Travel Bucketlist

So the adventure started. Ever since I was in college, I have this great desire for traveling. When I graduated, I was faced with the reality that such dream will require you a lot of cash. So I set it aside. My plan was to save and invest in the next four years (while I'm helping my parents send my siblings to school). It was definitely a struggle. Imagine paying for the whole apartment rent, plus bills, plus personal expenses and financial support to my siblings. Good thing I have my boyfriend who encouraged me. He never pressured me and has always been supportive. He knows about my plan so even if he has the means to go on a trip (with friends and office mates), he didn't.

Initially, my list only included Batanes. This list is updated every so often I come across a travel place worthy enough to be on my own bucket list. As of the moment, I have these on my list.

1. Batanes - Completed last July 2015 Will definitely blog about it soon.

2. Japan - If I have a favorite country, it'll be Japan. I'm not quite sure when my fascination with this country started but I know it was even before the travel hype started. There's just something about this country that makes my probinsiyana heart melts.

3. South Korea - Food, fashion and beauty. I think those things are more than enough reason for this country to be on my list. Or on your list.

4. Calayan Island - A one elusive island, Calayan Island captured my heart because of the rarity of articles written about it. Few people visit the island because of challenging way of transportation, limited means of communication and the possibility of being stranded. Exciting, right?

5. Churchill Manitoba, Canada - I wanted to experience the Polar Bear tours wherein you get to see them face to face, in their natural habitat. I wanted to see them before they go on extinction (hopefully not) as they are now listed as threatened with their population on a decline. I was inspired by this blog post. How thrilling it would be to look outside your window with this creature curiously staring at you too? Now is it part of your bucket list as well? :D

6. Maldives - Because Spring is in Korea, Autumn is in Japan, Winter is in Canada thus summer is in Male! *cross-fingers*

Financial Goals

• Have an Emergency Fund - This is a type of savings that you would only use during emergency, hence, it is called an emergency fund. Example is hospitalization. My parents doesn't have a regular job so this is a must for me. Ideally, it is required for us to have at least 6 months worth of salary as an emergency fund. You can keep this somewhere easily accessible such as savings account.
• Be Insured - Some people overlook the importance of an insurance not knowing that this are actually a necessity especially if you have a family who somehow relies to you financially. You wouldn't want to burden them in case anything happens to you. Good thing though is that there are now insurance that can act as a retirement fund as well. These are called VUL Life Insurance. To know more about it, you can visit Ms. Laroya's post about VUL Life Insurance on this link.
• Own a Piggery Business - As what most economist would say, play with your strengths. My mother, who grew up in a farm, has the know hows of a hog raising business. I've had my fair share taking care of them too when I was younger and they literally are piggy banks.
• Invest in Stock Market - You'd often hear financial advisers suggesting to diversify your income. Well, what better way to do that than to invest in a stock market. If you would like to know more about it, you can read Bro. Bo Sanchez' My Maid Invests in the Stock Market and A Beginner's Guide in Investing in the Stock Market by J3 Patino.
• Invest in Mutual Fund - If you still want to invest in the stock market but prefers a less risky approach, you can try Mutual Fund. It's still the same but instead of you doing the analysis, there will be some sort of middle men (SunLife, BPI etc.) who would do this for you. This can be considered as a long-term savings which gives you a return higher than that of the inflation rate and an other bank's interest rate.
• Own an Apartment-for-Rent - We've been from one apartment to another since I started working. And I learned that one of the best form of investment is real estate. No, not condominium as they depreciate over time, but house and lot. I admit that I can be the most lazy person on Earth which is why I dream of owning an apartment because you only work once or twice a month, the rest is your free time.
• Own a Farm - It's like hitting two birds in one stone. You earn money (by selling products) and you save money (by consuming your products.

About Me

Hello!

Off the Beaten Track is inspired by the blogger's desire to explore and visit places around the Philippines (and other countries too). Lakwatserang Maroon came from the Bicol Region and graduated from University of the Philippines LB. She started traveling late 2014 and is making use of this blog as her way of helping other travelers as well.

Lakwatserang Maroon is also interested in personal financing, photography, foods, books, movies, fitness and dogs. You may encounter few of these topics on this blog as well.

Enjoy reading!