I expected this morning to be a usual morning when I was awaken by my parents phone call. They then subsequently told me to hurrily book a ticket to California because they wanted the whole family to be there. In fact our whole extended family including my in-laws are there as well. As I was still reeling from my sleepiness, I was like 'huh? California? Sounds nice. Book ticket now-ar? Em, em, ok ok I'll book now.'
Zombiely I then bring out my credit card, book the ticket and gave my parents and extra 450USD bill and then it suddenly hit me. Damn I'm going to California! I had so many errands that I have to run because of that. Now I understand why my mom is so worried when going off for holidays. Had to settle electricity bill, rent, call my mom's friend if I could crash over at her place and then gas up my car and head over to Chicago.
Although I should be sleeping now for my 8am flight, I'm so freaking excited as I would be seeing my nieces. Yes my sister gave birth again to a baby girl. I think this is the once in a lifetime thingy to see a one day old baby tomorrow. Can't wait. Till then love ya guys.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Winning the lottery
He just stood there stonecold. Just minutes ago, Dan was the winner of the Mega Millions lottery which is worth at about 135million dollars. Not knowing what to do, he just stood there and then subsequently fainted.
Well, I'm pretty sure it's everybody's dream. I mean who the hell minds having an extra couple of hundred millions at your disposal? Hell I can make do with a couple of millions right now. I'm pretty sure everyone who actually play lotteries would have that 'to buy list when I strike rich'. Suddenly everything seems to be more plesant. Even the skies are bluer than ever.
Here's an interesting anecdote. Almost 80% of lottery winners end up back where they were financially before they won the lottery. Not only that, they usually end up with more debts, broken families and also trust issues with almost anyone else. I can so imagine if I did win the lottery my long lost brother from Kenya would suddenly show up to claim his share of that money. People would flock to you like you're the sugar central for ants.
Come to think of it, having large sums of money is not necessarily a good thing as everyone thought to be. However, there are a few stuff that one can do to avoid all the negativity related to your lottery winnings. For one, just don't tell anyone(especially your wife!!!! haha), even if you have the best intentions of sharing your wealth. If everyone knows about your wealth, you wouldn't know who would be your true friends are. Hell, even right now I've been taken advantage financially, imagine all the gold diggers when you're worth hundreds of millions.
Second thing would be to hire a financial advisor. In fact, this should be the very first thing you should do when you strike the gold. Having a person who are professional in handling funds ensures that you wouldn't get burned out. This should be the upmost priority, and would be the best investment you'd ever made. Of course, go make some investments on your own cause money would run out one day. Just ask the 80% of the lottery winners.
Thirdly, don't attract unwanted attention by flashing around. This is not to create jealousy and hate from other people. Just face it, people are jealous especially when the money you have literally fall from the sky. Everyone would of course would want the money as they think you don't deserve it and you driving your Lambo around doesn't ease their jealousy. So keep a low key life. Difficult I know as I would really love rubbing my Lambos against my other nemesis but remember, as cliche as it sounds with vast money comes great responsibility. The other benefit of not flashing around is that you do not waste your money on unecessary things, stretching your hard earned money to the limit.
Another thing which is related to the third thing is that to live a normal life. Your mentality is very important here and is that you want to live a normal life, not because you're worried of the consequences. Often enough happiness is a state of mind, not by the amount of zeros in your bank account. One must understand that extra wealth does not bring infinite happiness but rather just eases the worry of money. Go do the things you've always wanted like maybe travel around the world, fulfilling meaningful dreams.
Last but not least, donate a certain amount of money to charity, SINCERELY! I know alot of people donate large sums of money to charity because of tax benefits but that's a different story. Again sincerity is the key here. Don't underestimate karma as you would be surprised if you do. Do remember that in truth your money IS literally fallen from the sky into your hands, so go do something beneficial to the world.
I watched a show where her father comes to her talking about how foolish of her paying so much money buying those collectors cards and say they're essentially just paper. Her daughter then say 'Well then I don't understand why adults get so worked out over money. It's also paper right daddy?' Her father than couldn't say anything.
Well, I'm pretty sure it's everybody's dream. I mean who the hell minds having an extra couple of hundred millions at your disposal? Hell I can make do with a couple of millions right now. I'm pretty sure everyone who actually play lotteries would have that 'to buy list when I strike rich'. Suddenly everything seems to be more plesant. Even the skies are bluer than ever.
Here's an interesting anecdote. Almost 80% of lottery winners end up back where they were financially before they won the lottery. Not only that, they usually end up with more debts, broken families and also trust issues with almost anyone else. I can so imagine if I did win the lottery my long lost brother from Kenya would suddenly show up to claim his share of that money. People would flock to you like you're the sugar central for ants.
Come to think of it, having large sums of money is not necessarily a good thing as everyone thought to be. However, there are a few stuff that one can do to avoid all the negativity related to your lottery winnings. For one, just don't tell anyone(especially your wife!!!! haha), even if you have the best intentions of sharing your wealth. If everyone knows about your wealth, you wouldn't know who would be your true friends are. Hell, even right now I've been taken advantage financially, imagine all the gold diggers when you're worth hundreds of millions.
