What Are You Trying To Teach Me, My God?

Image Source

This is going to be a short post. I just need to write my thoughts and feelings about something that happened to me.

Two days ago, I was worried about our financial state. There are so many medical expenses we need to take care of, then the bills for utilities, even the budget for food was a concern.

I whispered a prayer. "My God, please give me an opportunity to earn a steady income. You know my needs, Lord. Please lead me to the way where I can provide more for my family."

In the afternoon of the same day, I lost a thousand pesos. I was so upset, trying to budget everything and then BANG! I lost my money. Maybe it was because I paid it for my tricycle fare (and never got change back) or misplaced it (impossible for me because I always keep track of expenditures).

My hard earned money that was supposed to go into the food budget for the week is gone. I will have to offset some payments first because food is a priority.

I asked myself, "What is God trying to teach me?" I am confused. I asked Him for an earning opportunity, and yet I lost money instead.

My husband said, "Pray. Ask God to make you understand. Just pray."

I know it is just money and that I can still earn it back somehow. Sadly, I had to accept this unfortunate incident. I am still praying for guidance, for peace in my heart. 

I am putting all my trust in God. He has plans for me. I may not understand it now, but I know everything happens for a reason. 

Come into my heart, O God and dwell in it. Make me understand your Divine Plan for me. 

How To Pay For Emergencies

Image Source. Licensed under Creative Commons

Apply for a credit card

Credit cards are a convenient way of borrowing money for emergencies - rather than going through the whole loan application process, you can make purchases with borrowed money with the swipe of a card. It’s worth doing your research when choosing a credit card as there are many different cards out there. 

Many credit cards come with variable interest rates, which you should be wary of. Most also have a spending limit, which is also worth considering.

Having a good credit score will often help you to get better deals on credit cards although there are credit cards for bad credit. You should always aim to pay your credit card bills on time as many credit card providers will offer rewards for good spending.

Open a savings account

If you don’t want to get into debt, you could always set up a rainy day fund. This could include putting money regularly into a savings account. Ideally, you always want to have a couple thousand dollars saved up so that you’ve always got enough money in the event of an emergency.

It’s worth shopping around for savings accounts in order to find one with the best interest rate. This will allow you to naturally grow your savings. Some savings accounts with high interest rates may have restricted access of penalites for taking out money (for example, you may not get any interest for the month if you take money out). You should weigh up whether these restrictions are worthwhile. Online savers also have good interest rates, but withdrawing money from these accounts isn’t as fast as withdrawing from a brick and mortar savings account, making them potentially unsuitable for emergencies. 

Make sure that you only dip into these savings for expenses that are genuine emergencies. Having another savings account set aside for treats such as vacations or a new car is worthwhile.

Image Source. Licensed under Creative Commons

Get insured

Insurance is another way to pay for emergencies for those that don’t want to get into debt. There are insurance schemes out there for all kinds of disasters – by agreeing to pay a small amount each month, your insurer will then pay for any emergency costs when they arise.

Health insurance, pet insurance and property insurance are some of the most popular voluntary insurance schemes, although it’s possible to get insured against anything. Obviously, you don’t want to be paying extortionate insurance rates, so you should always shop around for cover.

There are lots of ways to lower your insurance. Investing preventative measures in order to lower the risk of emergencies can often lower your insurance rates (for example, if you live in a high flood risk zone and take out flood insurance, it could also be worth making some physical attempts to flood proof your home such as putting a wall up and damp-proofing the side of your home. Upping your deductible can also lower insurance rates, however this does mean that you have to pay more out of your own pocket in an emergency. 

Quartz Clinical: Providing High Quality Health Care At A Lower Cost

Everyone needs health care. Whether you get health care coverage from your employer, or pay for it yourself, access to health care must be available to everyone.

It is sad that the rising cost of health care drives people to self-medicate, which would later cause a disease to progress and complications to set in. 

No one wants to fall ill, but if we do, we entrust doctors and health care workers to provide the care we need. On the part of the hospitals and medical professionals, they perform their sworn duties to alleviate suffering to the patients who come to them for treatment. However, they have to consider certain factors such as providing quality care while reducing patient costs and possible re-admissions as well as ensuring profitability.

The medical profession operates on ethical standards, so there should be no short-cuts in providing care, and reducing operational costs should not mean compromising quality of treatment offered.

What can be done to achieve both quality health care and business sustainability?

