I know that I'm not the only person in the world who keeps track of her expenses using an excel file. But please tell me if this sounds quite new to you... because maybe I just belong to the crowd that has this knack for monitoring their financials, and everything else in their lives.
The financial monitoring spreadsheet I'm using right now is a third version already. I started monitoring my personal cash flows since I started working. They say, you become more critical of your spending when you are already earning to spend. At first, I simply listed all the items that I spend on and their corresponding values. This was just to have a feel of how much I spend on which items. After a few months, I decided to start allocating a budget for the different things I spend on - food, transportation, other basic expenses (medicine, toilettries, etc.), and non-basic expenses (books, clothes, etc.). Then I monitored my expenses per category for each day, and then summarized them to see if I have any budget left for the rest of the month.
I don't earn a lot from work. Well, I do earn more than most other people in the country my age, but for my capability I may say I am not earning enough. I recently transferred to a new work not because of the salary, but only because of the experience it entails. I still am earning less than I'm supposed to, and even spending a little more on the basics (food & transportation) compared to where I used to work. Thus, there is really a need for me to budget my earnings for my spending, lest I end up bankrupt.
So far the third version of my financial monitoring spreadsheet is doing well. I have a sheet which records, in summary, my total monthly debit and credit from my two bank accounts. In another sheet, I record my total spending per category per day, which then automatically summarizes it weekly and monthly. The third sheet shows the allocated budget for each category for the month, the total actual spending for each category for the month, and the remaining budget.
I do, however, record my big spendings separately - plane tickets, expensive items (watch, gadgets, jewelries), etc. I don't consider them under the budgeted categories. They are what I spend my supposed savings on. Therefore, I have no savings to speak of at the moment, ever since I started working. Especially now, I am somehow financially desperate since I am just getting out of the transition from one work to another, which entailed more expenses and less income.
But may I say, I think I did pretty well with the budgeting this past month. I have so far stayed within budget. I will probably re-allocate some budget for the next month, and I am able to determine which items I can try spending less on.
I cannot say I am an expert on this. It takes different ways for different people to sort out their finances. But if you would like to know how I exactly do this, I'd be glad to help out. :)
Friday, May 30, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Keep Looking
These are times I'm brought back to the Shaider era... Remember "Time space warp"? That's how I refer to moments when things go missing when they're not supposed to. There are no simple explanations to these things in life, except perhaps the "existence" of black holes.
Case No. 1. The case of the missing file. There's this particular file I was working on, but a day or two after, I couldn't locate it in my files. I kept looking and looking and then decided to just get the copy I sent via email to a colleague. I couldn't figure out where the file went.
Case No. 2. The case of the missing report. Where I used to work, we had several regular monthly/quarterly/annual reports that we prepare for the GMs. There was this time when there was a report that went completely missing. I knew I had it printed already and submitted it to my immediate superior. My superior was sure she endorsed it already. It still had to be signed by the big boss. Weeks after, after we almost completely forgot about it, we realize we haven't released it yet, but couldn't completely figure out where it went. Thus, we had to print it again, and have it endorsed and signed again.
Case No. 3. The case of the missing area. When doing actual computations, its not uncommon to miss by a few measures, depending on the one who's measuring or computing, and depending on the method. The only problem is when you end up missing the mark by a few hundred. We were validating the size of the different areas of the building for our project, but we were completely confused because there was a few hundred square meters missing from the computation. We spent almost an entire day of trying to figure out where the missing area was.
There are still several stories like this I know about, but I can't distinctly remember. So, how did these things end? You're supposed to keep looking until you find it, or at least until you realize there really is nothing to look for.
Case No. 1 Resolution. The file was indeed saved in the computer, just in a different drive/folder.
Case No. 2 Resolution. The report got stuck with the big boss... I don't know how and why. It just reappeared a week or two after we prepared a different set of report for release already. In other words, the initial report was stuck for signature by the big boss for more than a month.
