Switching from Employed to Self Employment

Are you tired of your current job in a company and thinking of having your own business? I’m definitely sure you’re not the first one thinking that. I myself underwent that road. I was a secretary in a real estate company , got burned out, switched to a home based job of transcribing files. Until now, I am still self-employed and never went back to corporate. I’ve been self-employed since 2007.

Photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash

Before anything else, let’s define what self employment means. According to Investopedia, a self-employed individual does not work for a specific employer who pays them a consistent salary or wage. Self-employed individuals, or independent contractors, earn income by contracting with a trade or business directly.

The main thing that stopped me from going back to the corporate world is that I have complete power over my daily schedule. I can do my work any time I please as long as I follow the deadline. As a wife and mom of 2, that is very important because I can tend to my family first and my job second. I can even start working once my kids are already sleeping. My son, who was a toddler at the time, who suffers from allergic rhinitis needs to be tended most of the time. Thanks to allergists like Dr. Summit Shah who has a website about allergies, I can get some tidbits and information about it online.  Working at home does have its ups and downs, but having total control of my time is something I don’t want to let go of.

You do have options when you want to pursue self-employment. Like me, you can offer your services to people online be it consulting services, food, or other services. You also can opt to start your own business like what my old boss did. She used to be a tax lawyer in the same real estate company I worked in and then later on, she decided to start her own firm.

 Am I earning enough for myself? Well, currently, I am earning as much as the amount I was paid for during my starting years as a secretary so I guess I am earning just enough – enough to sustain my family’s every day needs. My husband also helps to pay other bills.

Being self-employed means you have also have to take care of your taxes and your insurance personally. When it comes to loans, I haven’t yet personally applied for any self-employment loans, but I did apply for one when I was still employed. All it took was to open a checking account, an employment certificate, and a photocopy of our company’s ID. For self employed loans, I think it’s not that too hard also nowadays because one of my closest relatives was able to apply for a self-employment loan with minimal requirements (2 Valid IDs), but this isn’t from a bank, but from Home Credit, a local lending app. I’m just happy to know that there are plenty of lending institutions that are easy to talk to when you are in need of cash regardless of your reason.

I can talk forever about being self-employed, but I have to end this article right here. If you still have doubts about your current working situation, reflect on this question: Do you see yourself working in the same company in 5 or 10 years later?

For questions/comments, please feel free to ask them at the comment section below.    

When To File A Personal Injury Claim

Photo by Takahiro Taguchi on Unsplash 

One of the worst things that can happen to you or to someone you love is having an accident, and to be specific, personal injury. Thankfully, I haven't yet experienced this and hopefully will never will. But whenever I hear this topic, the movie, "Erin Brockovich" comes to mind because the movie basically starts with the protagonist (Erin) having involved in a road accident and then a law suit followed. 

So since I used Erin Brockovich's road accident as an example, let's focus on that topic. Before you go to court, what do you do when you get a personal injury? 

First of all, you have to ask yourself, "Am I hurt? Is someone else hurt after the accident?" If there was no one hurt, or there was no damage to you (no broken bones or potentially lingering injuries that cause you to miss more than a couple days of work), then it may not be worthwhile pursuing a personal injury claim. But if you are inside the vehicle at the time of accident, be sure to go to the doctor to have you checked up and hear from the doctor himself/herself that you are fine and clear of any risk. 

On the other hand, if one or more of the following happens to you, then it's time to look for an attorney: 

Broken bones/hospital stay/long-term health affected

Someone died in the accident

Expensive medical treatment costing more than a couple thousand dollars

Missing more than a couple days work, school, or normal activities due to the accident

Non-economic losses like emotional trauma, pain and suffering, loss of companionship

There is dispute over whose fault the accident was (which what happened in the EB movie)

Multiple people were harmed in the accident

The accident took place in a construction zone or other questionable areas

The paperwork does not look accurate (police report, insurance communications, etc.)

