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Showing posts with label financial goals. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 09, 2017

OFW That Is Struggling Financially? Maybe You Are Committing These 8 Mistakes!

(Watch:Common OFW Money Mistakes)

There are more than 2.4 million Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in the whole world base on 2015 Survey on Overseas Filipinos according to Philippine Statistics Office.

But with this number, only small portion are financially stable and can return home anytime for good.

According to 2011 study conducted by Social Enterprise Development Partnership Inc., one out of 10 OFWs are financially broke. In addition, eight out of 10 of those who return to the Philippines have no savings.

OFWs are being called as modern-day heroes because of their remittances that keep the Philippine economy afloat. But despite working abroad for many years, few are able to save a substantial amount of income.

But it is a challenge to OFWs on how to handle their own finances and many are struggling financially because of common money mistakes they commit.

If you are an OFWs who is struggling financially, you have to start avoiding these eight money mistakes and aim for financial success and stability, not just for you but also for your family back home.

(Watch:Why some OFWs remain poor despite working abroad)

1. You do not treat savings as expenses

As an OFW, we only save whatever is left on our salary. This is after sending our remittances to our family back home, paying all the bills that we need, such as internet, rent and food allowance.

If nothing is leftover, we have no savings at all.

If you want to break this habit, pay yourself first. Set aside for savings before paying your bills or sending your remittances home. Saving at least 20-30 percent of your monthly income for your future is not bad at all.

2. Failure to define asset versus liability

Because many OFWs fail to define asset versus liability, they often purchase liabilities, which they think is an asset.

Robert Kiyosaki emphasized asset as anything that puts money in your pocket, while liability takes money from your pocket. An asset generally increases its value over time or it has a potential to gain yields in the future.

An example of a good asset is when you purchase a real estate or condo unit that can translate into rental business. However, you need to consider several factors such as the location, time frame of finding a renter, the reputation of the developer, and the payment or financing options before you make the big decision of buying a unit.

3. Get-rich-quick-scheme attitude

This is a very common money mistakes for OFWs. They put their hard-earned money in the wrong kind of investment. Many are being tempted by high returns, even in such a short period of time. You must be cautious when an offer is too good to be true; because unfortunately, it’s probably not true.

In the Bible, here's King Solomon advice in terms of money management, "Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow” (Proverbs 13:11).

(Watch:ANC On The Money: Money Management for OFWs)

4. OFWs as milking cow

Helping your loved ones is the reason why you are working abroad. There is nothing wrong with this. But remember, family back home should not too financially dependent on OFWs just to be always "in" or to keep on trends.

Learn how to say "No", unless it is an emergency that demands financial support. Learn to save for yourself and avoid over-remitting. You will not be a burden to your loved ones when you retire financially stable. Remember, planning for your own future is also one way of helping not just yourself but the family as well.

5. The "nakakahiya" mentality

This mentality can certainly affect your budgeting and ruin your finances. You can avoid or say "No" to a friend, or a relative that comes to see and offer you something.

Sometimes, even OFWs budget is tight, they say "yes" because its "nakakahiyang hindi kumuha o bumili ng mga bagay na ino-ofer sayo"

6. Lack of knowledge how to invest

There are many investment opportunities for OFWs including real estate, trust funds, business ventures, mutual funds, a stock market, bonds, and others. However, they do not invest due to lack of knowledge. On the other hand, some OFWs have the desire to invest but they don't know where and how to start.

I believe financial education should be the first priority of any OFW. Once they have the knowledge, they will be able to put their hard-earned money in the right investment instruments. Furthermore, financial literacy is the best weapon against any form of scam or other related fraudulent investment scheme.

7. Lack of financial goals

Before flying abroad, it is important you have a plan ahead. If you want to buy a house and lot, put up a small business, or help your siblings finish college, you have to set goals. Regardless of the intended number of years working abroad, setting realistic financial goals will put you in a right direction and avoid wasting a great deal of time as you work overseas.