Case No. 3 Resolution. After careful scrutiny, and not finding the few hundred square meters that was missing, we re-discovered the discrepancy between two versions of area measurements that were being used. The area that was missing did not exist, in theory. But it's something we still need to align sometime soon.
By definition a black hole is a region where matter collapses to infinite density, and where, as a result, the curvature of spacetime is extreme. Moreover, the intense gravitational field of the black hole prevents any light or other electromagnetic radiation from escaping. But where lies the "point of no return" at which any matter or energy is doomed to disappear from the visible universe?
At the center of a black hole lies the singularity, where matter is crushed to infinite density, the pull of gravity is infinitely strong, and spacetime has infinite curvature. Here it's no longer meaningful to speak of space and time, much less spacetime. Jumbled up at the singularity, space and time cease to exist as we know them.
http://archive.ncsa.uiuc.edu/Cyberia/NumRel/BlackHoleAnat.html
Case No. 1. The case of the missing file. There's this particular file I was working on, but a day or two after, I couldn't locate it in my files. I kept looking and looking and then decided to just get the copy I sent via email to a colleague. I couldn't figure out where the file went.
Case No. 2. The case of the missing report. Where I used to work, we had several regular monthly/quarterly/annual reports that we prepare for the GMs. There was this time when there was a report that went completely missing. I knew I had it printed already and submitted it to my immediate superior. My superior was sure she endorsed it already. It still had to be signed by the big boss. Weeks after, after we almost completely forgot about it, we realize we haven't released it yet, but couldn't completely figure out where it went. Thus, we had to print it again, and have it endorsed and signed again.
Case No. 3. The case of the missing area. When doing actual computations, its not uncommon to miss by a few measures, depending on the one who's measuring or computing, and depending on the method. The only problem is when you end up missing the mark by a few hundred. We were validating the size of the different areas of the building for our project, but we were completely confused because there was a few hundred square meters missing from the computation. We spent almost an entire day of trying to figure out where the missing area was.
There are still several stories like this I know about, but I can't distinctly remember. So, how did these things end? You're supposed to keep looking until you find it, or at least until you realize there really is nothing to look for.
Case No. 1 Resolution. The file was indeed saved in the computer, just in a different drive/folder.
Case No. 2 Resolution. The report got stuck with the big boss... I don't know how and why. It just reappeared a week or two after we prepared a different set of report for release already. In other words, the initial report was stuck for signature by the big boss for more than a month.
Case No. 3 Resolution. After careful scrutiny, and not finding the few hundred square meters that was missing, we re-discovered the discrepancy between two versions of area measurements that were being used. The area that was missing did not exist, in theory. But it's something we still need to align sometime soon.
By definition a black hole is a region where matter collapses to infinite density, and where, as a result, the curvature of spacetime is extreme. Moreover, the intense gravitational field of the black hole prevents any light or other electromagnetic radiation from escaping. But where lies the "point of no return" at which any matter or energy is doomed to disappear from the visible universe?
At the center of a black hole lies the singularity, where matter is crushed to infinite density, the pull of gravity is infinitely strong, and spacetime has infinite curvature. Here it's no longer meaningful to speak of space and time, much less spacetime. Jumbled up at the singularity, space and time cease to exist as we know them.
http://archive.ncsa.uiuc.edu/Cyberia/NumRel/BlackHoleAnat.html
I'm not making any point, am I? Maybe the only point I am making is that perhaps only a blackhole can explain the complete and utter disappearance of anything (matter, space, light, or even time), considering that it did exist at one point. If the thing that is missing did not exist at all, then there is no point in looking
Otherwise, if it did exist, and there are no black holes anywhere nearby, it's probably best to just keep looking.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Seriously
A lesson for all the single women out there, my age, younger, and even otherwise -- never take a man seriously unless he has already taken you seriously. Never give a man your heart until you're ABSOLUTELY SURE that he's completely and absolutely serious about you.
