Using a Spreadsheet Application as Payroll Program?

I am quite surprised about this one though although I know a free spreadsheet application can be used in variety of useful ways, and yes I think it can be a good software to use as a payroll program but maybe for a small company but not on a large one.

Well I went to this organization (I'm not gonna reveal the name though) with my friend who's working at the finance department of the organization. As we pass by some of his office mate, I immediately notice that they are using a free spread sheet application in their payroll computation. Although I know it can be done, but I think it is rather risky, and maybe a little time consuming.

I ask my friend why they are using that free spread sheet application and not buy payroll software programs, he just said that some of the old employees are already satisfied using that spread sheet application and that buying a software would mean another period of adjustment while some are afraid that having a new software would mean a cut off of employee and other reason is budget. Well I can't argue about them on this, but for me it is better to buy a payroll software program, I think data would be more secure, work would be much faster.

Lunch at Hukad inside Abreeza Mall Davao City

Grandpa invited us to have lunch at Abreeza mall yesterday, he wants to show us a place where he had previously eaten. He had all praises for the place because of its delicious foods. The place he was referring to is Hukad which was located at the 2nd floor of Abreeza mall, not much familiar yet with the exact place in the second floor so if you ever decided to go there, just ask around.

The place is not that big though but the waiters and waitress are very accommodating. We only ordered a few foods, I hope we had ordered more because the food was (and my father was right) DELICIOUS, to be exact lutong pinoy and on top of that unlimited rice!!!! that alone my friend is a big YES for me hahahahahaha. Here are photos of the place and some of our orders.

Hukad sa Golden Cowrie

Accommodating staff (rice please hehehehe)

Some of our orders Cebuano Kinilaw, Bicol Express, Blue Marlin, Chicken Barbecue, Sago at Gulaman.

The Sto. Niño Gospel and The Sacramentary Book Cover in The Museum of Transfiguration Monastery at Malaybalay Bukidnon

I had to divide this into several post because there are plenty of nice exhibits found at The Museum of Transfiguration Monastery. Two of them would be the Sto. Niño Gospel Book Cover and the Sacramentary Book Cover.

The Sto. Niño Gospel Book Cover. This single item in the collection embodies the weaving and embroidery traditions of the whole Philippines. The base is of abaca woven by the B'laan tribe in Mindanao using guava leaves as dye to achieve a caramel beige color. The image of the Sto. Niño (Holy Child) is embroidered on banana-seda (abaca-silk blend) woven in Kalibo, Aklan. "Needle painting" embroidery of the Sto. Niño was done in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo, also in the Visayas, while the braided border of the medallion and the thread for the sunburst design were made by the Ifugao of Northern Luzon, of hand-rolled fiber from the bark of a tree. The gold embroidery, a craft learned from the Spanish, was done by the "bordadoras" in Manila while the seed pearls used for ornamentation came from Zamboanga.

Sacramentary book cover of hand woven abaca made by the B'laan of Mindanao. The braided border of the medallion and the thread for the sunburst design were made by the Ifugao of Northern Luzon, of hand-rolled fiber from the bark of a tree. The gold embroidery, a craft learned from the Spanish, was done by the "bordadoras" in Manila whilewhile the seed pearls used for ornamentation came from Zamboanga.

Transfiguration Monastery at Malaybalay Bukidnon

The Transfiguration Church in Malaybalay Bukidnon is a breath taking site if you ever had the time to visit Bukidnon. The design is unique, the pyramid shape makes the place inside cool because the ceiling is high. Wedding celebration would be great here, I mean the place is solemn, no noise coming from passing cars, unlike churches in the city proper. Here's some photos of this excellent place.

Insurance 101: Check Background of Both Company and Insurance Agent

Scout for financially stable company that will still be in existence when your child enters college, for example. Due to downtrend in investment yields, most companies recently became hard pressed to meet future obligations, leading to a local pre-need crisis that happened in 2005.

Also, avoid agent who is more concerned with making a sale rather than looking after your benefits and needs. if an agent comes to you pushing a product without even knowing what you really need, stay away from him.

TIP: Compare products and companies to get good value, but premium cost should not be your sole barometer. A more stable insurer will usually charge a higher premium.

To know the financial strength of a company, check independent rating agencies like Moody's Standard and Poor's at standardandpoors.com.

To know if your agent carries certain distinctions earned through classes or examinations, ask if they are registered financial planners or under Life Underwriting Training Council Fellow. Go also for those who have excellent record on after sales service.

On choosing between pre-need firms or insurance companies. Pre-need companies owned by large insurance companies would be very stable, as they are usually run by the same management teams and follow strict internal guidelines.

