Should I Borrow Money?

Many people borrow money but you don’t have to follow suit. Think carefully the real necessity before you commit. Say “no” to avoid unwanted burden.

(Happy coins bag, a photo taken by the author)

The convenience of borrowing money lures people get into debts more often and the accumulated amount could be large if one keeps overestimating his ability in repayment. Overdraw chronically is like a running snowball that can’t be checked and its growth will make our life miserable. Thus, always ask yourself “Should I borrow money?” Think harshly and exercise sufficient self-control to avoid falling into the money pit.

Circumstances that one shouldn’t borrow money:

1) The item is not a must.

Consumers face many temptations daily. We are tempted to buy new clothes, bags, shoes, cell phones and so on. Sometimes, extra piece is unnecessary. Whereas, some desires are surprisingly transient and a rapid purchase will only result in unwanted waste.

2) There is an economic downturn.

Banks and other lenders always face difficulties in recruiting customers during an economic downturn. They will offer low interest rates to bait us borrow money. Be mindful of the shrinking job markets and it’s wiser not to borrow money at this unstable period.

3) Old debts are still hanging.

Some people are too accustomed in borrowing and fail to save enough money clearing the old debts. When emergency arises, they simply borrow more money, pay more interests, and endanger their personal finance to a new difficult level. It is more important to break the bad habit of borrowing and clear the old debts first.

4) You have other sources to earn money.

It is always advisable to save part of salary for future use. If you have no saving to meet the new needs, explore new sources of earning money, for example, have a part-time job, sell unwanted or no longer used items to cash money.

5) You have no feasible plan to clear debts.

Some debts are on a lump sum basis; whereas, others are in the form of installment. In either case, borrowers need to reserve money to pay the requested amount on time. If you can’t work out a viable plan on putting aside enough money for this purpose, don’t borrow money.

6) The future is gloomy.

Gloomy future may appear in various aspects such as political instability, crisis of world finance, poor career prospect, unstable relationship and personal health deterioration. It is wiser to delay consumption and focus on saving money until the circumstance is no longer gloomy.

7) You are not ready to commit.

Many people borrow money to buy a house, get married, and set up their family. The borrowing amount is often huge and it takes many years to clear the debt. Plan carefully and have a harsh self-assessment on whether you are ready to commit. Make sure you really know what kind of living you want to have, the degree of self-discipline required to settle the payments, and the difficulty making changes afterwards. If anything goes wrong, the financial burden and unwanted commitment will become a great stress that could be hazardous to one’s health.

Don’t make haste at borrowing money but ponder over the issue in an all-round manner. Seek a third advice (expert level if possible) to help you see the circumstance from a more realistic and long-term point of view. You could avoid the worse-off potential more confidentially then.

Author’s note:

Many people borrow money via the use of credit card. Wise use can be harmless if the amount is never large and you can reserve money to settle the balance on or before each payment deadline. Welcome to check out the following two articles for more details.

Maximize Eight Benefits of Your Credit Card

Use Credit Card Wisely and Leave No Debt

The Beauty of Jellyfish (with Some Interesting Facts)

Seeing the same jellyfish picking various colors, I couldn’t help asking, “Are they transparent in color?” Let’s learn more about this superb species.

I took the jellyfish photos at Sea Jelly Spectacular in the Ocean Park Hong Kong. The five photos below are showing the same group named freshwater jellyfish, which are small in size and colorless.

Not all jellyfish are colorless. For example, the purple jellyfish (scientific name is Pelagia noctiluca) vary in colors worldwide. The colors could be pink, mauve, golden yellow and tan.

Jellyfish have many different types, living in the ocean worldwide, from the surface to the deep sea.  Jellyfish have other interesting facts that are worthy of our knowing.

Interesting facts of Jellyfish:

1) It is one of the world’s most ancient animals, exist at least for 500 million years or even longer, say 700 million years.

2) Sizes vary from a few millimeters to over two meters.

