Ask me for horror stories about maids, yayas and house help and I could go on for hours –- all based on experience. But from time to time, many of us come across genuine beings that sacrifice personal comfort to give service that would beat the best hotels. They would provide companionship and even understanding of our idiosyncrasies, break a fight or wipe a tear from our children’s faces when we can’t be there for them, or even shield us from hateful neighbors.

I have known exemplary house help who put their lives on voluntary suspension to take care of their employers’ meals, homes and children. They do not date, ending up single for the rest of their lives. They don’t nurture friendships since security is a very valid issue especially in Metro Manila. They see their families only once a year, even occasionally missing that visit to a far-off home when the need arises. When we travel abroad or leave the country for good, admit it. They are one of the first we miss the most: no more beds that get made up in the morning, almost as if by magic.

It is but fair to treat human kindness with the same. And truth be told, there are horror employer stories that would make children-exploiting Nike executives blush. Uncomfortable beds, rooms with no privacy, more than 14-hour working days for pay that’s good for five, zero benefits but a lot of curses.

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Could it be true? DZMM said this morning the number of cars that ply the EDSA route is down by 10 percent. Could it be that the age of carpooling and mass rail transit has finally arrived? With a P60 per liter price looming over everyone’s heads, Filipinos will be spending so much more on transportation, food and other necessities, leaving less money for everything else including big and new cars.

I dare predict that there will come a time when only men will be driving alone on EDSA during rush hour! (You know how men hate car pools. At least the men I know who hate what they call “small talk”). It’s nice too if Filipinos are cutting down on gimmick days, but hopefully not totally. I’m not too sure about the happiness index of hermits.

A Philippine Daily Inquirer editorial the other day pointed out that the rising oil and food prices have one unintended but good consequence: people are living simpler lives.

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Savings account: P5,000
Checking account: P5,000
Time deposit: P10,000
Special deposit account: P100,000
Foreign currency deposit account: $1,000
Mutual fund: P5,000
Unit investment trust fund: P5,000
Treasury Bills and Bonds (through banks): P100,000
Account with a stock brokerage firm: P50,000 (but I just learned that at least one has no minimum investment at all)
Priority banking accounts: $50,000 (you will have access to different investment instruments at higher interest and the services of wealth managers or financial planners)

For first-time investors, read this guide: Investment 101 for the first time investor

(Check this spot again from time to time for more updates. The usual disclaimer applies: this is not a solicitation to buy etc. etc. and each instrument is attached to its own kind of risk).

…you’re upset.

Nuff said.

Personal Finance Round-up

Tasha really got money-smart last week by being so self-aware in her shopping and taking her goals to pay off all debts this year seriously. Personal finance voyeurs out there will love her blog as well as Geek and Money’s. It’s strangely interesting to watch his mid-year personal finance checkpoint (check, check, ooops gotta do better on that…) and what he expects for the coming year. If you want to know why it’s important to compute your net worth and you want to know how other people are doing it, check out his blog.

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What is this thing called inflation? The man on the street cares less for the word than for the price of galunggong on his table, but they are one and the same. Simply put, inflation measures price increases –- and whether you live in Forbes Park or on Gov. Forbes Ave. (pronounced For-bes), it’s a worry.

But how does it compare with other problems Filipinos are facing? What weighs heavier on your mind?

a) Inflation or oil prices
b) Inflation or corruption
c) Inflation or the poor quality of education
d) Inflation or lack of jobs
e) Inflation or national poverty
f) Inflation or your waist line
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Runaway debt wearing you down? Don’t know what to do? Having a hard time finding a sympathetic listener?

Pour it all out and pop me an email at lightdream (at) gmail (dot) com with your story or comment on this post. Let’s see if we can get bankers and experts to answer your burning questions.

There, there. Now that’s off your chest, keep watching this space for advice from the experts on how to handle debt. Hope to hear from you soon!

You all love Warren Buffett, right? Would you pay $2.1 million to have lunch with the oracle of Omaha like this Chinese investment manager who decided to pick up the tab by taking part in a high-stakes online charity auction?

Zhao Danyang, 36, will have lunch with the US billionaire at a Smith and Wollensky steakhouse restaurant in New York. He can bring seven friends to enjoy Buffett’s company for, oh, maybe two hours. Three hours max… maybe.
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I can put a whole new meaning to being frugal, sometimes. And I’m proud of it. Unfortunately, the golden dust of stinginess can wear off so quickly because the next minute, I can be the worst spendthrift on the planet. Have you ever been bitten by these financial mood swings?

Here’s an example. I love my more than 10-year old Esprit wristwatch. I bought it with money I earned from my first award as a journalist back in 1997 (and I mention that here only to explain its sentimental value). In a moment of extreme klutzness, it fell from a super-high tower rack and it stopped working. The face was a mess of broken glass.

In a normal situation, I would have loved shopping for a replacement. This time, however, I was moping about in the mall, not excited to buy a new one. I kept telling myself that it’s more than 10 years old, for heaven’s sake. I deserve to buy one with a spiffy new design or a classic Omega-like look, you know?

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