurance is also an integral part of a well-rounded financial planning. Finally, one has to think of ways to invest in his future. 

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Wednesday 27 November 2013

FASHION ALERT : HAVE YOURSELF A (MERRY LITTLE) CHRISTMAS TOP


Barely 4 weeks before CHRISTMAS as I type this post - I'm sure all of us are excited on what is to come. It's been a long while since I posted a FASHION ALERT entry and I missed that. So, here's to make up to you my dears. Little flashback: Picture above was taken from Silliman University, Dumaguete City Negros Oriental Philippines. I have lots of stories to tell about my recent travel, this I gotta say: FOOD is so amazing! Before I start drooling, here's some details:

Top: Christmas Top from Lee Plaza (Dumaguete City)
Shorts: Landmark Makati Bazaar
Messenger Bag: Aldo
Watch: VNC | Shades: Dickies
Flip Flops: Havaianas

SOURCE

The great thing about plaid tops is they are so versatile. Wear them with shorts, leggings, pants and you'll look effortlessly chic. Peg above exudes a smart casual vibe. Perfect if you only have 10 minutes to prepare. Just crumple your hair and tie a loose pony tail, cris-cross your messenger bag and voila. Coffee cup is optional. 

SOURCE
 
Another fun fact for plaid tops is that they are available on almost all price range, and colors too. I am a proponent of matching low-end and high-end fashion items. If you got your top for a price-friendly tab, you may want to match them with a classic, posh looking bag or pants. This way, the overall aura would still be chic and classy. Last fashion peg is a sister of my all-time favorite style icon. Guess who's she?
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Tuesday 26 November 2013

CMK TRAVELS : 4 THINGS TO LOVE ABOUT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS SINGAPORE (USS)


It's every child's fantasy to be in a land where dreams come to life! And there would always be a kid in us no matter how many years are added to our age. I've been fortunate to visit Singapore and Malaysia this year and it was my first time to go to Universal Studios Singapore (USS). Time flies so fast! We went there at 1 pm-ish and in a blink of an eye, it's already 7 pm! Part of the reason why we didn't notice that is the sun sets in SG at around 8 pm or so :)

The place has a resemblance of Disneyland Hongkong but I'd say the rides in USS are for more mature audiences (like us!). It's hot and humid there so best to bring a bottled water with you. There's a map that's available at the entrance so get one and let your adventure begin!

4 THINGS TO LOVE ABOUT 
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS SINGAPORE (USS)



Revenge of the Mummy
I am in two minds whether I'd declare this ride as my most favorite since I equally like the Transformer ride too! So maybe it's a tie. It's a gigantic indoor roller coaster ride with so many twists, turns and virtual attraction. We ended up riding this joyride about 3 times. You need to deposit your bag into their lockers because it's not safe to bring such with you. No worries, you get the key and it's free for a specific period of time.


Shrek 4D
It's a 4D movie with water splashes in between (spoiler alert!). This part is one of the picturesque spot for me. And hey, there's so many Shrek characters that I didn't know pala! If you want to take a break from your quarter life questions, hop in and enjoy the movie. You'll appreciate how it is to be a kid again, guaranteed! 
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Friday 22 November 2013

CMK TRAVELS : TOP 8 CHILLAX DESTINATION, PHILIPPINES (PART 2)



This is a sequel of my TOP 8 CHILLAX DESTINATION, PHILIPPINES (PART 1). Click HERE for the first installment. It's that time of the year when it's best to plan your travel activities. Plane rates are relatively low and vacation leave slots are replenished for the new year.

Puerto Galera
I recall Puerto Galera is my first taste of a major out of town travel. It was 2008 when travel bug bit me. And I've never stopped planning travels after that. I myself captured the photo above. It's so surreal. You need to go to Batangas port and ride a ferry and that's just the start of the fun! Prices here are cheap from food to accommodation. Some say this is an affordable version of Boracay. Somewhat true. PS: Do yourself a favor and order their CHOCO BANANA SMOOTHIE. It is heaven in a plastic cup.





Boracay
Who doesn't know Boracay? During my trip to Czech Republic, Boracay is a great conversation starter. They usually ask me, "Where you're from?" I answered "Philippines." And they're like... "Ohh, so you're familiar with this cool beach place Boracay?"

