Kuya Matthew's High School Journey: First School Recognition

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A few months ago, a significant event unfolded in our lives, and only now, amidst our busy work and study schedules, can I finally share this inspiring tale.

Kuya Matthew was among the fortunate students who undertook the entrance examination for the Special Science Curriculum at Prenza National High School for the school year 2022-2023.

The exam was a face-to-face affair, and initially, we didn't hold high hopes for his success. According to him, the test was exceptionally challenging, and he believed he had struggled to answer many of the questions. In fact, we had already registered him at another school, anticipating unfavorable results. However, when the results were announced, we were in for a pleasant surprise. Kuya Matthew secured the 11th position among the more than 250 hopefuls.

The journey ahead was laden with challenges, as the school year marked the return of face-to-face classes. Kuya Matthew had to make a significant adjustment to his routine, waking up at 4 in the morning, so he could be picked up at 5 am to avoid the morning traffic and attend his 6:30 am classes.

Throughout each quarter, Kuya Matthew's hard work and determination bore fruit, as he consistently shared the joyous news of making it onto the honor roll. Starting off at the 22nd place in the first quarter, he ascended to the 8th place by the second quarter and maintained this ranking until the end of the school year.

Kuya Matthew's dedication and passion for learning did not go unnoticed. He was not only recognized for his excellence in science but also excelled in other subjects such as computer science and Araling Panlipunan.

As the school year drew to a close, a special recognition event was held at the school. Mommy and I had the honor of accompanying him to this momentous occasion. Mommy proudly marched alongside him as he entered as one of the honor students, while I had the privilege of placing his well-deserved medal on the stage.

In the wake of his impressive achievements, we decided it was only fitting to treat him to a meal at one of his favorite restaurants.

A few weeks after the recognition event, his report card was made available, and we were greeted with a delightful surprise. One of the certificates stated that Kuya Matthew was ranked 10th overall and ranked 1st in Science overall. He had also earned a certificate with honors in Araling Panlipunan.

Here are some of photos during the event.

With his class adviser

Kudos to Kuya Matthew for his unwavering dedication and remarkable accomplishments. Keep up the excellent work!

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How to Teach Kids Save Money

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I have two kids now. Both are boys, a 12-year old and a 2-year old. Because of this, many people are encouraging us to have another baby again and maybe it will be a girl. Maybe... But we always leave everything to God. If He will give us another baby, a baby girl, then we will be grateful. That's another story I would like to write about.

Speaking of kids, we can teach them how to save as early as possible. Saving is something my parents don't teach me when I was a kid. Fortunately, I learned it my self or maybe I just value the hard earned money my parents gave me.

Here's how to teach kids save money:

Start them young

Start them young simply means "to begin doing something when you are young." Most parents may relate to this phrase especially when teaching their kids doing house chores, healthy eating habits, good manners and the likes. Teaching kids to save money while they are young is a good start.

Teach them the value of money

Teaching our kids the value of money will teach them how to save money but also how to spend money wisely. As a kid, I see how my mother worked until wee hours to be able to send us to school and buy our basic needs. That maybe the reason why I learned to save and spend wisely.

Now as a parent, I am telling my kids that we can not just buy what they want. It also helps that they go with us when we do the groceries and show them how to buy wisely. My eldest will sometimes exclaim "Mom, this is so expensive," and people will like us and say "he already know what's expensive is." 

Open a bank account and have a savings goals

 

There are banks that offers kids to open their own account. Here, you will be able to save their own money. Just in time with Christmas season, many kids received money from their Ninongs and Ninangs. Instead of spending, this can be placed in their bank account. Kids will also able to see how much money they have and monitor it through their passbook. You can set a savings goals for them too.

You can use SavingsCalculator.org to calculate savings goals.

You can use this calculator to know how much you are going to save each month and also to calculate how long it will take you to reach your goal.

Learn the Needs and Wants

Kids, in nature, are considered impulsive buyers. They have the tendency ask something to buy when you are in the mall or grocery. By teaching them to know what are the things they need or wants can help them think and reduce their urge to buy something at an instant.

Teach them how to earn money

Giving reward system will help kids learn how to earn their own money. Giving them simple house chores like cleaning their room, washing the dishes, vacuuming dirt in the carpet, taking care of their siblings will be a great way for them to have extra amount by handling them  money on your payday.

Those are ways how to teach kids to save money. Start them young is a good start. Saving will be a habit for them in the load run. And most of all, be a good example. Show them you also do what you are teaching them.

That's it. I hope I get to help you and your kids. It will be also nice if you can share your experience as well.

