Rochelle Rivera: Tips for Home

Time is flying by so fast. Sometimes, I feel like I’m missing a lot of my kids’ milestones and achievements because I have been so busy. This year, I’m going to make sure I make the most of my time with my family more this year. We have a lot of plans and they can be summed up to these 9 Family Resolutions for 2018.

1. Start a weekly ritual.

It could be a weekend picnic or attending Sunday service. A movie night every Friday or simply having breakfast and dinner together would be great, too. Yes, we have already been doing this since I don’t know when - that’s one thing. Doing it with consistency would be another.

2. Practice hello’s and goodbye’s

Due to stress or busy times, there are instances when we forget to check on how everyone’s doing. Please, don’t let a day pass by, no matter how hectic your schedule is, without saying “hello” or “goodbye”. Smile a lot. Kiss and hug your children and spouse. Make it a habit, and you’ll have the best days. We will work on this moving forward.

3. Put down devices.

In the family, kids and adults alike need to learn to control the use of gadgets, especially when at home. Spending more time together means being there physically, mentally and emotionally. We plan to put our devices down and create more memories doing fruitful and enjoyable activities.

4. Go on vacation.

We had a few trips together last year – domestic and international, although I traveled alone more than with the entire Ohana. This year, we intend to plan early and save more for our vacation. In fact, we are already planning to go to Bohol and travel more as a family out of the country. I’m already excited!

5. Read together.

When my kids were still little, we always had time reading stories every night. I used to really find time to read to them, especially when they were just starting in school. Later on, I let them do the reading since they already know how to. The past years taught me not to let this kinds of moments go because, sooner, they’ll be demanding for privacy, and they will have activities of their own. Not that they will drift apart as they grow old, but reality teaches us that we only have limited time to spend with them while they’re young. So, this has to be part of my bucket list gain.

6. Do chores.

I want to be more hands-on in our home again and really be involved in household chores, and do it with the fambam. A lot of opportunities opened for me last year and there are quite some challenges, too. I’m soooo thankful. On top of that, I felt like I need to work on time management so as not to neglect my duties as mom and wife to my dearest family. So yeah, I’m planning to make more time in homemaking this 2018.

7. Learn how to save money.

Apart from saving for leisure (a.k.a. our trips this year) and spending on material things, I realized I have to learn to manage our finances more for the future. I have been checking on opportunities to engage in financial literacy programs. If you know someone or someplace, feel free to comment here or message me. We want to enrich my knowledge on how to better invest and save our money.

8. Celebrate milestones and achievements.

It means a lot to our kids that we’re always there for them, not only when they need help but also during times of triumph to celebrate with them. Aside from it boosts their confidence more, they will always treasure and use these moments as their strength as they grow up. I know because my family and friends have always been supportive of my milestones and achievements, too. This 2018, we will celebrate and savor every moment, high and low, as a family.

9. Exercise together.

To be physically fit is not just my goal, but the entire family’s aim this year and moving forward. We can play basketball, boxing, or simply conduct other forms of physical activity at home. We also plan to join in fun runs together.

Of course, I will continue to use Downy Antibac on our clothes to avoid bacteria build-up and malodor. Bacteria, which grow on clothes when we sweat, can cause a lot of diseases, so I want to make sure that we, especially my kids are protected. We wanted to make sure everyone is healthy and in shape to avoid getting sick and to not miss out important events.

How about you? Have you thought of your Family Resolutions for 2018 yet? So much is in store for us and nothing beats achieving your goals when you’re able to reach with your loved ones. Happy 2018! Cheers!

Stability. For Miriam Webster, it is defined as the strength to stand or endure. For me, it is the light at the end of the tunnel, the rainbow after the rain, the “nilaga” for my “tiyaga”. Being stable is one of my life goals, and the ultimate reason for all my sacrifices, hard work and perseverance. It surely is not as easy as 1-2-3, but, as they say, the fruit of labor is the sweetest when you toil with your heart. I’m positive that the quotation wasn’t exactly how I stated it. But you know what I mean, right?

I believe that you can only be contented or stable when you’re satisfied and happy with what you’ve achieved. For most of us, if not all, financial freedom is one of the main determining factor or contributor to our stability in life.

When can we say that we are stable financially? Well, this question is much simpler to answer than to reach. Of course, as a mother, having financial stability means the ability to provide for my family now and save for tomorrow. When I have invested enough to secure my children’s future, when I can travel alone or with the family without worrying about my budget too much, when we are able to acquire a property and put up a business to support our daily needs, when I become my own boss and have financial freedom, then I can finally say that I am financially stable.

As I said, the “how” part poses as a big challenge. Good thing, Avida Land gave me a planner to provide some guidance and direction towards achieving my financial goals. This is going to be very exciting and fun. The “Path to Financial Freedom” journal will not only help me manage my finances to prepare for the future, I like that it is not just an ordinary spreadsheet where I can write my income and expenses.

This guide is so convenient to use, complete with interesting worksheets, helpful tips, and some inspiring contents to make this journey more meaningful for me. I usually get intimidated when it comes to computations. This time, I think I’m going to love it! I recommend it to everyone, especially for starters because this an excellent way to jumpstart your financial planning as early as possible.

Let me give you some hints on what I’ve learned so far. Some of these you may already be doing unconsciously. As for me, it really helps to have some organization and order. It makes me more aware of how good (or bad) I’m doing with our budget. Well, I better be. That’s the sense of it all.

Just like in every planning, the initial step is to evaluate your current situation. To do this, you need to know your cash flow, meaning the “what comes in” and “what goes out”. A good Statement of Cash Flow includes all sources of income and types of expenses.

