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PERSONAL FINANCIAL GOALS FOR 2024


MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2023

2024 is just a couple of months away. How's your 2023? Have you went back over
your 2023 goals to see if you have achieved them?



I know a lot of us are still in the process of recovering from the pandemic then
now that there's an inflation. It's like the world is not giving us a break. But
we can always do something about it. This time I discovered Calculator.me, a
website that has a collection of calculators that you can use depending on what
you need. It has Loan, Mortgage, Savings, Auto, Credit Card and Budget Planning.




As a homemaker, there are two calculators that I use on the website: Savings and
the Family Budget Planning.


Both (actually all) calculators are very easy to use and understand. You just
input the amount and it will calculate automatically. It is in USD but you can
always just follow the amount in your own currency.


For the Savings Calculator, I mainly use this for my passive income and add more
money to our emergency funds. I just enter the amounts and for the interest
rate, I call/went to my bank to verify the specific annual interest rate. This
calculator can be your guide to your savings goal for 2024!





For the Family Budget Planner, it's also the same, easy to use and calculates
automatically for you. Budgeting need not to be complicated. The budget you make
can either be for your monthly or annual budget. This budget planner can
definitely help families like me with just the right amount of monthly income. I
just wish you can customize the percentage for each expense. Nonetheless, it's
still helpful to have a guide to my monthly expenses!
If you are planning to get a car or get a loan from the bank as part of your
financial goals for 2024, there are calculators in the website too. It is never
too early to plan your financial plans for the future. It's more of securing
your future. This is not only for families like us but also for single people
who would like to have a good financial standing for themselves and the future!


As for our family, we are saving up for a lot next year. I want to take my
family on a vacation so working extra hard now to put more money on our savings!








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Posted by Cai Sio at Monday, October 30, 2023 Labels: financial goal , financial
talk , money saving

Cai Sio
Blogger from Manila, Philippines. Wife to BOS, mom to two kids, mompreneur
behind Paper Chic Studio, breastfeeding advocate and LATCH Breastfeeding Peer
Counselor.



BUSINESS SIMULATION GAMES ARE SO FUN AND ADDICTING!


TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2023

One of my favorite games online and on my phone are simulation games! They're so
addicting and fun, it challenges my speed and accuracy! I recently found a new
online game website: https://www.mortgagecalculator.org/money-games that has
business simulation games and more! It also has Money Games, Real Estate Games
and more!





When I go on a break in between my online work, I sometimes play my favorite
games on the website! Today, I'll share a few of them!

Mahjong Solitaire is a simple tile-matching game.

- You match identical open (or free) tile pairs. A stone is considered free if
there are no other stones on top of it and either the left or right side is free
of other stones.
- If you get stuck you can select the shuffle button at the right edge of the
game to reshuffle the remaining stones.
- You can even select different board layouts and tile types!


I love matching games! While they are a bit time consuming but once I start
doing it, I can't seem to stop myself! I need to finish it! Plus the tile
designs are so cute to look at, makes the game more fun to play!







If you enjoy mahjong games, there's also a Cooking Mahjong game! But this time
the goal is to build recipes. The tiles are the ingredients, choose 3 tiles that
will complete the recipe. The layout also changes every level


The next games are business simulation games. First one, the Burger Shop!


Burger Shop is timed 10-stage burger restaurant simulation game where players
must serve the customer's order precisely. All you need to do is look at the
customer's order, make the burger from the bottom up and serve it to them!


OMG, this was so confusing at first! I failed a few times at first but once I
got the hang of it, it was easier but as you level up and there are many
customers at once, it gets more challenging! You need fast eye-finger
coordination!




Ice Cream Bar is another simulation game but this time you're serving ice cream
treats! But this game has 20 stages and the goal is to serve customers before
the timer runs out.


These are just the few games that I enjoy playing on the website! But there are
other games that you might enjoy too! There's also games on NFT, BitCoins, real
estate, stocks, coding games and more!



You can access all the games on this
website: https://www.mortgagecalculator.org/money-games! Enjoy and comment your
favorite game down on the comments section!