3) Some types can sting; whereas, others cannot.

4) Box jellyfish have deadly poison that can kill a human in 30 seconds.

5) Lifespan varies typically from a few hours to several months. However, there is an unusual type reported. Turritopsis nutricula, another name is the immortal jellyfish, can revert to the polyp stage after becoming sexually mature. This reverting ability can go on non-stop if there is no interruption to the life cycle and hence, the lifespan of the immortal jellyfish is a mystery. Naturally, Turritopsis nutricula becomes an object of study for it may hold the key to human immortality.

Jellyfish looks simple, with the bell, jelly-like bodies and tentacles. This marine life moves by squeezing water out from beneath its body, and sinking happens when there is no squeezing. Jellyfish in the aquarium look so fascinating that it is the living proof of the beauty of Nature.

References:

a) Wikipedia.

b) Visual Factfinder: Natural World published by Bardfield Press.

Author’s note:

The earth is being polluted continuously. Some marine creatures are lovely to look at but they may under the threat of mass death. Seal pups are a typical example. Click into the article below to learn more about the tragedy happened so far.

Over 500,000 Seal Pups Drowned to Death

If you have the opportunity to pay a visit to Hong Kong, you may want to see jellyfish in person. There are more things to enjoy from this theme park. Click into the article below to have an idea what the gimmicks are.

Hong Kong Travel Guide: Ocean Park Hong Kong

The Beauty of Tulips (with Some Interesting Facts)

Tulips have various colors such as orange, white, red, yellow, pink and deep purple. Hope you enjoy my tulip photos and learn some interesting facts.

I took all the photos in a flower show that held recently. Though there were many different floral species in the exhibition, tulip was indeed the most eye-catching one. The beauty of tulips attracted many viewers and photographers. 

If you couldn’t help admiring its beauty, take a further step to learn more about this flower. Tulip has some interesting facts that are worthy of our knowing.

Interesting Facts of Tulips:

1. Do you know where Holland got the first tulip bulbs? They were from China. Setting up by Carolus Clusius in the late 1500s, the “first tulips” were grown in the famous flower garden in Leiden, Holland. Tulip cultivation in Holland began since then. Nowadays Holland becomes the most famous tulip growing and exporting country.

2. There are over 100 species for tulips.

3. Each tulip has four major parts (from top to bottom): flower part, stem, leaves and bulb.

4. Tulips are grown in the wild, in gardens and pots. They are also popular cut flowers.

5. Tulips bloom from bulbs that have layers because they are made of leaf parts.

6. Tulips belong to the monocot group and this means only a single leaf sprouted from their seeds.

7. Most tulips have a single bloom at the end of each stem.

8. Tulips have few leaves, usually two to six only.

9. Tulips are perennial flowers. They can bloom for many years and flower in spring. When winter approaches, all other parts die, leaving the bulbs alive underground to store food.

10. Holland began its cut flower trade with tulips in 1600s. The cut tulips are sent by air and keep chilled during the transport so that they can arrive fresh.

References:

a) Visual Factfinder: Natural World published by Bardfield Press.

b) Wikipedia.

Author’s note:

Besides tulips, you may want to take a look at some other flowers to enjoy their beauty as well. Welcome to click into the four photo links below to discover other impressive offers found in the Nature.

Beauty Contest: Ms. Flower Candidate No. One

Beauty Contest: Ms. Flower Candidate No. Two

Beauty Contest: Ms. Flower Candidate No. Three

Beauty Contest: Ms. Flower Candidate No. Four

Save Money by Wearing a Scarf in 25 Ways

A colorful scarf can help people look stylish. Learn how to wear it in 25 ways. You can unleash the potentials in clothes matching and save money.

Benefits of wearing a scarf:

A scarf offers additional warmth and decoration to one’s neck. When you are indoors and feeling hot, you can take it off easily and quickly. Feeling bored at one look? You can change to a new look within a couple of seconds if you are skillful in wearing your scarf.