The solution to this is provided by Quartz Clinical.

Quartz Clinical is a program specifically designed to help hospitals deliver high quality care while reducing costs. It is cloud based therefore it provides ease of access to data. A feature of the program is artificial intelligence that can provide forecasts on possible complications and/or readmissions. 

The platform provides in depth analysis of the areas for improvement by handling billions of big data from all aspects of hospital operations - medical care, finance, logistics, etc, all coming together to provide the best strategy that would give patients the same high quality, customized care regardless of demographics, and with a lower cost for both patient and hospital.

This is modern technology meeting health care that was only dreamed of decades ago. Quartz Clinical is bound to change the delivery of health care. It will be more efficient, more customized, more economical and patient centered. This is business intelligence perfected. 

With all that has been said, we are looking forward to a healthier future with Quartz Clinical.

6 Major Mistakes You Must Avoid When You Buy Property

From Pixabay

Buying a new home is an incredibly exciting process, especially if it’s your first time. Between choosing the perfect area and viewing all of the great houses, it’s easy to get caught up in the fun. However, as enjoyable as this task can be, it’s also very complicated and confusing, which can lead those less experienced to make a number of huge blunders. To save yourself the unnecessary cost and worry when buying property, here are six major mistakes you should avoid.

1. Buying Before You’re Ready

Buying property is a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. It’s one of the largest transactions you’ll ever make and has the power to affect the rest of your life. Because of this, you should ensure you’re definitely ready to buy a house before you jump into the process. As frustrating as renting can be at times, it is the best option for those that need a little more flexibility. 

2. Not Getting Pre-Approved

Online mortgage calculators can be of great help when determining how much money you can borrow. However, you shouldn’t just assume you’re going to get approved for that amount. Many loan applications, especially those for an itin loan, are denied each year. To put yourself in the best position for negotiations, you must ensure you get pre-approved before you start to bid. 

3. Shopping Without An Agent

With property sites and online listings at your fingertips, no one would blame you for questioning the use of a real estate agent. That being said, they are incredibly beneficial, saving you time, money, and worry with their knowledge and support. What’s more, it is the seller that pay realtors fees, not the buyer, so there’s no reason why you shouldn’t have a professional at your side. 

4. Underestimating The Full Cost

Unbeknownst to many first-time buyers, a mortgage loan doesn’t actually cover the entire cost of buying a property. There are a number of expenses you’ll need to pay yourself, including a down payment, loan application fees, mortgage insurance, and more. You must ensure you have enough money saved up to cover these costs, or your plans could fall through. 

5. Skipping The Home Inspection

Home inspections, though often costly, are utterly invaluable in your property buying process. Though there’s the chance you’ll pay out for little to nothing, it’s also possible that an inspection will spot a major issue that could have caused you problems later down the line. This allows you to negotiate a better deal or walk away from a bad one. 

6. Settling Out Of Desperation 

The process of finding and buying a house can go on for months, and sometimes even years. This can cause a great deal of frustration, that causes desperate buyers to settle for a home they’re not entirely happy with. Instead of leaving yourself in debt, and with a house you don’t like, you should take a break for a while and start looking again when you feel up to it. 

Buying a property is a major transaction, so ensure you do it right by avoiding the mistakes listed above. 

Keeping Your Family Safe On The Road

When you take your family out on the road, you need to be confident that you know how to keep them all safe. There are some precautions that you can take to ensure that you have done everything possible to keep them safe, and there are also some things that you can do while you are in the car as well. So, let’s take a look at what some of these are.

Picture location

Keep Your Tires Inflated

The first thing that we suggest is to make sure that you are keeping your tires inflated. According to sites similar to https://ericpalacioslaw.com/ underinflated tires could end up causing accidents on the road. We know that this is not something you want, and as such, you should be making sure that your tyres are inflated the correct amount before you set out on your journey. 

If you do this, you will have peace of mind when you are on your journey that you have taken the right precaution by correctly inflating your tires.

Don’t Forget Your Furry Friend

We said keeping your family safe, and your pet is included in this. You need to ensure that you have the measures in place to keep your pet safe while you are traveling. This could be getting a seatbelt clip so that you can strap your dog in safely from their leash. Or it could be putting their bed in the back so that they feel safe on the way, and are not going to move about and hurt themselves. You need to keep your pet in mind here, because you don’t want them to get injured while you are on the road.

