Friday, March 15, 2019

New Website

For more tips on financial planning and life coaching, please visit my new page at
>>>   jendee6.wixsite.com/lifeandfinancecoach

Saturday, May 26, 2018

Cashflow is King! : Top Things You Should Do to Increase your Cash flow


The Filipino culture says that you take the responsibility when you get your first job. Be responsible with your parent’s retirement and send the next sibling to school. If you are fortunate enough and you are an OFW, send 90% of your income back home. The latest Standard & Poor Ratings survey says that only 25% of the Filipinos are financially literate. Thus, this same culture and mindset is passed on to generations.

Today, there is a new breed of Filipinos who would like to change that landscape. There are financial advisors and financial planners who would teach you about financial planning. From simple to complex matters, you are sure enough to be on the right path for so long as you are talking to a registered financial planner.

As for you who would like to know where to start, there are steps you should follow but allow me to share with you the top basic things to increase your cash flow if you want to achieve financial peace.  By making sure that your cash flow is good then you will be able to fund the other facets of financial planning.

Cut Down Expenses

Cutting on expenses is one of the most basic things to asses in your cash flow. There might be items in your expenses that are categorized as miscellaneous – those that are not really necessary – and or emergency. Make sure to identify a real emergency, mind you, a Mall wide SALE is not an emergency!

You may start by putting everything on paper  your day to day expenses even up to the last centavo and at the end of the month, transfer it on an spread sheet so you can take a study on one month’s worth of expenses. There are also FREE applications for android and iOs devices, and these applications make your life easier.

Increase Your Source of Income

Once you have laid down all your expenses and everything is really necessary, then you don’t have any other choice but to increase your source of income. Increasing your source of income means not only proving to your boss that you are worth a salary increase, but assessing also yourself if your skills still match your current position. Maybe you have outgrown your position and the next higher role should be more appropriate.

If you are still young then you should be adventurous enough to match your skills with the demands in the industry today. If you are no longer relevant to the industry then probably it is time to learn a new skill.

Monetize Your Skills

Make an inventory of your skills and talents. Maybe it is time for you to explore that talent you have been wanting do. With the opportunities the World Wide Web have created, you will find a place in the market today. Also, the emergence of social media makes it possible to connect to as many people as you want and you can make it your platform to offer your products and services.

If you are good in singing then why not try becoming a wedding singer, probably you are good in hosting or maybe you are good at organizing stuff and an events organizing business could be best for you.

If you will monetize your skill, you have to plan on when you will put time on it especially if you are still employed. You have to calendar your activities because it will also be unfair to your employer if you are not giving your best with your full time job too.

Ask Your Employer for Personality Development Program

Employers are also supportive of the development of their employees. Thus, you may ask your employer of the available personality development programs they have for you. Some companies offer FREE financial literacy workshops, Soft Skills Training and many other trainings which they think is relevant to their workforce.

Some employers, offer a training loan package at 0% (zero) interest and salary deduction arrangement for so long as it is for personality development.

By educating yourself, makes you an informed Filipino Citizen and makes you more productive and empowered. Thus, making you earn more by having a more confident personality, being educated on matters concerning your financials, gives you a clearer mind too.

Improving yourself and your cash flow allows you to think smartly on your day to day decisions. By having a healthy cash flow, it allows you to fund your financial goals such as retirement, wedding fund, major expense and if you are a parent, for educational fund among others. 

Thus Cashflow is really a King!




Friday, February 2, 2018

The “Sandwich Generation”: A New Found Old Battle


There is a new breed of generation today called the Sandwich Generation. This generation has been present for ages and many have not noticed that this generation is prevalent in the Philippines. This is the generation of breadwinners who are financially supporting his/her parents or extended family while supporting his/her own family also – the spouse and children. 

This generation of breadwinners may have limited options as to how they are going to make a better future ahead of them since a whole lot of obligation is being put upon their shoulders. However, their crisis can also be opportunities to uplift their families’ lives and change the course of time.

So how does a person, who considers himself belongs to the sandwich generation can change the course of time?

Monetize Skills and Talents

By monetizing a person’s skills and talents can make a difference in the income of the household. If the household income is not enough to sustain the monthly expense, then banking on what a person loves to do can contribute a lot. An example is blogging, vlogging and online selling. With the advent of technology, and access to social media, there are a lot of channels to showcase one’s talents and skills and monetize it.