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Posted by Cai Sio at Tuesday, January 10, 2023 Labels: business simulation games
, kids , lifestyle , mortgage calculator , online games , simulation games

Cai Sio
Blogger from Manila, Philippines. Wife to BOS, mom to two kids, mompreneur
behind Paper Chic Studio, breastfeeding advocate and LATCH Breastfeeding Peer
Counselor.



IS ONE OF YOUR GOALS THIS 2023 IS TO SAVE MONEY? MAKE YOUR MONEY WORK THIS 2023!


WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2023

Happy New Year, everyone! Are you the kind of person who makes New Year's
resolution or goals for the year? I am not the type to make resolutions but more
on making goals and making sure I sustain it for the years to come. One of my
goals this year is to save MORE than what I saved last year and I just
discovered a website that can help me with my 2023 goal! It's the
SavingsCalculator.org!


The website allows you to input any currency so you can use this anywhere you
are! SavingsCalculator.org has other calculators in their website like College
and Retirement. 



With the COVID-19 lockdowns and the current crazy inflation, saving money can be
a challenge but it's not impossible so let's start 2023 with a positive note!
Savings Calculator has a Goals Calculator. It has 2 separate calculator: 

One is for "How Much" is your savings goal



One is for "How Long" will it take for you to reach your savings goal




With these calculators, you can easily calculate and adjust your savings goal
for the year! Now, the hard part is actually doing the saving! I have to admit
that I did a lot of online shopping during the lockdown, some were good
purchases but some were really just bad budols. The WANT won versus the NEED
haha! 


So, here are some money-wise TO-DOs for 2023! And maybe this can help you too!


1. Delete shopping apps - I have deleted a lot of shopping apps on my phone.
They're just too much temptation. I've only kept 2 apps which I use both for
personal and business use.



2. Keep personal purchases at minimum. Buy what you need only! - Even with the 2
apps I've kept, there's still temptations! Sales and deals all over! Remember: A
sale can still happen in the next few months. If you're not going to use it
ASAP, you don't need to buy it! I've been a victim of this especially for
skincare products and they end up expiring and that's money down the drain.


3. Buy in bulk for necessities - this may sound contradictory to NO. 2 but
things like household products and toiletries, buying in bulk maybe heavy on the
pocket at first but it's actually more economical in the long run. Buying
shampoo, conditioner, laundry detergent, etc. in bulk saves you money and time
as well!


4. Plan mall and dining out trips - With the inflation, prices of everything has
went up. We have been home buddies since the pandemic but we get cabin fever
too! But going out can be expensive. There's gas, parking, a little food
shopping and we also indulge on dining out because this momma needs a break from
cooking sometimes. We plan our trips, do some errands in the area, and eat
within a budget only.



These are just a few tips on top of my head. Please do share your tips with me
cause I like to save more! And when you can save more, you can go back to the
website and calculate compound interest if you are going invest your savings in
bonds or investment funds. You can always go to your bank and inquire about
these!


2023 I am ready for you! Manifesting the biggest savings I'll ever have this
year!!!

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Posted by Cai Sio at Wednesday, January 04, 2023 Labels: family , financial talk
, lifestyle , money saving

Cai Sio
Blogger from Manila, Philippines. Wife to BOS, mom to two kids, mompreneur
behind Paper Chic Studio, breastfeeding advocate and LATCH Breastfeeding Peer
Counselor.


BEST IMMUNE-BOOSTING TIPS TO BRING INTO THE NEW YEAR


FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2022

According to one study, about 40 percent of American adults make New Year's
resolutions. The top three resolutions are related to health. As the new year
begins during the coldest months, when colds and the flu are going around, it
seems like a smart thing to focus on. With Covid out there, too, you'll be doing
yourself a favor by investing in immune support that can help mitigate the
exposure to and duration of the myriad types of sickness that are out there
waiting to get picked up.
 
