Break Free by Don Soriano : A Review

I am an aspiring entrepreneur and financial freedom is my long term goal. I know I mentioned here in the blog about me reading a book or two about finances and how to improve them. I even wrote down my short term and yearly goals. However, most of the books that I have read so far mainly focus on how to manage finances and only mentioned about starting a business is a good idea too but didn't dwell on the How’s. When I found out about Break Free by Don Soriano, I got interested and sign up for it.

One thing that caught my attention in the cover was "Principle # 1 Don’t quit your job". If I didn't love the new department I am on, it's one of the choices I have in mind - to quit and focus on my small time business. Just like the book says, I want to become an employer in the future.

So how did I find the book helpful? I have read some of the things written to the previous' financial books I came upon with. However, I also found new information that is helpful to those who are aspiring to establish a business in the long run. I guess all books have their own strengths right?

To begin with, this book is really short. It can be read in an hour or two depending on how fast you read a book. I for example tend to read books longer because I kept on reading a part that wasn't clear before going on to the next page. I make sure that I have my full understanding and saw what the writers are pointing out.

Two, the book mentioned about the "Power of Leverage" that I think I haven't encountered before. The book discussed about how to smartly use other people's money, time, experience and knowledge and lastly, other people's risk to get to your goal of financial freedom faster. I tried to internalize what Don meant with all these and if I am unconsciously using them. I realized that OPM or other people's money isn't a new concept to me. I have been borrowing money from my sister and using it as a capital on my small business. I think as of this point, I am not into using other people's time, knowledge and experience most especially other people risk so I have to look into that too. I like the concept anyway.

Three, Don wrote about choosing the right people. I personally have friends whom I would say have a negative impact on my small business as they weren't as open minded on ideas as I am. He was right in saying that when you discuss a business idea in a pool of businessman, they would most likely to encourage you as they have the same mindset - which is business. Try to discuss it to someone who is scared to start up a business because of the thought of being bankrupt, they would definitely see the negative side of the idea and would drag you down. Looking back, I have ideas that was turned down because the people who surrounds me doesn't have the experience and mindset the same as I am.  Although they remained as friends, I am trying to limit the communication of business ideas to them and talk to those whom I know can give me a thing or two beneficial advises and feedback.

Four, and my favorite part was when he shared his strategy on how he managed to raise from debt to having a self-sustaining businesses. I guess it's for you to find out when you buy the book and this is what made me fall in love to it. Besides, if you really want to establish a business and become an entrepreneur, you have to invest in yourself by reading books etc.

Fifth and the last strong point of the book was the proper mindset. I for example has not realized I can bake until I had the proper mindset of learning how to. Now it has been my small time business and brings extra money to the family. Aside from that, since it's a hobby that I enjoyed the most, I don't feel like trying hard to make for a living. When we have the proper mindset, we can achieve whatever we have in mind.

Now I suggest if you think you are into business and want to achieve financial freedom, this book is a steal. I just hope that Don Soriano elaborated more on the part where he shared about a secret. I would love to read how he managed to come up with business plans and ideas along with the ups and downs of it. I know I could learn a lot from that just like I did on this book. At this time, you can order this book thru Don Soriano's Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/iamdonsoriano.

Let's spread the word and make more people achieve their financial freedom. :)

Grey - Fifty Shades of Grey as Told by Christian

Disclaimer: I have never read any love story book. FSOG was the first one (well, aside from the Precious Hearts and Romance Pocketbook that I have read before). 

E.L James released another book entitled Grey, which was basically the same as the book 1 of Fifty Shades of Grey. The catch was the story was told by Christian Grey.

Honestly, I don't care what people think about FSOG. I have read the trilogy and I would like to say that I loved it. What caught my attention was mainly their love story and not the sex parts. I am not a bookworm to say that this book was great or badly written as they say so I would skip that and would just want to say that I enjoyed reading their love story. I felt kilig on some parts and felt bored on some too. Mainly, I was after the "how" they fell in love with each other and the sex parts were just part of it. Although, I have to admit that there were too many sex scenarios there. Hehe! Parang too much lang.