In fact, others are able to put up a business or a sideline by offering their services such as events planning, hosting, real estate consultancy, financial advising, virtual staff and many others.

Pay Your Self First Attitude

For the sandwich generation, it is really difficult to make ends meet, but at the end of the day, it is still important to pay yourself first before anything else.

A rule of thumb is to save at least 10-20% of one’s income. If 10-20% is not possible then why not save at least 5%. Maybe a 500 pesos per payday will not hurt. For a person who takes care of the monthly expense of the family, a healthy savings account considered as an emergency fund is a must. An emergency fund should be at least 3-6 months equivalent of the household’s monthly expense.

For other goals such as travel fund, Christmas giveaway fund and others, it should be treated as a separate account. An account is opened for a particular goal. So the first fund the sandwich generation must have is an emergency fund.

Risk Management Should be considered

Since the reason why it is difficult for this generation to save is that they are, if not the sole person who takes care of the expenses, probably is shouldering around 80-90% of the household expense. Risk management is crucial, without proper risk management, all the more that the household will suffer without the breadwinner.

In risk management, a Life insurance, Non-Life Insurance and Health Insurance should be in place. Without a solid foundation, and an unforeseen event happens – death or disability of the breadwinner, everything will be wiped out in the blink of an eye because the family must spend for doctor’s fees, hospital fees and medication - that is on top of the usual bills such as utilities. 

Avoid Loans and Co-signing Loans

One of the pitfalls of an average Filipino is to get more loans just to augment the family’s monetary needs. Unfortunately, some will not stretch to earn income from other sources such as monetizing skills and talents or exploring entrepreneurship.

Getting a loan should be the last, if possible, not an option. Unless, a loan will be used to put up a business that can give a passive income to the family then a loan should be okay.

Another pitfall is co-signing loans which is treated as if you are doing a friend a favor and become an instant hero to another family. Some would not even think that there is a possibility that the debtor may just leave the whole responsibility of paying the loan to the co-signee.   - and sad to say, this really happens. 

Again, for debts, it is only good if it brings cash to the household.  

Find a Mentor

In whichever stage, breadwinner, heavily in debt or just starting a career, have a mentor. A mentor can always give, if not the best advice, at least a better path to take. As what the elders always say, “been there, done that”, a simple piece of advice should not hurt.


The sandwich generation, though have been juggling a lot from the challenges of their day to day routine, could be at the best position to turn challenges into an opportunity, as what the Chinese proverb says that Crisis brings opportunity and change. 

Thursday, November 23, 2017

Keep Your Money Safe by Beating Inflation

Millennials are born between the years 1983 and 2001 and are known to have a short attention span on a lot of things, including the desire to make an impact on society. They are the types of people who, at one point, will espouse a particular advocacy, but a different one tomorrow. But there are millennials who know what they want from life. These are the millennials who are specific in their goals, such as travel, career, life and, for some, investments.
Regardless of the age group you belong, everybody now belongs to a society of millennials, where everything is fast-paced, from texting to shopping for something on the Internet. This fast-paced society could mislead you and, before you know it, you are already in your 60s and still find yourself procrastinating on things you have not started doing.
There is so much to think about, but what really is everybody’s concern regardless of age? It is inflation. The inflation rate as of August 2017 is 3.1 percent. At this rate, the value of your savings in the bank would be cut in half by the time you retire at 60.
So how does one build a portfolio knowing there is a thief called inflation that reduces the value of your money in half?
Try investing to beat inflation.
 Invest
Soon after building up your emergency fund, make sure to set aside a portion of your savings as investments. There are many investment programs available for Filipinos today; unit investment trust funds or UITFs, mutual funds, stocks, bonds, variable universal life or VUL insurance and exchange traded funds. These investment platforms allow your money to grow more than the inflation rate. In fact, these investment platforms earn from 5 percent to 10 percent on average per annum.
Becoming a trader in the stock market is a different story. A trader may earn even more than 10 percent but one should train to participate in the stock market.
Make an average interest-return benchmark
Once you have made an investment, track its performance. Make sure you have at least an average interest-rate benchmark so as to surpass the inflation rate. Some whose risk profile is not on the high side may opt to invest in bonds or in a balanced fund with an average rate of return of 5 percent to 7 percent at least.
If you invest on a regular basis and for the long haul, losing some during a recession should not affect you, since those are just paper losses, and your money will return as soon as the market corrects.
Identify your timeline also on how long you will invest in a particular fund.
Match your investment with a particular goal
Every time you open an investment account, make sure to match it with a particular goal. It could be for retirement, the education of your children, a business fund or as funding for a future travel that will motivate you to keep on investing.
Every goal has a timeline, and every goal has a price tag. Planning is crucial and, realizing that inflation will be present forever, you should factor in the effects of inflation in forecasting your goal. Plot how long you should be saving for that goal.
An example is retirement, a rule of thumb is to save 20 years prior to your target retirement age. So investing for 20 years should help you beat inflation and achieve your
retirement lifestyle.
If you are now a parent, and you have a 1-year-old baby, that is 18 years of investing before your baby steps in to his first year in tertiary level. Factor in also how old you will be by the time your first born is in college.
Inflation, if not considered in planning, can be deadly. This is also the reason why many retirees today are disappointed in their pension fund. These are the pensioners who were not taught on the effects of inflation, especially if you live too long and still spend on the basic things a retiree needs, such as food, medicines and many others concerning their daily living expenses.
Inflation is a thief, but now that you know about this thief, do your future self a favor, beat inflation today.
****
Jendee Sapo, RFP is a registered financial planner. To learn more about personal financial planning, attend the 66th RFP program this November 2017.
To inquire, e-mail info@rfp.ph or text <name><e-mail> <RFP> at 0917-9689774.

