Archive for April, 2009

Punctuality & Reliability

Believe it or not, punctuality is actually one of the most important things in being an employee or employer. I had to find this out the hard way.

I just loved procrastinating so much that I believed I could do things better under time pressure.

I was wrong.

This passion for cramming actually cost me not only my self esteem, but also my job, resulting to financial instability. Yes, I’ve been called useless, irresponsible and unreliable by my boss, but I couldn’t blame him, there was no other way for him to go easier on me.

peace of mind on the road

Car insurance is a must for every car on the road. As such, it is the responsibility of the car owner to see to it that the car is insured and the policy is in effect. This insurance gives peace of mind on the part of the owner as regards to payment of damages and repair of
his own car or other person’s car in case of unforeseen events such as accidents. More so, if there are persons injured during the accident, the car insurance company has to pay the hospital bills.

The amount of car insurance coverage will be the basis of the insurance company as to how much will be paid for the damages of the vehicles involved in the accident and the hospitalization of the persons injured. Thus, it is very important to get the best car insurance rate. For car owners, it is highly recommended to compare car insurance quotes to properly evaluate which of the car insurance companies will satisfy your requirements to have the peace of mind while driving.

The next time you renew your car insurance, be sure to compare car insurance quotes, so as to get the best car insurance rate. Maximize the help your computers can give on this matter to experience the joy of driving.

bridging the gap between pay days

Since I started working part time (nine days a month) on my current company and freelancing with the rest of my days, I have learned the value of money by experiencing the rollercoaster days – the up days and the low days. Up as in having wads of spending money, and low as in I could barely make ends meet and I have to make use of my credit card.

I hate using credit cards though because of the finance charge and interest rates. Consequently, I thank God profusely for payday loans. In case you don’t know, a payday loan (also known as cash advance), according to Personal Cash Advance is “a small, short-term loan that is intended to bridge the borrower’s cash flow gap between pay days”.

Do keep in mind though that this is not for repeated use. That is, payday loans are only for short-term use and you should only avail of it whenever an urgent and important need arises. Remember the rule of moderation.

The best way, of course, is still to spend only with what you have. But if you are still having difficulty in budgeting, do seek help from the National Foundation for Credit Counseling at 1-800-388-2227.

upgrade your career with an MBA

My friend and college batchmate, Twyla, recently checked in a posh Berlin hotel to follow up on her MBA applications at the Institute of Management Berlin (IMB). She’s currently eyeing their MBA European-Asian Programme. However, due to her schedule and her tight budget, she might end up taking one of IMB’s MBA Part-time Programmes.

This reminded me… I have also been planning to get an MBA degree with my upcoming promotion as general manager in our company. Although experience in a certain field is enough to give you an authority or a say on your subordinates, having an MBA makes you more credible and respectable. Plus, not only will having an MBA enhance and boost your career, you will be able to serve your company better if you know are equipped with fundamental skills to make you a more strategic thinker.

Anyhow, do take note that most MBA programs require you to have at least two years of work experience and be in the managerial position at your current job. So grab any opportunity to be in that level, and then take an MBA.

tips in searching for “rent to own homes” or “homes for rent”

Nowadays it is easy to search for rent to own homes or homes for rent via the internet. That is, with the help of real estate directories, you now have the ability to search by price range, location, and even amenities that will suit your need, including pictures of those properties. Here are some tips when doing the “real” home hunt:

  • For couples, take your partner when surveying the actual place. What may be a dream house to you may not be so dreamy with your partner.
  • For singles, feel free to take a friend with you during the actual survey. He/she might be able to point out some things you may have overlooked. The final decision is yours of course.
  • Never bring a parent with you (unless they’re paying of course and they insist on tagging along).
  • Be sure to visit the place with an experienced AND friendly real estate agent.
  • During house hunting, check first is its “curb appeal” or “the view from the street”. If it doesn’t pass your taste, move on immediately to the next house. Time is gold and you sure wouldn’t want to spend your gold on something that doesn’t even pass your curb appeal.
  • Once you see a house that passes your curb appeal, have a quick initial look around to check if it suits your wants and needs in a home. If you don’t like it, move on to the next house.
  • When you find a house that you really like, check if there is something wrong or out of place in the house that needs to be fixed and ask yourself these: Is it worth fixing? Can you fix it?
  • Once you find a house that passes all those tests, plus your taste, and then go for a second, detailed look at the house.
  • When you’re satisfied, you can then start the negotiation of the selling price until you reach a good deal.

Keep in mind that searching for homes online only provides a context for what comes next. Even though your dream rental house is several clicks away, and you can put your inquiries via email or telephone, it is still better to consult real estate agents before making your final decision. After all, their forte is real estate and your hard earned money is at stake.