A personal finance expert not

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EITHER I've begun to take blogging way too seriously or I'm under the illusion that I could be a blogger extraordinaire. Truth is, I simply want to write. But I keep forgetting why I've joined millions of others in the blogosphere.

If you've noticed the past couple of weeks I carried in my Sidebar a link to Money Hacker, a network of personal finance blogs that aim to teach people financial literacy. Of course, the network didn't bother to reply. I can't recall what exactly went on in my head when I applied for membership in the network. But I surmise I did it on the belief that I could teach people how to handle their money. And I even had the gall to write in my header that this is a personal finance blog.

Bollocks.

It took me nearly two decades to begin sinking my money in what I've always wanted: A house. Just because I've made the first step doesn't qualify me for the ranks of the financially sophisticated. In fact, the years leading to that last mortgage payment is laden with uncertainty. What if I lose my job? Knock on wood.

And so today I come back down to Earth, back to being just another mathematically challenged home buyer who writes to make 10-15 years of monthly mortgage payments more bearable. Keeping a private journal is all I really need. In no way does blogging bring me any inch closer to my financial goals. Can't stop blogging though. It doesn't earn money, but it does help my mind retain a big picture of wealth.

Clueless in cyberspace

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Call me clueless. Surprised to learn there are thousands of Pinoy expats who've occupied some good spots in blogosphere. And quite popular, to boot. Which gives me a bit of a push to blog on as I plod on with my work that I count on to pay for the condo unit that's been occupying me for more than a month now.

I've been wondering how much rubbish I'm depositing on the Net, talking about my personal goal and what I do to keep myself on track. If it's rubbish, then I'm not the only one. Got to contribute to the making of a mega mural made of rubbish on cyberspace. Lol. Forgive the negative language.

Some of them dish out interesting reads. Lost track of time one afternoon after hopping from one Pinoy expat blog to another, from Canada to Kuwait to Korea to Germany. Others are drowning in mushy stuff and pestering pontifications about how important we Pinoy expats are to the Philippine economy. Yahdah.

Point is: I'm here and let's see how long I can sustain this new-found diversion. You think I'm wasting my time on blogosphere?

Anyway, gotta look for the Energizer guy.

::: For this entry, I drew inspiration from the lively pages of these folks:
pininggapura
Culture something in Singapore
Kabayan Junction
In Germany, confessions
Brgy OFW -- what a name, sweet
Pinay sa Korea
Girl in Canada
Pangit in the States

::: First time to visit this blog? You'll get a better grasp of what all this rubbish is about if you check out my first few posts:
See if I made a purchase on impulse
Poor guy signs a cheque for 4million ++ pesos

There's no money in blogging

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So why should I keep doing this? Or am I wrong? Or maybe I've to remind myself what this is all about.

When I started this blog, I had no idea what positive contribution this would have on keeping myself on my toes in meeting my commitments to paying for the house that I bought in late November 2008. Today I still have no idea about how this could possibly be anything that would contribute in any way to my goal. The only thing I'm quite certain of right now is that this has helped me always bear in mind that I've made a serious commitment.

I don't know what it is about writing that makes me think it can help me maintain my direction. But so far, I can say that each time I write an entry I feel that it helps me to focus on my goal -- to finish paying for the condominium unit that I bought, and pay it in a shorter time than the financing scheme has alloted.

For one, it has kept me extremely aware of little things that I do that earn extra money that I could load into my bank account and keep the checking account sufficiently loaded and avoid bouncing cheques. I've been writing technical reports on the side to augment my regular income and that's the only thing I can do right now to earn extra. It takes a lot of discipline though to produce those reports and I've promised to write about it from time to time if only to remind me that there are extra tasks that I need to do to keep the family financially liquid.

There's one other thing that I clearly see as a positive result of starting condoko. It has encouraged me to spend a little more extra time surfing the Net for information that may help me understand my finances and my investment. And, oh boy, what an abundance of websites we have that con people to believe that they are the credible sources of information for people who have money to invest. Almost everybody turns out to be paid by this and that developer to endorse their projects. But there are websites that are truly meant to help readers educate themselves about investing. I've started a list of these sites and I will continue to add more to this list and I do hope others who stumble upon this blog will find it useful as well.

Now I'm surprising myself. Turns out I want to be a neighbourly Netizen. Lol. Is there such a thing? Being nasty to others seems to be more enjoyable on the Net these days.

To be continued
(Next: Loneliest blogger)
Back to Home
::: First time to visit this blog? You'll have a better idea of what this blabber is all about if you click on previous entries below.

• I bought a house
• A cheque for 4million ++ pesos
  

::: btw, i found very good and some interesting reads on these sites.