Sources of Income – includes Salary, Bonus, Incentive, Sideline, Rental Income, and Others
Expenses – can be divided into 3 types: Fixed, Discretionary, and Hidden. Obviously, Fixed expenses are those that you pay for regularly such as household maintenance (Water, Electricity, Phone Bills, Groceries), transportation/gas, and the like. Discretionary costs are your incidentals or unexpected expenditures like non-essential goods (or shopping) and services, eating out, entertainment, travel, gifts, vices, and other miscellaneous expenses.

Hidden outgoings include Life Insurance, Home Insurance, Car Insurance, Real Estate Taxes, Donations, and a few more others.

 The next phase is to determine whether you’re on a positive, zero or negative. This is your Net Cash Flow. Don’t be afraid to get the result because this will determine if you have to make necessary adjustments on your expenses, specifically under the Discretionary category.

It’s simple:

Total Income – Total Expenses = Net Cash Flow

 Then, make your Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth.

If you have any Deposit or Savings Account, Mutual Funds, and other investments, then they are part of your Assets together with Real Estate properties, cars, jewelries and other collectibles.

Liabilities include Loans and Credit Cards.

Total Assets – Total Liabilities = Net Worth

When I did this, it almost feels like the journal is talking to me. Remember to have an open-mind and the right perspective when doing this evaluation because this will be the foundation of your being financially stable. From this root, you can come up with concrete goals in order to grow abundantly. Now that you already know your financial status, you can proceed with goal setting.

To be successful, make sure to have S.M.A.R.T. goals.

S-Specific

The more generic your goals are, the smaller the possibility of accomplishing any of it. You have to know what you want to achieve to have a direction. You have to be as detailed, precise and definite as possible.

M-Measurable

You need resources in order to get to where you plan to be. There’s almost no use in setting a goal that could not be quantified. You have to know how much your goal costs, may it be a car, a house, an educational plan, etc.

A-Attainable

are not limited to monetary or material value. When you set a goal, it means you have to be able to manage your energy and effort as well. Having said that, you must know how to prioritize things because every goal must be reasonable and doable.

R-Relevant

Your resources

Ask WIIFM or “What’s in it for me?” to know if your plan is in line with your core values, and if it is something that will give you the sense of fulfillment you’re looking for. There must be significant purpose in everything you do to be successful financially.

T-Timely

Your goals can be short-term or long-term. You have to set a deadline. You don’t want for your accomplishment to take forever, do you? So, make a timeline to give yourself a little push and the good kind of pressure.

Avida Land teaches us how to appreciate value and manage our finances in this journal. When you’re caught at zero or, worse, a negative, don’t be disappointed and drop hope. Again, be SMART. Think of creative ways on improving the situation, and rise up eventually. Take control and go back to your goals when you feel like your expenses are getting out of hand. We all want the best in life. We have dreams and aspirations – for ourselves, for our family, for our kids. Stop procrastinating. Plan now. I’m glad I have a financial journal as my companion from end to end.

"If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail."

-Benjamin Franklin

Fire incidents are considered as common as the perennial hot summer season in the Philippines. Every year, fire cases all around the country destroy resources and displace families. March once again marks the observance of Fire Prevention Month to alleviate this country-wide problem.

In 2015, The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) recorded a total of 1,727 fire incidents in March alone. March is considered the hottest month of the year, with the elevated temperature attributed for some of the incidents that occur during its period.

Homes are very prone to fires and the kitchen, specifically, is among the areas that are very susceptible to such accidents. In January and February last year, 70 fires came from unattended cooking stoves while 162 incidents were caused by problems with electrical lines.

With the kitchen being one of the most important areas of a household, making it a safer place should be a top priority for homemakers. Below are some tips to make your kitchen a fireproof place.

1. Keep your focus

One of the leading reasons behind kitchen fires is neglect. Often, it is easy to get distracted and leave a dish cooking. This kind of neglect causes the most injuries, deaths, and property damage than other roots of home fires.

2. Keep a fire extinguisher close

A fire extinguisher is necessary in any home. Keep one ready in the kitchen and store it in a place 10 feet away from the stove, in a spot where it is easy to grab. All members of the household should know how to use it in case of emergencies. Note also that all fire extinguishers should always be refilled every six to seven years to function properly.

3. Keep from storing items on top of the stove

It is easy to be less mindful of your actions while caught in a cooking mood. Refrain from placing things on top of a stovetop since this kind of surface can easily start a flame when it gets in contact with anything flammable. Instead, keep things orderly in cabinets and cupboards.

4. Make sure your cooking appliances are free from crumbs and scraps

Leftover pieces of food from stovetops, ovens, and toasters can catch fire so make sure to clean these cooking appliances after use. Unplug them from their sockets before cleaning and keep the cables away from water.

5. Go fireproof

It is nearly impossible to entirely fireproof a kitchen with all the flammable materials in the area. However, while it doesn’t entirely cancel out the probability of a fire, using cooking appliances that are designed for safety can add a layer of protection to this part of the home.

Induction cookers, for example, lessen the risk of fire accidents. The Induction Cooker from Midea, one of world’s largest manufacturers of domestic appliances, is a good example of a household partner that values safety as much as efficiency.

The induction cooker removes the risk for burns with its flameless technology. It also protects your home from possible gas leakages.

In addition, this kitchen essential also works faster than an average electric stove as it heats up 25% faster than the latter. It also has an energy-saving Piso Meal feature which uses up 1Php worth of electricity for every 4 minutes of cooking or heating.

Make your kitchen safe the whole year round with these nifty tips. A little precaution and awareness can go a long way when it comes to preserving the harmony in the household.

To learn more about Midea’s Induction Cookers and other home solutions, visit www.midea.com.ph and like their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MideaPhilippines for updates.

Family Resolutions for 2018

Be Smart with Avida’s “Path to Financial Freedom” Journal

Tips to Fireproof Your Home

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