Make Money from Quitting Smoking

Another victim of the smoking habit 

The news about the recent death of  Jo Ramos, daughter of former Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos so shocked me that I stopped whatever it was I was doing and started typing my thoughts away, hence this post in this blog.

I have quit smoking 2 years ago. Mainly because I wanted real change to happen to my life. I knew the health risks early on. Since day 1, actually. But still, I let myself get hooked.

Why quit? 

Quitting smoking is one of the hardest things I have ever done. Yet, it was the sweetest. To this day I consider it as one of my personal achievements.

Knowing the money involved in smoking was, I admit, only secondary to me back then. Even when I finally decided to quit, what I knew I was going to save was not the biggest motive for me to quit.

A challenge to all Pinoy smokers.

Now that I am a bonafide victor of the habit, I cannot help but look ahead. In the spirit of teaching the average Filipino, which is really the main objective of this blog, I shall direct the readers attention to MAKING MONEY OUT OF QUITTING SMOKING.

Readers, if you are smokers, ask yourselves and be as honest as possible:

1. How much are you really spending for cigarettes?
2. How much from your daily or monthly income does smoking eat up?
3. What things do you deprive yourself and your family by your smoking?

Personally, I just came to a shocking realization:

Because I have been smoke-free for 2 years now, I have actually saved this amount: P21,000.

How do I actually know?

I used the smoking calculator app, which I stumbled upon in the web. Click here. It is from the Canadian Cancer Society.

The smoking calculator.

Try it. Go ahead and see for yourself how much money can you actually make from quitting smoking.

Shocked? I can’t blame you.

Information is key, peeps.

You might want to also read:
            

A lesson for Juan Dela Cruz

Today's headline in The Philippine Daily Inquirer says: "Don't dumb down viewers, TV urged". Read the news here.

In Tagalog: Huwag gawing bobo ang mga Pinoy sa mga ipinalalabas sa TV shows.

This is one of my advocacies. This is one of the things i'd like to shout out to every Pinoy. That we're better than what these TV stations (and radio) think. That we can change if want to.

Imagine the whole day the Pinoy gets to watch silly TV shows? And continue on at night before going to bed?
This has been going on for decades now. Kaya hindi tayo umaasenso, is because we tolerate this.

Value your time, people. I'm not saying you stop entertaining yourself totally. I'm preaching PRODUCTIVITY here. Get busy; Be always on the go.
Find work during your spare time.(Read about it here.) Look for anything productive. Sayang ang oras.

This is one of the Filipino's sicknesses - we do not value time. Lagi na lang tayong pa-petik-petik. This has got to change. Really, it's time (read my article about time here) . If not now, our kids will redo this in their lifetime as well.

Again, the lesson for today: Re-think; Start valuing your time. Time is gold. Every minute spent without any production is a wasted minute forever. Hindi na natin ito maibabalik pa.

What i'm saying is that the Pinoy's version of creating wealth isn't just creating wealth. It's deeper. It starts from changing the society we live in.

what to do with money saved

As you now know, every penny counts. If you've been following my posts, i'm betting you're now well on your way to creating your own wealth.

Let's recap. So far, i have taught you to:

1. Realize and admit you have a problem first

2. Understand your "big why"

3. Take action - know what to prioritize when it comes to spending

4. Start saving
5. Start valuing your time

Now we go to the next lesson to be learned- What to do with money saved.

For beginners:

My advice at this point? Go to your nearest bank. Open a passbook account, start saving there regularly. 

The objective is for you to develop the habit of not pocketing your excess pesos. Put it where you cannot have ready access to it. Remember it's a passbook, and not an ATM account. It's also a way for you to become at ease with the people inside banks.

For people with credit card problems:  

Start paying up. Little by little. Just face it and get over it. 

For people who are now ready for the next big leap: 

Start investing. Read my previous post re Investing 101. Choose among the items there. Research, ask around. Consult with knowledgable people. Start small. Just do it.

Details in my next posts. I promise you readers financial freedom. Start believing.

Ready for a career working from home?

Hi! If you've been following my posts, you know i've been persuading you readers to try the VA (virtual assistant) experience. Read it here again. If it appeals to you, you need to read this.

First up: Who CAN work from home?

YOUR 5 HABITS TO CREATING WEALTH

After self-reflecting (and even before going into investments) the average Filipino should muster 5 essential habits to be able to really start his way towards creating wealth: 

1. STAY FOCUSED: On a daily basis, remind yourself why you are choosing to become wealthy. What is your

Earn money while sleeping

This is what I love about investing: You get to earn cash while you sleep. There is no greater feeling than knowing that your money is working for you than you working for money.

Investing is my life. It has been so since i made the U-turn a couple of years ago.


As you now know, among other stuff, i preach about the stock market. A good way to invest really, is in the stock market. If you were following my posts, yesterday i wrote about Philippine-based companies who did well lately. Now i dare you readers to

Upcoming event - Attracting Wealth Seminar

Readers, i wish you the best of luck, so i'm letting you in on what's up very soon. Make the U-turn by joining John Calub's "Attracting Wealth Seminar" on Apr 3, 2011 at the MOA SMX center.

You might want to google John Calub here before further reading my post.

Custom Search

Anyway, THE John Calub is a much-loved and well-known success coach in the Philippines. He is one of my favorite mentors around.

Here's the thing: If you can't

Economic Survival Tips

Surviving the times: Tips for the young Filipino reader:

My personal idols and financial gurus, in all their books and speeches say it is when you need not work anymore (hence, no need for active income), and your passive income already suffices your daily expenses that you will be considered financially free and out of the rat race.

Wealth however, according to a lot of these gurus, “is a state of mind”. True happiness usually follows true wealth.

But we are in the Philippines, a third world country. What do the terms being wealthy and  financially free mean to someone with an empty stomach? 

I have been walking