Details are complicated (technical, legal, medical, etc.)

The insurance company is making life difficult for you or not playing nice.

So you've decided to hire an attorney for your personal injury claim, what will happen next?

According to an article from Kinney, Fernandez & Boire's website, once the client finds the right lawyer, they should meet to discuss their case, after which it will be time to file the lawsuit. Doing so involves submitting paperwork and paying specific court fees. Additionally, the client will work with their attorney to determine the compensation that they are pursuing in their lawsuit. Establishing a number should be based on the facts of the case, and help set realistic expectations. For instance, suing someone for $1 million in damages due to a personal injury caused by another person’s negligence is sensible if the facts support such an estimate.

Are there other instances where personal injury claim falls under?

Yes and another instance would be allergies, which covers the food and beverage industry (e.g. restaurants). For example, you are allergic to peanuts. You decided to eat in a restaurant and you ordered a tuna sandwich because the menu didn't say that it has peanuts in it or there weren't any allergen warnings.  If you had an allergic reaction after eating the sandwich you ordered, then it's time to look for an attorney to help you with the case. In some cases, you may also need an allergy specialist for a consult and Dr. Summit Shah is a well-known allergist in the Ohio state. You may also check ACAAI's website to look for an allergist near your area. 

Drinking Beer Can Be Good For You

Photo by Paloma A. on Unsplash

Back in the early days, whenever I hear the word, beer, or any alcoholic beverages, it was always marked in my mind that "beer" is always associated with something negative like gambling, smoking, and the like. But as I grew older (like at the age of 23) and started working in the office, workmates would invite me to after-office gatherings where beer was present. Then I realized beer wasn't as bad as I thought. It's only bad when you had too much of it. As long as you drink it in moderation, the party can be fun and the conversation can be more interesting. 

According to Wikipedia, beer is one of the oldest drinks humans have produced, dating back to at least the 5th millennium BC in Iraq, and was recorded in the written history of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia and spread throughout the world. Throughout the years, it has evolved into different types and different flavors, which is probably why it's still existent today. 

Benefits of Beer

Not only did I realize that drinking moderately can do no harm to you, but beer can also be good for you according to recent studies. According to an article from Everydayhealth.com, here some benefits of beer: 

1. Beer helps fight inflammation. Inflammation in the body is the underlying cause behind many diseases, and hops (an essential ingredient in beer) has anti-inflammatory properties. The researchers (Molecular Nutrition and Food Research.) compared the anti-inflammatory effect of different hops and found that the consumption of hops in beer form interfered with inflammation causing compounds. I personally am not sure if this is true because I get skin flushing whenever I drink beer, but my husband apparently is totally fine so I guess it just depends on people's alcohol tolerance. 
   
   
2. Beer Aids Digestion. Bitter acids in beer may also improve digestion.  The more bitter acids a brew contained, the greater the response. Gastric acid is key for both digesting food in the stomach and controlling the growth of dangerous gut bacteria. To my personal experience, my stomach does feel a little lighter whenever I drink beer after eating a heavy meal, usually during gatherings or parties. It also comes with frequent visits to the restroom to pee. 
   
   
3. Beer is Good for the Heart. Many studies have found a 25 percent lower risk of heart disease in people who drink from one-half to two drinks daily, compared to abstainers. And alcoholic beverages that are rich in polyphenols (like beer)  may be especially good for the heart. I did try drinking a bottle of beer before sleeping and it does help me relax and gives me a good night's sleep. When I wake up, I literally feel like I slept like a baby.

Due to the benefits of beer and how it makes its consumers happy, the beer industry continues to boom over time. Thanks to social awareness, beer giants like Asia Brewery and Melvin Brewing, just to name a few, also gives back to society by offering scholarships to students who need financial assistance. So I guess another benefit of drinking beer if you purchase from the mentioned companies is that you also help students with their financing. It's a win-win for all of us! 

