Dealing With The Scary Money Matters

How do you feel about your money? Do you think you’re earning enough? Do you think you have enough stowed away in your bank account? Do you think you’re working with the right budget for your household and lifestyle? Do you think you should try investing, to pad out your savings a little bit more?

And are you tying yourself up in knots over the worry your money gives you? Is there a longing inside you to make a bit more, but you don’t know how to go about it? After all, an emergency can strike at any time, and who knows if you’ll be prepared for it.

So, your financial wellbeing is something you probably constantly worry about, seeing as money is the foundation of everything. You save as much of it as you can, and from time to time, you can even feel guilty about spending just a few pennies on some much needed groceries!

Money can be scary, there’s no doubt about that. So let’s go through some of the most scary matters that money can put you through, seeing as they affect most of us at some point in our lives. The more you know, the better off you’ll be.

Income is Rarely Secure

Your income is probably mostly reliant on the job you have. You might love your job, you might not, but there’s no doubt it’s the best way to pay the bills! It offers the biggest lump sum at the end of the month, and it’s something that keeps on paying month after month. There’s quite a few side hustles out there that don’t offer the same kind of longevity.

But what if you lack a bit of job security? A lot of people feel like they can be fired at any moment, and that they daren’t not ask for vacation time, even when they’re owed it. What if you have little to no union options? What if you get a pay cut, out of nowhere? What if your working environment is getting a little bit toxic or choppy? All of these factors adding up can make you very worried about the security of your income stream. Even when you’ve got your finger in many pies, it can be hard to subsidize five different sources of revenue with the one source that pays you the most.

So, even if you do have a side hustle, there’s a good chance it doesn’t pay nearly as well as your main job. There’s also a good chance it took a lot longer to set up, and to start paying out to you! Who knows if you’ll have the financial security, in the future, to do the same thing with another side source of income? If you don’t have a job to fall back on, will you be able to take the time to ensure a monetized blog or an investment portfolio will pay off?

Sometimes You’ll Need a Lawyer

Lawyers are a big deal when it comes to money, and they’re definitely a good line of defence against the institutions and corporations that turn money into a very scary matter. If you’re being accused of tax fraud, or you’ve been shortchanged in they pay you’re owed (and your employer just won’t give it to you!), a lawyer’s office is going to be the best option to reach out to.

But that in itself is scary. If a lawyer needs to get involved, we automatically think of large fines and prison time, and that’s enough to scare off and silence most of us. We think it’s not worth the time and energy to take a money matter to court, even if it’s a small claims case. And that’s because we don’t know enough about the legal side of our finances!

The crux of it is that lawyers themselves cost a pretty penny, and when you don’t have the money to send their way, to enlist their very helpful services, you get stuck! Even when you know you could be due a payout from a tax company, or the government system that deals with relief or benefits, you might need to reach out to a lawyer to ensure you’re paid your dues. It can be a complicated matter unto itself, so companies like mahanyertl.com exist to tell you more about this.

And Who Can Afford to Save?

Saving your money can seem like a pipe dream in the modern day and age. Many things are far too expensive to buy on a regular basis, and too many of us are dealing with a wage gap that hasn’t evolved since the 70s. Anyone who doesn’t work for themselves at the head of a giant corporation, or who hasn’t been working in their job position for at least 15 years now, can suffer at the hands of the job market. It’s these people who don’t have enough money in the bank, because they’re simply not paid enough to be able to put money away!

So, it comes down to some serious budgeting. The less you can spend on weekly expenses like bills and groceries, the more you can put away for a rainy day. And seeing as they’re cropping up more and more, it’s a good idea to stay in for the night, and put the money required for restaurants and nightclubs into a saving account. After all, it’s often a lot more beneficial to save for a proper vacation at the end of the year, compared to forking out for just one night of fun.

How Scary is Money For You?

Money can get very scary, we all know this. The more we spend, the worse we can feel, even if we’re satisfied in the moment! And often enough, it’s not our fault that our savings account doesn’t outrank our checking account.

So make sure you’re aware of the reasons why, and what makes money scary most of all. Remember, it’s much better to be in the know!

My Second Credit Card

After many years of not wanting to get a credit card until the age of 31, when I wanted a cc, and also trying to help an ex-colleague who had moved to Axis bank, I find out that my salary, at the time, was just shy of the minimum required amount (Rs.15,000) to be eligible for a credit card. So even if I did get a big & overdue salary hike for a promotion that was well over the minimum criteria, I didn’t apply for one. I am also the son of a former bank manager (not in India though; he worked for a bank in Kuwait) I was also told horror stories of people being in huge debts due to overspending and recklessness.

Finally when I was 36, and really wanted one, I applied for one and I was eligible but the bank, ICICI, told me that my application was rejected due to the fact that my then current employee being new hadn’t applied for PF license and that negated my application. I was pissed off as this was something I had mentioned earlier to the manager of the credit card section and she had told me that it wasn’t a problem. So then I waited and when I joined my current company, in 2015, while filling out the bank information for HDFC I also applied for a credit card. I got one a month later.