Another benefit of wearing a scarf is for color matching. A scarf can be in different colors, either plain or assorted, and also in various patterns or themes. If you have a scarf with one whole color block following another one, you can switch color with the same piece by adopting different wearing methods. The YouTube video will demonstrate to you this little magic so that you can learn it for your own use.

Benefits to be a skillful scarf wearer:

Even a plain colored scarf will look wonderful if you can wear it in different ways. It is unnecessary to stuff your wardrobe with a lot of clothing items for a new look. Also, you can save money for clothing. So, keep practicing to be a skillful wearer. The effort will pay off and you could always look refreshing with just one scarf.

Author’s note:

One effective way in money saving is to maximize the use of the current items and buy less. The bonus for this practice is that we can be more environmental friendly. If you are interested in doing good to yourself and the earth, welcome to click into the two articles below to learn more on what we can do in our daily life.

Stop Being a Shopaholic

How to save water at home by developing some good habits

Awesome Chocolate Exhibitions

Many people like eating chocolate, but you can also feast your eyes when it is molded into awesome shapes. Explore and enjoy the creativity unleashed.

Chocolate could be a wonderful ingredient for arts and crafts. Besides enjoying the delicious taste, let's imagine walking into a Chocolate Wonderland. The visual impact could be stunning. If you can’t think of such an amusing place in your mind, take a look at my photos and enjoy the fantastic journey.

Time: February 2011
Venue: Harbour City

Chocolate Manneken Pis
(Doesn’t he look like the one in Belgium?
Only that he looks naughtier and fatter. LOL.)

Dress

(Wear me before eating,” the dress said. Ladies, are you dare to give it a try?)

Clothes

(Men may like to see their women wearing this on Valentine’s Day.)

Time: 1-19/2/2012
Venue: Gallery by the Harbour, Shop 207, Level 2, Ocean Centre.
Theme: Chocoholic’s Surreal World Art Exhibition

Train

Sheep

The trunk of a tree

Huge bird cage (This is the largest chocolate artwork in the exhibition. Decorated by Chocolate butterflies, the cage is big enough for visitors to get inside, stand straight and take photos.)

Mushrooms

Bunny

Horse

A weird clock

All the huge chocolates artworks were exhibited at different periods in Harbour City or Ocean Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui. When you visit Hong Kong, don’t forget to check this big shopping mall see if there is any new exhibition available.

After touring the Chocolate Wonderland, why not create one in your life? If you are interested in making your own chocolate artworks, start with a small size one for it will be easier to handle. What you need to learn is molding. Master the skill so that you could mold chocolate into many creative shapes. The finished product will be unique and serve well as a wonderful gift to others.

Author’s note:

Some people may find the chocolate artworks in this article too large and dare not take some bites for fear of toothache afterwards. If so, you may like to enjoy food and drink in a normal portion but with delicate decoration. Click into the two photo links below and let Charlie Brown fulfill your wish.

A Lovely Charlie Brown Coffee

Charlie Brown Tiramisu Cup

Lantern Carnival in 2012

This year the Lantern Festival is on the 6th of February. I saw many Chinese style big lanterns in display and took some photos to share with you.

Every year a lantern carnival will be held at Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong to celebrate the Lantern Festival, which is the Chinese Valentine’s Day. The default location is next to the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. This time the displayed area is larger than usual, extending to Sausbury Garden as well.

The lantern carnival keeps changing theme, for example, the Chinese Zodiac has been adopted for 2012. Visitors could see big lanterns of the 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac. My photos are arranged according to the standard sequence – begins with rat and ends with pig.

1.      Rat

2.      Ox

3.      Tiger

4.      Rabbit

5.      Dragon (2012 is the year of Dragon. Its lantern is the biggest. 
What a pity for not capturing the whole lantern in one picture!)

