Blog
Doctor death sentence
American dream

How One Guy Turned a Doctor’s Death Sentence Into a Multi-Million Dollar Business

My RN wife recently attended her college reunion in Dallas, Texas. As you probably know, Filipino nurses have been on America’s front lines during the pandemic. Now that the pandemic is behind us, they all need a well-deserved break— my wife and all her contemporaries included. So when she asked …

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Crazy Cheap Asian
Lifestyle
2

Crazy Cheap Asian: My Solo Trip to Singapore for Cheap

If you’re too gullible, it’s easy to be misled by the movie, “Crazy Rich Asians,” the first Hollywood movie with an all-Asian cast since Disney made “The Joy Luck Club” in 1993. Shot mostly in Singapore, a thriving city-state in Southeast Asia, it features jet-setting, Prada-wearing social butterflies flaunting their …

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Cars that I've driven
Credit
2

Cars that I’ve Driven and the Lessons that I Learned from Them

Image credit: Rugged Motorbike Jeans | Kevlar Pants Biker Jeans Rider Denim I’ve been seriously contemplating buying a new to us car this year. But then I learned about the new Prius 2023 and how handsome it looks. It is tempting to splurge on a brand-new one this year. Now …

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Why you probably want to track your spending
Spending

Why You Probably Want to Track Your Spending

I came to America in 1997 with only $500 in my pocket. It was a grueling 20-hour flight from Manila to Philadelphia. Coming from a third-world country, I thought that was a lot of money. So, midway through the flight, I bought a $100 Swiss leather watch, which I justified …

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Power of compounding continues to amaze me
Investing

The Power of Compounding Continues to Amaze Me

Let’s say you’ve saved Warren Buffett’s cat from falling into a ditch. Extremely grateful, he offered a reward that lets you pick between two options: Which option would you pick? Option 1 or Option 2? If you picked the first option, congratulations, you’re $3,000,000 richer: But then, you just short-changed …

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Why you probably don't want to trade options
Investing

Why You Probably Don’t Want to Trade Options

When the market is moving haywire, many DIY investors are tempted to be more creative with their investments. So, they resort to strategies that will likely ruin their portfolios: day trading, buying on margin, short selling, etc., instead of sticking to the proven, slow-and-steady, or buy-and-hold approach to investing. One such strategy …

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why_no_bad_time_to_invest
Investing
2

Why There’s No “Bad” Time to Invest

Many newbie investors have second thoughts about investing their hard-earned money in the stock market, which is completely understandable. But some ask silly questions like, “Should I invest now or wait for the bottom?” And I’m like, “Good luck finding the bottom!” The truth is, whether you invest at the …

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Retirement
4

Why Work ‘Til You Drop When You Can Retire Early in the Philippines?

For many Americans, retiring early in the USA is a lost dream. Sure, staying within your comfort zone has certain advantages: established social connections, proximity to family and friends, and the local culture. But the cost of living— with rising housing, taxes, and healthcare costs— could potentially deplete your retirement …

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Net worth update
Financial Planning
2

Net Worth Update: Six Years Later

Once again, it’s Labor Day– the day I “brag” about the fruits of my labor. Except there’s nothing to brag about this year. Our investments have been hammered like cryogenically frozen horse meat you badly want to barbecue. As a result, our household net worth is down for the first …

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Keep it simple, Sister!
Investing
2

Keep it Simple, Sister! KI$$ Investing for Millionaire Dummies

One reason why this blog will never achieve mainstream is I couldn’t share it with my family or friends. How could I when I’ve been blogging about the intimate details of my finances— and theirs too! I first blogged about my sister’s finances in 2017 when she had a net …

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