Yes, Boracay has built a reputation of powdery sand and haven for people all over the globe. I totally agree. Boracay is that place where you can lie on fine sand if you want. Get henna tattooed. Eat fancy dinner. Go parasailing. And so much more. I almost fell off my chair when they told me that they accept credit cards. It's like Greenbelt by the beach! Cool! Cool! Cool!



Loboc River, Bohol
Recently battered by an earthquake as of October 2013, I hope the place is not severely damaged by super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). This is a more serene version of Boracay. Most popular activity includes one where you'll ride a big boat with local buffet cuisines. There, you'll get serenaded while in awe of lush trees and clean, green water. You'll hear Mother Nature singing her tunes. A very refreshing experience!
I appreciate the laid back feel of this place. It amazes me whenever I see people sipping coffee in the morning, doing their work, catching up with their friends and eating dinner together. Life is simple here. And sometimes, all we need is a hiatus of a hectic life we have invented ourselves. ☺
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Wednesday 20 November 2013

CBTL 2014 PLANNER : BREW YOUR BEST YEAR, THE GIVING JOURNAL REVIEW


When you were a kid, simplest things delight you. Marshmallows, rainbows, plastic balloons. As we grow older, our bucket list tend to get complex and we lose sight of life's simple joys. We need to go back to that. Don't you think? :) Speaking of delight, having 2014 planners are one of my recent happy thoughts. Browsing them, flipping the pages through and fro, reading small nuggets in between is a bliss for me. Weird, perhaps. ☺

I decided to get a CBTL 2014 Planner because of 2 things: First is that with or without sticker, I am a regular at CBTL. Favorite CBTL hubs include BGC, Greenbelt and Robinsons Manila. Second, I need an official office notebook, on my Belle de Jour planner (Review HERE) - I often write  ultra-personal details, and I don't want to risk divulging such if I'll bring them all over the place. Ergo, another (cute) planner is the next best thing.



Light Inspirational Tidbits
I've heard they tapped some of our country's most sought-after motivational speakers to write in between our planner pages. Bo Sanchez, Joey Bonifacio and Randell Tiongson are one of the few. Write ups vary from spiritual to inspirational to personal finance. I never get tired of reading short articles specially in the morning. It kinda preps me up during the day.



Month in a Glance View
This is one of my non-negotiables in planners. Majority have this though. It's my favorite part too because this gives you an idea what will your next 4-weeks be like. Good to mention that the size is relatively small. Perfect for girls' ever changing bag sizes. 


Picturesque pictures
Theirs have a different feel. It looks to me that all pictures are well crafted and made with much effort. They also have a behind the scene footage so rest assured that these creations are not mere copy-pasted ones. PS: Available colors are black, white and purple.

Scribble Doodle
I like that their grids are translucent. Only downside is that the writing space are too small. However, I don't want to go over analyzing things again. So I'll just worry about that once I ran out of pages. For now, let's scribble doodle skipaboodle all we want!


What's a planner without coupons?
And coupons they have! They have catches though. First, you need to avail a specific coupon for a given month. Say, one coupon is redeemable from January 1-31, 2014. Otherwise, the offer will lapse. Second, coupons are not so many. I'm estimating 12 of them. One for each month.
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Friday 15 November 2013

MONEY MATTERS : WHY WE SHOULD INVEST IN UNIT INVESTMENT TRUST FUNDS (UITFs)?


Mr. A: What shares of stocks should I buy?

Mr. B: Do you have a money in any bank?
Mr. A: Yes I do! Majority of my money is in this bank.
Mr. B: Is your bank listed in Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE)?
Mr. A: I believe so. Yes.
Mr. B: If you have placed all your hard earned money in your bank for a tiny interest income, you might as well invest in them via stocks. After all, the trust issues have been taken care of.


Bottom Line: You have a deposit in your bank. So, it goes without saying that you have a TRUST in that bank. Challenge question: Why not invest some of your money in the same bank (with a different financial product)?

It's natural to think that maybe the bank will just fold up and take away all our money, but I dare you to KNOW THE FACTS first then decide :) There are so many ways to make your money work for you (no matter how big or small it is at the moment), and UITF is one of them. 

WHY YOU SHOULD INVEST IN 
UNIT INVESTMENT TRUST FUNDS (UITFs)?