Use Child Safety Seats

If your kids are under a certain age, or a certain height, they need to be using child safety seats. These make sure that in the event something does go wrong, your children have an extra layer of protection from harm. You will have to check the specific requirements as they vary from state to state, but making sure that you have one is always going to be a good idea. You might find that your children don’t want to sit in these seats, but it is imperative that they do so that you are not distracted with their safety while you are operating a vehicle. If you are looking for the best child safety seats, then check out this site http://www.madeformums.com.. 

Be Vigilant Near Water

Finally, you need to be vigilant while you are near water. This might sound silly but water is unpredictable and could cause you an issue at any moment. Especially if you are driving by the sea, you need to ensure that you are watching out for slippery roads, or large amounts of water coming towards you. To do this, you need to stay calm, and have no distractions in the car. So make sure that everyone has stopped talking until you are passed it, and don’t have anything on the radio either.

We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now know some of the things that you can do to keep your family safe on the road.

This Is the Year to Get Your Driver's Licence

Photo source

If you’re legally old enough to drive, but don’t have your own licence, this is the year when you should really focus on getting it. Learning to drive can benefit you in so many different ways! Let’s just take a moment to look at some reasons you should book into lessons and finally get behind that wheel.

Driving Really Isn’t That Difficult or Scary

Of course, getting behind the wheel for the first time is bound to be a relatively daunting experience. You’ll find yourself quickly switching from being in the passenger’s seat to suddenly having control over an entire vehicle. But think about this rationally. Look at the sheer number of people who drive on public roads every day. If most people are capable of something, it really can’t be that difficult or complex. When it comes down to it, driving is a simple combination of being aware of how roads work, understanding how to make a vehicle move in the way you want it to, and combining the two things safely. Besides, you’ll have a professional instructor by your side and you can always reach out to HugheyLawFirm.com/sc/charleston-auto-accident-lawyer/ if you do experience any issues on the roads.

Driving Provides You With a Newfound Freedom

One of the main benefits of being able to drive is a newfound sense of freedom. You will be liberating from the timetables and stop locations of public transport. You’ll be able to drive to a wider range of places as and when you please! You can head where you want, when you want, without having to rely on anyone else to get you there.

Driving Can Boost Your Career Potential

It may sound odd, as you’d think that you only need to drive for jobs that require you to drive for a living, such as being a taxi driver. Now, obtaining a licence can open up new career opportunities like that if that’s something you’re interested in. But driving can boost your career potential in other ways too! Nowadays, more and more employers are requesting a full, clean driving licence of applicants. There are various reasons for this. Some may want you to run occasional errands in the company car. Many will simply want to ensure that you can get into work on time without having the excuse of public transport cancellations and delays.

Committing to Something

If you don’t have a hobby, driving lessons encourage you to commit to something productive until you manage to completely master it. You won’t pass your test unless you are fully competent and can be trusted to drive independently on the roads. So, you’re going to have to keep trying again and again if you don’t take your lessons seriously.

So, it’s time to get on it! Check out local driving schools and pick one with good reviews and recommendations. You’ll be steering the wheel of your own car in next to no time!

6 Things You Should Do Before You Even Consider Buying Property

Buying property should not be taken lightly, and yet many people are entering into this expensive and complicated contract just because they believe it’s the ‘done thing’. Being a property owner can be a great feeling, but not if you struggle to keep up with mortgage payments because you’ve bitten off more than you can chew. Let’s take a look at 6 things you should do before you even consider buying property:

1. Check and Improve Your Credit Score

If your credit score isn’t right, you’ll seem unreliable and nobody will want to loan you money. If you’re not sure what state it’s in right now, this isn’t a good start. You can check it for free with Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. Make sure you fix any mistakes and ensure you’re not being penalised for settled/paid debts, as this can happen sometimes. Ensure there are no mistakes and get your credit score in the best possible condition before moving on.

Image

2. Know Exactly What You Can Afford 

If you’re going to buy a property, you need to know exactly what you can afford. Use a reliable calculator online to help you. However, you should remember; just because you’re being offered a certain loan amount doesn’t mean you have to accept the full loan. If you bite off more than you can chew and you end up not being able to pay off your mortgage, you’ll need someone who can help you with law covering real estate to come up with a solution so you can stay in your home. 