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8 Habits that Successful People Form

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Habits are the ultimate foundation of successful people. They are THE building blocks to success. Habits are the small, everyday things that successful people do that lead to bigger and better results. They are the steps taken each day to become more successful. Let’s dive in and discuss a few habits that successful people form and implement into their daily lives:

 

Goal setting

Goal setting - this is a great one to focus on first. If you are successful, you have goals, you set goals, and you figure out a way to accomplish those goals. Goal setting helps to focus attention, direct energy, and stay motivated. Setting achievable goals helps to move forward and progress in life. Goals provide direction and focus, and they should be realistic and achievable. Achieving goals gives a sense of satisfaction and boosts motivation. 

 

Organization

The second habit that successful people form is to be organized. This is such a good one and it’s very important to stay organized as a busy mom, an entrepreneur, as a full-time employee, or as a manager. Organization helps to manage time, prioritize tasks, and plan ahead. It allows for better decision-making and helps to avoid procrastination. Being organized helps to identify and focus on important tasks, and it also helps to prevent distractions.

Taking responsibility for your actions

The third habit that successful people form is to take personal responsibility. Taking responsibility helps to stay accountable, be more productive, and take charge of their own life. It helps to develop self-discipline and manage their time more efficiently. Taking responsibility also helps to stay focused and motivated, and it can prevent the distraction of negative thoughts and emotions. 

 

Being proactive is a game changer

The fourth habit that successful people form is to be proactive. Being proactive helps to identify and seize opportunities, and it also helps to move forward and progress faster. It also encourages creative thinking and problem-solving abilities. It helps to take initiative and take charge of one’s destiny. 

 

Stay disciplined

The fifth habit that successful people form is to be disciplined. Discipline is essential for success. It helps to stay focused, organized, and motivated. It also helps to develop self-control and stay on track. Discipline helps to stay consistent and stick to a routine. Without discipline, it is easy to lose focus and become easily distracted. 

 

Having a positive mindset

Want to form a good habit? Keep a positive mindset - no matter what! A positive mindset helps to stay motivated and focused. It encourages problem-solving and creative thinking. It also helps to stay optimistic, even in challenging times. A positive mindset helps to stay resilient and bounce back from failure. 

 

Focus on your health!

Ready for the best one of all? The seventh habit that successful people form is to stay healthy. Staying healthy helps to stay energized, focused, and motivated. It also helps to manage stress and stay productive. Eating healthy, exercising, and getting enough sleep are all important habits that successful people form. 

 

Use great companies to help you

There’s a fact that is true to every successful person - they know that they cannot do it all themselves. They cannot be in 10 places at once and they only have 2 hands, 2 feet, 2 ears, and 2 eyes. This is limiting, especially when you are a busy career-driven individual. If you need help tackling everything, divide and conquer. Use great businesses (even better if they are local!) to help you do it all - and then some. A great Georgia-based business is Criterion Technology, Inc. They do injection molding lenses, thermoforming, CCTV, subsea systems, and more. They have 30+ years of experience and all of their products are made 100% in the USA. Leaning on great companies (like Criterion) is a great way to give yourself the extra support you need.

These habits are the building blocks to success. They help successful people stay organized, motivated, and productive. They also help to stay focused and achieve their goals. Successful people form these habits to become the best version of themselves and to reach their full potential. These habits are the foundations of success and should be practiced regularly.

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5 Steps for Finishing Out a Basement

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I don’t claim to know it all when it comes to finishing out a basement, but there are a few steps that everyone has to do when finishing out a basement and that is what we are talking about today - how to do a basement finish practically and without spending a fortune. Let’s jump into the steps for finishing out a basement!

 

Framework

First and foremost, you will want to begin with the framework. I highly recommend getting a professional's opinion on this because unless you have experience with engineering, framework, and loads, you might do more harm than good, trying to take the project on yourself. For example, if you need to open up a wall, would you be 100% certain that it’s not a load-bearing necessity for structural support? If you have any small sliver of doubt in your mind, use a professional for this part of your basement finish. Trust me - it will be very worth it! Framing out closets and other rooms is not very hard, but if you do not know anything about structural engineering, you better just sit back and relax.