Source: Bloomberg

Interest rate is much higher than savings deposit account.
Don't get intimidated by the chart.  What I want you to focus on is the trend is going up for the last 5 years. That's it :) How does it work? 

2010: Say, you bought 1,000 shares at Php 164 per share.
2013: The market value of your 1,000 shares is now Php 385 and you want to sell it today.

So your cash outflow is Php 164,000 but when you sell it today your cash inflow is Php 385,000. That is Php 221,000 gain. And that is only for a period of 3 years approx! That is what passive income is all about. Sadly, most of us only know about savings and time deposit account and nothing else :( I encourage you to know your options because there are so many investments to choose from.
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Wednesday 13 November 2013

PRINT YOUR CALLING CARDS (AND MORE) AT IT'S PERSONAL! (SM MALL OF ASIA)


Some flashback: For the longest time, I have been canvassing for someone who can print a set of calling card for me. I've scoured the internet and even halls of Makati malls however, my mission was far from being accomplished. I once thought I saw the light via Brand A but they cost Php 550 for a few pieces, a bit much for me. Then there's this printing services via FB (let's call them Brand B), but I was dumbfounded when the tag totaled Php 800! 

I am not too picky on calling cards. I just want it simple, presentable and convey my contact details to the receiver - that's all. My prayers have been answered by IT'S PERSONAL! It was by accident that I discovered this treasure. While I was munching some MOCHI SWEETS (click HERE), I happen to roam around near MOA's Ice Skating Rink. Then I spotted this amazing personal merchandise haven!


And so after we watched KALOOBAN at CCP (which was so applause-worthy, by the way) I asked my ever nice friends to accompany me to IT'S PERSONAL! That would make my little wish come true! IT'S PERSONAL thought of practically everything. Notepad, stationery, sticker label, mouse pad, clock, coffee mug, pen, car sticker and more! I am the type that squeaks on anything dainty and lovely to look at - and so, this is like a candy store for yours truly! (cartwheel, skip!)


Price point for calling cards are Php 95.00 for 20 pieces. Paper and ink quality is nice. It serves its purpose plus the labels are super adorable! Before I continue to blab some more, here are some few easy steps to get your own CALLING CARD! PS: Say hello to Ate Jehan, Odil and Jumbo (thanks for snapping the photo ☺).
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Monday 11 November 2013

THE LUNCH BOX DIET REVIEW

When you want to be healthy, there is definitely one factor you need to change. LIFESTYLE. I am not an expert on anything weight loss related but consider this post coming from someone who tried several fad diets, non-invasive procedures and exercise routines imaginable in the hope of leaner physique. There are two important factors on healthy living:

♣ What you take in (eating habits) and  ♣ What you take out (active lifestyle). 
The exercise part is to burn what's not necessary and the eating part is a bit of a challenge for me. Then, I've learned about Lunch Box Diet from one of my friend's FB news feed (Hi Yong!). Lunch Box Diet is a food delivery service that prepares the food for you.
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What is a Lunch Box Diet (LBD)?
Lunchbox Diet provides calorie counted meals delivered right at your doorstep. In the bag, - you'll have your breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks amounting to 1,200 calories per day. 1,200 calories is the minimum daily intake each person needs while still getting all the nutritional requirements in order to lose weight and be healthy. The Lunchbox Diet gives you a hassle-free way to get delicious well-balanced meals that are sure to make you lighter even in just five days. (Source: Lunch Box Diet). I've been their client for the past weeks and here's what I gotta say, so far.

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Friday 8 November 2013

L'OREAL WEAR YOUR COLOR PROUD AT TONY & JACKEY


If you want an instant makeover, you may consider enhancing your hair color. That's what I've learned the past years on my quest towards fashion and anything beautiful. A little improvement here and there makes a personality more exciting! Hair enthusiasts are ever familiar with L'oreal. I can still recall my mom on my grade school days specially requesting for L'oreal products in Burgundy. Fast forward 2013, L'oreal launched a campaign that envisions each Filipina to WYCP that is WEAR YOUR COLOR PROUD. Mestiza, Chinita, Morena? Everyone is welcome!


What's in it for you?
This coming week, November 11-15, you and your friend can avail a hair color treatment for the price of one! It's like a 50% off bargain on posh salons listed above. You'll appreciate that the salons are fairly distributed on all major commercial districts, be it in shopping centers or business centers alike.