3. Have A Healthy Amount In Your Savings

You shouldn’t be living payday to payday, and if you are, banks will not want to give you a mortgage either. You’re going to need money put aside for home fixes and unexpected costs. You don’t want to have to take out a loan or loan money off family every time something happens - and things will happen, it’s just a matter of time. A healthy amount in your savings will give you peace of mind and keep you out of debt. 

4. Research Renting/Buying In Depth

Now, it’s also important to note that buying isn’t for everyone. You should research both renting and buying in depth to figure out what suits your situation best. For some, renting can even be a permanent solution depending on their life goals. 

5. Know Exactly What You Want Out Of A Property

You should know exactly what you want out of a property before you start looking. Knowing what is non-negotiable for you will help you to narrow down your search. You should also remember that if you’re going to live in it, you’re likely going to want completely different things than if you were to buy it and let it out. If letting out a property, you’ll want to consider your target audience. 

6. Think To The Future 

Could your situation change? Do you want kids, a pet, or are likely to move to a far away place with work? Think of every eventuality to make the best decision! 

Gifts Suitable for Acquaintances and Co-Workers

There are often people on your gift giving list that you feel obligated to buy for, but you may not know them on a personal level. This could be co-workers that you do a gift exchange with, a neighbor you appreciate, or the kids’ teachers. You don't want to skip over these people, but what do you buy for them. The following are a few general categories that are appreciated by anyone.

Food

Many people that you need a present for are not close friends. You might not know their personal style or interests, but this doesn't mean you have to skip over them. Food is always a safe option. Consider food gift baskets for neighbors or homemade cookies for your coworkers. Candy and chocolates are also a lovely token of appreciation during the holidays. You will find many boxed sweets available in decorative packaging or collector tins that can become a keepsake.

Candles

A candle is both functional and beautiful. There are several scents and colors to choose from. You will even find layered candles that offer multiple scents in one candle. If you want something truly unique, consider a battery operated candle. They are safe around pets and children, and many include timers.

Christmas Decor

Give Christmas decor to those hard to buy for people on your list. Stick to items that will fit in with a variety of decorating styles. Fresh greens are perfect. A wreath or swag made from fresh cuttings can be used indoors or outside. They have a wonderful scent that immediately reminds one of the holidays, and they are a luxury one doesn't often buy for themselves.

As long as you pick out gifts within these general categories, you will be sure to be purchasing a present that anyone can appreciate. Food is always welcome, and candles will suit a variety of styles and tastes. If all else fails, Christmas decor is a safe option for anyone on your gift list this year.

Top 3 Ways To Make Extra Cash In 2019

https://pixabay.com/en/money-coin-investment-business-2724241/

If you are looking to make some extra cash in 2019, here are some great options…

Binary trading - There is only one place to begin, and this is with binary trading. This is a good option for beginners because you maintain a level of control while minimising your risk. A lot of people want to start trading but they feel confused by all of the options. This is why it is wise to sign up to a platform like this whereby you can use trading signals to make more informed decisions.

Matched betting - How to win at betting is something a lot of people ponder, but most seem to come to the conclusion that it is just a matter of luck. They accept that they are simply going to lose some and they are going to win some. However, what if we told you that you could win every time? You stick £100 on a horse! It is the favourite, all pundits have picked it as their tip for the day, and the rest of the field doesn’t seem competitive. What could go wrong? Well, the horse gets boxed in, and there is no room for it to make a run, leaving another horse free to come and take the victory. You are incredibly frustrated, but what could you have done? You just put it down to being unlucky. However, if you had placed a lay bet on a betting exchange, you could have covered all outcomes. What would have been the point in this? You wouldn’t have won or lost anything. Well, if you had used one of the free bet offers that are provided by all bookmakers today, you would have made a profit. This is known as matched betting, and it is a risk-free betting approach that guarantees a profit. This is the only way to make money betting every time. With a bit of time, you can make in excess of a thousand pound. The only trouble is knowing how to source the free bets and what bets to place.

Affiliate marketing - The third and final way to turn a profit this year and make some extra cash is affiliate marketing. This means you will market a product or service on the behalf of another company. Whenever a sale is made through you, you will receive a percentage of the profit. It is wise to choose a product you believe in. This will increase your chances of success because you will be believable. If you already have a blog up and running, this is an excellent platform to help you get exposure to the product and drive sales through your affiliate link.

So there you have it - three great ways to make extra cash in 2019.

