Green December - Prepping Up for 2020

Nawa'y ang ating Disyembre ay maging green, parang luntian na papunta sa pagiging berde. No, this is not green-minded stuff. Hahaha. (defensive noh?).


But to make things set aright, for something that we look forward to on what we wanted to accomplish, let's put some markers, or even reminders to our own selves on how to focus on those goals - to make it as a reality.

2020 is just around the corner, it's a great time for new beginnings again. A nice way to freshly put things in to perspective. I'm not saying you can't start at anytime of the year, but definitely you can start fresh anytime.

However, since January is fast approaching, better prepare the tools, make plans and know the details how to execute each of these plans.

You don't want your bonuses (13th month and other pays, dividends, monthly bond savings) to go down the drain. Na parang naibulsa lang sa isang supot (wallet) na butas.





Top 3 things to do (basics)

1. Keep on reminding yourself on your goal (What you want to accomplish this coming year)

(ie) Say you wanted to take control of your spending and see the trends how you spend each of your earned dollar or peso, then aim to muster all your focus in not losing that thought-process, that earnestness to take control of your finance and see it all through.

That's the reason why, i'm blogging this because i wanted to keep reminding myself that that is one of my goals this year. Visual markers and small reminders that takes you to greater heights in getting closer to realizing those perspective.



2. Jot down and journal (verb) your goals

(ie) Going back to our example above, have something - a kind of a process where you get to do daily the tasks, in order to get closer to your goals.

Sample? Use a tracker spending app, or as simple as the excel file that can accommodate your daily spending.

I remember one of the financial advisors from Sunlife who happened to by my colleague at Dell Inc. before, he normally tracks every cent he spends on. He's using an Android app where he inputs all the his spending items. That was like 3 years ago when i sit down with him and discuss some financial planning on my part.

Sad thing? I didn't follow his best practices of tracking every penny.

Good thing? I started tracking my spending 6 months ago - religiously. As in daily. In the next paragraphs, i'll share my template in excel that i've been using.

Now, i have a better view on my daily expenses.

Now, i can see the trends of my monthly spending.

Now, i can see the graphs or chart of where my monthly salary, and other incomes went through.

Naka-ipon ba ako? ('yan ang malaking katanungan) Or baka naka-utang pa ako at indebted sa mga banko at credit card companies. LMAO.... I will keep my mouth shut - pero i'm quite happy naman on my own financial trends for the last 6 months.

What matters now, is i get to channel how to manage these finances. True that! I can simulate and gamify my own tracker as i wish.

If you're an Excel Ninja - i'm sure you get to enjoy crunching data and play around with your personal finances data.



3. Keep track of your progress

(ie) Here's how i manage to track my daily spending:

• I use Reminders App in the iPhone. And i mean - real time using it every time i spend a cent or use my credit card.

Reminders App - iPhone

• Either on a daily basis or when i feel like doing it - i will transfer this data to my excel file of daily tracking expenses as long as i won't procrastinate on it for a week - then i'm good. But i'd definitely punish myself if i extend over a week in not updating my Daily Expenses Tracker.

• Afterwards, i just use the data of my daily tracker to create graphs and analysis on trends. I was introspecting while blogging this... 

What drove me to talk about financial literacy where i myself is no guru on this field. I came to realize that propagating even the basics to anyone who could read and write, do basic accounting etc is really good for the soul.


Why soul? hahahahaha! Because at the end of the day, if your mind is happy, contented, at peace and satisfied. Your soul is being nourished as too.

Your sense of peace and your outlook to things inside and outside of yourself dramatically changes to positivity.

Ang habit na 'to - applicable lang ba sa mga naghahanap-buhay?

Of course not. If you're a high-schooler reading this, it's better to start as early as now. Learn how to be accountable, learn to be consistent and do yourself a favor - be financially literate and take ownership.


I'm not sure if you can feel how i'm so much excited for December and the months to come, in consistently doing this financial process. May it be so basic or complex - it adds fuel to my drive in gaining what you wanted in this life.


Whatever that is, i'm doing you a favor  - i hope i had at least enlightened you the importance of basic personal finance. Please reach out to me if you want to have a copy of my Excel Template. I can share and let's collaborate for a better management of our assets and liabilities.







ˆmac

Punitin Ang Cedula - Bonifacio Day 2019

(edited)

To cap the day - 30th of November; and to cap the month - November it is, tumawa muna tayo or think deeply and see if AB (Andres Bonifacio) is worth painting and depicting or shall i say, re-imagined in our time (via meme-logy) and art.

Thanks to the artist though - "Manu Gallardo San Pedro" for sharing his talent via reddit. Follow him at his IG.

@manu_sanpedro 📸 (instagram) 

Someone commented in reddit that AB is the "Cedula Bae"- possibly a Gen Zer, nevertheless, i'm looking at this art as an evolution of mindsets from different angles.

Andres Bonifacio In 2019 - Cedula Bae

It's so timely, the way he flicked his fingers in tearing down to pieces the "cedula" is mezmerizing and at the same time leaving the audience or myself thinking if AB was amused? or, out of the original emotion back in Katipunan Days -- still angry as hell? (the sunglasses fashionably hid the facial expression esp the eyes!)