I know a lot of people talked about it and even disagreed on it being shown. Since last year when I read the book, I have been wanting to see how they would put it into a movie given that it has a lot of sex scenes on the book. There have been a lot of discussion over the internet and it seemed that I can't understand people as to why they are so mad. For me, it's just another unique story.

Early this year, as the movie has been released. I didn't watch it in the movie house. I bought a CD hahahaha! Sorry I was really agitated because Daryl doesn't want to go with me. He doesn't like it as well. I ended up not liking the movie. I got a little bored and bitin. At the same time, I expected a lot that the movie will be great and up to the challenge. I just thought they would compile the trilogy into one movie which could have made it a lot better.

Anyway, my stand was a little late which sinadya ko naman dahil ayaw kong makisabay sa rage ng mga tao over FSOG. All I can say is that I love their love story. Honestly, whenever I read the part of Christian Grey's past (as a child), I felt touched and really helpless for him. I felt for him because I have a son too. Of course I don't want Jami to undergo that kind of childhood at all. Maybe that's one of the reason why I have seen FSOG in a way that other people didn't. I am not trying to say that whatever the book had shown to the world is right but somehow, I found the sense of it. I would say that 80% of the time, I was up to how their love for each other goes and the petty things that they both do to conquer each others feelings while 20% of the time, I felt bored with the sex scenes.I also would like to add that, I, believe that whatever we have undergone in the past and during our childhood will be the person that we are today. If we had a colorful and meaningful childhood, we'll be a better and a happy person. That's why, I wanted Jami to have a wonderful childhood too, just like what I had. I got to play outdoor, I have a lot of friends, I have supportive cousins on times that I need them and enjoyed being a child as a whole.

Anyhow, Grey was mainly the same story as I said but somehow, I enjoyed reading the book. It's good to know Christian's stand on every scene. I just felt kilig whenever he tries to break his own rule for Ana.

So, will I be waiting if there's a book two of Grey? Yes. I want to finish the trilogy if there will be.

I understand that a lot of parent doesn't agree to this book since it might be something na tutularan ng mga bata in the future and I am not saying that I agree to this book either. Hindi naman maiiwasan that our kids will be exposed to these things. It's just how we would explain to them and instill good values diba? =)

Coloring Books for Jami

As I have mentioned on my previous post, I wanted Jami to have an arts and crafts side din. I wasn't that artsy kaya inggit na inggit ako sa magagaling mag DIY. Hahaha! =)

Anyway, one of the things that I want to try is coloring books. It was just lately that I am singing the Alphabet song so Jami would get familiar to it. We don't have a cable or antenna for our TV at home so Jami seldom watches TV. He would only watch Pororo DVD twice a week or when he goes to his Lola and Nanay's house. As much as possible, I don't want Jami to get so engage with gadgets and TV. I want him to become more of a book and play child. Nagawa ko ngang maging masaya when I was a kid without the gadgets eh, si Jami pa kaya. Besides, iba pa din ang batang lumaki in playing than watching TV and gadgets diba? =)

So for our first project, I want Jami to get familiar with colors and how to basically color something.

I repeatedly say, "Color the tree/apple/ball" then he would just doodle the color. I appreciate it very much since I know somehow, he learns something from what we are doing. Jami is really smart and I want to further enhance it.

Uh-oh, Jami's getting bored. :p

Hindi ko naman pinipilit si Jami to do this stuff if he don't feel like it. For the past two days since we bought the coloring book, he doesn't look so much interested on it. I was thinking that he wasn't introduced in some coloring before so I want to slowly make him familiar with it.

Yesterday morning, I gave Jami his coloring book again and asked him to color a new page when his Daddy wanted to share the book with him.

Daddy was feeling bata! Can't resist the coloring book! Haha :p

 One of the things that I like with Jami is that, he likes books. He would pick up kahit anong book that he sees then make-pretend that he's reading it. When we bought the new book, which has a wiggly eye (don't know what it's called), he loved it at ayaw ng bitawan sa loob ng bookstore. That's what I want him to be, a person that loves a book. =)

As a working mom, I want to do stuff with Jami on weekends so it was really so hard for me to say "yes" on any lakad with friends. I want all my weekends to be with Daryl and Jami where Jami and I can do some bonding moment with arts and crafts or just any crazy things while he's at the age where he's very game to anything while Daryl and I would have some time of ourselves to talk things over and discuss our plans.