Insurance 101: Calculate Your Family's need and Paying Capacity

Know first how much insurance coverage your family needs and can afford. Rather than looking for a product first, determining your need should be the priority. Buy something you can afford so paying modes and options can be aligned with budgetary concerns, because a lapsed insurance policy is a waste of good money. In short, if you don't pay the premium on time, you stand to forfeit your policy.

Ideally, coverage is the amount that will allow your dependents to still live the same lifestyle without touching the principal of your investment.

TIP: Get a calculator and compute your current annual household expenses, assets, debts and other sources of income. It's handy to have your checkbook, credit card statements, and last year's tax return around. You can also check with a financial advisor to assess your family's need and paying capacity.

Simple tips to Organize Your Kitchen

Be more efficient with meal preps with these tricks:

• Place dry goods including milk powder, flour and sugar in clear plastic containers so you'll know when supplies are dipping low.

• Clear the counter so you won't have to move stuff around while cooking.

• Stow away rarely used appliances in the gap between the cabinet top and ceiling.

• Pack and put away anything unused in the last six to 12 moths. Donate or give away anything untouched for more than a year.

• Invest in drawer dividers to organize items and locate them faster.

• Add a bookcase or dresser, wheeled cabinets or rolling metal racks for extra storage.

Home Office Do's and Don'ts

If you intend to give up a real office to work at home. Here are tips for doing it right.

• Pick a conductive work area. Setting up shop in the bedroom or kitchen won't work. The best choice is a room with a door to serve exclusively as your home office, even if it's just a small storage space at the back of the house.

• Establish house rules. Set down office hours and a don't disturb if it's not an emergency policy, and have everyone observe it (or at least try to).

• Avoid distractions. Lock the door and wear earplugs if needed to drown out the sound of the TV set, the phone ringing or the doorbell chiming (unless it's the kids clubbing each other). The optimal time to work: between 12 midnight and 4 a.m.

• Dress up for work. Adopt your corporate routine - take a bath and put on proper office attire. Not bothering to change your duster will send the message that you're not taking your work seriously.
  

Money Management Secret of the Millionaire

Who doesn't want to be rich? of course almost all people want to be rich, me including. So how do we get rich? well its nice to know a thing or two from those who are rich themselves and to know their secret on how to be one. We might think millionaires have it lucky. Check out their answer below and find out some of their secrets:

• Start early to avoid financial pitfalls. Adrian Cartwood, 49, author of the blog, How to Make Million in 7 Years, lived frugally while building his technology related business. He said, "Learn how to live within your means and how to delay gratification; there are the habits that you need to maintain on the way up, so you can keep your millions when you get there."

• Believe that you can do it. According to Alan Corey, author of A Million Bucks by 30, who became a millionaire by investing in real estate, said that he read as many biographies and autobiographies of millionaires before he became one. "What I found was they all had an incredible self belief that they would be financially successful," he shared.

• Work Hard - and you'll get lucky. Donald Trump attributes his success to hard work, explaining in his book, Think Like a Champion, "If your work pays off, which it most likely will, people might say you're just lucky. Maybe so, because you're lucky enough to have the brains to work hard!"
  

Save Money by Using Passive Barriers in your Personal Finance

A passive barrier is something that makes the normal activity more difficult. You can use passive barriers in your personal finance to prevent yourself from spending money.

• Not having your credit cards in your wallet. If you are prone to impulse buying through your credit card, take those cards out of your wallet and leave them at home. When you find yourself at the mall, it becomes easier to walk away from the impulse. You could also delete your card from any online service you use.

• Not passing by the mall. If you don't see the latest in thing or the sale, then you won't know what you're missing. And you won't be tempted to spend.

• Not buying piecemeal. You save money by buying your groceries every salary period instead of at the corner grocery store every time you need to buy something. Bulk items are cheaper and you avoid the temptation of buying whatever takes your fancy when you visit the store.
  

Sitting is Bad for Your Health

Here is a great article I have found. Its a nice article for those people at work, who spends all day, sitting on their chair. Your chair is your enemy. Several recent studies have shown that those who sit most during the rest of the day have large waist and worse profiles of blood pressure and blood sugar than those who sit less. Apparently, there is a "physiology of inactivity," one action of which is that you spend long periods sitting, a crucial part of your metabolism slows down. Here are some suggestions that you can incorporate so you can move around while at work.

• Look for opportunities to stand. You'll burn more calories if you do. So stand while talking on the phone. Trade instant messaging and phone calls for walks to other desks or offices.

• Make the most of your commute. Walk or bike to work. If you ride the bus, get off the bus a few blocks early and walk the rest of the way. If you drive, park at the far end of the parking lot.

• Take fitness breaks. Instead of just standing while on break, take a brisk walk or do some gentle stretching.
  

