How to start Investing in Stock Market?

Hi Sir Bern,

I am one of the attendees on the recent IIEE seminar which you take part on the Financial Literary topic.Sir, I am really eager to learn how the stocks works actually I've read few articles from Bo Sanchez and other financial educator but my problem is how to jump start especially that I am working here in Qatar. I've heard about COL (Citisec Online) that this is one of the best brokers in the Philippines and I want them to be my broker but I don’t know how to start if I’m here overseas.Sir, hope you can help me or guide me on how to start investing in stock market".

Thank you  

Carlos Dumbrigue

Thank you Carlos for your email and for showing your interest to start investing in the Philippine Stock Market.

It is my privilege to help you and to assist you in how to start investing. But first let me define what is stock market for others to understand.

You must first understand what stock market is, the stock market or equity is a aggregation of buyers and sellers ( a loose network of economic transactions, not a physical facilities or discrete entity) of stock (shares); these are all listed on the stock exchange stocks as well as those only traded privately . Since you become a part owner, you participate in the company's earning or losses. However, history has shown that over the long term the profits in stock investments are better than fixed income instrument and other investment.

If you think you are ready to start in the stock market here are ways how to start:

Step 1. Choose your stock broker

There are more than 100 licensed stock broker accredited by PSE. As investor or trader into stock market you need to choose your broker that will fit and give you comfort during trading time.

To understand the Role of your broker read this

If you have chosen who your stockbroker you can go to their website and download the form. Opening brokerage account is like opening your own bank account, you will just asked to fill out some forms and completing the requirements ( usually TIN, 2 valid IDs, and billing account). If you are working abroad you are require to submit your passport copy and Philippine ID. 

You choose which account you would like to open, this account will be differ from the initial opening and the facilities you can avail. Premium account is usually required bigger initial opening while for start -up you can start with minimum of P5,000. After completing the requirement you can send it to the broker office via hand or if you are OFW you can send it via courier DHL or Fedex etc.

Step 2. Activate and fund you account

Once your application was approved, you will received notification via email with you initial account user name and password. You just need to fund it to start enjoying the trade, once funded you can now buy and sell stocks you'll love.

Step 3.  Buy stocks using your brokerage account

Since you have now a buying power you can now start analyzing your stock that you want to buy. Know what stocks are god for you to buy and write it down with papers to create a shortlist of your stocks. Remember in buying stock you need to plan your trade and game. Understand what price you will buy, have a cut loss plan and target price as well. Note that the minimum shares you can buy will be depending on the board lot of the stocks. You need to control your emotion when you are into investing. your emotion can affect your game plan. Read Emotion driven

Step 4. Place your order

Once you already decide which stock you will buy, you can now place an order with your broker, the broker will charge you a small amount once the transaction complete, if the transaction was not fulfilled there will be no charges.

Step 5. Monitor and wait for your target Price

Although stock market is a good avenue to invest it is also a way to loose money. Long term investing will lessen your risk and probably give you a nice return. In investing into stock you need to understand that the factors you consider are important to gain:

• Long Terms - always consider a long term investing to lessen the risk and gain from your investments.
• Nos. of Shares - if you want to earn big you must invest a big volume of stock with that I recommend that buy regularly and buy on lower price.
• Consistency - make it a habit to invest in a regular basis or use the money cost averaging method to gain in your stock investment.

P.S. 1. Bernard B. Anduyon is an OFW based in Qatar. He is a speaker and trainor for OFIE-M (Overseas Filipino Investors and Entrepreneur – Movement), a small group of Filipinos that advocates and teaches fellow OFWs to be investors and entrepreneurs. He is also a long-time member of Bo Sanchez' Truly Rich Club http://bernard.trulyrichclub.com. 

P.S. 2.  If you, your family or friends are based in Qatar, then I’m inviting you to attend our financial literacy talk series every 1st and 3rd Mondays of every month at Al Thumama, Doha. I give talks on diverse topics such as abundance mindset, financial planning, investing and entrepreneurship for Filipinos. I am also a trainor for PINOYWISE-ATIKHA, promoting awareness on issues affecting OFWs and their families as well as financial literacy.

If you want a financial coaching, you can send email to b_anduyon@yahoo.com

Please like the pages:  

https://www.facebook.com/trulyrichcouple

https://www.facebook.com/OverseasFilipinoInvestorsEntrepreneursMovement

What is the role of your Stockbroker?