I am looking forward for more arts and crafts on the coming weekends. =)

National Bookstore Finds

The weekend that passed was a very tiring one for my family. We were able to tag along to one of my officemate's recent out of town swimming (I'll blog about it on a separate post) which made our weekends fun and fulfilling.

We woke up very late on a Saturday and that wasn't really the plan. I was suppose to bring Jami to the dentist for the first time so we could check if his teeth is fine. I mean, I don't see any black marks or decay but I can't tell because I am not an expert. I didn't have a good set of teeth so I want to make sure that I'll provide that to Jami. However, we woke up really late so I have to cancel the idea and hoping to make it next Saturday. I haven't set an appointment yet and just looking to walk - in and use our HMO (which I think not a good idea so better reschedule the plan). I will call the clinic anytime this week, I swear.

That afternoon, Daryl left because he has to pick up his friends in Pasay and make dayo to play basketball in the nearby court in our place. I found it cool since Daryl gained new friends in the area thru basketball. =)

I wasn't able to watch since Jami and I planned to go to SM Southmall because they have an End of Summer Sale.

Ang daya talaga ng SM Southmall, late notice eh. Hindi tuloy ako nakapag tabi ng pang shopping! Hmmmppp... Well, binigyan naman ako ni Daryl ng pang-shopping, pero I added that up to our budget na lang since it's utility bills paying time. =(

Anyway, we went to SM Southmall with Mama, my sister and her kids plus Jami on Sab's (her baby cousin's) stroller which he really enjoyed, if I may add.

I have checked SM Stores sale and it's very tempting. I have seen some jeans from Jag, Lee Pipes, Petrol on sale, cute tops for only P250-400 pesos that usually range from P500-800. There were cute maong shorts for Jami too for only P350-450 that normally range from P600-800. I am very itching to buy some stuff and I almost gave in and spend my savings from 52 WMC.

Me: Gosh! Kailangan ko na talaga ng new jeans. Wala akong maisuot during dress down days sa office.

Savings : Wag mo akong pakealaman, nananahimik ako sa ATM mo!

Me: Isa lang naman, P600 won't hurt naman diba?

Savings: P600??? Kelan mo naman ibabalik sakin yan?!

Me: Next pay check, for sure naman babayaran ko eh.

Savings: Hay naku! Yan din ang sinabi mo sa P1,500 na hindi na nakabalik sakin!

Me: OK FINE!!!!

Ayun, wala akong nabili. Hahaha! Yung P1,500 pala na namention ni Savings is supposedly added on top sa 52WMC savings ko kasi I often allot money more than the actual savings amount. I am trying to see if I can spare that amount for savings because that's my plan next year - to double the savings. I started really low kasi this year so to make sure na doable naman ang goal ko. Ang hirap kasi mag start sa mataas then eventually isa shopping ko din diba?

What I did was, parang pampalubag loob na lang, we went to National Bookstore since I have been wanting to buy a coloring book and colors for Jami. My toddler is a such a talker so I want to bring the artsy crafty side of his naman. =) 

Grabe wrong timing ang pagpunta ko sa National Bookstore!! Ang daming tao! Nakalimutan ko kasing pasukan na pala so buhos ang mga namimili ng mga things for school! Buti na lang, my sister memorized the shelves na kaya madali lang namin napupuntahan whatever we need! hahaha =)

So here are my loots for that day.

Coloring book for P75 ; Grasshopper Games Book for P60 ; Super size crayon for P86

Alphabet Chart for P60

 I am actually torn between the chart with pictures like animals, things, etc but I opted to stick with just letters and numbers so he would get familiar with letters and not the pictures muna. Particularly, Jami knows some pictures na like Baboy, Fruits which he calls apple, and some animals and things. I was also thinking of getting the flash cards instead of a chart pero naisip ko baka ikalat lang and mawala so better na muna na nakadikit na lang sa wall. =)

I wanted to go back to National bookstore anytime soon kapag mejo humupa na ang craze ng mga tao since pasukan. I would get some good paint and a canvass paper for a project I have in mind. =)

What's your favorite buy in National Bookstore guys?