Get Fresh Air Daily

One of the reasons that aerobic exercise is so enthusiastically pronounced as
essential for a healthy life is that it involves the amount of oxygen that you
are taking in and how fast your heart rate is as you're taking it. A normal
resting heart rate for an adult is between 60 and 100 beats per minute. Walking,
jogging or even stretching out in the fresh air can help cleanse your lungs and
lower your heart rate, besides boosting your mood and increasing energy levels.


Keep a Nutritious Diet

Wellements Vitamins can promote health and wellness but they are greatly
complemented by a nutritious diet. Studies have shown that a high-fiber,
plant-based diet can promote the growth and maintenance of beneficial microbes,
which have been known to stimulate immune cell activity. 



There are loads of foods that contribute to gut health and immune system health.
Yogurt, sourdough, almonds and olive oil are just a few of the foods recommended
for their gut health benefits. Tumeric can boost the immune system by modulating
the activation of T cells, B cells and other elements that enhance your body's
antibody response. Eating garlic also boosts the number of T cells in your
body. 



Vitamin C is renowned for its ability to stimulate white blood cells. All citrus
products have this ability, as well as that of neutralizing free radical
molecules, which, in excess, can damage cells. Eating raw vegetables that keep
all of their nutrients like beta-carotene is another stellar way to use your
diet to boost your immune system.




Get Your Rest

Lack of sleep can negatively impact the immune system. Studies have shown that
people experiencing a lack of sleep are more susceptible to picking up viruses
and for having a harder time dealing with them. When you sleep, your body is in
recovery mode and part of that recovery involves the production of
infection-fighting antibodies and cells that are critical for your health.
Getting sufficient hours of high-quality sleep enables a well-balanced immune
defense. 

When you're wondering how to boost kids immune system, there are many
similarities to boosting your own. Gut health is important, as are diet and
nutrition. Immune boosters and good rest can keep you from getting the worst of
what's out there. Even when it does catch up to you, these things ensure that
it's not as bad as it might be with a weakened, or otherwise unprepared, immune
system. Visit a health and wellness shop today to see the OTC immune-boosting
supplements that are available and better your odds of making it through this
cold and flu season healthy.

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Posted by Cai Sio at Friday, December 16, 2022 Labels: family , family health ,
health

Cai Sio
Blogger from Manila, Philippines. Wife to BOS, mom to two kids, mompreneur
behind Paper Chic Studio, breastfeeding advocate and LATCH Breastfeeding Peer
Counselor.


FUN BOARD GAMES FOR KIDS ALL IN ONE WEBSITE!


MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2022

Another month, another kids game website discovery! This time it's very
nostalgic because it's mostly board games from my childhood! It's such a fun
website that I spent hours playing without me noticing that I've been playing
for a long time. It's Board Games For Kids website!




I enjoyed playing Uno, Guess Who, Snakes and Ladders, Minesweeper, Dominos and
more!


Classic Uno Game! Don't forget to click on the Uno icon when you have 1 card
left because I keep forgetting to do so! Haha!

You can play from 2 to 4 players!


Guess Who was one of my favorite board games when I was a kid. My children
enjoyed playing this too! You can choose the questions to ask the computer from
a list. It's fun playing online as it is in real life and I won a few times too!




Another classic board game is Snakes and Ladders! I love and hate this game! I
love it when I go up the ladder and hate it also when the snakes send you back
down! Argh! But it's still fun nonetheless!





Minesweeper is a game I never win at all but still play it anyway because it's
exciting! Haha! I remember playing it the first time on my neighbor's computer.
You click to reveal blocks, then you can click on the flag button at the top to
put flags where you are certain there are bombs.





I remember a neighbor also taught me how to play this Dominoes game! Dominoes is
a game which allows a player to compete against 1 to 3 computer players to see
who can get rid of their dominoes first. Players must match piece numbers to one
of the pieces on the ends and when a player can not make a match their turn is
skipped. I love playing this game and beating the computer! haha!




I thoroughly enjoyed playing my favorite games that took me back to my
childhood! My kids tried some of the games they know and learned a few new games
they haven't played yet. Love the variety of games Board Games For Kids offers
and it fun for both kids and adults! I'll stop writing now and get back to
playing more games! 

