Pink October: Breast Cancer Awareness Month

The whole month of October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is the annual raise awareness about the impact of breast cancer celebrated by most countries.

Let's fight against breast cancer! #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth

About Breast Cancer 

Breast Cancer is a disease in which the cells in the breast grow out of control due to cancer that forms in the cells (of the breasts).

Types of Breast cancer:

• Angiosarcoma

•  Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)

•  Inflammatory breast cancer

• Invasive lobular carcinoma

•  Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)

• Male breast cancer

• Paget's disease of the breast

•  Recurrent breast cancer

Signs and symptoms of breast cancer may include:

• A breast lump or thickening that feels different from the surrounding tissue

• Change in the size, shape, or appearance of a breast

• Changes to the skin over the breast, such as dimpling

• A newly inverted nipple

• Peeling, scaling, crusting, or flaking of the pigmented area of skin surrounding the nipple (areola) or breast skin

•  Redness or pitting of the skin over your breast, like the skin of an orange

When to see a doctor

If you find a lump or other change in your breast — even if a recent mammogram was normal — make an appointment with your doctor for prompt evaluation.

Information is taken from: mayoclinic.org

Let's fight against Breast Cancer

In celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I am sharing this beneficial product with my fellow women from Pru Life U.K.. Introducing the PRUHealth Prime - Selected Breast Cancer Extra.

About PRUHealth Prime - Selected Cancer Extra

It is the first breast cancer-specific life insurance product in the market offered by Pru Life U.K., with bite-sized coverage that is affordable and even easy to apply.

PRUHealth Prime- Select Breast Cancer Extra by Pru Life U.K.

(Photo Credits)

Product Features:

Payment term

One-time payment with the option to repurchase up to age 45

Coverage Period

The coverage period is 12 months from the Coverage Start Date

Plan Benefits

Choose between these packages and take advantage of their benefit/s:

A. PRUHealth Prime – Select Breast Cancer Basic

P10,000 Diagnosis Benefit

B. PRUHealth Prime – Select Breast Cancer Extra

P10,000 Diagnosis Benefit

P20,000 Surgical Benefit

Age Requirement and Eligibility:

• Must be female within 25-45 years old at the time of application.

• Must be a Filipino citizen residing in the Philippines at the time of application.

• Must own a credit or debit card (VISA/Mastercard/JCB) or e-wallet (Gcash or GrabPay) under her name.

• Must not have any immediate family members who suffered from breast cancer.

• Must have never been treated or examined for or had and does not have any existing or known indication of tumor or mass, or Breast Cancer.

Information is taken from: prulifeuk.com.

How to avail PRU Health Prime - Selected Cancer Extra

Here's the step by step guide:

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For further assistance, you can contact:

• Winna Mae Lomoljo - Licensed Financial Advisor of Pru Life U.K. 

Mobile Number: 09189176653

• Ronald Danuco - Licensed Financial Advisor of Pru Life U.K. 

Mobile Number: 09088970346

Together, Let's stand in the fight against breast cancer!

“You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and in the manner in which you live.”

– Stuart Scott

Goodbye 2020, Hello To A Financially Stable 2021！

As we welcome a new year, I'd like to congratulate everyone for getting through the very tough year 2020. Congratulations everyone! We all did it.

To start with, allow me to share with you all the three (3) important life lessons I ascertain last year.

1. Savings is important

2.  Relying on only one source of fund is not enough

3. Financial Protection is essential as savings

Why Savings Is Important?

Photo Courtesy to iStock

Having savings is important for many reasons. For instance, savings is important as it would help us protect in the event of any financial emergency we may come along. Also, it would help us avoid debts or even reduce any financial stress.


Why do we need more sources of income?

This question might be off but how many sources of income do you have? Well, the COVID-19 Pandemic is surely a wake-up call that relying on only one source of income isn't ideal at all.