While still receiving a good salary, OFW must take advantage of saving or investing.

8. OFWs have no emergency fund

Another reason why many OFWs are struggling financially because they do not have an emergency fund. When critical illness happens or being laid off from work, they become devastated.

As a result, they are forced to borrow money or loan from friends, or from their company. Due to high interest, OFWs are left in huge debt.

As OFWs, we can avoid these money mistakes so that we can save and invest for future, not just for ourselves but also for our families. Who wants to work abroad for life anyway? OFWs wants to return home as soon as possible and to be with their loved ones.

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Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Tips for OFWs Who Wants to Return Home Earlier

Working abroad is not easy and no Overseas Filipino Workers wants to work abroad for the rest of their lives. Of course, no one wants to be separated with their family and loved ones for a very long time.

Every OFW has a goal to be home for good for the shortest time as possible.

According to Vince Rapisura, president of the Social Enterprise Development Partnership in Rappler's Article, OFWs should make a goal to come back home after a minimum of 10 years.

If you are an OFW who wants to come back to the Philippines in the span of 10 years in working abroad. You might try this three stages of migration process according to Rapisura.

1. The Beginning State

This is the first two years of working abroad. In these years, as OFW you should work on paying off your debts you get to be able to work abroad. For example the money you loan for your plane ticket, processing fees, and others.

2. The Medium Term

Two to three years. During this term, OFW should focus to provide the basic needs of his or her family.

3. The Long Term

Three to five years or the OFW's last year of working. The money you have earned within this year should spend for financial goals. For example, buying a house for a family or open a small business for new income.

Rapisura said, as an OFW you should not wait for 10 years to achieved your financial goal if you can make it earlier.

(Watch:Pesos And Sense Explains: Tips on Saving (OFW)

Here are some tips for OFWs who wants to return home earlier

1. Before going abroad, OFW should set a clear financial goal before leaving.

It means, before flying to other countries for work, it is vital that you and your family understand why you have to leave and what are you trying to achieve.

2. When working abroad. Stick with your goals.

"When they go there, initially they say, 'I only want a tricycle as a business,' and send my children to school.' After 5 years and they've already attained that, the goal would shift somewhere else. Maybe the tricycle is now a jeepney, and sending the children to school is finished and now they want to put up a house," Rapisura explained.

Changing goals is not necessarily a bad thing, but having no definite end-goal contributes to OFWs overstaying abroad.

3. Teach your family to be independent

Rapisura said it is important that the families of OFW understand that reaching financial goals is not the OFW’s burden alone.

The family who left behind should find another source of income and not only depend on remittances of OFWs. Family income at home should be able to cover the needs and expenses of the household.

OFWs income will fund the ultimate financial goals like building a house, opening a business or sending kids to school. By doing so, families not only get to reach their financial goals faster but are also able to maintain their lifestyle. With this, you are helping the OFWs to achieve his goal to come home earlier as expected.

According to Rapisura, many OFWs fail to save because their families suddenly change their lifestyle, ultimately increasing expenses. This happens when the OFW provides them with more than they actually need.

(Watch:ANC On The Money: Money Management for OFWs)

4. Budgeting your money

Only one out of five OFWs has enough savings for emergency despite the claims of OFWs that they actually saved.

Rapisura explained that while OFWs do budgeting, they are just focused mainly on immediate consumption, not on investments or other financial goals.

Rapisura suggest that OFWs should follow the 5-15-20-60 budgeting rule;

5% of the income going to insurance premium

15% to savings

20% to investment

60% to expenses

We all know that budgeting is hard, but as OFWs, we need to do it so that we can spend time with our families and not to grow old in foreign countries. If OFWs can do budgeting effectively, it is not impossible to reach our financial goal faster to return home for good.

SEE MORE:

READ MORE: 5 Money Tips for OFWs + 5 Guidelines on Borrowing Money