Wear Your Color Proud
Let me do a quick recap of what transpired that one fine Sunday. Hair Evaluation: My roots are showing its true color (black), Bottom strands scream extra dry and the volume of my overall tress is oversized ☺Procedure started with Patrick's assessment, then the coloring begin. They've used L'oreal Majirel hair color for me and Lorene. I won't pretend that I know everything about chemicals, what I'm sure of is that I didn't feel any sting on my scalp. And that's very, very good! :)



The treatment continues
Here are the process CMK and Lorene have enjoyed: Hair color, Hair Cut, Vitamin Treatment and Hair Styling. Throughout the process, we've read up to date magazines and sipped a Korean green tea. Lorene finished ahead of me. The entire process took about 2 to 2.5 hours. I really appreciate how warm and professional Tony and Jackey Team has always been.
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Happy, Vibrant Us
We both left T&J satisfied with our new #ProudChinita looks. I'm happy that Lorene's first attempt on hair coloring turned out very well. My hair feels so much lighter after being chopped strategically (thanks thinning scissors) and the color looks so much livelier now. After our hair session, we headed straight at The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf for a sumptuous early dinner. 
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Tuesday 5 November 2013

MONEY MATTERS : HOW TO OPEN A SUN LIFE MUTUAL (PROSPERITY) FUND?


FACT: Sun Life also offers mutual fund products. While its main market involves insurance products, it was months ago when I've learned about their Prosperity Funds (their name for mutual fund). In the interest of diversification, I tried to invest some of my money here. What's surprising is that my rate of return in Sun Life Prosperity Fund ranks top 1 among all my paper assets. Top 2 is BDO UITF (for detailed steps, click HERE). This personal investment ranking is as of 4th November 2013.

One of the most important elements in growing your money (next to of course, your capital money) is TIME. That's the main reason why financial talks encourage you to start early and start young (more scoop HERE). The power of compounding is amazing, a reason why wise investment in financial instruments are also called a great wealth vehicle for commoners like us. Let me emphasize, that you need to be at least familiar on any investment you are delving into, after all, earning money involves a lot of time and energy!

HOW TO OPEN A SUN LIFE MUTUAL (PROSPERITY) FUND?

 1. Ask your financial advisor. In my experience, my Sun Life financial advisor is super nice :) She answered all of my questions clearly and we ended up being friends that instant. Agnes made sure that I understand how it works and even gave me options on what works best for me. 

TIP: If you have a friend whose into Sun Life, I suggest that you ask them to refer you to his/her advisor. That way, you can have a brief preview on what to expect or what have yous.

2. Give your initial investment. You will be given a receipt after this. If I remember correctly, a snail mail will be sent separately containing your account number and other important details. TIP: The minimum initial investment is Php 5,000 ☺. After that you can top-up (add on your existing account).

3. Log online. I find it convenient knowing that you can track your fund performance online. As with most of mutual fund products, Sun Life Prosperity Fund also has an online platform. Registering is procedural and easy.

TIP: I suggest you enroll online. So you can see your fund's performance at a glance. Snap shot of the online portal after the jump!
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MONEY MATTERS : WHAT'S A GOOD INVESTMENT STRATEGY?


Hi Mimi! Thank you for this timely question. Allow me to enumerate your good points as I read your message. First, you have a definite goal. Goals are important, this is our idea of what kind of life we want to have in the future. I see that you listed down your short and long term goals and that is very good.

Next, you know your investment profile (conservative vs. aggressive). I consider myself as an aggressive investor too. As they say, high risk generally means high returns. Lastly, your time horizon - I appreciate how specific you are in pinpointing your time lines. Among all these things - your KNOWLEDGE on these investments is most important. Now that you have that covered, we can now answer your question on WHAT'S A GOOD INVESTMENT STRATEGY?

There are two schools of thought on investment strategy. First: Invest on a product that yields the highest returns (makes sense, right?) Second: Diversify (put your eggs in different baskets). Personally, I am in favor of diversification. After all, all investment products have risk factors, having said that, it's best that you scatter your resources on different baskets! Here are my five tips:

♣ Open an account with minimum initial investments first. This can be your "testing the water" phase. All institutions that you've mentioned are trust worthy and regulated by BSP/SEC, so taking calculated risks with them can be worth it. With minimum investments (usually Php 10,000) you can measure their rate of returns within your time horizons.