When you plan to start investing in a stock market, the first thing you have to do is to choose a stock broker. It is just like choosing a car you think is most suitable for you. You can thoroughly research the whole market in order to find the best car for you but require a medium or a venue to execute the actual transaction. The same strategy is needed when you want to buy stock in a stock market. You can select a company to invest in by conducting detailed research about its future prospects but you still need to have a broker to make the final transaction and purchase its stock from the stock market.

A stock broker is an agent who represents clients to buy or sell stocks and other securities. The term is applied to both companies that deal in securities and their employees, who technically are registered representatives working for the brokerage. To most investors, however, the broker is the person they call when they want to invest in or trade stocks. Most individual brokers work in offices far removed from the stock trading floors.

There are more than 100 licensed stock broker accredited by PSE. As an investor or trader into stock market you need to choose your broker that will fit and give you comfortable during trading time.

The types of broker in the Philippines can be classified into:

• Traditional Broker
• On-line Broker (internet base)

Traditional Broker is the old school of stock market but still more people preferred this rather than on-line, because of the direct advice from the broker and you can talk to them using phone.

On-line Broker is internet base broker the client can execute his order and access market information directly in just a click of the mouse.

Stock brokerage firms and individual stock brokers are regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission and other specific markets. An individual broker must pass a test administered by concerned regulatory authorities and must complete his registration through brokerage firms, which in some cases require registration with a concerned securities commission.

Aside for being a facilitator for stock orders, stockbrokers services may vary with the following :

• Providing research and analysis of the market
• Provide advisory services
• Providing investor education by conducting seminars and market briefing with the market outlook.
• Handling institutional or corporate account and individuals retail customers. 

P.S. 1. Bernard B. Anduyon is an OFW based in Qatar. He is a speaker and trainor for OFIE-M (Overseas Filipino Investors and Entrepreneur – Movement), a small group of Filipinos that advocates and teaches fellow OFWs to be investors and entrepreneurs. He is also a long-time member of Bo Sanchez' Truly Rich Club http://bernard.trulyrichclub.com. 

P.S. 2.  If you, your family or friends are based in Qatar, then I’m inviting you to attend our financial literacy talk series every 1st and 3rd Mondays of every month at Al Thumama, Doha. I give talks on diverse topics such as abundance mindset, financial planning, investing and entrepreneurship for Filipinos. I am also a trainor for PINOYWISE-ATIKHA, promoting awareness on issues affecting OFWs and their families as well as financial literacy.

If you want a financial coaching, you can send email to b_anduyon@yahoo.com

Please like the pages:  

https://www.facebook.com/trulyrichcouple

https://www.facebook.com/OverseasFilipinoInvestorsEntrepreneursMovement

Do You Want To Be Inspired? Real Riches in Real Estate

Do you want to inspired and learn how to make riches in Real Estate?  Learn and be inspired with good friends and Real Estate mentor Maves Angeles.

More Filipinos wants to invest in the Real Estate as good investing opportunity to put hard earn money and create passive income from rental properties.

Here is a story of good friends and our Real Estate mentor that can give you good advise and inspiration how she earn and became one of the successful individual in Real Estate.

Lets read and be inspire the story of Maves Angeles as she reveal the Real Riches in Real Estate, her journey from slum to a successful developer.

Here is her story of success:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For 9 years, I lived in the slums and for  20 years we had to transfer houses 15 times. Every time we moved out was a very painful experience for me. And I vowed that I would one day own my own home. But today, I don't just have my own house, I also buy build and sell properties.continue reading

P.S. 1. Bernard B. Anduyon is an OFW based in Qatar. He is a speaker and trainor for OFIE-M (Overseas Filipino Investors and Entrepreneur – Movement), a small group of Filipinos that advocates and teaches fellow OFWs to be investors and entrepreneurs. He is also a long-time member of Bo Sanchez' Truly Rich Club http://bernard.trulyrichclub.com. 

P.S. 2.  If you, your family or friends are based in Qatar, then I’m inviting you to attend our financial literacy talk series every 1st and 3rd Mondays of every month at Al Thumama, Doha. I give talks on diverse topics such as abundance mindset, financial planning, investing and entrepreneurship for Filipinos. I am also a trainor for PINOYWISE-ATIKHA, promoting awareness on issues affecting OFWs and their families as well as financial literacy.

