Tip for the Day

Start your investments early in life.
As a youngster, you have more cash at your disposal. Start your investments early. Planning a house as soon as you are settled in your first job is a good idea. Anytime is good for investing in a house to live in. Think twice in these days of inflation/high interest rates etc when you look for a second house. Investing in a plot in the city where you plan to retire might be a good idea. Invest in other asset classes like stocks/gold/silver even if it is in a small way. Avoid Fixed deposit as far as possible, as it gives pathetic returns and also the returns are taxed heavily. If you haven’t done so start looking at stocks where the tax treatment is very amicable. Even if you make loads of profit from stocks you can get exemption from paying tax , through legal means. We’ll discuss this in coming days.

Tip for the Day

First and foremost, live within ones means.
Ask the question like “Do I really need it ?”, “Is there an alternate option ?”, “Can I afford it ?”, before every purchase, especially for big ticket purchases like a home or a car. Banks might be lining up for providing loans. But should you really go for that huge three bed room apartment or that luxury sedan? Ask questions to yourself on affordability, maintenance etc. For eg: one may have to shell out more on property tax, registration, wood work (and higher charge even for the maid who cleans the house !) when it comes to a bigger residential unit. And in the case of a Sedan think of the insurance , fuel efficiency etc. Don’t just go for such purchases just to show off. Do your math!!

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Monster Mom

Being a full time or working mom isn't easy. People may say that Mothers are born to be mothers. But kids who grow up seeing their mothers work, would want to follow the same example. I feel a mother becomes a mother by trial and Error method. Atleast thats the way for me. Every new day keeps me on my toes. WE have to learn from our mistakes on child rearing and managing a household.

A mom has to keep juggling plenty of things at a time. A typical day for a Mom starts with preparing food for the whole family early mornings, waking up her kids,packing their food and bags. If the kids are small she need to follow their timetable, sending them to school. Doing laundery. Ironing clothes,making the bed,keeping the house spic and span (altho maids do it these days)...whatever happens in her house has to be under her supervision. She has to do the provision shopping for her home and the lists she has to make for everybody is endless. Ensuring that the kids teeth r brushed, potty traning,teaching and inculcating in them good habits all come under a mothers resposibility.

Whats moms miss themselves most is their personal space. For me, after the the birth of my 1st kid, what i missed the most, was my sleep. I used to sleep a lot and would feel disppointed that my sleep cycle was not regular after my delivery. After they grew a little, the next thing i missed was, some time for myself. I would finish all my work, with the thought that being in the restroom atleast would give me some time for myself. But the moment i entered it , my girl would come asking: "Mama where r u? what r u doing inside ?" That really used to spoil my mood. Initially I would keep quiet(to control myself), but then they would keep repeating so much to my annoyance, that I would end up shouting at them.

Again I used to think that once they grow, that I would be more free. But then its back to square one, our studies begin with them entering school. We have to learn first to teach them. Teaching them to write and ensuring that they keep their books clean. FEw kids are born with such good habits but for kids like mine i have to keep repeating stuff. Sometimes my mouth aches with repeating things( I basically was a quiet person). Bringing discipline to my kids would take a lifetime I feel. By then I think i would become a Monster Mom. And then I wonder what I would do once my kids leave me. Its a saddening thought.

Finding time for onself is a skill that we moms have to develop over time. To sum it all up "Having kids and raising them up is the most challenging work on this earth". :)

Stress Free?

Many of us have forgotten to Smile !
Stress and worries in life have made us look rude. Life is too precious to be spent worrying. If one has a will, living a stress -free life is not that difficult. Have we ever asked ourselves what we are looking for in life ? What could be the answer? All Questions lead to this answer, 'Peace of Mind'. Where can you find it ? Look within yourself !! I agree, its a broader subject altogether.

One of the many reasons for stress is worrying about things like “How will I repay my housing loan ?” , “ What if there is a lay off ?”, “ How will I find money for my next months vacation ?”. Isn’t it True ? Financial Worries lead to greater stress. Money isn’t everything, but not having enough of it for the basic necessities, causes so much stress one can't just imagine. Here are a few tips to attain ones Financial Nirvana. It might be useful in these days of higher inflation and living costs.

Most of the points won’t apply equally for all. However I’ve kept it generic and it’ll be a good beginning. Your comments and suggestions are welcome. So from tomorrow, there will be a simple tips under this link, for keeping your Home Finance straight and bringing a smile back to your face.
Welcome to a Stress Free Life !!

Shanghamugham Beach Episode

It was the final year of college. Me and a few friends(7 of us) ,were doing a project in Trivandrum for our final Engineering exams. We were planning a trip to Shanghamugham beach before we left TVM. It was getting postponed as we wanted all of us to go to the beach together. Finally ,one fine day we did all become free to go..we took 2 autos and finally reached the beach by almost evening.

We all were excited to play in the water. Few people were warning us as the waves were rising higher and higher. We had to move so much backwards each time the waves came back rising higher. One of my close freinds and me were holding hands with our back turned towards the sea and talking about something. Suddenly one big wave came and swept us off our feet before we could get back. Both of us got separated and were gushed away into the sea.