It is our ultimate privilege as women to have the last say if we should give chance to a relationship. And as it should be, we should always seize that privilege. The latter times have given rise to what they say "equal opportunity", women being the agressive party with regards to starting relationships. I'm not saying that that is wrong. I've been there somehow, and I have some idea of what it takes to have been down that road. However, I would like to point out that in taking the initiative, we give up that opportunity to find out and filter out the good and sincere men before we even give them a chance at our hearts.
Men are supposed to prove their sincerity and genuine desire to be with us before we even decide to entertain the thought of completely giving or hearts to them. We should let them take the initiative to get to know us, to discover our best and worst, and then let them decide if they can tolerate us, if they can love us for what we are and for what we are not. Courting shouldn't be superficial where both parties excert much effort simply to impress the other.
Men and women are simply wired differently when it comes to romance, intimacy, and relationships. I can't say exactly how men view these things, but for women these are often fused together in a package that we closely associate with love. We feel a certain affinity and closeness to someone, we engage in an exchange of romantic thoughts and ideas, we ascribe intimacy to the relationship, with or without commitment. There is nothing wrong with this, except that this tend to be a bigger gamble at a possibly big heartbreak, especially when we end up giving our heart to someone who was not serious about us to begin with.
When we let them have the chance to take us for granted, we have to admit that it was our fault up to a certain degree.
Thus, before you even decide to give your whole heart to anyone, make sure he is COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY SERIOUS about you. Let him show you that. Give him the chance to show you that. You don't need to be difficult or cruel to him. But you shouldn't be all about him either. You can be sweet and caring, but only to a degree that is natural for you to be to other people around you. Let him become a genuine friend, first and foremost.
If he is indeed serious, he should make it known at the proper time. Don't push things to happen before they are meant to happen. If a man never comes through, it only means that he is not serious about you. Never fall for a man who loves his ego too much that he is afraid to risk his ego over you. That person will never be man enough for you.
A man who is serious about you will not be afraid to face your family. He will be more than willing to get to know your friends. He will care about most of the things that you care about. He will never have too little time to spend on you. He will make an effort to show his sincerity.
There are so many great and wonderful men in the world, but only a few who would truly take you seriously. It's not worth risking your heart over those unwilling others. So make an active effort to guard your heart before finding that person worth risking your heart for.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Why do we invest (emotionally)?
Invest (v)
- To spend or devote for future advantage or benefit
- To devote morally or psychologically, as to a purpose; commit
- To endow with authority or power.
- To endow with an enveloping or pervasive quality
- To spend or devote for future advantage or benefit
- To devote morally or psychologically, as to a purpose; commit
- To endow with authority or power.
- To endow with an enveloping or pervasive quality
As with financial investments, there is always a risk to spending or putting something of value into anything. We typically invest in something, decide to devote time and energy on something hoping that it would turn out good and productive in the end.
Why then do we choose to invest emotionally? Perhaps it's like other types of investments. When we see the possibility of something good coming out of something, we choose to take the gamble and put a little of our self into it. We put a stake on something when we start to build an affinity to it.
Why do we invest in romantic relationships? We enter romantic relationships to find out the possibility of being together until the far future. You don't go into it expecting it to fail or end, although we should admit that it is still always a possibility.
So, the investment is a little of ourselves, our emotions, and our commitment. The payback we are wishing for is a wonderful future. But let's admit it, we don't always get what we are wishing for. More than anything else, emotional investments are most uncertain.
The real question is, why do we even attempt to invest emotionally, even on things that has relatively no future? Why do we keep on loving people and hoping that these people who would perhaps not disappoint? Why do we give someone else that power over our happiness?
In the end, life turns out to be one big gamble, especially on the matter of love and romantic relationships. You will never have the chance to win unless you bet on something. Oftentimes you don't win, cause it's a million-to-one chance. But if you do win, it would really change your life. It's just up to you, are you brave enough to bet with your heart?
