Author

Bogie

CDO Lifestyle Blogger. Blogger since 2008. Educator. Life Mentor.

new house

Are You Ready to Buy a House?

by Bogie

My husband and I have been married for 14 years. One of our long time dreams is to own a house that we can call our own. Since we were married, we were blessed to be living with my husband’s parents and we are happily living in this house for free. 

Later this year when COVID-19 happened, I was forced to be working from home due to classes being done online. I had to transition our house where I can hold online classes free from distractions and intermissions. So I made a little corner at home as my working area. I wanted to tweak some of the sections of the house but I will still have to ask permission because we don’t own the house. It was at this time that I thought what if we are going to pursue our dream of buying a new house. 

However, buying a house is a big decision. It requires time, effort and most of all money. So, the question I asked about myself, “are we ready to buy a house?” While reading some advice on home purchasing, I have compiled 3 important things to consider when buying a house. Here it goes…

1. Money, Cost and Affordability

Do you have enough money to buy a house? Can you really afford the house that you like? Can you afford the down payment? Most lenders would recommend not to spend on a house that would cost more than 28% or 30% of your gross monthly income. If you consider having a house for a mortgage, how much mortgage can you afford? Your ability to afford the house will be determined by the lenders based on your income and the amount of your savings to your bank or lender. You can check out a mortgage calculator that will help you calculate whether you can afford the house that you like and try out different prices that are within your budget. 

2. Timing

When is the time to buy a house? Is it a good time to buy a house when there is a crisis? According to Inquirer.net’s article “Is it a good time to buy a house?” by April Lee Tan; “If you and your spouse have job security, and are still renting a house, then it is a good time to buy a house. It is scary to buy a house when there is a crisis such as the ongoing COVID-10 pandemic. However, because of the pandemic, there is a greater chance of buying a house at a much lower price or at more affordable payment terms.” 

According to PH Real Estate, the best time to buy a house in the Philippines is during the cold season, the months from October to February. These months are the best times to buy a house as the prices are lowest. 

With all these factors on the proper timing on buying a house, most advise would be that the best time to buy a house is when you can afford it. 

3. Savings

Do you have enough savings? Buying a house does not only end when you move in. There are other expenses to take care such as repairs, insurance fees, home owners fees and etc. So, with all these fees make sure you have enough money saved in the bank to cope up with other expenses that you need for your house. 

Am I ready to buy a house?

With all the readings I’ve done, I have learned  not to feel pressured to buy a house just because everyone is buying already or I am no longer comfortable with what I have now. Buying a house is one of the biggest decisions my husband and I will have to make. We will also have to consider whether it will be a good financial investment for us or maybe not. We shall take the time to weigh in all options and considerations before making this big decision. In God’s perfect time, we shall be able to say we are ready!

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laptop on desk

13 Years and Counting in Blogging

by Bogie

It was 13 years ago that I started blogging. I started for the reason that people can make money in it. It was not easy from the start as there were a lot of things to learn. I totally started from scratch. Moreover, there were times that I ran out of creativity and topics. My experiences has made me realize that I have grown to be a better blogger. Most of all, it has led me to expand my horizons.

Being Part of a Community of Bloggers and Content Creators

Blogging has given me the opportunity to meet new friends who are also into blogging. What’s good about being in a group of people who share the same passion and interest is they are able help you grow and inspire you to do your best. Whenever I run out of creativity in writing, I look to my blogger friends and ask for some inspiration. Most of the time, our community often conducts a series of activities that helps us grow in our followings, improve our contents and strengthen our relationships together as a community. 

Joining Events

Because of blogging and because I am part of a community, I am able to join events. From store opening, product launchings, conferences, community developments, talks and many others. These events enabled me to meet business owners, managers and a lot of wonderful people. Joining events gave me the opportunity to improve my social skills. 

Even during this Covid-19 pandemic, I am still able to join online events. It is very exciting as I am able to meet a lot of bloggers from different parts of the country. 

Improving and Learning New Skills

Nikon Camera used in Photography

One of the areas that I have also grown as a blogger is on the development of my skills. Through blogging, I was able to learn photo editing, a little bit of video editing, graphic design and many others. Most of all I have improved in my writing skills. Over the past years, I am just writing for the sake of writing, but now I am mindful of what topics to write and what topics that create interests to my readers. 

I am also thankful to friends who taught me how to tweak my blog a bit to make it look more pleasing. From blogger set-up, my blog is now on WordPress. Up until now, I am still learning some of the technicalities but someday soon I’m gonna be able to master it. 

Blogger to Social Media Influencer

I now have the chance to be working with local brands through their campaigns. The moment I got my first collaboration, my confidence grew. It inspires me to do my best and be a better influencer. This experience has taught me to be authentic and unique in everything that I do. Most of all, I have learned to just be yourself and do not compare yourself to others.

Exploring More

With all the good things blogging has brought me, I am still open for more experiences and learning. Many people are now making money on different social media sites. That is why I am into building my Youtube channel, but I am still figuring out what better contents that I will be creating. Moreover, I wanted to explore more on building followings on my Facebook Page and Instagram. I might be joining TikTok soon, but I am still contemplating on it. Whatever that will help me grow, I will definitely pursue it. 

Throughout the years of blogging, I have learned that things do not happen by accident. If you want to pursue something, you will have to make a choice. If you want to improve on something, continue learning, be teachable and most of all be yourself.  I am looking forward to many more years of growth in blogging.

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Wearing Makeup

Teaching Tips: Wear Makeup in Your Online Classes

by Bogie

Since the start of the pandemic, learning delivery has changed dramatically. We have shifted from face to face learning to distance learning. There were a lot of challenges happening during the shift and one of which is conducting lessons online. Apart from technical and academic concerns, teachers are faced with another challenge on how to look good in front of the camera while teaching. 

Your Appearance Online Matters

Appearances are important in online classes. It is one of the ways to keep your students engaged and help them succeed. Of course, your appearance has nothing to do with your teaching ability, but how you choose to present yourself in front of the camera matters. In the study of Smita Shah (2012) on the Impact of physical appearance of teachers on students’ learning environment, the result states that a good physical appearance of a teacher has three advantages: It gains respect from students, increases attendance of students in the class and helps in controlling the class. 

No Full-Face Makeup Needed

There are a lot of  teachers who look perfectly fine in real life even without makeup. However, our camera and lighting can most of the time affect how we look online. It can sometimes make us look tired, worn out and drained. Wearing makeup for your online classes enhances your facial features. There is no need for a full face makeup but a little lipstick, colors on your cheeks, plus the best eyeshadow, brows and mascara will brighten your appearance. 

A Lipstick Will Do

If you are not into makeup, wearing lipstick will surely do the trick. It brightens your face and enhances your eyes. Make sure to wear the right shade that suits you. Some would say that it is not appropriate to wear red, but all shades actually will do as long as you don’t look cheap or unprofessional. Remember, you are a Teacher. 

A Fresh Look Every Time

Before you start your class, check yourself in front of the camera. Make sure to give your students a fresh look every time by wearing a little makeup. Even famous and good looking celebrities put on a little make up for their natural looks on film. So, try it and you will surely see the difference in how your students respond. Take it from my experience. 

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