If you want a financial coaching, you can send email to b_anduyon@yahoo.com

Please like the pages:  

https://www.facebook.com/trulyrichcouple

https://www.facebook.com/OverseasFilipinoInvestorsEntrepreneursMovement

How to spot business opportunity in Real Estate?

Interested to learn more on Real Estate investment and how to spot a good opportunity either investing or as business?

This July 18, 2014 SMDC will have their Real Estate Property Roadshow at Copthorne Hotel Airport road Doha Qatar at 6 - 9 pm. 

SMDC will showcase their latest project and development for all OFW here in Qatar who is interested in buying property in prime location plus a learning curve in how to manage the property and turn it into business opportunity.

To register in this event kindly click here

 

SMDC Property Roadshow

This event is free for all interested. Register now by signing and click this link

P.S. 1. Bernard B. Anduyon is an OFW based in Qatar. He is a speaker and trainor for OFIE-M (Overseas Filipino Investors and Entrepreneur – Movement), a small group of Filipinos that advocates and teaches fellow OFWs to be investors and entrepreneurs. He is also a long-time member of Bo Sanchez' Truly Rich Club http://bernard.trulyrichclub.com. 

P.S. 2.  If you, your family or friends are based in Qatar, then I’m inviting you to attend our financial literacy talk series every 1st and 3rd Mondays of every month at Al Thumama, Doha. I give talks on diverse topics such as abundance mindset, financial planning, investing and entrepreneurship for Filipinos. I am also a trainor for PINOYWISE-ATIKHA, promoting awareness on issues affecting OFWs and their families as well as financial literacy.

If you want a financial coaching, you can send email to b_anduyon@yahoo.com

Please like the pages:  

https://www.facebook.com/trulyrichcouple

https://www.facebook.com/OverseasFilipinoInvestorsEntrepreneursMovement

Philippines Get Another Credit Upgrade from R & I

JAPAN-BASED debt watcher Rating and Investment Information, Inc. (R&I) has upgraded the Philippines’ credit score a notch further into investment grade, citing improved state finances and prospects for sustained economic growth.

A stable outlook which means it is unlikely to change within a year. The R&I maintained the country's short term debt rating at a-2, which indicates high certainty that short - term financial obligations would paid. R&I had raised its outlook on the Philippines long term rating to "positive" from "stable".

The Philippines economy continues to show strong growth, due to the private consumption driven by the OFW remittances, which allow to raised our per-capita income steadily.

The R&I noted inflation rates are kept low, and concern about the government’s fiscal position and external liquidity is small. Amid heightened reform momentum, infrastructure and industrial development, which were pending issues, are in good progress.

R&I also said the rollout of more projects under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program would help drive more job-generating investments and sustain the rise in incomes.
R&I also recognized the country’s sound macroeconomic fundamentals, including ample foreign-exchange reserves, improving manageability of government debt, and within-target inflation.
It also said reforms instituted by the Aquino administration, including legislative and administrative reforms in tax collection, helped improve the investment climate. R&I expressed belief reforms will be sustained even beyond 2016.

"The upgrade is an expression of confidence, in part, on the ability of the Monetary Authority to implement appropriate and timely measures that ward off threats to economics stability we are enjoying.  The BSP will continue to craft policies that will help maintain this stability" Amado Tetangco Jr. BSP governor.

sources:  http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/07/09/14/philippines-gets-another-credit-rating-upgrade
              
             http://www.sunstar.com.ph/breaking-news/2014/07/09/japan-credit-rating-agency-upgrades-phl-rating-352803
                   
             http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Economy&title=Philippines-gets-credit-upgrade-from-R&I&id=90648 

P.S. 1. Bernard B. Anduyon is an OFW based in Qatar. He is a speaker and trainor for OFIE-M (Overseas Filipino Investors and Entrepreneur – Movement), a small group of Filipinos that advocates and teaches fellow OFWs to be investors and entrepreneurs. He is also a long-time member of Bo Sanchez' Truly Rich Club http://bernard.trulyrichclub.com. 