Friday, May 9, 2008
Attraction, Respect, Love
Repost from an old, old, old post... Just don't ask me what my reasons were for writing it at that time. And don't ask my why I'm reposting it now. It's just something I wrote way back that somehow made sense, something that should be shared.
I'm not love-struck. I need not be. I just still believe.
Attraction is logical. Respect is earned. Love is pure madness.
We can find a million and one reasons to like or not to like someone. That is attraction. It is based on rules, personal preferences that one makes consciously or unconsciously. The closer someone fits your preference, the greater the attraction. Charm, wits, a great body, a beautiful smile, wonderful expressive eyes, the right skin color and height, good social standing, secure financial position, the right career, the right name -- these are some of the things that may define the possibility of liking or not liking someone. In the end, it still is a conscious decision to like or not to like. It's largely black and white, not too much gray area.
There are some rare instances when we find people who fit all of our preferences. To us, they assume images which are god-like, almost perfect. These are often the people who qualify as Mr. Right, the one we think we have been looking for all our life. Sometimes it does work out, but sometimes it does not. At times, we get disappointed when we see the imperfections. We get disappointed because we realize that the things we have been searching for in a person seem unimportant and fleeting. There still is something missing. Thus, attraction may be a start, bit it is not everything.
Respect, on the other hand, is hard-earned. It is something that we only bestow on people whom we trust and highly regard, usually based on character and general disposition. It takes a while, a deeper knowledge of who someone is and how he deals with the world, before we can actually decide to respect someone.
In relationships, respect play an important role in almost all aspects. It takes a great deal of trust and respect before you can entrust someone with your life. Being with someone we genuinely respect gives us a sense of security. But still, respect is not everything. Though entirely difficult to earn, respect can easily be lost by some mishap or big mistake that a human being can fall into. Respect is an important thing, but it still is not everything.
Love is insanity, pure madness. Love is never over-rated. It can never-ever be explained or understood. Love does not require a reason because it is a reason in itself. Love does not measure, and love cannot be measured -- its depth, breadth, and height remain undefined. Love does not take any single form -- it could be anything. Love is illogical, it is madness. It does not know self-preservation. It entails moving, acting, and thinking in ways that are not typical of sane, logical people. Love does not require an explanation. The experience of love, both pleasurable and painful, is all that is needed to know love.
Why choose love? Because love does not reason. Love endures despite mistakes, it endures through trials and difficulties. Love never blames. Love knows no bounds. True love never ends. Beyond human reason, before the temptation at the garden of Eden, nothing existed but love. Love is the purest thing that remains. Love is everything.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Chocolates
One of the best things in the world -- Chocolates. But one thing you should know, no two chocolates are equal. Not that one chocolate is better than the rest -- it still depends on the person who appreciates it.
I, for one, loves dark chocolates more than anything else. I like milk chocolates depending on their type and quality and make. I don't like white chocolate -- I still believe they're not chocolate at all. But I like chocolates in general.
Top of mind chocolates include:
1. Truffettes de France!!! The most amazing truffles coated in cocoa powder that truly melts wonderfully in your mouth. My uncles always bring some everytime they visit us from Vancouver, but I discovered they have a store in Shangri-la. My officemates from San Miguel would testify to how heavenly these chocolates are. I'd have to warn you on two things though. These truffles are a little bit expensive. And, they melt really really easily in our climate so you have to put them in the fridge immediately.
2. Royce chocolates. Their chocolate-covered potato chips is something unique, and really good. There's that salty sweet taste that you will always crave for. I was also able to try the Bitter Nama Chocolate from Royce. Very rich dark chocolate, dusted with cocoa powder. Each piece satisfies more than anything else.