Now I have applied for my second credit card and it’s on it’s way to me. I have tried to be responsible and sensible and use my card wisely but I could use another card. Most people at work have 3-4 cards but I have been hesitant. The good thing about this RBL Cookies card, pictured on this post and the one on it’s way to me, has some discounts for Uber, movie bookings and Zomato (an Indian food ordering app) and you also get a Rs. 500 Amazon India gift card. So I think this is good.

3 More Atheist Jokes

As the storm raged,the captain realized his ship was sinking fast.

So he shouted out, “Anyone here know how to pray?”

Just one guy stepped forward and said, “Aye, captain,I know how to pray.”

“Good,” said the captain, “You pray while the rest of us put on our life jackets – we’re one short.”

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An atheist commits suicide and is surprised to find himself in heaven.

“Wow,” he says to God, “you know I didn’t expect to be here. I’m an atheist and on top of that I thought you’re not supposed to go to heaven if you kill yourself.”

“No, it’s okay,” says God. “I’ve thought about suicide myself.”

“Really?” asks the man. “Why?”

“Well,” God says, “What if this is all there is?”

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God said, “Thou shall not kill.”

And then he wiped out the entire human race with a global flood just because people didn’t take it seriously.

Gabriel Martinelli Signs For Arsenal

Arsenal has confirmed the signing of teenage Brazilian forward Gabriel Martinelli from Ituano. The 18-year-old has joined on a long-term deal and is the Gunners’ first signing of the close season. Martinelli was named in the 2019 Team of the Year for the Campeonato Paulista and was rewarded with a chance to join Brazil’s senior team for a training camp in May. He will link up with his new teammates for pre-season training at Arsenal once the deal, reported to be worth £6million, has been ratified.

Speaking to Arsenal’s official website, Martinelli said: “It is a dream since I was a child and also my family’s dream for me to be playing in Europe and playing for a big team like Arsenal. I am going to take this opportunity. “I am very grateful for everything. I am grateful to God and I will try to make the most out of it. “Training with Brazil was an amazing feeling, a dream come true, being able to be beside great players. I was home when I got the news and I was super happy. “It is a great opportunity to learn and I enjoyed it as much as I could and I have to thank the team for welcoming me with open arms.”

He added: “I am a player who gives his all at all times, I play as a team and always look to win games and win trophies. “I model my game on Cristiano Ronaldo – he is a player who works hard, pushing himself to the next level.” Martinelli made his debut for Ituano in November 2017 and scored 10 goals in 34 appearances for the Sao Paulo-based club.

What’s The Perfect Home?

Do you remember the drawings of your childhood that used to depict a home? Most children tend to draw a family home with a front entry doors, two windows and a chimney on the roof, even though this might not be what they visualise when they think of the perfect home. Psychologists agree that the childish representation of a home is often inspired by the desire to humanise the drawing, which is why the house can remind a face. But you’re an adult now, and it’s time to ask yourself what your ideal home looks like.

A luxury mansion is a dream come true 

If you picture a tall gate that opens on a large villa surrounded by a green and lush garden, you might want to take a look at the various properties from William Pitt Sotheby’s real estate agency. There is no denying that your dream home may not be an affordable project for now. However, you’ll be more likely to make your dream come true if you understand what you want and how much it can cost.

A home that is made just for you

If you’re a naturally creative person, you may imagine the perfect home in precise details, from the shape and design of your rooms to the building material used. If your criteria list is too detailed, it can be tricky to find an existing house that fits the bill. Instead, you may prefer starting a building project that makes your vision come true. Admittedly, building a home is an expensive project; however, it’s an investment that is guaranteed to meet your requirements.

A quiet and off-the-grid home

Why do more and more people want to leave the modern lifestyle of cities behind to pick an off-the-grid home? Living off-the-grid means that you don’t rely on traditional electricity and water management networks. Instead, you need to build your generator and set a sustainable electricity system inside your own home. For many homeowners, it’s a matter of designing a sustainable environment for themselves and their children. Indeed, the grid can only offer so much in terms of green energy. Environmentally-aware homeowners prefer to take the matter in their own hands.

A place you’ve tamed over time

Buying an existing property that didn’t quite match your expectations is a little like taming a wild animal. It takes a lot of effort to understand each other. You need to follow their rules and learn from your mistakes to adjust your behaviour. But in the long term, you develop a unique relationship. Through DIY improvements, renovation works, decor additions, and the instauration of an everyday routine, you gradually move through the taming process and make a home out of your house.

A smart home that runs itself 

In the 21st century, you want a home that can run itself, using motion sensors to turn the lights on and temperature sensors to adjust the thermostat and the window shades. An automated household that works for you and your family is maybe what the house of the future looks like.