As most of the countries around the globe announced lockdowns in almost all areas, our work and businesses are affected. It resulted in a global crisis, financial losses, and even poverty to some.

Why do we need more than one source of income?

Having more or even another source of income is more like having financial security. It would allow you to have more income streams, and at the same time, if you lost your job, you have a backup that would help you sustain your needs, monthly bills, etc. Financially wise, isn't it?


The Essence of Financial Protection

Photo Courtesy to Portal Financial Planning

What is the goal of financial protection? According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Financial protection is achieved when direct payments are made to obtain health services. Also, it protects people from being exposed to financial hardship and does not threaten living standards.

Same with, if you consider an aircraft without an oxygen mask and life vest dangerous, wouldn't you agree that a life journey without protection is dangerous as well?  That's the essence of Financial Protection. It protects you and your family's income from any life uncertainties.

As Responsible Millennial 

I'm much gleeful that I have come to realize at a very young age (and even before we face this global crisis due to the pandemic) that savings, augmenting income, and even financial protection are paramount to life while living my best life (being able to travel with my partner, buy the things I want and need as well as for my mom and younger sister, finance my younger sister's school fees, etc.). What's my secret and how did I do these all? Well, it's all about mastering the art of balancing your priorities and self-discipline at the same time.

Besides, I am very passionate about encouraging millennials (like me) about the importance of these things because I have seen the beauty of them. Moreover, I would like everyone to have a worry-free financial life and enjoying their retirement.

This photo was taken in the traditional restaurant where
we dined in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. (Haven't read my Vietnam Blog yet?
Click here)

After all, being financially stable is one of the keys to a happy life. Also, I hope for this New Year 2021 everyone would recover from their financial difficulties and find the steps to financial stability pleasurable. Cheers to a happy and abundant 2021! 

“The desire of gold is not for gold. It is for the means of freedom and benefit.”

~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

How about you? What life lessons did 2020 teach you?

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Disclaimer: I am not telling all of these things because I, myself, am a financial advisor. The views and statements are purely my candid thoughts and real-life experience.

The Dark Side Of F.O.M.O.

F. O. M. O. stands for "Fear Of Missing Out". It is a state of being anxious when other people might have a good time without you. Similarly, it is an act of being obsessed with what other people are doing rather than living a life.  

Sounds familiar, isn't it?

The dark side of F.O.M.O

On the negative side, FOMO means wanting to follow what's the trend just to fit in. Be it buying new kinds of stuff, traveling somewhere, or even visiting a newly opened restaurant. Surely, financially speaking FOMO mentality is not ideal in the sense that it might lead to being financially broke or worst deeply in debt.

For instance, your friends would like to travel elsewhere but since you've got the fear of missing out on the fun you'll go even if it means breaking your budget. Is it financially wise? NO!




Best way to overcome

According to the blog of Guy Winch Ph.D., Psychology Today that 40% of us will feel the aching pangs of loneliness at some point in our lives. However, does following the trend to the point of breaking your budget is good? Guess not.



What's the best way of overcoming FOMO?


Here are some of the five (5) tips to overcome FOMO:

1. Understand that you might not be missing out.
Stop overthinking. Being able to skip the fun or being late on the trend at times especially when you're out of the budget is better than always updated yet broke.

2. Avoid over-using social media.
Not all we always see on social media is real. Don't stress yourself out. Live a life that's remarkable and worth sharing with your future self.

3. Don't be too hard on yourself.
Remind yourself that it's okay to say no sometimes. Don't be too hard on yourself, love yourself a little bit more.

4. Consider yourself if you're the cause of your own FOMO.
Have you ever thought that you might be the cause of your own FOMO? Sometimes, our insecurities give us stress and challenge ourselves to keep up with others. Go back to No. 3, and smile.

5. Be OKAY with not being able to do things with friends or other people. 
You can enjoy your own company. Doing things alone sometimes is a lot more fun than depending on what to do with people around you.