A lot of things were passing thru my mind as my nose and ears were getting filled with water. I thot that was the last of me. The thots of my parents and how they would react, thots about where I'll be going next etc etc. For some time I felt as if I were a baby being rocked in the cradle of the sea(hahahahaha....it became a trademark joke about me , when i spoke of this dialogue to my friends). Deep Inside of me I knew I had to come out of this situation. I struggled hard to get a grip of the sand below but that too was being washed away by the sea. My other friends were shouting out for help while all this was happening. Even the (so called )rescue guards declined to help.

I hadn't gone as far as I had anticiptated(which was later confirmed by my friends). A few seconds later, I was pulled out of the sea by a local hefty man. My other friend managed to return as she knew a little swimming even tho it was tuff for her to swim against the powerful tide. After I was pulled out,I cud stand on my own 2 feet. It was too embarassing coz a crowd had already gathered around us. People who weren't ready to help us out were there to point fingers at our carelessness. Water came out from my nose and ears. Once I was found to be OK, we decided to go thank the hefty man. He was standing a little faroff with another man. We all gathered and went to thank him.( all of us thanked him one by one and showed our gratitude). But The men were inviting us to go to their "Thattu Kada"(tea Shop which was a little far off) to have tea and change if we wanted. We said we were fine even tho Me and friend were drenched from top to bottom. The hefty man and his friend were drunk coz we were all getting the "drunk stink" and they kept repeating whatever they said.

After we realised this we ran for our lives as we didn't want people gathering around us there too. We took 2 autos back to our hostel and on the way we had some food at the Kalavara restaurant in TVM(donno if its still there). BY then our clothes were almost dry.
That day really shook all of us and we kept thanking GOd that he saved us. It didn't matter whether that hefty man was drunk or not, we were thankful to him too . I wudn't be sitting here and writing this if I weren't saved that day.

That God works in mysterious ways to save his children is what we learnt that day thought it was the hard way.

Attitude

Its been a month now that my yunger girl's going to school. She has not been feeling well for the past 2 days. Yd night she went to bed with cough and a blocked nose . Today morning she was not getting up. I thot let her sleep and take rest today, i was feeling paavam for her. Today she gets up saying she wants to go to school. I really felt happy to hear that. I wanted to give her medicine before she left. Other than Honey and turmeric( home remedy) ,i thot of giving her Chericof(cough syrup), so that she will get temporary releif from cough atleast during school hours. She didn't want it coz of its bitter taste. I tried telling her that she'll be better if she takes it, even tho its bitter. She said: "Its ok Mama, let there be cough". I just love that Attitude.

Curious

After explaining to both my girls from where they were born they r always curious about Mummies with a big tummy. Whenever they see a lady with a big Tummy(mostly when I am in conversation with them), my yunger girl asks me : "Mama, why is that Aunty's Tummy big? Is there a baby in there?"

I always end up telling this, that the aunty's tummy didn't get small after the baby came out. I feel releived when she askes me secretly instead of blurting it out loud.

Innocent Blood

The past few years saw the unfolding of a lot of high Profile (which were being hushed up by influential People)murder cases. From the Jesicca Lal case to the decade old(even more than that) Sr. Abhaya murder case. Perhaps the most shocking of them all, is the 'The Nithari(Noida) killings', where many Innocent children(mostly girls) were killed. Around 40 bags of bones were found.How can the guilty remain unpunished after these brutal crimes?

There is no escape for people who murder. They may think nobody watches them do it but eventually they will be caught. The Bible itself speaks of the story on Cain and Abel. When Cain was Jealous of his brother, (as his brother was more acceptable in the sight of GOd), he kills his brother, thinking no one noticed him do it. But the Lord confronts him and asks him. Quoted from Genesis Chapter 4:verses 9 and 10" Then the Lord said to Cain,"where is Abel your brother?" He said,"I know not. Am I my brothers keeper?" And He said,"What have u done?The voice of Your brother's blood cries out to Me from the ground.
Thus saying the Lord places a curse on Cain.
Every Innocent blood shed will be avenged, if not by Men, BY God Himself! Every crime will come into light because there is a God who watches over us all.

Sleep and Smile

Sleeping and Smiling,

Is an art of Living.

Sleep and Smile,

Work a long Mile.

Sleep for your Body,

A time to rest.

A Smile for your Buddy,

Is what they need Best.

Sleep to forget,

Your Worries and Duties.

A Smile to Brighten ,

A World in Darkness.

Sleep to renew,

And Restore your Energy.

A Smile really Spreads,

And makes everyone Happy.

It's my hobby,

I should say.

To Sleep and Smile,

Makes my day.

Anger

People who get angry over silly matters make life more complicated.

Kaleidoscope

This is a game which we bought a few months back. We were all fascinated to see how this game works. Its a small grid which need to be filled in completely, with blocks of uneven shape(different colours on the top side and bottom side) with no gaps howsoever .

We tried doing it first..there r many challenges in the game. My elder girl had a try and she came back and showed me a tough challenge that she did by herself. We just cudn't believe that she had done it as we ourselves were new to the game. There was a book which came along with this game. We just took that book and turned to the back of that book and discovered that there were clues to how to do a few challenges. She had looked up that and did one, which she claimed she did by herself. Clever girl. They do anything to get praise from their parents.

All of us had our turns in playing that game for days but finally there was one person who wudn't let any of us to play it. It none other, than my yunger girl. She just wudn't allow anyone of us to play the game...she keeps on playing it whenever she finds it.
Try it ..its a Super game!!..u can call it a Puzzle too. Its a Strategy game that can shape up a child's imagination . They have a website..www.funkc.com.