Basic Insurance Tips

Some people when they hear the word insurance, would quickly think of "EXPENSES". But insurance helps safeguard you and your family's future. Here are some tips in pinking out the right insurance for you.

• Get a Health Insurance. Prudence dictates this if you don't want to worry in the event of health problems. You also avoid being a burden to your family.

• Get a Life Insurance. Have enough life insurance to replace at least five years of your salary, or 10 years if you have kids or significant debts.

• Just Have Enough. If you're single and have no dependents, you don't need life insurance, just health insurance.

• Think Insurance If You're Buying a Car. A more expensive car mean a high priced insurance. So before you buy that dream car, take this into account.

• Write a Will. Filipinos don't usually do this but this will protect your family and help minimize quarrels (and even litigation!) among remaining members of the family.
  

Excellent Tips on how to talk to your Boss

Sometime at work we have a brilliant idea to improve your service but your boss has a different idea in mind, the complete opposite of what you have come up. And at time we want to talk to our boss to open up, but without making it look like we are making contradicting his/her opinions.

Here are some suggestions to use when talking to your boss without being too confrontational:

• Be polite. Always give respect, do not be overly familiar, and avoid sarcasm or offensive remarks.

• Be professional. Present yourself in proper business attire, and look him/her in the eye when talking.

• Don't oppose, just suggest. You may have a better idea, but disagreeing with your boss might hurt his/her pride. Make him/her important.

• Be direct to the point. Do not waste his/her precious time.

• Be ready to listen. When speaking with your boss, be attentive, make eye contact, and show that you are interested.

• Timing is essential. If you want to ask for a raise, for example, make sure your company can afford it. Never ask for a pay increase just after the company has announced layoffs.

• Do not bypass. Observe the proper chain of command. You can hardly do a worse thing to damage your boss than talk to his/her own boss about your idea.

• Be prepared to handle negative response. Unfortunately, even with your best effort there are times when your boss cannot grant your wishes. Plan to end the meeting with a positive note; there is always the next time.

• Show your appreciation. Do not forget to thank him/her for giving you his/her time to let you air your views.

Nuggets Of Wisdom at Meetings

Here are some great nuggets of wisdom picked up during office meetings.

• In management, people learn and respond to what are. Similarly, children adopt their parents characteristics whether their parents want them to or not.

• Remember the "reciprocity rule" of human behavior. If I had a low opinion of you, you will eventually feel the same way about me.

• Communication has its limits. Candid communication is advisable only if the balance of power between two persons is relatively equal.

• Listening is more difficult than talking, People are more likely to change when they have the chance to talk.

• Praising people does not motivate them. Praise reminds people that they are being judged.

• Big changes are easier to follow than small ones. If change is big enough to withstand resistance, people are more likely to submit.

• We learn not from our failures but from our successes and the failures of others. Success encourages us to continue. But while failure is demoralizing, it is important because it tests out limits. It is also human nature to empathize with those who fail.

• There is no right way to be a manager. Different types of leaders enjoy equal success. Also, organizations thrive because other employees work hard, too, and make leaders look good.

• Fix situations not people. While it looks life people foul up, situations are the real culprit. Make changes to get people and systems to work better.

• If there's any one true thing that can be said about leaders, it is that they trust their own instincts.

• Lost causes are the only ones worth fighting for. They are the most important and humane and make us the best we can be. The absurd lesson of it is one must know what is a lost cause and give his best anyway.
  

Tips on Choosing a good pair of jeans

Most people have a number pair of jeans in their closet but use only one or two the most. That's because they love the way those jeans look on them. The next time you buy jeans, keep the following things in mind so that you pick a pair of jeans that will be among your favorites.

• Choose a pair that fits you comfortably no matter what the size on the tag says. Some people refuse to get a better fitting pair because they're in denial that they've jump one size bigger.

• To make you look taller, the length of your jeans should cover your heals and should reach the floor. So when you shop, wear shoes with heels that you usually wear with your jeans.

• Go for darker jeans. Light or stonewashed may make you look bigger and heavier. If you're conscious about your behind, stay away from jeans without pockets. Choose angled back pockets instead.

• Flared legs add bulk so opt for boot cut instead. Aside from being stylish, this cut gives an illusion of longer legs.

• Bring a friend along to help you decide how the jeans look on you.

Camiguin 2010: Sto. Niño Cold Spring

Our 5th destination in Camiguin is the Sto. Niño Cold Spring. When we arrive there, when I look at the pool, its just like a massive lake or lagoon. Its big and its deep, i think it almost 8 foot deep. But when i submerge my feet in it. Its really that cold, I would really like to take a dip into it, the crystal clear and clean water was really tempting. But I resisted since i don't know how to swim hahahaha, and its deep, an 8 foot deep water or even 6 feet can already scare me away. But the place was nice, clean and there a big pool and a small one for children to swim to. During this time it was not raining heheheheh.

