Tips + Tricks: Press Play On Your Financial Goals With FWD Life Insurance

FWD’s Press play campaign encourages Filipinos to pursue their goals once more

Every day is a new chance for happiness, for living life to the fullest, looking at things from a different perspective, and being closer to achieving our goals.

FWD Life Insurance recently released its newest campaign, Press play, to encourage people to press play on their goals that were halted by personal challenges, lack of resources or time, or perhaps the pandemic. Press play was inspired by FWD’s DNA and brand promise to celebrate living. For over five months, FWD searched all over Asia for real people who are doing just that. 

One of the six featured individuals is Filipina Pau Javier, who switched careers and became a potter during the pandemic. The former producer for TV and independent films not only pursued her hobby, she also founded Wabi-Sabi Studio with her sister and now teaches pottery and sells her own creations. 

Press play’s featured individuals reassessed their lives and goals, made changes, and are happier for it. That’s what we all aim for, isn’t it? Pursuing your goals can lead to happiness, according to a study by the University of Basel. As long as you have goals that seem attainable to you, your psychological wellbeing can improve, the study said.   

Working on goals gives us a sense of purpose and control and leads to self-confidence and exploring life in directions we may not have considered before. Ready to restart on your goals and make new ones? Here are 5 goals that are worth pressing play on. 

Health and well-being goals

People in good health are physically active and get adequate rest daily. No matter how busy your day is, get moving at least 30 to 60 minutes a day and aim for 7 to 8 hours of sleep to help your mind and body recharge. Eat more plant-based foods and swap fatty meats with healthy fats from fish and nuts. Maintain a healthy weight and less than 25 BMI. 

It helps your mental wellbeing when you try to pass on joy to people around you and talk to trusted friends and family members when you’re feeling stressed. If you feel overwhelmed by your sadness for extended periods, talk to a professional and get help. Peace of mind is also an important factor in your total wellbeing. One of the ways to achieve that is not having to worry about your health. Getting a health insurance is the best way to avoid stressing about getting sick. Knowing you can focus more on your wellness and recovery in case you get sick takes some heavy load off your mind.

Financial goals

Learn to manage your money. This involves spending, saving, earning, and investing. Financial goals are essential to creating a household budget and getting a clear picture of what you have and what you aim to have. Building an emergency fund should be an essential part of your financial goals which can be used for unplanned expenses like medical bills and simple (but costly) things like roof repairs or a fender bender.    

Talk to experts who know how to guide you in achieving your financial wellbeing, like an FWD financial advisor. It also pays to study and research money matters and tips on investing to grow your money even more. Experts can help you identify what kind of investment suits you, and having their expertise can help you focus on your goals.  

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Are You Eligible For A Pardon Under The Criminal Records Act {CRA}?

tips and tricks, lifestyle, mum's thoughts, current issues, current events

Everyone deserves a second chance. If a criminal record is affecting your life, there may be some good news. The government implemented changes to the Criminal Records Act {CRA} in 2012 to make it easier for those who have paid for their mistakes to get a fresh start. Companies like Pardon Applications can help you with the process.

What is the Criminal Records Act?

It’s a piece of legislation that suspends the criminal records of people who have been successfully rehabilitated. It takes any official documentation of a criminal conviction out of the automated criminal records system and files it separately. This means that when you apply for a job or other actions that requires a criminal background check, your record won’t come up.

One of the changes made was to rename Canadian Pardon to Record Suspension in order to take some of the stigma out of the conviction. Those who are eligible have shown good conduct and are no longer engaged in criminal activities, so their past should no longer affect their future.

What Does a Pardon Accomplish?

The short answer is that it can change your life. Having even a minor record following you around can limit your ability to travel, make you ineligible for bonding, keep you from getting a job or even stop you from furthering your education. There’s also the shame attached to having to disclose past mistakes.

How Do You Apply for a Records Suspension?

There are a few preliminary requirements you must meet before submitting your application to the Pardon & U.S. Waiver Officers board. These include completing your sentences and passing the waiting period of five years. The rest of the process mainly involves obtaining records and filling in forms. The records you’ll need are:

  • Convictions, Conditional and Absolute Discharges form
  • Court records
  • Military Conduct Sheet, if you’re a member or former member of the military
  • Local Police Records Check{s}, Proof of Citizenship or Immigration Documents
  • Photocopy of any documentation to support your identification

Once you have all of that gathered together, you’ll need to obtain and fill in Schedule 1 Exception, Record Suspension Application and Measurable Benefit/Sustained Rehabilitation forms. Place all of these items together, and send them with a processing fee of $631.00 {CDN} along with your application. Then all you need to do is wait a short time for an answer.

Going through the process alone may be stressful and confusing. If you think you’re a candidate to get your record suspended, talk to a lawyer about your situation. This act was meant to give people like you some relief so they can move forward with the lives.

:camera: via Pixabay

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Of Psychics + Fortune Tellers

lifestyle, mum's thoughts

Since time immemorial, man has been fascinated with the future and the unknown. In fact, our keen interest on soothsayers, palm readers and fortune tellers has survived centuries upon centuries and lived onto this day and age. In the dawn of  computers and modern technology, this colorful tradition carried on and kept up with the times. Now you can easily go online and search for a psychic service if you want fortune telling or palm reading services. Everything is done with a click of a button and with the convenience that the world wide web brings.

I have not personally tried going to a psychic for a reading but given the chance, I would like to give it a shot. There was a time when I went to Quiapo, where a bunch of fortune tellers lined up the side walk, if only I had more time then, I would’ve stopped for a tarot card or palm  reading. I think it would’ve been quite an experience.  My mama once had an unsolicited palm reading from a stranger and told her that all her children will eventually graduate from College {I was still in the university at the time}. That palm reader was right, after all, my parents were able to send all 5 of us to College.

Not most of us believe in fortune telling but trying it out, even once in  your life, will prove to be a worthwhile undertaking. Have you tried it yet?

image credit goes to John Stephen Dwyer {2009}, Wikipedia

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