 

Plumbing

After you have your framework done, you can begin doing plumbing work, because you will know where you need water (ie. bathrooms, laundry rooms, kitchens, etc.). Plumbing work has the potential to become tricky depending on what you need, but if the plumbing work is pretty straightforward, a lot of people can do it easily with a little help from handy dandy YouTube! If you need to install pumps for toilets, or if you have to Sauter metal piping, this is where it gets a bit trickier. Or, if you are not a handy person and need a little assistance, once again, it’s better to sit back and let the professionals get to work. One thing that I will say is that if you are not certain of your ability to run piping without leaks, don’t do it. Water damage is definitely not something that you want to mess around with because it has the potential to really ruin a house - or even the health of the people who are living in that house. A great example of that is my friend, Alex. She recently moved into a new home, not knowing that there was extensive mold under her shower tiles. She started experiencing full-body hives every single day. They just started demo-ing the shower, because she expected mold, and they found huge amounts of really toxic black mold all over the tiles, down beneath the concrete pad, and all along the waterproofing. While she still has hives (not all of the mold is out yet), she already feels so much better. This goes to show that mold 100% can affect someone and it should be avoided at all costs.

 

Electrical

Before you finish your drywall, you’ll need to run electrical to all of your rooms. A lot of basements already have electrical installed, so this may or may not be something that you need to do.

 

HVAC

This is a good one and it’s something that you 100% need to hire out yourself. HVAC is one of the most expensive parts of a basement finish, but it’s very worth it. If you are re-doing your basement, you might as well make it comfortable, so add that HVAC in as soon as you can!

 

Final touches

Last but not least, work on your final touches like tile, countertops, paint, and window finishing. If you need a company that makes countertops Amazon easy, check out Click Countertops. They should be your go-to for quartzite countertops and more because they have the experience AND great reviews. They have more than 20 years of experience in the industry and their mission is to save you time, money, and headaches.

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5 House Hunting Tips To Look For First Time Buyers

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Purchasing a home can be some of the most exciting moments of your adulthood but it can also be extremely stressful. Although there are a few details that might look different right now, the overall process of buying a home remains the same and figuring out the key steps can help you reach your goal and make your dream a reality with just a few things. Regardless of when you actually plan to buy a home, there are a few tips you need to look out for. On average, looking for the perfect home can take roughly a few months. You need about 2-4 months to find the right house and then add another month to close. The process can also take a while as well such as looking at your credit and financing options, finding a real estate agent and making offers to negotiate the right price.

Buying a home can be stressful during the best of times, and it might feel positively overwhelming during a pandemic. Although a few of the details may look different right now, the overall process of buying remains the same — and understanding the key steps can help you reach your goal and make your dream a reality.

1. Credit Score

One of the biggest tips to helping you house hunt is knowing what you can actually afford. Your credit score has a lot to do with this. A credit report is pulled from data from three major credit reporting agencies including Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. In this report, it shares both your FICO score and your Vantage score. The higher your credit score, the lower the interest rate you’ll receive. Generally speaking, a credit score of 720 or higher will get you a good interest rate on a conventional loan, but qualification criteria depends on the specific lender. For FHA loans, you can usually get approved with a credit score of 580 or higher. If you are unhappy with your score there are a few ways to impact your score including the type of credit, length of your credit history, total debit and payment history. 

2. What Can You Afford

Once you are pre approved a lender will tell you the max amount you are able to borrow. Once you have a budget in mind, make a list of some of your must-have home features. Your price point will dictate the size , location and amenities of your future home. Below are a few ideas to keep in mind such as the type of home, preferred location, square footage, number of bathrooms and bedrooms and school district.

3. Location

Next to finding out what you can afford, location is the biggest thing first time homeowners look for. If you can’t find or afford a home in your ideal neighborhood you’ll want to look at one that fits your budget, your needs and your lifestyle. Remember, your home’s location cannot be changed so take time to really look at them and where you’ll be the happiest living for a few years. 

Scorpion Septic

4. Help From Professionals

If there is a home you love and it comes with a septic tank, something which you may not know much about, call in the professionals to make sure everything is up to date. The friendly staff at Scorpion Septic can help answer any questions for first time buyers, show you how everything works as well as how to properly care for your septic tank. They can run by how to clean the tank, tips and tricks for maintenance year round and more and as one of the best septic pump business’s in the Dallas, Georgia area, you will be more than impressed with the quality of work they provide. 

 

5. Keep In Mind Needs Vs Wants

There’s a big difference between wants and needs, so create two different lists when searching for a home. For instance, a shorter commute may be a must-have, but smart home features are a nice-to-have. Practicality and functionality should always take priority over the bells and whistles!

As you begin your house hunting tours, keep these tips in mind, do your best to find one that fits the must wish list and also see what you can afford but don’t feel as if you need to purchase a home at the top of your budget. Again, you can always work on cosmetic items and go slow when making this house a home.

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