6.      Snake

7.      Horse

8.      Goat

9.      Monkey

10.  Rooster

11.  Dog

12.  Pig

Besides the Chinese Zodiac lanterns, visitors will also see big lanterns of some famous Chinese characters that symbolizing wealth and good fortune.

Fish (The Chinese name has the same pronunciation as another Chinese word, surplus. Thus, people will bless one another with the symbolic meaning “surplus every year”.)

The God of Wealth

The Chinese believe that seeing peacock fully opened will bring good luck to its viewers.

Wish you a prosperous year of Dragon and a happy Valentine’s Day!

Author’s note:

Big lanterns are eye-catching. Special flower arrangements and mall or shop displays are also peculiar enough to attract people’s attention and provoke their enthusiasm to take photos. Click into the two articles below and feast your eyes with amusing beauties.

When Animals and Flowers Fall in Love Together

Toy Story Franchise and Collection

Self-Improvement Projects

(Let’s plan with the Hello Kitty Calendar and launch some self-improvement projects.)

At the beginning of Year 2012, do you have any New Year’s Resolutions in mind for self-improvement? Get some and learn how to launch them properly.

My New Year’s Resolutions:

1. Lose weight, 10 pounds in 2012.
2. Watch a movie every Sunday (at least 53 movies) in 2012
3. Read one and a half book per week (78 books) in 2012
4. Discover a funny photo daily to make my day.

Haven’t come up with any resolution? Why? Some people don’t believe that their resolutions could come true. Others find the resolutions are more or less the same every year and it’s too boring to go on.

Failures to realize the resolutions are discouraging indeed. However, working out the desirable resolutions are important because they give hints on the aspects that are annoying you, for example, some areas you are not doing well enough or with great anxiety.

To introduce positive changes into our life, we need to work out the wanted resolutions and know how to make them real. Below are some suggestions for your adoption.

Stop making vague wishes

Examples are good health, get inspiration, have enjoyment, learn new things and be happy. When wishes are vague, they won’t take shape in your mind, but dissolve in air easily as if they never existed. We need to be specific and spell out the details. Think about the result and learn the paths to attain it. Search and acquired the knowledge needed. The effort will pay off as your wishes will become clearer and last longer.

Be quantitative

Set time and quantity for your resolution and don’t do these in a casual manner.  Learn the lessons from the past and if, previous experience is unavailable for reference, check the norms to decide on the optimal level. With quantity specified, it is easier to monitor our performance, to find out our strengths and weaknesses, and make appropriate adjustments earlier to improve efficiency and then the progress.

Be realistic and creative

Many people have their daily schedule already stuffed with activities and so, adding new resolutions could overburden the self. Always consider the resources you can afford for each resolution. Be realistic and creative in adjusting your agenda. To avoid overburden and unwanted failures, we could reorganize our current schedule and delete the meaningless activities to steal time for more desirable achievements.

Keep reminding, measuring, recording and monitoring

Print out the resolutions in big words and post them in your room as a reminder to kill your forgetfulness. Since many resolutions demand trial and error, and continuous efforts, we have to work patiently throughout the year.

To lose weight, you may start a new diet and exercise 30 minutes daily. Remember getting a bathroom scale to measure your body weight from the start and keep recording in a regular basis. The data will tell you how effective your effort was. Introduce a new strategy if the current one doesn’t work well enough.

Ask someone to send you encouragements

Have a more serious commitment by sharing your resolutions with others. They may not join in doing the same thing, but their

concern and encouragement may wipe away the loneliness that often tempts people to forsake during the course.

Invite participation from others

It is always nice to have companions in one’s pursuit, but it’s unnecessary to stick to one person only. For example, invite different people to jog with you or listen to your book report at deadline to meet your reading target. Enjoy sharing and the working process could be pleasanter than you imagined.

It’s never too late to think of new resolutions and make an effort to realize them. Hope everyone could succeed and have a prosperous year.

Author’s note:

We have a lot to learn in our lifetime.  Never be contented and don't allow ourselves turning down opportunities that could ease our life.

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