toothache

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Ouchy! My gum is very swollen. Now I know why I wasn't feeling well. I went to three dentists just to make comparisons with diagnosis/advice and their prices. Everything in this world is very expensive!

The tooth was root canaled years ago. The first dentist said that I only have two choices: root canal (again!) or have it extracted. She wanted me to think about it and not make a hasty decision right away. But if I have it extracted, a "new"tooth is woth P12,000!!

The second dentist scheduled me for xray the next day. If the tooth can still be saved, the dentist wants to root canal it again. P10,000 to root canal one tooth, P8,500 for a "new" tooth if I want it extracted. But the cost of extraction and xray is still not included yet.

Third dentist wants to extract my tooth right then and there.

I'd rather have the tooth extracted. This tooth has caused me a lot of time and money already. I have to look for a dentist that doesn't charge so much though.

what the future will bring

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I am a thrifty person, I make sure that I have enough for "rainy days". I want to know where I spend every single centavo of my hard-earned money. I try to save more than half of what I earn.

To avoid buying the latest expensive trends, I look at the opposite direction of counter displays on department stores. But I must admit I do buy once in a while, especially if the price is right.

No one in this world has the power to know what the future has in store for each one of us. It is better to save up, a single peso a day will do, instead of begging money from people we know during rainy days.

do you have enough?

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Are you confident that you have enough in case of "rainy days" in your life? Scared now because all you do is spend, spend and spend? Not buying what we want and what we need is definitely not the answer. We should buy what we need, especially what our children needs. We should also buy what we want once in a while. But we have to be smart on how and what we spend our hard-earned money on.

Here are some ways on how we can buy what we want and need without spending a lot. Cut out grocery items from coupons. Buy clothes, books and other stuffs that are on sale. Look out for garage sales.

The money that we saved can then be used on "rainy days".

investing in mutual funds

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A mutual fund is an investment scheme where a group of investors pool their money and hire a portfolio manager. The manager invests the pooled money in securities such as stocks, bonds, money market instruments and similar assets. The fund manager buy and sell stocks and securities according to the investment objectives stated in its prospectus.

Investing in mutual fund is a way for investors-like-me, who don’t have the resources or the time to buy individual stocks, to get a piece of the market.

But of course, there are advantages and disadvantages alike in mutual fund investing. Finding the right mutual fund company should not be considered lightly also.

The first step to mutual fund investing: prospectus. Start collecting and comparing - now.

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how to pick the best stocks

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I started trading stocks listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) two years ago. I started investing my hard-earned money in Mutual Funds. But when I was researching online about investing, I got curious with stock-picking.

I became a frequent visitor of forums, except those discussing about things like extenze side effects, where experienced investors also frequently give their advice about stock picking. That's my first step in picking the best stock, check what other investors are gaga about.

The next step: research about the company and the stock performance. Will give more details about this next time.

should i invest more?

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I opened an online stock account a few years back. I was just a newbie in stock investing at that time. Because I got distracted with other things, I neglected my stock account. I checked my account a few weeks back and I got disappointed with what I saw. 

I guess the companies, where I put my investment on, still hasn't recovered yet. My friend, who is experiencing the same thing, just made short sales with her investment. Maybe I should do the same thing and invest in a better company.

i thought it will make me rich!

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Math was my favorite subject in high school. My math teacher made me believe that I am a math genius! That made me decide to study Math in college. I passed the UPCAT (University of the Philippines College Admission Test) and took up Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics Major in Actuarial Science.

I was already counting my salary, when I finally become an Actuary, way before I even graduate and pass my first Actuarial Examination. An actuary is a combination of a business executive, mathematician, financier, sociologist and investment manager. Sounds like a boring, nerdy person right?

Although studying insurance quotes was not part of the curriculum, I still got bored. My heart was not into "working with numbers" anymore but I still finished college.

I did work in an Actuarial firm for a few years but I eventually decided not to become an Actuary after all. What's the use of being rich if I am so bored and not happy with my work. I choose to be poor and happy. Yay for me?

have you tried investing in gold?