P.S. 2.  If you, your family or friends are based in Qatar, then I’m inviting you to attend our financial literacy talk series every 1st and 3rd Mondays of every month at Al Thumama, Doha. I give talks on diverse topics such as abundance mindset, financial planning, investing and entrepreneurship for Filipinos. I am also a trainor for PINOYWISE-ATIKHA, promoting awareness on issues affecting OFWs and their families as well as financial literacy.

If you want a financial coaching, you can send email to b_anduyon@yahoo.com

Please like the pages:  

https://www.facebook.com/trulyrichcouple

https://www.facebook.com/OverseasFilipinoInvestorsEntrepreneursMovement

 

Stocks or Pooled Funds?

The most common question for a new investor is to ask whether to invest their money into Pooled Fund ( Mutual Fund or UITF) or Stock Market.  But which is really the best investment for you? Stocks or Pooled Fund?

New investors looking to invest for the future are usually have their options - pooled funds or stock market. Both carry advantages and disadvantages, risks and its for investor need to understands the which will favor for them

Whether you invest in pooled funds or stock market, it will depends on your risk appetite vs. return you can handle. It also depend on your time  to monitor and willing to learn watching the market movements in daily basis. You also need to understand which company you are investing, check the fundamentals and growth.

Let me give you some factors to consider before choosing either pooled fund or individual stocks is for you:

1. How much to start?
Either pooled fund or stocks you can open an account with the minimum of P5,000. But let me take a look, In pooled fund your P5,000 already give you diversify portfolio you already own 10 different companies in a different industries (food,mining,services,real estate etc.). In stock market you can open with the same amount of P5,000 but what company you can buy in this amount, limited to cheap company.

2. Do you have time and Knowledge?
In stock market you will be the one to control your portfolio, you will be your fund manager by yourself. You will choose which stocks to buy, when to sell etc. While in pooled fund you have fund managers who will do the work for you. You let your fund manager manage your portfolio and allow him to decide what to buy and when to sell. With this, ask yourself do your time to study your portfolio or you are busy with your work and can not manage your portfolio.

3. Are you willing to take the risk?
Either pooled fund or stock both have risk. Since the pooled fund are already diversify it still lower risk compare to stock. Risk can be lessen if you have the game plan for every investment. You must understand when to enter and when is the best time to exit. While stock is more risky than pooled fund it has more opportunity to maximized your gain compared to pooled fund.

Stocks vs. Pooled Funds

If you want to fully participate in the markets and can handle more risk, choose a portfolio of individual stocks. But have a strategy. Choose those stocks that have consistently increased their dividends, have had stable stock prices in good and bad markets, and have free cash flows (cash beyond their expenses). Look for companies that have great products used by consumers every day. If you want to dig a little deeper, choose those companies that have consistently increased sales each year. For that statistic, you may have to read their annual reports.

However if you are busy and working as employee it does not mean you can not invest in equity. Pooled fund is investment for you and you can still participate in equity controlled by fund managers.Pooled funds also allow you to access many different markets across the globe. You can invest in a global real estate fund as well as a currency or commodity fund, and you can do this with very little money because many pooled funds have low investment minimums.

Making money comes with a price. You can either take the less volatile approach with mutual funds or put more work into developing a stock picking strategy. Both work, but they appeal to very different objectives.

Good luck and happy investing.

P.S. 1. Bernard B. Anduyon is an OFW based in Qatar. He is a speaker and trainor for OFIE-M (Overseas Filipino Investors and Entrepreneur – Movement), a small group of Filipinos that advocates and teaches fellow OFWs to be investors and entrepreneurs. He is also a long-time member of Bo Sanchez' Truly Rich Club http://bernard.trulyrichclub.com. 

P.S. 2.  If you, your family or friends are based in Qatar, then I’m inviting you to attend our financial literacy talk series every 1st and 3rd Mondays of every month at Al Thumama, Doha. I give talks on diverse topics such as abundance mindset, financial planning, investing and entrepreneurship for Filipinos. I am also a trainor for PINOYWISE-ATIKHA, promoting awareness on issues affecting OFWs and their families as well as financial literacy.

If you want a financial coaching, you can send email to b_anduyon@yahoo.com

Please like the pages:  

https://www.facebook.com/trulyrichcouple

https://www.facebook.com/OverseasFilipinoInvestorsEntrepreneursMovement

Do you Know Where Your Salary Goes?

