Aside from blogging, I’m also into digital designing. Been designing since 2007 and I’m loving it. Just last August 2011, I bought a new HP desktop for I want a bigger screen when I’m designing my digital scrapbooking kit. My laptop’s screen and speed can’t keep up with my designing needs so I decided to get a new desktop that I can use here at home.

I love HP brand so I bought the same brand in GH. Luckily, it was on sale and along with that I got a free speaker and HP printer. I must say that HP products are durable and performs well. Been using the printer since August and I’m quite surprised that it still has a toner up to now. When the time comes the ink will run out, I know I will get an original toner cartridges to maintain the performance of my printer. With the looks of it, I guess the printer is toner saver and I got my money’s worth already.

Hey everyone, how’s your holidays and 2012 so far?

The holidays are just too busy for most of us and I guess we’re all ok now that new year has started. 2011 is pretty good for me and I hope 2012 brings more luck and good things for all of us. I’m just praying so hard that no more disaster where hundreds of people will die just like what happened in the Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City tragedy last December. It’s just so heartbreaking to see their condition in the news and to hear all the sad stories.

May the Lord bless us and like everyone are saying, there’s new trials and challenges but we need to be ready to face them for all problems will have a solution. We need to trust in the Lord for He has the almighty power to give all the blessings and the healing that we all need.

Happy new year everyone!

Image via Wikipedia

There are few times in life more exciting than when you leave home to attend college and begin your career. This is a time of freedom that is unmatched in any other time of life. After you begin work and find a partner, the rest of life seems to be set for you. But this is a time that you can learn, grow and enjoy everything that life has to offer. The only little down side seems to be getting a grasp on your finances.

Learning to Set a Budget

Life isn’t as easy as many moms and dads make it look, because they’ve had two or three decades more experience than you. But many of the things they’re telling you are right. You need to set a reasonable budget and learn to stick to it. In time, you will build savings and credit. Until then, you have to learn to do without a few things you’d really like. When an emergency creeps up, use options like Mobiloans to get your life back on track.

How to Make a Budget

Figure up your net pay. This is how much you bring home each paycheck after taxes, insurance and other deductions. Then add up all of your monthly expenses. List the most important things first. Subtract what you have to have to live each month from what you earn, and this is the money you have to use at your discretion.

Using Discretionary Money

You probably have a lot of things you need and even more things that you want. Make a list of your priorities and spend your extra money where it really counts. It may be worth it to you to skip eating out and spend your money on art supplies or car parts. This is part of being an adult, and there is nothing wrong with making sacrifices in one area to enjoy another, as long as the bills are paid and you are eating regular meals.

Image by stevendepolo via Flickr

In the Long Run

It is important to remember that the freedom of this time of your life does come with a price tag. It takes time and experience to build wealth. Set a small amount of money aside each week to build a savings account. Use credit wisely and don’t take on a monthly car payment or high rent payment that you aren’t going to be able to make. Above all, be patient. Your parents probably didn’t own a home the day they graduated, either.

Last December, I guess most of us spent the days attending family reunions and get together of friends and other relatives. Yearly, our highschool batch is having an annual Christmas get together in one of our batch’s house. Last year, eventhough we are few in numbers, the laughter and the bonding is incomparable. All of us enjoyed talking about our highschool days wherein we can’t help but to burst into laughter at times. It’s also good to know the status of our lives. Some are stay-at-home moms, others are business people while others are professionals. One batch mate is a doctor, others are nurses, while others are dentists.

Just in time, I need to have my teeth fixed and I wanted to try her service this year. I heard she has lots of clients among our batchmates and soon I’ll be her client too. I bet she worked hard to be a dentist and I guess she also dreamed of being in the Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon Jobs too.

Another batchmate who is a nurse came home from the US for her Christmas vacation and this month, we’ll be meeting her and her family. I just home I can come for she was my friend back in highschool too.