October 23, 2017 Article

Monday, September 25, 2017

Money Saving Tips for New Parents


Having a new bundle of joy brings so much excitement in the family. This change in the family brings so much excitement in budgeting too…or challenge? Becoming a parent also means forgetting your late night meet up with friends and staying away from the shopping malls to buy your personal stuff.

As new parents, sometimes you are in a blind spot and you just live paycheck to paycheck because your focus suddenly becomes the basic needs of your family, especially of a baby.
As a mom with an 18month old daughter, I would like to share with you main items on how I and my husband were able to save while enjoying being parents.

1. Breastmilk or Formula Milk?

Today, breastfeeding becomes a priority (RA 100028). When I was still pregnant in 2015, I researched on it and just like new moms, I feared that I might not have the physical capacity to breastfeed my little one.

There are support groups you can go to if you need more information, the very first person to go to is an OB-GYNE, also a lactation expert and you may also want to check The Breastfeeding Pinays FB Page which is recognized by the DOH.

In financial planning, consider both. What if breastfeeding is not possible? A formula milk allocation in your cash flow should be reflected every month. A formula milk today costs Php 700 – 1,500 per week depending on the brand.

If you are lucky to breastfeed your baby, then in replacement of formula milk fund are milk storage bags, breast pump kit and breast pump and bottle hygiene kit fund in your cash flow which may cost you Php 500 – Php 1000 per month for the milk storage bags and breast pump hygiene kit while a onetime payment of Php 2,000 – Php 5,000 for a breast pump kit.

To save up if your baby is on formula milk, you may ask a budget friendly brand without sacrificing the wellbeing of your baby.

2. Baby Clothes and other stuff

I bought new born clothes which are good for two weeks only because I am glad to receive hand me down new born clothes. I am lucky to have a mother in law who took care of her grandchildren’s newborn stuff for years and all clothes look as if it was just bought a few months ago
.
You may want to consider a baby shower not only because, as couple you want to celebrate that moment, but of course friends would really love to give you gifts that you or your baby needs as he or she comes out into this world.

Make a list also of the remaining stuff you might need such as the bottles, sterilizers, medical kits and others with prices then make a comparison among shopping malls or stores so that when you
are going to prepare before the baby comes out, you know where to go to. This also helps you to not go over budget.

When my daughter turned 1 year old, she received a whole new set of new clothes and shoes as gifts too!

3. Vaccines

Allocate at least Php 3,500 per month for vaccine. There are vaccines that will range from Php 1,500 to Php 5,000 or more depending on what type of vaccine. If for example, your budget of Php 3,500 is not consumed then add it up to the next month. With the kinds of viruses and diseases today, it is best that you follow the vaccine schedule of your baby. I have friends who are near their local government health center, it is cheaper to get the vaccines from there and of course, you are lucky enough if your baby’s Pediatric doctor is a relative, you’ll sure save a lot.

There are some parents who say that if a baby is exclusively breastfed, vaccines are not needed. Seek the help of an expert before you make a decision.

