Budgeting has been quite of a struggle lately ever since Pandemic striked us a year ago. I lost my job and everything seems to be blurry and uncertain.

Kids schooling was challenged as well, my eldest daughter wasn’t able to have their much awaited moving up day. School year switched over from having face to face class to online class only.

My employer advised us that our account will close and was given only 3 weeks to wrap up everything and submit all necessary reports. Government on the other hand announced an Enhance Community Quarantine protocol were no one is allowed to go out except for doing the essentials like grocery shopping or buying medicines.

Everything turned upside down. My mom has just died then and still coping up from losing her. I was quite worried as I don’t have any savings left and no emergency funds to hold onto. I am thinking on where to get funds to pay the bills like electricity, water and internet school tuition fees for the kids, medicine expenses for the husband and our budget for everyday expenses.

Very limited people are allowed to go out to work for those establishments that need manpower like manufacturing companies, food industries, medical front liners. Others are encouraged to work from home.

Glad I was also able to utilise and claim for the loss of income or unemployment benefits as I searched on where to get funds to learn more and be able to pay our debts. I used the funds I received to buy a new set of computer package as I am determined to get a new job.

It took me almost 3 weeks to land a job online ( permament work from home arrangement) thankfully!

Our budgeting style has also changed as we adapt to the challenging economic status of the government and remaining money that we have.

Glad I was able to stumble upon this tips in budgeting: https://www.moneymax.ph/personal-finance/articles/tips-on-saving-money

Below are some of the helpful hacks we’ve learned and apply.

• We have jotted down all our expenses– paper and pencil style and I have created a spreadsheet tracker to avoid overspending.
• Grocery lists – Our grocery trips has been reduced from weekly to bi weekly and ensure that we check and revised according to our needs. We also resort to do some online shopping for some items like buying home equipments, electronics, essentials like facemasks and faceshields that has been part of our budget since Pandemic.
• Paying bills– We switched over from paying it over establishments to enrolling them over online transactions. Saved a lot on time and effort- no need to go out and saved some extra by getting points!
• Travel fare, kids money budget– This has been converted as savings or has been used to allot to pay for internet bills.
• Loans, amortizations– This is always taken into consideration before we splurge into buying wants to keep up paying them on time and avoid paying penalties.
• Online bank accounts– we have created separate accounts for our bills and savings. So we can monitor properly to cash flow.
• Budget for food– This is taking most of our budget, glad that I have a very good cook husband and knows how to budget and make our food menu without sacrificing the quality of the food and healthy for the body!

Since it would take 2-3 more years for this Pandemic to be over, we’ll surely save lot for travelling expenses! No more out of t he country trips for the meantime. We’ll probably do within the country travels or a nearby city trips without sacrificing our money, leisure and health!

Investing at forex trading has a lot of advantages. However, it also brings disadvantages as well. Thus, before making a fix decision towards investing at it, it’s very important to at least know the risks despite of the good factors it can give to you.

Forex trading is among the businesses that are buzzing today. Technology is one of the reasons why these businesses are on top and trending.

When it comes to investing at forex, it’s really essential to be knowledgeable somehow of how forex trading can bring you to success or how it can put you to failure as well. In this way, you will be firm if whatever decisions you may come up with.

Proceed or Not?

One of the important things a person must have in terms of investing to a particular industry is to know the pros and cons of it. In this way, one can prepare of the negative stuff in case he or she may choose to be in the industry despite of its disadvantages. This also applies very much to forex trading.

Know its Advantages

Forex trading offers flowing advantages. This includes the convenience of it overall. Some of it includes the following as well:

• Convenient

–          As technology becomes the superstar of this generation, it also helped various industries to become more productive and convenient just like how forex works now. One can work independently anytime, anywhere just as long as your forex broker is reliable! Indeed, an advantage for those who wants to earn without thinking of any schedule at all.

• 24 Hours Open

–          Among other businesses, forex is one of those who don’t sleep. This is because forex trading is open worldwide and every country has its different time zone.

• Largest Financial Market

–          If you are looking for business related to finance, forex trading may be the best place for you as it is the largest financial market in the world. Average of $3 trillion is traded in it every day. Hence, a good place to invest if you are looking for finance business.

• Helpful Sources are found easily everywhere

–          If you’re new at it, there’s no need to worry as learning more about forex is done in easier way today. With its ongoing buzz about it everyday, more and more helpful sources are published online to educate and give awareness to those individuals who are eager to learn more. Hence, one can really count on it.

Just like other businesses, forex has its own disadvantages as well. But this doesn’t mean of discouraging you. Instead, it is a way of informing people the risks of it that are somehow possible to happen. It is also showed in order for them to know what to do in the future.

Got myself busy computing our bills to pay and it’s really giving me a terrible headache, who wouldn’t when funds aren’t enough to cover all of those bills pending for payment?! Added the fact that we have to line up to the main office since some of them were already past due. I really have to start enrolling my account for online payments like the process one has to go through like mobile apps for the ease and convenience of electronic payments. I should take advantage on the  benefits and wonders of online technology.

The task of budgeting and managing all the household expenses often falls into the hands of the wife. There are less budget worries for couples while families with kids require a little more attention. Parents are willing to make sacrifices for the sake of their children and when it comes to expenses the allotment for kids’ expenditures often takes the most part. From school fees, food, medical and dental expenses, all these necessities should always be a part of the family’s budget.

With this tough economy, being smart will be a great help. Simple tips on how to save money can go a long way. Start by making a list of the family’s needs. Learn how to prioritize and make sure to weigh the options. Switching from brand names toiletries to generic products can promote a lot of savings. Be sure that you are not compromising the family’s health by buying quality foods that are fresh.

Think of ways on how the entire family can have fun without having to spend a lot. Staying at home, cooking together and watching movies can be a good family activity that does not require spending money. You can reward yourself and the family to a nice meal or fun in the mall at least once a month.

Being smart about money does not mean depriving your family with comfort and happiness; you can still have fun and pleasure even on a budget.

Anne is a freelance content writer is also fond of traveling and outdoor adventures.

She enjoys working on a project and sees this as an opportunity to provide readers with information about floor sanding prices.