I have been posting entries lately about the importance of getting insurance coverage (e.g. auto insurance). In fact, there is insurance coverage for almost any thing these days. Car insurance, home insurance, even television sets or Ipods have some form of insurance offered to buyers. At the onset, it can be perceived as purely a cost but if the benefits are considered, then the premium payments become a worthwhile investment.

When we purchased a Nintendo Wii, we had to think whether we would get an extended warranty. After the salesperson’s explanation of the benefits and how fragile the gaming gadget is, we add it on to our purchase.

Of course, what’s more important is getting life insurance. I can’t put enough stress to this, on how this should be a priority of the earner in the family. Sickness and disability can happen to any one and therefore it is best to secure the family’s finances.

I known of an insurance agent turned friend who was once cynical of paying premiums for a coverage one may or may not use. Until tragedy hit her family and her parents passed on with no insurance to cover the family they have left behind. This has become her motivation factor to build a career on financial investments.

There are a lot of companies, agents and coverage out there. It’s a matter of spending time to study the options and get what is a suitable deal.

The drive from Sydney to Snowy Mountains is about five hours. But my husband didn’t mind the long drive at all. The long-stretch of highway has plenty of sceneries that will keep your mind off the physical stress and on to the beautiful sights.

Isn’t it nice to drive under the clear blue skies and on empty highway roads?

I have another entry here. More weekend snapshots, here!

I consider it a big blessing to have landed a job in the information technology (I.T.) industry. I didn’t plan to get myself into it but work opportunities came for me to be trained and be involved in different projects.

This industry is so dynamic that one should continuously learn new trends or version releases in order to keep up with the market’s growing demands. This is the reason why I.T. training has become a lucrative industry in itself. Aiming to shift to I.T. or to simply upgrade skills or knowledge is now within arms reach. I believe that it is worthwhile to invest in training though in order to be effective, training must be coupled with actual project experience.

Since I.T. is very broad, as it covers hardware, software systems to name a few, training offered these days are countless and extensive. There are many companies these days that offer specific or tailored course outline suited for an individual or group trainees. At the tail end of each course, certification is an option for the trainee to take.

In Singapore, many of the IT guys I have met went through Cisco certification and have enjoyed a well-deserved pay rise thereafter. The same goes for other IT certification as well.

Years ago, there was a big demand for certified SAP (an ERP software) consultants. It is so expensive even to this day that companies offer this type of training with a corresponding bond. This bond keeps the employee tied to the company for certain number of years. I guess this is a good form of investment for both parties.

These days, many companies prefer work/project experience but training certificates can always add a little “umph” in your credentials.

The first time I was offered an insurance coverage (that was over 10 years ago), I must admit that I was clueless. At the high level, I know that it’s a form of investment but the words coverage maturity, premiums, etc confused me.

It was through the help of an insurance agent that the details were explained to me. I learned bit by bit about health, life and term life insurance. After our thorough discussion, I then became equipped to select a suitable coverage.

(Marahil lahat ng taga-LP ay alam ang lokasyon ng aking lahok. Isa ito sa paborito kong puntahan sa Tagaytay kahit noon pang sa Cavite ako nakatira. Paborito ko ang mamasyal sa Taal Vista para magpahangin at makapag-isip-isip.)

I guess most if not all LP members know the location of my entry for this week. Taal Vista is one of my favorite spots in Tagaytay. I like hanging out along the deck to relax and unwind. I miss Tagaytay.

May isa pa akong lahok dito at marami pa mula sa Litratong Pinoy.

I have earlier posted an entry regarding the incredible stylish new frames from Zenni Optical, like the photo below. With the demand for style and reasonable price, Zenni Optical was on Fox news! and I bet that the feature has made their company more competitive and popular.

Would you believe that Zenni Optical $8 Rx Eyeglasses are now in the market? Go visit their site to find out more.

I didn’t realize that Nevada is a retirees’ haven until I went to the US years ago. We visited my uncle and aunt in Las Vegas and found that most homeowners there are retirees. Aside from the properties there which are cheaper compared to say, San Diego, the reason for them to move to LV is the quick access to casinos. I saw a lot of them on the slot machines with big buckets of coins beside them.

But now technology offers a new way of gaming like playing bingo or even slot machines online. www.888ladies.com is a gaming website specializing on family bingo. It just requires a simple registration to get started. As soon as the people 888ladies confirm your membership, the game begins!

Maybe that’s how the retirees want to reward themselves after long years of hard work, just sitting in an air-conditioned room while pressing the “hit” button on the slot machines. Now with a new gaming option available on the internet, I wonder how many times they will get lucky.

You’ve got an extra $1000 in your checkbook and a totally free weekend. Where would you go and what would you do?

I would like to bring my daughter to the theme parks in Goldcoast.  So it’s a weekend getaway in Brisbane!  The money left of the $1000 will be used for food tripping.

source [That's My Answer]

I love the ’80s. I have so many favorite artists, actors, music and movies from that era. For movies, I heart Footloose, Back to the Future, Pretty in Pink and a lot more. I remember watching them not just once but tons of times.

It would be nice to see them on the widescreen again just like the movie WarGames. Remember Matthew Broderick playing a role of a computer geek who ended up tapping into the Military Defense’s war computer? This ‘80s classic is celebrating its 25th anniversary and there will be a one-off event to screen this movie in selected theaters. There will be special interview clips and features from the film creators and actors.

Mark your calendars on Thursday, July 24th to see this ‘80s flick, WarGames.

What other career have you always been interested in? If you could do it for a day, what would you like to do?

I wanted to do volunteer work for the longest time. I’m dreaming that one day, financial obligations aside, I’d be able to join a non-profit organization caring for children.

source [That's My Answer]