These are just 3 items to consider not to mention the type of hospital you prefer to deliver your baby. Government assistance is also a great help in the funding that you might need when the baby is coming out. Some parents prefer a private hospital, maternity hospital or a doula.

Whatever amount you are able to save, allocate the difference to investments to prepare for your child’s best future, a major planned expense and of course your retirement.


Jendee S. De Guzman, RFP
Associate Financial Planner – (AFP)
Chartered Trust and Estate Planner - Graduate
Life Insurance Advocate
jendeesapo@gmail.com

Saturday, September 16, 2017

Personal Finance: Sunshine After the Rain!

Recently, I was interviewed by a student who was tasked to make a write up for her journalism class and an HR Practitioner, who is making a research on money habits of high maintenance executives in the country today. The interview happened on two different occasions and both set of questions touch on saving, investing and risk management or may I say personal finance.

During the Q & A, it reminded me about my journey in personal finance. In 2003, Just like a typical fresh graduate, I landed a career in one of a well-known engineering company in Quezon City and as a fresh graduate no one taught me about the habit of saving. All I know is to receive my salary, help my family pay bills, eat and save whatever is left – in my wallet. Yes, not even save in a bank.

Investing to the stock market, mutual funds, UITF, VUL or risk management through insurance is an unfamiliar ground to me. Fast forward 2011, I found myself, on my 4th employer with at least a VUL (Variable Unit Linked) in place, with very little savings, with 2 credit cards – which I thought  were  extra cash for me and unhappy with career. One thing is the same since 2003, I have not developed a habit of saving and investing. Why?

No one taught me about personal finance. No one even approached me and told me that managing your money can determine a successful retirement or an achievement to unlock dreams such as travel goals, business goals and many others. Imagine, that has been 8 years, by the 8th year who knows I might have achieved bigger monetary dreams and goals.
But as what Bro. Bo Sanchez said in one of his books; your past does not define your future. Hence, in 2012 I joined one of the top life insurers in the country and I got exposed to risk management and get to know a lot of financial experts in all areas of financial management – not only insurance - whom I gained ideas on personal finance.

Invest in Yourself

Since joining the life insurance industry in 2012, I realized how our culture as Filipinos differ from other countries. The habit of saving, investing and security is not inherent to us. Also, as what Mr. Efren Cruz, RFP wrote in his book, Taming the Rebellious You, our brains are designed to be loss averse. Thus, humans are not really into spending for something to save because the brain is trained to see that as something at a losing end.

What I did, the moment I realized there is something wrong on how I handle my finances (gosh! I was still single at that time but no savings at all!!) – I started to invest in myself by reading books on finance such as books by Mr. Chinkee Tan, Bro. Bo Sanchez, Mr. Efren Cruz, Mr. Ardy Roberto and many others. I started to attend seminars such as iCon of Mr. Randell Tiongson, RFP, the Financial Fitness Forum and Financial Advisors Congress of RFP Institute and learned even more about programs to enroll with when I attended another iCon event in 2015 that leads me to attend a course on Personal Finance which is the Registered Financial Planner (RFP) course in August of 2016.

Execute

Since the certification process as RFP, I began to love to beauty of Personal Finance and how the different areas of financial planning matters in a household. Now that I am married with an 18month old daughter, I realized that execution is crucial to calibrate our goals based on the resources we have.

Areas on Financial Planning

In financial planning, the areas to consider are Cash flow management, Insurance Planning, Investment Planning, Retirement Planning, Educational Planning and Estate/Wealth Management. With these areas to consider, it is important to match the current resources available for you and your family to achieve a certain goal.

The common question of a pinoy, “Ano ang pinaka best na investment?”, the answer is always, it depends. You match a certain investment vehicle according your goal (Retirement, Education or Major future purchases). Considering the inflation rate of the country that averages at 4% over the last 20-30 years, your money in the bank may lose its value by the time you retire after 20 or 30 years. Planning is important.

Financial planning may seem simple looking through its technical aspect but our day to day money decisions are influenced by our behavior or emotions. For the past few years of my exposure in this industry, determination and discipline are key attitude to financial freedom.

Regardless of how much time you spent on reading and attending seminars, without determination to calibrate your money decisions and discipline to implement your plan, after a year or another 5 years, a financial planner will lecture you about this all over again.

Personal finance in a nutshell is both technical and emotional indeed. At the end of the day, what matters most is that you are able to put everything in order. There is always a sunshine after the rain anyway.