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I haven't...yet. I want to try investing in gold. With the global economic environment growing more and more uncertain, gold has become the #1 alternative for Pension Plans.

Do you know that if you purchased, during the early 70’s, $25,000 of gold bullion coins - you could sell that gold today for a whopping gold price of $524,999.00. The price of gold has surpassed every other asset that one can include in a retirement account.

A lot of global and economic trends, like inflation, stock and bond market turmoil and bank failures to name a few, weaken stocks and other paper investments and usually cause gold price to rise.

Have to research where to check gold prices. Have to learn how to spot gold. At least I know the difference between a "gold spot" and a "bald spot". That should be a good start!

where to get a personal loan

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Are you in financial trouble? Or do you just need a personal loan for some extra cash? Are you facing a financial emergency that needs to be addressed right away? Has it been hard for you to get a loan? Most banks are requiring customers to have a high credit score. Most banks also want collaterals for loans to be approved. Blame it on the current economic downturn.  

Are you feeling discouraged to apply for a Payday Advance or Bad Credit Loan?

Don't be.

MoneyNowUSA.com is a multiple lender payday loan search engine that can connect you to the largest network of payday loans and financial loan lenders no matter what the economic outlook. This amazing website approves 4 out of 5 applicants for a payday loan. MoneyNowUSA search more banks, Financial Companies, and Cash Advance Lenders for the highest payday loan amount with the lowest APR and the best interest rates available. They currently offer personal loans up to $5,000.00. The website's built-in Bad Credit Loan Finder will find the perfect payday or personal loan for you no matter what your credit history!

It's so simple to apply. You must be a U.S. citizen, over the age of 18 and be currently employed. You must have an active/open checking or savings account to be eligible for a payday advance throughMoneyNowUSA.

MoneyNowUSA works hard to protect their customers privacy and personal information. It is a trustworthy and secure site that real-time encrypts all of private and personal data, to protect their customers from identity theft.  MoneyNowUSA use VeriSign 128 bit encryption technology to ensure that the transfer of data is safe. Their HTTPS protocols ensure that Social security and bank information are completely protected.

restrain yourself...

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From buying compulsively.

Every credit card owner should remind that to themselves. Unless they don't want to be debt-free. Having a credit card is a big responsibility to one's self.  I myself had a credit card, for the first and I hope the last time, 10 (ten) years ago. I'm proud though to say that I was very responsible in using my credit card. I diligently pay my dues in time, mind you I pay a day after I use it. 

Funny right? Sometimes, when I use it in the morning to buy something, I ask my sister to pay for it in the afternoon. I do have a very valid reason for doing that, I am a very forgetful person.  I fear that I might forget paying for my credit card bills eventually if I wait until the due date.

Advantages of having a credit card? Many people will probably say "a lot". For me though, I can only think of disadvantages of using credit cards. I would rather spend the money that I have in my pocket than use a credit card. I don't want to owe anything to anybody. I would rather buy a small and inexpensive thing using my own money than purchasing a very expensive item that I can't even pay later on.

I am proud to say that I am debt-free. What about you?

i will never buy PLDT stocks!

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I am fuming mad right now...this very minute! I am very annoyed and I am trying to calm down because I don't want wrinkles. Who wants wrinkles, right? But who wants to get robbed and not be able to fight back or at the very least have the robbers return what they robbed from me. Yes people, I am getting robbed!

By who? Smart Communications! They are robbing a few pesos from me every single day. Just a few pesos, you say? A few pesos everyday will add up to thousands in a few days. I am not the only person using a Smart Bro wireless connection plug-in, I am 100% sure of it. A few pesos from thousands of users will add up to thousands and thousands of pesos directly to Smart's ever growing bank account.

I bought a Smart Bro prepaid internet plug-in months ago. I use it to go online while waiting for my son finish swim training. Most of the time, there is no signal. Can you believe 0.00 kbps! But they still deduct 10pesos from my account whether I connect for 1 minute or 30 minutes. As soon as the timer hits 31minutes, another 10 pesos is deducted. Whether I like it or not!