Pizza Hut at the Gaisano Mall Davao

Today is Lady's birthday( my brother Seigfred's wife). My father wanted to treat her to eat at Pizza Hut. I never did like Pizza Hut but I also don't hate it. But with just what happened today, Pizza Hut will be not be on the top of my list anymore. While ordering for our food, my wife told me to take pictures of the place and then the menu, but while I'm taking picture of the menu, the waitress suddenly stop me from taking pictures of the menu, saying it was against the management order. Well, I did stop and even deleted the picture on my cam, but I was disappointed at what happened. I told my wife will it hurt them if a took a picture of what's inside their menu? Competitors wont copy whats inside the menu because there's no ingredient of the food there. And the price? Common, their price is no secret to all (for me they are too expensive, way too expensive). And to add more to my disappointment, after we finished eating, we ask for a glass of water and SURPRISE, they cant serve us water because they haven't washed the glasses yet(haven't wash the WHAT? They have plenty of employees who were just standing around doing nothing,) and a simple request of water is not hard to do ( a poor service on their part, very poor). I hope their management can do something about this.

The Tiger in the Year of the Tiger 2010

The Year of the Tiger will bring more complicated things for Tiger people as indicated. There is no lucky star foreseen this year, therefore 2010 is a year to be patient in all aspect of life. Worries and headaches may appear frequently, therefore, attention and alertness needed. Further, fortune is fluctuating throughout the year. You need to put full concentration on career activities. Try your best and strive harder to overcome all problems. There are also many disturbances seen on your business endeavors. Not a good year to push through with your new business plans. Financial matters also need to be approached with caution. Harmful friends and unscrupulous people are to be avoided, being fooled of money indicated. Refrain yourself from gambling's, loss of sizeable money foreseen. On health mater, routine medical checkup and proper medication will drive away illness. There are tendencies of being uncomfortable or hurt in some unpleasant months, medical attention is always needed. Security measures must be adopted especially during outing or traveling. Home safety should also be practiced at all times. Charitable endeavors with prayers will drive away bad luck, as traditional practice of Chinese folks. As much as possible, try to limit yourself from attending funeral activities. Home matters will make you busy and stressful. Love and romance is more cold than warm, therefore give and take is recommended.

The Pig in the Year of the Tiger 2010

Pig people in the year 2010 are blessed with auspicious fortune in terms of career and profession due to lucky star and guardian angel. Influential friends and helpful Samaritans are also behind their sign. But the health situation is said to be on the opposite side; inauspicious sign foreseen. As indicated, there will be more advantage in many undertaking compared to the last two years. Promotion or recognition can easily be realized, try to hurry up. More chances for Young Pig for seeking better employment or further study or training abroad. Try to exert more efforts, success can be achieved in due time. In the business point of view, new investments can be executed this year particularly in those favorable months. The financial fortune is also blessed by good sign. But you have to manage your money matters carefully in those unpleasant months. As gor your health, there is a tendency to be sick but still manageable through medical attention. Routine medical check up, regular exercise, food sanitation as well as balance diet are the remedies to protect your body. For your own safety and the safety of others, precautionary measures must always be exercised at home. Home differences or problems will occupy much of your free time. Try your best to sort out immediately all the family disagreements and keep a sense if sweet home affair. Love life is an on and off cycle. Both of you may encounter hot and cold relationship. Try your very best with patient to keep your love and romance work.

The Dog in the Year of the Tiger 2010

The Year of the Tiger, year 2010 is much better than last year due to the three lucky stars that shine on your sign. Although you may experience some conflicts or unfavorable months in your daily path but these will easily be lightened due to blessings on your sign. Even though, there are obstacles that will block your career or professional undertakings, but, helpful friends will help you to overcome these difficulties. This is the best year to push through with your plan to go abroad for brighter future, specially the younger Dogs. Achievement in your daily activities will also have a rewarding result if you can dedicate your time and effort. But be patient and hardworking are much needed during unpleasant Chinese months. As indicated in your sign, a good investment can be pushed through except in those auspicious fortune months. Although no major risk in money activities, but always try to manage them with caution. Profitable gains can be achieved only by your hard work. In your health situation, no critical illness will strike you. But always be watch out for your food intake. And find time for relaxation. Although there will be no health discomfort foreseen on your loved ones at home, but your care and concern must always be attended. Harmonious domestic relationship is easy to attain. A happier trend of family affair will appear. Like last year, love life will take up most of your free time. A year to enjoy the fullness of your love and romance. But always be aware of those envious friends and third person that will interfere with your love affair.