After all, the fear of being alone might be hard to overcome. However, you have to remember that you can still enjoy life, be it alone or with other people, without breaking your budget. 
               

“Be happy about your own life and you'll be amazed at just how much more beautiful you'll find it to be.” ― TemitOpe Ibrahim

            

              

              

Travel Tips: How To Travel Conveniently

An awesome view from our hotel the Twin Towers and Menara Tower
at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Click Here for my Malaysia blog)

Is it possible to TRAVEL CONVENIENTLY + SAVE + INVEST? The most common question by many.

The answer is "it's a big YES"..

Here are some simple steps:

(based on experience)

1. Budgeting is the key.

See to it that you allocate your money well to your funds. Needs vs. Wants.

2. Save & INVEST.

Saving is important. Investing right is best. Knowing how to save and let your money grow is wise.

3. Start by protecting your income.

Why? Protecting your income is the basic foundation. Being prepared for any life's uncertainties is perfection.

4. Know your priorities and set your goal.

Travel? Let it be part of your goal not just to travel but to TRAVEL CONVENIENTLY. Allow yourself to book one of your dream airlines (why not?) and let it be a habit to set aside bigger "pocket money" (in that case you can freely buy "pasalubongs" or souvenir with a big smile, being able to shop yourself the things you like on the trip and try the food that you like). Uhmmm . . sort of "self-reward". (Why not?)

According to Sir Richard Burton “The gladdest moment in human life is a departure into unknown lands.” Indeed! Traveling is good but traveling conveniently is more like heaven. 

Where to book a flight?

• Check it here: Click Here 

Let us all together enjoy financial freedom and become

financially wise millennials. ツ

Adulting 101: Let's Talk About Insurance

What is Insurance?

As stated by Julia Kagan in Investopedia, Insurance is a contract, represented by a policy, in which an individual or entity receives financial protection or reimbursement against losses from an insurance company. The company pools clients' risks to make payments more affordable for the insured. 

 

Variable Unit-linked vs. Traditional Life Insurance

Significantly, the statement above clearly stated that insurance has a good benefit. However, the above-mentioned statement was somehow the "old style" or the traditional one. Now, we have what we called as Variable unit-linked insurance, also called variable universal life insurance (VUL). It is a permanent life insurance plus investment. Yes, all in one, in one product. How do VUL works? It provides living, death, and disability benefits with an investment component. Yet, the investment returns may vary depending on the rise and fall of the markets where the premium is invested. Also, if you live beyond your 60s, you can use the investment returns from your VUL plan to fund your retirement. Moreover, as a permanent insurance policy, VUL won’t expire and you’re insured for as long as you keep paying your premiums. This makes it different from the term life insurance, which lasts for only a certain period, typically from 7 to 10 years. In the Philippines, the usual practice is that 5% of the premium goes to the cost of insurance, while 95% goes to investments. 

Importance of Life Insurance

Life Insurance is the basic foundation of your deep pockets. Why? If you lack a foundation in wealth-building you might end up selling all your properties when a single misfortune happens. Be it sickness, accident, or death.

If you have a Life Insurance that is enough to cover your family's financial losses then, whatever may happens your family is secured and your empire is protected. That's how Life Insurance works. Protecting you, your family, and your empire from any catastrophic situation may arise. 

The rule of thumb of Life Insurance

According to Dr. Sanjay Tolani, there is actually a rule of thumb for insurance. Just like how many glasses of water you need to drink on a daily basis.

1. 10 x of annual should go towards LIFE COVER

1. 5 x of income should go towards INCOME PROTECTION

1. 20% of income should go towards RETIREMENT PLANNING

1. 5% of income should go towards KIDS EDUCATION 

For the most part, Life Insurance is the only bill that will make you more money — for your child's education, retirement, etc.

I hope you find this helpful. Thank you, everyone. 

☺

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You can also check this blog for financial wellness ideas/tips: https://responsiblemillennials.blogspot.com/