Your dream home matches your personality, whether you want something big and exuberant, or whether you’re a nature lover who wants to leave a green mark on the planet. Your perfect home is the best version of yourself.

Malayalam Reality Song Contests

I’ve never been much for Malayalam music & songs for the most part. Throughout my years I’ve liked and loved quite a few songs but I am a rock guy and from my childhood the songs that have stayed with me are mostly not Indian/Malayalam.

While I am not that big on the talent based reality shows that are made around the world I do find the odd one or two that I really like. The Malayalam ones – here’s the problem: It’s like a singing school. There’s not much room or actually none really for improvisation, for singing your own version, making the song your own. If you change even a note while singing, the judges then decend upon you and it become a “class” led by a teacher. They want it note for note and will not adjust for changes. That’s not what music is about for me.

Music is about creativity and emotion. It’s about individuality and the best singers & musicians can take a great song and put their stamp on it, make it their own but yet pay respects to the original singers & musicians. That is usually what draws people to songs or atleast me and others who like the music that I like. There seems to be no room for that here in these contests and therefore, I have no time for them.

3 Atheists Jokes

Q: How many atheists does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Two. One to actually change the bulb, and the other to videotape the job so fundamentalists won’t claim that god did it.

Q: What do you get if you cross an atheist with a Jehovah’s witness?
A: Someone who knocks on your door for no reason at all.

A young teacher explains to her class of third graders that she is a born-again Christian. She asks the class if any of them are born-again Christians too. Not really knowing what it means to be born-again, but wanting to please and impress their teacher, many little hands suddenly shot up into the air.

There’s just one girl who doesn’t raise her hand. So the teacher asks her why she has decided to be different.

The girl says, “Because I’m not a Christian.”
The teacher asks, “So what are you then? ”
The girl replies, “I’m an atheist.”
The teacher’s a little perturbed now, her face slightly red.

She asks the girl why she’s an atheist.
The girl says, “It’s just that my family isn’t religious. My Mom’s atheist, and my Dad’s atheist, so I’m atheist.” The teacher is now angry.
“That’s no reason.” she says loudly. “What if your Mom was a moron, and your Dad was a moron. What would you be then?”
“Then,” says the girl, “I’d be a born-again Christian.”

The Mule

The Mule is a 2018 American crime drama film produced and directed by Clint Eastwood, who also plays the lead role. The screenplay, by Nick Schenk, is based on The New York Times article “The Sinaloa Cartel’s 90-Year-Old Drug Mule” by Sam Dolnick, which recounts the story of Leo Sharp, a World War II veteran who became a drug courier for the Sinaloa Cartel in his 80s. Along with Eastwood, the film stars Bradley Cooper, Laurence Fishburne, Michael Peña, Dianne Wiest, and Andy García. It is Eastwood’s first acting project since 2012’s Trouble with the Curve, and his first starring role in a film directed by him since 2008’s Gran Torino. Filming began in June 2018, taking place in Atlanta and Augusta, Georgia, with other film locations in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Earl Stone, in his 80s, is an award-winning horticulturist and Korean War veteran in Peoria, Illinois. He is facing financial ruin and is estranged from his ex-wife, Mary, and daughter, Iris, for always putting work before family. He’s still on friendly terms with his granddaughter Ginny, and attends her wedding rehearsal. Desperate for money at his age, he is urged by a friend of one of Ginny’s bridesmaids to become a drug mule for  transporting cocaine through Illinois for a Mexican drug cartel. Due to his advanced aged, being a war vet, clear criminal record and always driving within the limits  is soon trusted with huge amounts of drugs and paid large amounts of cash. He pays off his debts, helps the community & local charities and also helps Ginny with her wedding and education. He buys a new truck and becomes close with the local cartel members, who call him Tata (grandfather).

The cartel boss (played by Andy Garcia) sends his right hand man Julio to handle Earl and though he is initially hostile to the older man, soon he too becomes fond of Tata. Meanwhile, a DEA task force is narrowing in on the cartel’s deliveries to Chicago. Colin Bates, a DEA Agent & his partner Trevino, investigate and catch hold of a man who is involved and he is forced to be an informant in exchange for immunity. In the middle of a large cocaine shipment, Earl learns that Mary is gravely ill. After Ginny talks some sense into him, he postpones the drug delivery to make peace with Mary before her death, which provokes the cartel’s ire. He resumes the delivery as the DEA and the cartel close in on him. Earl is beaten and threatened by the cartel’s enforcers, but they relent after learning of his ex-wife’s death. As he makes his way towards the drop point, he is arrested by the DEA agents. When Earl pleads guilty to all charges and is sent to prison, his family show him their support. In prison, he returns to his horticulture.

I haven’t watched many movies of Eastwood post the 1990s but I have watched some of his movies that he has directed. I need to check out more of his movies as I have always associated him with his westerns and the Dirty Harry movies. He is a legend and an icon in the movie industry and I love his work. Slower paced but well acted, I would give this movie a 7 outta 10!