♣ Allot one day to open your investments personally. ATR Kim Eng, FAMI and BDO are all within Ayala Makati area. So you may want to schedule one day to open an account to all of them. I've included some links below for the benefit of our dear readers:

☺HOW TO OPEN A MUTUAL FUND ACCOUNT AT ATR KIMENG? (HERE)
☺HOW TO OPEN A FIRST ASSET METRO, INC. (FAMI) MUTUAL FUND? (HERE)
☺HOW TO INVEST IN BANCO DE ORO (BDO) UITF ACCOUNT? (HERE) 

♣ While investing in UITF and mutual fund is an easier option, I'd suggest you to open a COL Financial Account too if you want to know more about stock market and how it works. It's a different kind of vanilla since COL investing requires you to decide which ones to buy or sell. Piece of advice: Buy blue chip companies for your own peace of mind. 
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Monday 4 November 2013

MAC STUDIO FIX LIQUID FOUNDATION IN (NC 35) REVIEW


You've heard it once, you'll hear it again: a good foundation should mimic your skin. It has to be so good that nobody can tell a difference if you've got fonda on, except for unusually smooth finish. People, specially non-makeup enthusiast, may probably smirk upon the idea of calling a makeup an investment (big word!). Granted that there's such a thing, an investment worth making is one that covers your entire face, enter... MAC Foundation!

MAC is one brand that has graced so many songs and scene from Nicki Minaj to Rihanna, you name it. I can't think of any magazine too that doesn't showcase this classic. My liquid foundation has hit pan couple of days ago and I was on the look out of a good brand. After seeing reviews from various platform, I came to an inevitable conclusion: MAC is the way to go.

DETAILS:
MAC STUDIO FIX LIQUID FOUNDATION
Bought from: Rustan's Makati | Available nationwide
Shade: NC 35 | SPF: 15 | Size: 30 ml
Price: Php 1,800


CMK HAPPY THOUGHTS:
There are so many! First is the clean, matte finish. I love how my skin glows after a slight application. Second, it seems that the longer it stays on your face, the more smooth the finish becomes. Third, it is kind to my skin. I usually experience tiny breakouts specially for new products, but luckily, none of that in this beauty in a bottle. Staying power is also nice. It lasted for about 8-10 hours on me without caking.

Below is a snap with one of MAC's makeup artists. Her name is Yuki. She mentioned that before, being a makeup artist was just a hobby, but one day, she decided to follow her passion. Go girl! She applied something on my brow and for my lippie, Candy Yum Yum it is (review HERE).

Some swatches after the jump!
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Friday 1 November 2013

MY 2013 HALLOWEEN WEEK IN A NUTSHELL


Hey Guys! I know most of you are on vacation mode right now. Enjoy! ☺ Nothing much for today, just me sharing how my Halloween week has been. For me, halloween is an occassion that need to come by for us to officially welcome the Christimas season. That's it! I personally am not at all giddy about anything monstrous etc. So obviously, my activities have nothing to do with anything goosebump worthy, but nonetheless, consider this a sneak peek on what to expect in my future reviews.

1. The Lunchbox Diet
Lunchbox Diet provides calorie counted meals delivered right at your doorstep. Idea is to eat a managed diet calorie wise. I am road testing the packages for going 2 weeks now. And so far so good. Snap shot was taken last Wednesday. Opening the brown paper bag is an exciting ritual for me. What's happier? I lost some few pounds! Detailed review coming soon! (Update: Click HERE for review).

2. MAC Studio Fix Liquid Foundation
I bought it last weekend. This is by far the most grand foundation I've ever used. I don't use powder foundation, so I'm a big fan of quality, liquid foundation. Being a MAC, it costs a few more buck, but as far as my skin is concerned, they are loving it big time! (Update: HERE is the review)

3. CMK Sweats Series
That was (the dilapidated) me after a circuit workout. I am on a mission not to post anything yet. I target to lose at least 10 pounds for me to say, it works for me. Currently, I am on my second month and I can see some improvements (though minimal). I am doing a circuit training twice a week (supposedly) plus a body balance every Saturday. With this plus the Lunchbox diet, I'm optimistic that I'll hit my target weight soon (so help me, Lord).
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