Jendee S. De Guzman, RFP
Associate Financial Planner – (AFP)
Chartered Trust and Estate Planner - Graduate
Life Insurance Advocate
jendeesapo@gmail.com

                                  image from: http://blog.instavest.com/top-5-personal-finance-podcasters

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

When Debts can be G.O.O.D?

The Filipino culture pushes every Pinoy to avail loans. As an example is the saying that "mag loan ka sa SSS para lumaki ung pwede mo i-loan in the future" have you heard of this statement before? I have heard it several times.. and just like you, (or maybe not) I had an SSS loan when I was employed. 

The Filipino culture pushes us na maging gaya gaya. I remember, when I was in grade school, merong negative na pag uugali ang mga pinoy and I believe it has an impact on our financial habits. Nandyan yung kailangan magpa impress kahit di naman dapat? I have seen families broken because of financial struggles. Others, just because of utang na loob, they feel obliged of paying for whatever means even the loan has been paid off. 

Ang isa pa na naka ugalian ng mga pinoy ay gawing retirement program ang mga anak or emergency fund ang parents... At dahil hindi standard sa atin ang lumago ang financial knowledge, a typical pinoy will find himself drowned in debts. 




image source: http://www.kiplinger.com/slideshow/credit/T025-S001-proven-tactics-to-overcome-big-debts/index.html


So paano na? According to BSP survey
------
Household liabilities are in the form of consumer and real property loans

With respect to liabilities, few households had outstanding loans on their residence (3.7 percent) and other real property (5.8 percent). A bigger percentage of households had outstanding consumer loans such as motor vehicle loans (13.5 percent); personal, salary, all purpose loans (20.9 percent); and credit card loans  (3.9 percent).

The main sources of funds of households vary by type of loan. These included government housing institutions and money lenders for real estate loans; in-house financing for motor vehicle and appliance loans; banks for credit card loans; and money lenders and cooperatives for other loans.

-------

There is another portion of the demographics who wants to get out of this trap, and there is something inside that really wants to break Free!!!

It is not difficult to get out of debt, nor easy. But it is important to be humble enough to accept that you have debts. Also, wag tayo mahihiya that we are willing to make things better for us and our family. So how do you start? 

1. Make an inventory of your debts, the interest rate and the amount that you pay for each month

In this way, you will be able to prioritize which is which. Which debts should be paid off first. Either you pay off the one with the highest interest rate or use "Snowball Effect" (CTTO Dave Ramsey). By using the Snowball effect, you will pay off the ones with the smallest interest rate first. 

2. Update your SALN (Statements of Assets and Liabilities) 

I have clients who were able to write off debts because we were able to identify, which assets (paper assets, movable assets etc) can be a source to pay off debts

3. Look for a Loan Restructuring Program that can help minimize or eliminate the loans should none of your Assets can be used to pay off debts

4. Finally, never get into bad debts anymore. 

Disclaimer: If extended family is involved, it is a different story :)

I am also a typical pinoy, there are debts in the past that I am still paying today. However, with courage I am committed to make the best future possible for the generations to come. I am committed to change lives too!

If you need help, shoot me an email, FB me  Or refer me to someone you know who is having sleepless nights because of debts. 

Debts can be G.O.O.D (Getting Out of Debt) after all. 


Jendee S. De Guzman, RFP
Associate Financial Planner – (AFP)
Chartered Trust and Estate Planner - Graduate
Life Insurance Advocate
jendeesapo@gmail.com



Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Cashflow is KING!

Yes it's true. Cashflow is KING. There is no secret to financial planning. It is only about cashflow. The key to successful financial planning is making your cashflow positive -  always. It is okay to get into debts but it has to be good debts. Debts that will create a space in your balance sheet, a portion for you to create an inflow (income). 

Does it sound too technical? Let me make it simple. 

Cashflow according to investopedia.com is Free cash flow is defined as a company's operating cash flow minus capital expenditures. This is the money that can be used to pay dividends, buy back stock, pay off debt and expand the business

source: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/cashflow.asp

Alright, simpler hehe cashflow is simply inflow (income) minus outflow (expenses). If managed very well, there will be more opportunities for the household to spend for fixed and variable expenses such as paying off debts, adding investments to your portfolio and many others. 

If you are at the peak of your career, very well ! make sure to plan for your future goals so you would be able to match your current investments to achieve your future goals. However, kung  ikaw naman ay puro utang ngayon, don't worry, there's always a way! Ano ba ang dapat gawin? 