Or it could also be a reflection of "pagka-irita"sa nangyayari sa bansa natin ngayun? Bagal ba ng pag-usad at pag-unlad? Magkabilaan ang traffic at di natapos ang ïnconvenience" para sa kapwa ko Pinoy.

So much so with my ramblings about our government and the status of our country.

I'll leave this post to be of a happy mindset. I'm still chuckling as i gaze at this piece of art. Yep, kahit yung holster ng baril, maling side at di akma! Ang hirap bunutin ni AB kung sakali. Nyahahahahaha!

See you in December folks! Thanks for staying and following my blog.

ˆbillymacdeus

-added artist's IG page

Luneta Park 70's

Dropping this on your feed.

Reminisce, look back in memory lane; throwback!

Luneta Park in the 70's

photograb from ˆreddit





ˆbillymacdeus

Angas ni Elon Musk! Cybertruck vs F150

Angas talaga ni Elon Musk. His challenge below is not apples to apples but quite off the grid.

Wala lang, tuwa lang ako sa Cybertruck niya pero this video puts off the F150 because it's only two-wheel drive versus the Cybertruck which is at a maxed - 4-wheel - drive.

These facts were based from the Twitter of Ford's VP. Sunny Madra asking Elon to send them a cybertruck for them answer Elon's challenge above video.

Will update this once we get the video from Ford's.

ˆbillymacdeus

Bon Appetea Imus Cavite - Review

On most Sundays, this is one of my go to places after worship service of 10:00 AM. This has long been a pending post, but allow me to share my review or paghatol to one of the most accessible tea houses along Nueno Avenue Imus.

Imus Branch - Bon AppeTea

Top 5 Things I Like About It

1. Ambience and Convenience
Tables, lighting, background music quality, Aircon (AC), chairs - name it... they got it all. It appears that the management franchisee of this branch meticulously engineered the design to have it easy on the eyes, and drops a positive vibe on its first impressions.

The close proximity, a walkable timeframe of 2-3 minutes from our church is one of the reasons why i go here to chillax and wait for the next part of my church duty -- the Choir practice.




2. Outlets
Availability of this feature is not at all "tinipid". It's basically everywhere at the nooks and crannies set-up strategically for a diner to use an electrical outlet as needed. Which is one of my major things to look-out for whenever i'm staying for a while. These days, i think it's a must to install these in order for customers to immediately get to juice up their devices.

Yay or Nay!? i bet you agree with me that nowadays, all small businesses such as this should provide or at least cater for electrical outlet for the purposes of charging and plugging in our smartphones or tablets.




3. Waffles Breakfast
It's called the wicked waffle - and it comes in variety; with my favorite as Ham, Egg and Cheese at only 140 pesos. It's above the normal serving size - it'd be like somewhat 3/4th of an American size serving. Once you down it, you get to be full, given you have drank a glass of water or got served with your favorite house tea of your choice.

4. Yakult Tea
'tis like drinking a huge yakult - for real! And when i say it's the real yakult thing, it really is. You should try it for yourself. Go for the Green Apple Yakult Tea.



5. Nothing more to mention




Top 5 Things I Don't Like About It

1. Loud Background Music at times
This disrupts even the normal conversations that you're about to enjoy with a friend or whoever your date is. At times, we have to speak a tad louder than the usual normal speaking tone for us to hear each other.
Kaya, ang ending... i would stand up and humbly request the barista to lower down the volume. In fairness earlier, the audio volume is pleasing to the ears, it's not at all blaring - not even soft but it was spun to a scale where you can enjoy a conversation and at the same time the music being played without intruding the clarity or focus of your thoughts.


2. Price Range of Teas
While it's common that milk tea and PH Tea houses range from 85 pesos to 100 pesos exclusive of sinkers or add-ons, I would say that Bon Appetea is no different. Their price range is a bit higher a compared to the market.

I wish they lower it down to a more reasonable price range esp the large size.

Menu and Prices as of November 2019

Morocco Nights Milk Tea

The Morocco Nights Tea is a cross of menthos and lipton, ha! ha! ha!, so if you're a fan of a mint flavored tea, go check it out.


3. Rest Room
The unavailability of this is killing me. There was this one time - my bladder was so full, only to find out that their in-house restroom is not yet fix or somewhat under renovation. This was like 3 months ago. And until now as of November 24, 2019 - the facility is still tagged as "unavailable".

I am really unsure - if that is truest in its sense or they aren't just not feeling for customers to use it publicly. I do hope they get to fix it soon.


4. Nothing more to mention

5. Nothing more to mention





Additional Information

Here's a snapshot of the menu and pricelist of food and other side lights.

🔗 http://bonappetea.com.ph/
📬 bonappetea.inquiry@gmail.com





Final verdict: 4 out 5

It's not a close-to-perfect rating. From my own perspective and opinion, this tea house is above average or it lands to a somewhat kind of classy and feel-good diner all in one. I would still definitely recommend it among my friends. But if you're a high-schooler or college student who gets to depend from your parents the lux of spending for your milk teas, let alone the same is true for your dabarkads. I would suggest you go across the street and try the less expensive ones.








Until next time,
ˆbillymacdeus



For my other tea and coffee house reviews, you may click
- Coco Martea