3. Godiva Chocolates. Another one of those expensive chocolates. So far I have tried a few pieces of their truffles and their tiny chocolates (the ones that range from milk chocolate to 80% chocolate, the really bitter type). They're good... but I haven't had enough to be able to say a lot about them. Maybe I need more. :p
4. Andes Mint Chocolates. I love mint chocolates, and this one tops my list in this range. They're just slim, tiny chocolates packed with so much mint and chocolate flavor. I just can't get enough of these.
5. Ferrero Rocher. One of my all-time favorite. The sweets consist of a whole roasted hazelnut encased in a thin wafer shell filled with nutella/hazelnut cream and covered in milk chocolate and chopped hazelnuts (description from wikipedia). I also love the gelato (italian ice cream) version of it that I found in Vancouver.
6. 3 Musketeers. Simple pleasures. Chocolate bars with a fluffy chocolate nougat filling in the middle. It is the chocolate bar I like the most.
7. M&Ms. Who doesn't love these little candy-covered chocolate treats? They have so many varieties now, but the classic is still the best. I also like the one with peanuts, and the dark chocolate and mint chocolate versions.
8. Kisses. Also a popular favorite, like M&Ms. Rich and creamy smacks of chocolates wrapped in foil. I particularly love unwrapping them. I like the ones with almonds inside too.
Well, there are also chocolates I particularly don't like. I've mentioned white chocolates already. I also am not fond of chocolates with fruit fillings, like cherry or coconut, or whatever. I'm not a fan of Toblerone, but I will eat them nonetheless.
I, for one, loves dark chocolates more than anything else. I like milk chocolates depending on their type and quality and make. I don't like white chocolate -- I still believe they're not chocolate at all. But I like chocolates in general.
Top of mind chocolates include:
1. Truffettes de France!!! The most amazing truffles coated in cocoa powder that truly melts wonderfully in your mouth. My uncles always bring some everytime they visit us from Vancouver, but I discovered they have a store in Shangri-la. My officemates from San Miguel would testify to how heavenly these chocolates are. I'd have to warn you on two things though. These truffles are a little bit expensive. And, they melt really really easily in our climate so you have to put them in the fridge immediately.
2. Royce chocolates. Their chocolate-covered potato chips is something unique, and really good. There's that salty sweet taste that you will always crave for. I was also able to try the Bitter Nama Chocolate from Royce. Very rich dark chocolate, dusted with cocoa powder. Each piece satisfies more than anything else.
3. Godiva Chocolates. Another one of those expensive chocolates. So far I have tried a few pieces of their truffles and their tiny chocolates (the ones that range from milk chocolate to 80% chocolate, the really bitter type). They're good... but I haven't had enough to be able to say a lot about them. Maybe I need more. :p
4. Andes Mint Chocolates. I love mint chocolates, and this one tops my list in this range. They're just slim, tiny chocolates packed with so much mint and chocolate flavor. I just can't get enough of these.
5. Ferrero Rocher. One of my all-time favorite. The sweets consist of a whole roasted hazelnut encased in a thin wafer shell filled with nutella/hazelnut cream and covered in milk chocolate and chopped hazelnuts (description from wikipedia). I also love the gelato (italian ice cream) version of it that I found in Vancouver.
6. 3 Musketeers. Simple pleasures. Chocolate bars with a fluffy chocolate nougat filling in the middle. It is the chocolate bar I like the most.
7. M&Ms. Who doesn't love these little candy-covered chocolate treats? They have so many varieties now, but the classic is still the best. I also like the one with peanuts, and the dark chocolate and mint chocolate versions.
8. Kisses. Also a popular favorite, like M&Ms. Rich and creamy smacks of chocolates wrapped in foil. I particularly love unwrapping them. I like the ones with almonds inside too.
Well, there are also chocolates I particularly don't like. I've mentioned white chocolates already. I also am not fond of chocolates with fruit fillings, like cherry or coconut, or whatever. I'm not a fan of Toblerone, but I will eat them nonetheless.
Note: Pictures taken from their respective sources online (can't remember them all actually)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)