1. Worry not kasi laging may pag asa basta lakasan mo ang loob mo na matatapos din lahat yan. Everything is temporary

2.. Manage your expenses. Write down your daily expenses and make a weekly summary para alam mo kung saan ba napupunta ang bulk ng expenses mo

3. Make a balance sheet. Hindi naman kailangan sobrang complicated ng worksheet. Maraming downloadable. Or simply list or your Assets (liquid assets - income and other income, non-liquid - real estate etc.) and your Liabilities. 

4. Identify from your balance sheet kung ano ang pwede mo na ma-dispose or ibenta. (If there are liabilities na kailanga mo na talaga bayaran)

5. Identify from your expense tracker kung ano ang unnecessary expense. Whatever is the amount, pwede mo ito allocate sa ibang bagay na mas dapat pagka gastusan. 

6. Make a budget. Discipline your self to work an a budget. Although, siempre minsan may unnecessary expense kaya nagugulo ang budget, pero kaya nga dapat may emergency fund para in cases your car broke down etc. doon mo kukunin. 

7. Have faith in God. Mag tithe ka. Sabi ka sa Malachi 3:10 "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house, and try me in this, said the Lord: if I open not unto you the flood-gates of heaven, and pour you out a blessing even to abundance" 

Give so you will receive. I can attest to this, God provides one way and another. But give and build his storehouse. At totoo ang sabi nia, "TEST ME IN THIS" basta magtiwala ka lang. 

Hence, after all what I said, always try to achieve a positive cashflow. Kasi tulad mo rin, at one point in my life hindi ko ito narealize. I should have monitored it long time ago. Just like you, I had huge debts, and yes I am still paying some of it. Discipline is important, lalo na if you really want to have a comfortable lifestyle. Hindi naman pwedeng puro work work work ka nalang diba? sabi nga ni Robert Kiosaki, na kaya nga tayo nagsisikap para we can enjoy the fruits of our labor at lalong hindi naman dapat tipirin ang sarili dahil ang purpose nga natin kung bakit tayo nag wo-work ay para mag improve ang lifestyle natin at ng family natin. 

So again, always remember that CASHFLOW is KING!

Happy saving and investing,
Jendee S. De Guzman
Insurance Agent
*Registered Financial Planner 
(currently undergoing certification / thesis writing)






Thursday, February 4, 2016

When can we really get out debt?

A lot of people are struggling on how they will get out debt... In fact, ang iba ginawang lifestyle ang may utang. Sabi nga ni Sir Randell Tiongson, RFP, "Zero debt should be the new status symbol" which is true. Sa atin nga bang mga pinoy, ang utang ay ginawa na din natin lifestyle?  (Note: Good Debt is Different from Bad Debt)

Madami sa atin na ang gusto lang kasi ay magpasikat, I am sure that you have heard this a lot of times from other authors and as according to Dave Ramsey  " 'We buy things we don't need to impress people we don't like." Pero ano nga ba ang dapat nating gawin maliban sa putting off a systematic way of paying debts? 

Friends, there may be one thing that we are lacking of and that is giving back to the Lord. According to Malachi 3:10 "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it."

As a an ordinary citizen of the world, of course nagkaroon din ako ng utang lalo na when I was younger (in my early 20's) and no one was teaching me about money management. Today, I am paying off debts systematically and happy to say that I have accomplish a lot of things in this part. However, recently I realized na oo nga ano maybe the reason why matagal bago ko natapos ang lahat ng ito ay dahil hindi ako aware na dapat unahin natin ang storehouse ni Lord. 

I remember a story of Joel Osteen from his book Break Out! He wanted to purchase the land where they are renting, the place where they built the church for Lakewood pero masyado itong mahal so they prayed for it and continue to tithe to the Lord, the place was originally priced at  $400 Million pero ito ang nangyari, the place they were leasing was appraised and dahil sila ang may current lease sa lugar for 60 years they are in the position to be offered to buy first, and guess what, they just have to buy the place for $7.5M. God is working behind the scene. Again, in the book of Malachi it says that there will not be room enough to store it basta support the ministries of God and he will take care of you. 

Friends, sometimes you may think that debt is inevitable, pero nothing is impossible with God. We just have to believe. Kaya may pag-asa pa :) 

Praying for all of you. 
JSapo-DeGuzman
Financial Adviser - Pru Life UK 



image from www.autoloansolutions.ca