Why still keep using it? Because they are the best already compared with others. Most of the BEST in this country sucks! Consumers in this country, like me, can complain all we want. Nothing is protecting us from the claws of these big corporations who are taking advantage of the lack of government protection to consumers.

I will never, ever buy PLDT stocks! Or maybe I should. Smart Communications is owned by PLDT (Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company). And...PLDT is even listed in NYSE. Hmmm. If the stocks went up, I can then get back some of the money that they robbed from me. Should I or shouldn't I? Decisions, decisions...

friend unashamedly asking for money? what should i do?

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When I was in grade school, I attended a public school in a small town in Albay, Philippines. I moved on to a private school in the city during my high school years. I took up Applied Mathematics in the most prestigious school in the country, the University of the Philippines (sorry La Sallites and Ateneans, UP is the best :) ) in my college days.

I still see my grade school friends when I go home in the province once in a while. I seldom do that though because RJ has sports activities during summer break. When I went home August of 2009 for my Lola's (grandmother) wake, a friend visited me. Let's call her JJ. She went to my house with her fourth child and with a big belly.

JJ: "My eldest, you're inaanak (godchild) is Grade 6 already."

Me: "My inaanak?" *confused* I visited you when you gave birth, but you didn't tell me I am the godmother. Of course I didn't say that, I didn't want to embarrass her.

JJ: "Everytime P comes home, he always give gifts and money to us. You know, we're very poor. Last christmas, when R was here, she also has pasalubong and gave me some money." P and R were our grade school friends.

Me: "So, how are you and your husband? How many kids do you have?"

JJ: "I am going to give birth to my fifth child soon. But we don't have money, I can't even afford to give birth in the health center. We don't even have rice for lunch today. My husband helps clean tombstones at the cemetery near our place."

Me: "Does RC live near your house? How is she?" RC is another grade school classmate. I wanted to change the subject because I don't want to be more depressed (we just had Lola's funeral day before).

JJ: "She works in the Middle East. She has a big house already."

Me: "Why don't you let your husband apply in an overseas job also?"

JJ: "We'd rather be together with our children."

Me saying to self: You'd rather see your kids go hungry that be separated from your husband for a few years.

We talked for an hour, she talking more about her poor, sorry life. I gave her rice and cakes for her kids. I also gave her some money but not without telling her, "Use that money to give birth in the health center/hospital. Stop getting pregnant also".

Fast forward to today. I received a text, "Manay this is JJ. How are you? I got your cellular phone number from R".

"Hi JJ, how are you?"

"I'm fine. I have a new baby.Your godchild is going to graduate from grade school this March. I want to ask for your help. I also asked help from R and she gave me your number. As you know, my family is poor."

Saying to self: If my godchild's tuition fee is only a thousand or two, I can help her if she really wants to continue high school. If and only if her grades in grade school are not failing and she won't quit until she finish schooling.

"How is my godchild? Is she going to continue high school? Does she have good grades?"

I got a reply from her asking for a cellular phone load.

Uh-oh, I got scared. Honestly! I am not kidding. I am not filthy rich to support a family of 7! She is not even ashamed to ask for money. Her husband is a big guy, not tall but big, he has the body to do hard labor to support his family.

Should I give her money again? My sister said that she might get used to asking money from me. What should I do?

bad credit? worry no more

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I don't understand why a lot of people have to deal, year after year, with bad credit. Many of these people just doesn't do anything to improve their credit score. Is it really hard to fix a bad credit record?

I tried searching online for credit repair companies. I used the keywords "fix my credit".

The most reliable website that I found was www.repairyourbadcredit.com. Browsing the site showed me that removing a bad credit or improving a good credit is so easy. There are a lot of positive advantages if one has a good credit right? So, if you have a bad credit record, what are you waiting for? Fix and improve your credit history now.