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Posted by Cai Sio at Monday, September 19, 2022 Labels: board game for kids ,
family , games

Cai Sio
Blogger from Manila, Philippines. Wife to BOS, mom to two kids, mompreneur
behind Paper Chic Studio, breastfeeding advocate and LATCH Breastfeeding Peer
Counselor.


HOW TO BUDGET AND SAVE MONEY WISELY


THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2022

When it comes to managing your finances, budgeting is a major part of it. When
you receive your salary/income monthly/bi-monthly, you need to allot it for
different things: insurance, grocery, utilities without running out of money.
This is when budget comes in. I know it's not a fun thing to do but I think it
is important to learn about money even at a young age. It's something I want my
kids to learn now!



I'll share a few tips on how to budget and save your money wisely! I'm not an
expert but I will share what I've done in the past and still do to this day.

There are a lot of budgeting methods. Find one that works for you! There's the
50/30/20 method. You ca read more about the 50/30/20 with this article from
PruLife. I think this is the easiest to follow. You take up to 50% off your
salary/income for needs, 30% for your wants and 20% for your savings or debt
repayment. 



Debt can be from credit card loans, bad credit loans, car loans and there are a
lot more kinds of loans out there (click here to know) and all of these carry
interest rates. I know it's not an easy thing to get out of it but it is doable.
Just focus on your budgeting method and goals. And it's better to pay them off
as soon as you can so you can focus on saving because building savings can do a
lot of things for us.

Small tip: having a piggy bank to put in all your loose changes helps too. It
may be a small amount but having a "place" to put them in and count your savings
at the end of the year. Whatever the amount can be used for your wants/needs or
into your savings. 

Another budgeting tip that I adapted to this pandemic that really helped our
budget is sticking and cutting down (a bit) our grocery budget. With the help of
online grocery shopping, I can monitor our monthly grocery bill. Because I can
see the running total of my grocery cart, I've learned to cut down on buying
junk foods! With online grocery shopping, I get to stick with my budget and
avoid impulsive junk food buying.



Cancel unnecessary memberships, subscriptions. I know I am not the only one who
has multiple subscriptions to different services like Netflix, Viu, Spotify or
subscription boxes. If you don't use it regularly, cancel it. You can always
subscribe again in the future. There are streaming services that you can share
with family members that allows multiple devices, this is a great way to save
and lower your monthly budget. Also, if you still have cable tv but don't watch
it anymore, it's time to cancel that too!



We also lowered our cell phone plans by half. Check what your provider's offers!
I got a new cell phone plan that only has 6 months lock-in, gives free Apple
Music subscription for a year (which I cancelled before they charged me!). You
can always get a higher cell phone plan when your income/salary improves!

We've also lessened ordering food from food apps and eating out. We have saved a
lot! I try to cook every meal as much as I can. We only order food/eat out when
there's a special occasion like birthdays and anniversaries. And we get the
budget for this on the 30% from the 50/30/20 method.



Decluttering and selling your clutter is a good way to get rid of your old
things, earn from it and put more money in your budget/savings. I've been doing
this for months and it helps a lot mentally too when I see less clutter in our
house. My kids have outgrown their clothes during this pandemic and I've sold a
lot already and I used that money to buy them new clothes! 



These are just a few little tips that help you with your budget and savings!
There are more articles that you can find online like this from Manulife.

Savings can help you fund your next travel, your kids' college tuition,
retirement savings and more. Budgeting will help you get to your goal! And when
you have enough money, there are a lot of ways to invest and grow your money but
that's another topic for another day! :)


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Posted by Cai Sio at Thursday, August 18, 2022 Labels: lifestyle

Cai Sio
Blogger from Manila, Philippines. Wife to BOS, mom to two kids, mompreneur
behind Paper Chic Studio, breastfeeding advocate and LATCH Breastfeeding Peer
Counselor.
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CAI SIO


Blogger from Manila, Philippines. Let's talk about food, family, beauty,
shopping finds and more. Follow me on Instagram (@glowbycai) just by clicking on
my photo above! Collaborate with me, email me at applesanddumplings@gmail.com






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