Till Debt Do Us Part by Chinkee Tan

Last month, I have been drawn in reading books - Financial and practical books to be exact.

Tungkol sa kaperahan, in short.

Well, I can't seem to remember why I have decided to invest in books because I am the type of person na boring na boring sa books. Yes, I love to write but not read. I remember when I was younger, I am so lazy to open up a book. There were times na I feel obliged to read, I am pretending na binabasa ko where in fact, hindi ko naman naiintindihan. Hahah. :p

Well, I was thinking that one of the factors of not loving books is because of not being exposed to it early in life. That's why, I wanted to see if James would love books by having an early intervention, like giving him books more than toys and having a bedtime stories.

Anyhow, I saw this book from National Bookstore in Metropoint Pasay while waiting for Daryl.

I was so intrigued with the title of the book and I want to get it right there and then however, it wasn't on the budget so I've waited for about 2 weeks or more before I got the book. =)

It took me a while to finish the book since I can only read it on during some free time in the office and in the house. I wasn't really that impressed with the book since I think I wanted to learn more techniques and other stuff about money. Although the book used a very mababaw na English to better understand, there were some part that I think was a little bitin. There were parts of the book that I enjoyed since for me, it's malaman and some parts were a bit boring.

One of the things that I really loved in the book was the 6 Fundamentals of Financial Freedom:

1. Get Debt - Free
2. Build 1 to 2 month Emergency Fund
3. Build a 3-6 months long term savings
4. Make major purchases ( house and car)
5. Make long term investments (Educational, Pension, Retirement Fund)
6. Investment in Stocks and High Risk Investments. 

Well, those steps given really make sense diba? How could you be financially free without having the first or second done first?

There were more things and explanation on the book that pointed out as to why those steps where really important. Also, from the title of the book, there were chapters that explains "What is Debt" and why people get into debt. Of course there were sections too that teaches you how to get out of debt slowly but surely. It also discuss about budgeting. That was actually the part that I felt a little bitin because it discussed the budgeting ng slight lang. I think that part deserves a little more exposure since most Filipino (including myself) doesn't stick to the budget or doesn't know how to make one.

Anyhow, I am still going to buy one of Chinkee Tan's book that I am eyeing for the longest time. Once I have a budget on that then I'll be posting another book review.

I bought another book din pala which I'll be blogging about kapag natapos ko. =)

Any money tips you can give?

Dr. Seuss and His Friends

It's the time of James' life when I saw that he's interested in books.

Last weekend, we went to SM Mall of Asia to buy some things and just to hang around before we go back home to Las Pinas. We dropped by on a bookstore since I am interested on Financial books as of this moment. While we were inside the bookstore, I checked some hard bound books that I can buy for James. I gave him one book which caught his interest. I wanted to buy the book but I found it really expensive. We roamed around some more but I can't find books that are suitable on his age.

I told myself maybe I can check on some other bookstore.

At home, I realized he definitely needs a book. I noticed that he often gets my planner inside my bag and endlessly turns each page. It gets his interest given that it has his favorite mascott on it. I gave him a book that wasn't really for his age but somehow had drawings and to my surprise, he likes it. He doesn't read it and I don't read it to him yet because the drawings were really not of his interest. Whenever I asks him, where's your book? Get your book. He'll look at the book that I introduced him and would flip pages. That melted my heart and realize, I BADLY NEED TO GET HIM A BOOK!

I read some blogs about parenting and it recommends an early book recognition. This is where you would introduce and read books to your kids as early as possible. Academic success, social and communication skills, healthy expression of emotions, and cognitive development, better memory, concentration, and vocabulary skills later in life are the benefit of early reading. With that, I want to encourage James to find joy in reading books. =)

I have read in one of my favorite blogger that she introduced Dr. Seuss books to his child. He bought her books on one of the bookstores around and found her child really interested on it. She also built a routine of reading books before bedtime which was a great bonding for her and her child.

Good thing, Dr. Seuss and His Friends are on sale for a very cheap price of books. I am thinking of getting one too. Head on to their website by clicking here. This offer is available in U.S only. I hope it is also available here in the Philippines. =)