Again the end of the month is coming and its payroll day again!!! But how do you manage your salary? After receiving the wages of hard earn money, did you still know where it goes?

Where did Your Salary goes?

Most of employee rely on his monthly salary and the most awaited moment for them is the payday. I knew a lot of employee who has a bad habit of spending, before they get the salary it already gone, payday is just a day where they will just paying the debt.

Regardless of how much money you earn, the most important thing as employee must do is to budget your salary properly. Try to go to the mall during salary what did you notice? Did you notice that the mall have a lot of shoppers, restaurant, cinemas and departments store especially during the sales. I remember what my mom call this "one day millionaire".

Your salary is a reward we received for being a hardworking employee for the month. Being an employee alone will never give you comfortable retirement, unless you value and manage your salary properly and start saving a portion on it you will be trap being an employee. As an employee nobody stop you to start saving, saving habit will be your first step to financial freedom. Try to save a small portion of your salary and put it on the bank. If you still buried in debt settle it first before you start creating a savings account. Make it in a regular basis every time you get your salary take it first before your expenses.

Start tracking your expenses and you will notice that most of your expenses is just a thing you want and not the thing you really need. When me and my wife apply this practice, we notice that most of our expenses just wasted in unnecessary things, and we developed a habit of budgeting and up to now we are more conscious with our spending habit.

Here are some tips on how to develop a savings habit regardless if you receive a small amount of salary.

1. List down your expense - the most effective way to monitor your expenses is to list down all the expenses that you have in daily basis.

2. Give up your bad habit - if you have vices try to start quitting on it, you will notice how much money you will save.

3. Discuss and make a budget with your family - always involved your family in budgeting so they can contribute in their simple way that they can give.

4. Always identify the need vs wants - if you are buying something think if you really need to buy this things or can delay after sometimes.

5. Compare your expenses to the salary you receive - if the expenses is bigger your salary need to adjust, either you tighten your expenses or create other income.

Try to apply this habit and be conscious with your expenses, after that your next step is to start investing.

Remember that it not  the salary the you receive but how much money was left to you. It is more a discipline of saving rather than complaining to your salary. There is always a way to get out of our poverty life.

Start applying this habit and go to the next level.. the INVESTING. Never rely on your salary alone. Getting higher salary makes you better but not wealthy.

P.S. 1. Bernard B. Anduyon is an OFW based in Qatar. He is a speaker and trainor for OFIE-M (Overseas Filipino Investors and Entrepreneur – Movement), a small group of Filipinos that advocates and teaches fellow OFWs to be investors and entrepreneurs. He is also a long-time member of Bo Sanchez' Truly Rich Club http://bernard.trulyrichclub.com. 

P.S. 2.  If you, your family or friends are based in Qatar, then I’m inviting you to attend our financial literacy talk series every 1st and 3rd Mondays of every month at Al Thumama, Doha. I give talks on diverse topics such as abundance mindset, financial planning, investing and entrepreneurship for Filipinos. I am also a trainor for PINOYWISE-ATIKHA, promoting awareness on issues affecting OFWs and their families as well as financial literacy.

If you want a financial coaching, you can send email to b_anduyon@yahoo.com

Please like the pages:  

https://www.facebook.com/trulyrichcouple

https://www.facebook.com/OverseasFilipinoInvestorsEntrepreneursMovement

Are You Emotionally Driven?

Investment is often regarded as a strategic, methodological and an entirely rational process. Yet, this is not always the case. In practice, the simple goal of maximizing gains and minimizing losses is very challenging - and often not very logical - for many investors.

Emotion is one of the important factors to be considered when you are into investing. Your decision must be based on logic and on facts, not emotions. This is one of the difficult things to overcome. Sometimes, we make decisions based on our emotions and then justify those decisions with logical reasoning.

Managing emotions is one of the key things to become a successful investor. A few weeks ago, the Philippine Stock market was at its  drop-- from being bullish, it met almost the bearish trend. During that time, all network groups and pages in Facebook have different posts and reactions. Some were happy and started buying and buying more. Others were fearful and sold their shares at the slightest indication of a price drop. Who wins in the end? The wise investor who studies the market situation, manages his emotions and acts according to reason.