Just remember, beer does have its benefits, but it also has its cons, so the best way to solve it is to drink moderately, and don't drink and drive! 

FastJobs Hosts a Mini Job Fair and Free Seminar "For The Riders"

As the partner of every blue-collar worker, FastJobs Philippines’ fastest growing online jobs portal - held a mini job fair and free seminar “For the Riders,” last June 28, 2019, at the San Juan Gymnasium.

“For the Riders” provided an avenue for delivery service providers (riders) to seek new job opportunities, especially those affected by the suspension of one of the on-demand groceries startup in the Philippines.

The Importance of Having a Hobby

I am currently 38 years old, married with 2 young kids. I am also very busy with my home-based work so I barely have time to do anything for myself. When people ask me what are my hobbies, I simply say, “Sleep. I love sleeping.” Of course, it’s a joke, but at the same time, there is seriousness that follows it because I am deprived of sleep and I believe a lot of people can relate to this. But kidding aside, is it that important to have a hobby in your life even with middle aged women like me?

Why is a Hobby Important? 

According to an article from C & T Publishing, having a hobby is a remedy that help improve one’s mental health. Hobbies can get your mind active, and get you social—but the real benefit to most people is the boost to overall mental wellness. No matter what sort of mental issue you’re struggling with, there’s a good chance that throwing yourself into a hobby—such as quilting—will have a positive effect. In my case, if I don't get that stress or anger out, I might take it out on my family which I really want to avoid. I might scream at my kids or scream at my husband which is the worst thing I could do actually, so having a hobby can help avoid that. 

In this day of age, people are trying to boost the awareness of the importance of mental health.  Nowadays, stress is one of the leading causes of mental health problems. According to Mayo Clinic, stress symptoms can affect your body, your thoughts and feelings, and your behavior. Being able to recognize common stress symptoms can help you manage them. Stress that's left unchecked can contribute to many health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and diabetes.

What Hobbies Are Available Out There

Now that we have tackled the importance of mental health and how a hobby can help improve it, the next question is what hobbies are available for us to do. I mean what are the choices out there? I have browsed through the internet and here are some hobbies that I thought were very interesting:

Outdoors

-          Bowling

-          Camping

-          Photography

Indoors

-          Blogging/Writing

-          Caligraphy

-          Knitting

-          Having a collection

-          Painting

The mentioned hobbies were a bit on the lighter side because I don’t have an active lifestyle. But for those who love it hardcore, then I found the following hobbies for you:

Outdoors

-          Fun run / marathons

-          Swimming

-          Tennis

-          Basketball/Volleyball

Indoors

-          Badminton

-          Karate-do

The list is, of course, too short for you to explore. There are sites that you can check out so you can have a broader idea of what hobbies are available for you such as Hobby Jam.

Blogging/Writing is My Hobby

As for me, I wasn’t aware that blogging was considered a hobby so I guess I can safely say that whenever someone asks me what my hobbies are, I can simply answer blogging. Blogging helps me clear my head and helps me express myself in a positive way. Whenever I’m stressed from work or from home, I get that eagerness to write about something. Sometimes, when I know that what I wrote about is all negative, I simply don’t publish it. I simply just let all my anger out, write all the things I want to say, and then delete it afterwards. It really helps for me. I tried saving a file or two  and then I read some of them again, and you know what? It was all meaningless. Sometimes I can’t even form a decent sentence because I was just too angry.  I would think, “Did I write this? What the hell was wrong with me?” So that’s when I decided that after I write stuff like those, would simply delete them so I don’t have to think about the why’s and how’s of it.

HIS and HERS: Good Things Come in Pairs

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Introducing 2 gift ideas that fit couples of all forms and are guaranteed to be loved and used by your favorite duo. These gifts are perfect for couples who share the same passion to couples celebrating major milestones together such as engagement, housewarming, and anniversary to name a few.

