Like social media tools (read: Facebook or Twitter), these ideas might be new however, with a good “I-can-do-this” attitude, coupled with these tips, you’ll be financially literate in no time:
1. Google it. We are fortunate to have a wide array of information at our fingertips. Want to know what rate of return means? Just type it on a search engine and you’ll be answered in more ways than one. From the simplest to the most complex, the choice is yours.
Bright tip: Consider including personal finance blogs on your reading list. Articles like these make things, well, personal. As you browse through their posts, you’ll hear (read) the author thinking out loud. What works for them? What are their thoughts on this type of investment? Some posts can be pretty basic but every individual's beginning point varies --- the good thing is you can always start somewhere.
2. READ books. There is a boom on financial literacy initiative among Filipinos recently and this is a good thing. You may have probably noticed that more local books are being published in the past months. You’ll appreciate that local authors, from different walks of life, share their stories on how to save, invest and finally enjoy a brighter future.
Bright tip: Some interesting reads include No Nonsense Personal Finance by Randell Tiongson, Stock Smarts: Stock Investing Made Easy by Marvin Germo and Productive Pinoy by Yeng Remulla. We are grateful for books that are written by Filipinos as they make personal finance more understandable and relatable.
3. ATTEND seminars. Most people will agree that human interaction is still the way to go. Surfing the internet and reading books are fun but physical conversation will almost always trump self-learning. That’s the beauty of seminars – it engages people to participate and in the process, you’ll learn and share your experiences at the same time.
Bright tip: If you, at the moment, are not comfortable to shell out some money for a seminar, you’re in for a treat. Every so often, Brighter Life launches a Personal Finance Planning Series for free! The event is free and all you have to do is confirm your (and your friend’s) slot. Follow Brighter Life on Twitter (@BrighterLifePH) to be in the know.
4. INVEST in short term courses. Just in case you find money matters really interesting, you may go the extra mile and enroll on short term courses. The thought might be a bit daunting at first, but learning something new can be exciting. Not to mention that you can build a wider range of network while you cultivate your personal finance prowess.
Bright tip: Since most short term courses come with a cost, make sure that you have researched well before you enroll. While we want to invest in ourselves, we should be keen to verify that this course is tailor fit to provide the knowledge and expertise that we need. Check out the Registered Financial Planner curriculum and see if it's something you may want to try.
5. Just ASK. You’ll always have that friend who can help you understand the basics of financial planning. If there’s none, that’s okay. You can comment on blogs, tweet or e-mail your favorite authors or talk to your pleasant financial advisors.
Photo used under Creative Commons from Simon Cocks
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