A field of study known as behavioral finance is dedicated to studying the emotions behind economic decision-making. Behavioral finance borrows ideas from economics, psychology, game theory and even evolution, to model decisions by individuals. Some of the “irrational” behaviors they observed include: framing, which means the way a decision is presented affects an investor’s action, and loss aversion, which means investors strongly prefer to avoid a loss rather than to miss an equivalent gain.

Another area of emotion-laden decision making occurs throughout the boom and bust cycle of stock markets. Here, the interplay between fear and greed is the chief driver. And unfortunately, these emotions are counter-productive for most investors. In other words, emotions lead to poor investment performance.

While every investor tries to invest with their head and not their heart, he or she will also recognize that markets themselves are a clear reflection of public opinion and trust. Though markets are highly reactive to investors’ emotions, a step back reveals that movements driven by investor sentiments are a lot less unpredictable than one might expect.

Indeed, just as markets move in cycles, investor sentiment also follows a cycle that repeats itself every seven years or so. Emotions evolve as we progress along the cycle and correspondingly affect our decisions. Understanding this cycle of emotions is not just instructive – it can help us generate higher returns by investing at times of fear and being less sanguine when confidence is overflowing. Hence, the trick is to react in ways that will help us make the most of the ride on this emotional roller coaster. 

How would you react?

Emotions to be managed by investor to achieve his/ her financial goals:

• Panic -  an emotion that mostly happens when the market or investment drops a certain limit which the investor cannot resist, the fear of losing mostly in the short -term.
• Excitement - a feeling of great enthusiasm and eagerness. Opposite of panic, this emotion mostly arrives when the investor gains a small profit and feels like an expert.
• Fear – a negative emotion that blocks investors to take risks despite potential gains. Unless we overcome, fear we will never be a successful individual.
• Hope - is a positive emotion which promotes the belief that his/her investments will gain in the right time.
• Thrill - this emotion usually happens to the traders in the stock market, their personality is usually being thrill hoppers.
• Greed - an attitude of investor which usually happens when the market is up and it is the right time to sell but will postpone it believing he /she can still earn more. Example : “I won't sell now, it might still get higher.”
• Envy- a feeling of unsatisfaction with his/her profits when compared it with the bigger profits of others.

As investors, we need to understand that the market is tricky and requires a study to learn on top of studying to control our emotions. It is easy to say "Buy Low and Sell High" but the truth is, we are emotionally driven and get lost ourselves when things don’t happen the way we not plan them to be.

"The world of investing can be cold and hard. But if you do thorough research and keep your head on straight, your chances of long-term success are good".

P.S. 1. Bernard B. Anduyon is an OFW based in Qatar. He is a speaker and trainor for OFIE-M (Overseas Filipino Investors and Entrepreneur – Movement), a small group of Filipinos that advocates and teaches fellow OFWs to be investors and entrepreneurs. He is also a long-time member of Bo Sanchez' Truly Rich Club http://bernard.trulyrichclub.com. 

P.S. 2.  If you, your family or friends are based in Qatar, then I’m inviting you to attend our financial literacy talk series every 1st and 3rd Mondays of every month at Al Thumama, Doha. I give talks on diverse topics such as abundance mindset, financial planning, investing and entrepreneurship for Filipinos. I am also a trainor for PINOYWISE-ATIKHA, promoting awareness on issues affecting OFWs and their families as well as financial literacy.

If you want a financial coaching, you can send email to b_anduyon@yahoo.com

Please like the pages:  

https://www.facebook.com/trulyrichcouple

https://www.facebook.com/OverseasFilipinoInvestorsEntrepreneursMovement

Know Excuses in Investing

It was almost three years now when I started teaching financial literacy to our fellow OFW and Filipinos. It is funny but true that most of Filipinos are have a lot of excuses and alibi when it comes to their investment.

Ephesians 5:15-17

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is".

Here are some excuses that most of the Filipinos keep telling why they cannot start investing, and its run for a year so they fail to break their poverty.

WHAT IS YOUR EXCUSES?

JANUARY:

It was in my New Year’s resolution to start investing and change my lifestyle, but my 13 month pay and Christmas bonus was already gone paying for my bills, and buying gift to my “inaanaks” and relatives last Christmas season, a lot of reunion and party. I promise next month I will start investing for my future.

FEBRUARY:

It is a love month, I want to have a romantic surprise for my love ones and treat him/her to a great hotel and romantic places and of course I want to give him/her a surprise gift that she/he really ask before. Valentines happen only once a year so I will make it unforgettable and romantic experience. Promise I will start investing by next month.