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HIS: NOVUHAIR Herbal Shampoo (free) Chemical-based shampoos contain ingredients that may seem to clean the hair but does not preserve its natural texture. These harsh chemicals strip off the hair’s natural protective layer making it more prone to damage. A good herbal shampoo like NOVUHAIR herbal shampoo may help leave a stronger, healthier-looking hair and aid in preventing excessive hair shedding which may lead to hair loss. This will be a healthier alternative for him. 

NOVUHAIR 3-IN-1 PLUS 1 PROMO PACK contains one 200mL. Bottle each of the Topical Scalp Lotion, Herbal Shampoo and Herbal Conditioner plus another extra 200ml. bottle of NOVUHAIR Herbal Shampoo for FREE exclusively available at participating Mercury Drug stores nationwide. Without being too cheesy, these couple gifts are fun and surprising, a perfect way to express how much you value their gift of friendship - a gift that may keep them both well-groomed and well-protected. It may not be the best gift in the world but it’s the thought that really counts, agree? Anyways, that’s what friends are for. 

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When Do I Know It's Time for an Exterior Home Improvement

Photo by rawpixel.com from Pexels

Have you been living in your house for more than 5, 10, or even 15 years already? Do you feel like your house already needs a renovation, but you just keep telling yourself that maybe it’s not the right time yet because you just don’t have the free time yet for it or you don’t have the budget yet, or maybe your significant other says it’s too early yet?

First of all, for those who are confused on what home improvement means, according to Wikipedia, the concept of home improvement, home renovation, or remodeling is the process of renovating or making additions to one's home. Home improvement can consist of projects that upgrade an existing home interior (such as electrical and plumbing), exterior (masonry, concrete, siding, roofing), or other improvements to the property (i.e. garden work or garage maintenance/additions).

Check The Roof

The roof is on fire! Just kidding! One of the most common exterior renovations that I see in our neighborhood is the roofing. Checking our roof once in a while is very important and it is advisable to check it especially before the rainy season. Because if you’re not careful, one rainy night, you might find some leaks on your ceiling which is unpleasant and inconvenient.

Before you call your friendly neighbor and ask him a favor to fix your roof, the first thing to look at is your documentation. Do you have all of the paperwork you need because maybe your roof still reaches the warranty period so you don't have to pay much. Do you have the names and contact numbers of the companies that have been involved with the roof’s installation such as previous inspectors, roofing contractors, architects, manufacturer technical services? You should have a copy of all the repair orders and the results of the repairs made. Finally, there should be a roof plan, drawn to scale, that not only shows all the equipment on the roof, but also the locations of any leaks and any repairs made. 

Aside from the roof, the walls and glazing should not be overlooked. Most often, leaks from wall, sealant and window failures are disguised as "roof" leaks. Look for cracks and water stains that may be symptomatic of problems in these areas. The worst offenders are pipes, conduit and other penetrations through the walls. Too often these are left unsealed, especially when they are installed as retrofits.

Check the Walls

Okay, I don’t want to focus on the roofing too much. Let’s talk about the exterior walls. Sometimes, it’s easier to spot imperfections on your exterior walls because they’re too obvious. But do we really have to wait and see for the imperfections such as cracks and stains before we can repaint our walls? How often do we have to repaint our walls? According to wow1day.com, there is no timeline for all, since every home is different. There are some rough guidelines you can follow, but there are several factors that can change the timing pretty drastically. For example, for wood siding, it’s every 3 to 7 years, or every 4 years if it’s stained. If the wood itself seems insecure, then it’s time to call the lumber company like the Decks & Docks Lumber Company and get some fresh new wood. 

Exterior painting is a pretty big job, so it’s always best to hire professional painters. I know it’s an expensive task, but if you can afford it, see it as an investment for  having a great home.  It’s the best way to ensure you’ll get a quality paint job that will last for years.

I think even a book is not enough to discuss things about home improvement so I’ll just end it here for now. If you have further questions/suggestions/comments, please leave them in the comments section below.