2018: A Year of Challenges

https://www.facebook.com/lessonslearnedinlife/photos/a.109979089073806/2685801398158216/

Dear 2018 Self,

It is the first day of 2019. What are your expectations for this year? I know you have a lot on your mind, but it would be best to reflect on the year that passed. 

It seemed like there were more trials than glories last year. Experience is always the best teacher. To recap your 2018, here are some of those events that made up your year. Hopefully, you take these things to heart to make you wiser and stronger in facing life this 2019.

During the first 11 weeks of 2018, four of your family members were hospitalized.

• Mama: University of Santo Tomas Hospital for Modified Radical Mastectomy of the Left Breast. (Breast CA, Stage 3B)
• Douglas: The Medical City Hospital, for severe pain in lower back
• Bianca: National Kidney Institute for Acute Gastroenteritis
• Heidee: World Citi Medical Center for Hypocalcemia and Hypokalemia

You received fewer offers for writing jobs and paid guest posts. Earning money was a a major concern and opportunities were few. You even seriously considered going back to a regular 9-5 job.

In April, Mama underwent a bone scan. Sadly, there was a metastatic lesion found in her hip bone. 

It was mid-May when your empathy and parenting skills were put to the test. Aton and his girlfriend of 6 years split up. Reason? The girl moved to Australia to study and found herself another man there. It broke your heart to see your grown up son crying. 

In July, your one and only grandson Amo was admitted to the hospital for high fever, diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration. Dengue was ruled out. The pediatrician found out he had a bad throat infection and antibiotics were started.

Enter September. You woke up to the dog barking hysterically and you find your husband on the floor convulsing. For two hours, the seizures went on and on and you did know what to do. You took him to the emergency room of The Medical City Hospital and he was immediately whisked into the Neuro ICU for left sided weakness and decreased sensorium. As if that was not stressful enough, you found so much difficulty asking his health insurance provider to cover for the hospitalization costs. Those 36 days in the hospital were to the most stressful 5 weeks you ever experienced. It was at this time that you learned to pray really hard for a miracle. And you were granted the blessings you fervently asked from God. Thank you, my Lord.

In this same month, Mama had to undergo a second bone scan to check her responsiveness to the treatment plan by her oncologist. Another major setback - the lesion grew in size. Your mother had to do another 6 months of Osteomet.

September brought good things as well. Mickey started training for Hotel Housekeeping. He is hoping that this will be his ticket to land a job on board a cruise liner. Aton seems to have recovered from his failed relationship and has finished the required number of hours for his on-the-job training. He is done with college now. Bachelor of Science in Information Technology. Yay!

October was smooth sailing too. Aton got an offer to work in one of the country's best tech companies. Of course he accepted and his first day will be on December 3rd. Two children now officially a part of the workforce. Yay! Thank you God.

November. Your birthday month and Mother's as well. Despite the pain she is feeling in her hip, your mother still wanted to cook a special dinner for the family. You went over to her house to volunteer with the cooking. A simple, home cooked meal for everyone. Your mother is now 80 years old and it breaks your heart to see her getting weaker day by day.

December. Whew. Finally, we are at the last month of the year. Heidee planned a trip to Mama's hometown in Lipa, Batangas. She wanted Mama to meet up with her cousins and relatives whom she has not seen in many years. It was only a two hour drive from home but that was very exhausting for Mama. It made you happy that Mama enjoyed being in the company of her sisters and cousins again.

Amo celebrated his 3rd birthday on December 6th.  You daughter and son in law decided to take him to Manila Ocean Park. Amo was over the moon happy. He loves fishes and to be that close to them, watching them swim around was an awesome birthday celebration for him. However, on the second week of December, Amo got sick once again. He had a cold and was running a fever. A viral infection, the pediatrician said. He did not feel well until after Christmas.

Your laptop of 5 years "resigned" on the 17th of December. You hoped it was something that could still be repaired, but it was way worse that you expected. Thankfully, your daughter offered her credit card so you could buy a new one. Whew. Relief. Even if the monthly payments are a little pricey, it is still a big relief that you can continue working.

New Year's Eve was not like the years that passed. Mama was not able to prepare a feast for the family to enjoy. She was too weak to do anything, even walking from her bedroom to the living room was a task in itself. My sister and I made sure there was food on the table. A simple meal to mark the occasion of welcoming the New Year.

2018 was a challenging year. With God's Grace, I claim that 2019 will bring better days.

I will be hoping, praying and keeping the faith.

With much love,

Your 2019 Self