MARCH:

My son is in the top and honor roll I must treat him, and my daughter will be graduating so we must treat for our family and friends as a gift for them. We are just proud parents and its ok to spend something for them. Next month I will be starting to save and invest.

APRIL:

Oh its summer time and its very hot inside our house we are planning to have summer out of town. We will be on the beach and also try to celebrate Holy Week by doing a pilgrimage. Wow I can wait for our family outing, it’s a great bonding and relaxing time for us. After this summer I will invest.

MAY:

I will prepare something this Fiesta in our town it’s our tradition to thanks God by preparing food and inviting friends. It will be happy celebration this year. After the fiesta I will set aside money for my kids school supplies need to buy them shoes and uniform etc. Maybe next month I can start my investing.

JUNE:

Gosh!!! A lot of books and school supply for my kids, new school year new expenses hayyy… The tuition fee almost increases every year. I really need to   start investing to beat inflation. Next month I will start.

JULY:

Oh my!! Its rainy season again, we need to fix our house specially our roof its already leak and raindrop falls inside our room. We need to renovate our house and be prepare for this season. I need to prepare and set aside money for this.

AUGUST:

I heard from my Filipino – Chinese friend that it is not a good time to invest, it is bad time because it is Ghost month. I will just keep this money in my pocket after this month I will start saving and invest.

SEPTEMBER:

My friends borrow money form and can’t say NO to him, his close friend to us. I can lend him our little savings

OCTOBER:

Wow!!!  Octorberfest again. !!! We will be watching concert and enjoying the party, it’s a whole month of enjoyable nights. It’s time to enjoy and relax for a moment and forget the work.

NOVEMBER:

We will visit the grave of our relatives and a kind of reunion, we will enjoy and it’s semester break for my kids. It is only time we can visit our departed love ones.

DECEMBER:

It’s Christmas time. We will buy new Christmas light and Christmas tree to feel the spirit of Christmas.  We will also go some shopping for the new stuff and gifts for our relatives’ friends and “inaanak”. We will also start going to the malls for our traditional groceries like Ham, Keso de Bola etc.

Now are you wondering why lots of Filipino never starts investing or even start saving? They always make excuses and alibi. They delay and procrastinating is one of the best enemies of investing that block us to start fulfilling our dreams.

Don’t get me wrong, me and my wife also spend time enjoying vacations and holidays, we also have a weekly dates and we also celebrates special occasions in our life such as anniversary, birthday etc. but we budget everything. We spend less but we enjoy being each other. Be wise and practical in spending and celebrating special occasion, you can be artistic and creative in doing that things. You use your gift you save and you enjoy.

The first steps in our dream are one of the difficult things, but once we start us already make a first step to our goal.

To become a successful individual always start with a small things toward your dream, along the way hindrance and difficulties may be present but just keep on moving it is just a test of your perseverance. Successful people failed but they keep on moving and focus on their dreams until they become successful.

The best way to start investing is not tomorrow or next week or next month, the best way is TODAY. Start by learning something and applying a small amount to your investment that you like and keep on learning on how it works, little by little you will notice you become confident and mastering your investment.

“You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.” ― Abraham Lincoln

P.S. 1. Bernard B. Anduyon is an OFW based in Qatar. He is a speaker and trainor for OFIE-M (Overseas Filipino Investors and Entrepreneur – Movement), a small group of Filipinos that advocates and teaches fellow OFWs to be investors and entrepreneurs. He is also a long-time member of Bo Sanchez' Truly Rich Club http://bernard.trulyrichclub.com. 

P.S. 2.  If you, your family or friends are based in Qatar, then I’m inviting you to attend our financial literacy talk series every 1st and 3rd Mondays of every month at Al Thumama, Doha. I give talks on diverse topics such as abundance mindset, financial planning, investing and entrepreneurship for Filipinos. I am also a trainor for PINOYWISE-ATIKHA, promoting awareness on issues affecting OFWs and their families as well as financial literacy.

If you want a financial coaching, you can send email to b_anduyon@yahoo.com

Please like the pages:  

https://www.facebook.com/trulyrichcouple

https://www.facebook.com/OverseasFilipinoInvestorsEntrepreneursMovement