Second thing would be to hire a financial advisor. In fact, this should be the very first thing you should do when you strike the gold. Having a person who are professional in handling funds ensures that you wouldn't get burned out. This should be the upmost priority, and would be the best investment you'd ever made. Of course, go make some investments on your own cause money would run out one day. Just ask the 80% of the lottery winners.
Thirdly, don't attract unwanted attention by flashing around. This is not to create jealousy and hate from other people. Just face it, people are jealous especially when the money you have literally fall from the sky. Everyone would of course would want the money as they think you don't deserve it and you driving your Lambo around doesn't ease their jealousy. So keep a low key life. Difficult I know as I would really love rubbing my Lambos against my other nemesis but remember, as cliche as it sounds with vast money comes great responsibility. The other benefit of not flashing around is that you do not waste your money on unecessary things, stretching your hard earned money to the limit.
Another thing which is related to the third thing is that to live a normal life. Your mentality is very important here and is that you want to live a normal life, not because you're worried of the consequences. Often enough happiness is a state of mind, not by the amount of zeros in your bank account. One must understand that extra wealth does not bring infinite happiness but rather just eases the worry of money. Go do the things you've always wanted like maybe travel around the world, fulfilling meaningful dreams.
Last but not least, donate a certain amount of money to charity, SINCERELY! I know alot of people donate large sums of money to charity because of tax benefits but that's a different story. Again sincerity is the key here. Don't underestimate karma as you would be surprised if you do. Do remember that in truth your money IS literally fallen from the sky into your hands, so go do something beneficial to the world.
I watched a show where her father comes to her talking about how foolish of her paying so much money buying those collectors cards and say they're essentially just paper. Her daughter then say 'Well then I don't understand why adults get so worked out over money. It's also paper right daddy?' Her father than couldn't say anything.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
It's not about being green, you're just cheap
You know nowadays there are companies who like saying that they're being green and that they're trying to save the trees, reduce CO2, save the animals, reduce pollution bla bla bla. To be honest, they're actually just trying to save money and then cover it up by being green. I mean how fucking cheap these companies can be? To prove my point I'll give you some examples.
My university is trying to reduce paper load. Sure with the internet and stuff they can reduce paperload and stuff like that but actually they're just trying to save money from buying papers and buying ink catridges. If they're so interested in reducing pollution and stuff why don't they install solar panels and change their whole fleet of service vehicles with electric or hybrid vehicles? Hell since you so gila green might as well don't use vehicles at all in the university campus.
My bank also another one. They want to encourage people to go online and be 'paperless'. You know if you say that you want to save administration costs and stuff like that then maybe I would understand and go paperless. However they really piss me off by saying I should go green and make it as though if you opt for monthly mail statements you're like a ultimate polluter and make you feel and look bad. Because of that I still opt to have monthly statements just to be a jerk.
In conclusion, companies just be honest and say that you want to cut costs. I can understand that as everyone wants to reduce expenditure. However, when you say you want to be green then seriously you're just lying. It makes me hate greenies!
My university is trying to reduce paper load. Sure with the internet and stuff they can reduce paperload and stuff like that but actually they're just trying to save money from buying papers and buying ink catridges. If they're so interested in reducing pollution and stuff why don't they install solar panels and change their whole fleet of service vehicles with electric or hybrid vehicles? Hell since you so gila green might as well don't use vehicles at all in the university campus.
My bank also another one. They want to encourage people to go online and be 'paperless'. You know if you say that you want to save administration costs and stuff like that then maybe I would understand and go paperless. However they really piss me off by saying I should go green and make it as though if you opt for monthly mail statements you're like a ultimate polluter and make you feel and look bad. Because of that I still opt to have monthly statements just to be a jerk.
In conclusion, companies just be honest and say that you want to cut costs. I can understand that as everyone wants to reduce expenditure. However, when you say you want to be green then seriously you're just lying. It makes me hate greenies!
Friday, May 2, 2008
Graduation
So yea, for those who didn't know about this, I graduated. In a way I'm glad that I've finally finish studying and I don't have anymore nightmares about paper assignments and stuff. Anywayz, my parents would have the much deserved relaxation since my uni fees was taking a big chunk of their savings. I seriously wanted to burn my graduation gown but I can't seem to recruit anyone to do the same.
So what happens next? Well, I've already been granted a one year working visa and so I'm trying to get a job before my visa officially starts on June 1st. My parents saw Chicago for the first time and having seen things for the first time you would obviously love it and stuff. I heard job opportunities are aplenty in Chicago so maybe I might just go there and work for a while. The downside of this is that the rental would be expensive and I wouldn't think I would keep my car anymore. Hmmmm..... seriously so much things in my mind.
So what happens next? Well, I've already been granted a one year working visa and so I'm trying to get a job before my visa officially starts on June 1st. My parents saw Chicago for the first time and having seen things for the first time you would obviously love it and stuff. I heard job opportunities are aplenty in Chicago so maybe I might just go there and work for a while. The downside of this is that the rental would be expensive and I wouldn't think I would keep my car anymore. Hmmmm..... seriously so much things in my mind.
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