Tribigah Temple and Manthana Palace.
This abundant palace of 'Devi Chaudhurani' dated back to 1703-04 AD and the temple is 150 years old. The palace is located near the Pirgacha Upazila Office and Pirgacha Railway Station of Rangpur District- Bangladesh.
*History tells us that Manthana Zamindar of Peergacha, as the first woman in India at that time, led the movement with arms against the oppression of the subjects of the East India Company during the British period. The ruined ancient temples of Devi Chaudhurani's palace stand as witnesses of time.*
Every year various pujas are organized in the temple of Rajbari. At present, the Kachari Ghar and Natya Mandir of Devi Chaudhurani's Rajbari are being used as Pirgacha Upazila Sub-Registry Office. Here every year the Hindu community observes Puja Parvan. Apart from this, various cultural, religious, and social organizations organize events here locally as well.
We visited the temple a few days back to get some paperwork from the Sub-Registry Office. I have heard about this beautiful historical place before but this was my first visit there. You may have guessed that the temple is redone several times and now it looks a bit different than what it used to be in the old time. This is not a tourist center but I believe it will be easy to develop it as a state-sponsored tourist center around the amenities of the Palace because of its significance.
**Thanks.**
It's that time of the year! - Looking for some much needed motivation.
It's 'No motivation November', again! I feel less motivated during this time of the year. Though the blue month is over, it still feels like November!
The thing is, I don't live in a place where the weather goes down below 10. So there's no way it's because of the bad weather. But I guess it's a universal thing. Mostly because November reminds us what we have done wrong for the whole year and now we don't have time to repair anything.
We have to do our daily things like going to our workplace, and taking care of all the other responsibilities even if we don't feel like we have nothing but to go on. I can't remember when was the last time I took a break/leave and rest in my house. So feeling down is not an option although I feel very cold inside.
**In that case, motivating ourselves is the only option to keep going.**
I personally follow the 'home & work' separation method.
I can't show my sad face to my kids, I have to smile even if not feeling it. So the best way to be in a good mood at my home is not to think about work.
Also, at work, it helps me to be consistent in thinking about whether I can take a break in my house.
But it always doesn't go this smoothly.
Although taking a break is not possible but I try to rest on the weekend.
I didn't go outdoors for the whole of November but spent time with my family. It cut down the extra stress.
Self-motivation.
This time shall pass soon. This is what I tell myself. There is so much unaccomplishment. Like even in crypto. I lost a great value of my holding and am not near to my goal.
But that's okay. I can't go back and fix everything. One year passed and now I have to reschedule/replan everything to do better in the next year.
That's what I can do, nothing else.
*Photo source* https://unsplash.com/photos/7g5gW-j62E8
Thanks for reading.
Be aware of the FIFA NFT Scams.
The ongoing craze about FIFA digital collectibles aka NFT is much noticeable. With exclusive prizes in different NFT competitions & gamification, it really seems very attractive. FIFA itself licenses multiple Web3 and NFT games for World Cup. Also, the top crypto site called Crypto.com is also running fantasy football games on the official FIFA website. It looks like a total paradigm shift to me in a positive way.
I'm not into NFTs. But my feed is blown away by such news and that sure is interesting. I was thinking about how much those NFTs are actually worth. Looks like, they are not at least price less. But the question is how authentic those programs are. No need to say that the top NFTs are outstanding in the field. You may have heard about the hype of NFTs launched by Cristiano Ronaldo. When people like them come into the platform, there's no way we can stay ignorant.
**That's when NFT hawkers try to cash in!**
*Photo: Made by Canva.*
The truth is not all NFT launches are authentic. One thing about NFT that always scares me is how genuine the fake one looks. It's hard to distinguish because scammers are always ahead of the game. Often time, the scammers pose as genuine NFT trading platforms on social media to promote NFT giveaways. You will sign in to the real program but get the fake one.
Also, creating a token for an NTF is so easy; anyone can do that and with the evil intention they can scam some money as well. Platforms like different NFT sites are new and may not be secure, so any crypto wallet data that users enter might be at risk if the site’s database is leaked. Also, they are not on watch as much as other crypto sites.
"The Cybersecurity Company, Kaspersky, uncovered many phishing sites and NFT scams profiting from the Qatar 2022 World Cup football event." - source. https://en.tempo.co/read/1659214/phishing-to-nft-scams-profiting-from-the-2022-qatar-world-cup
"Fake FIFA merchandise like T-shirts, phone cases with popular players and even signed balls are another lure cybercriminals are using" - source. https://www.tomsguide.com/news/these-world-cup-2022-scams-will-steal-your-data-and-your-money-how-to-stay-safe
All this info is enough to make a noticeable person alert about this. Still, some will fall for the scams.
*I would suggest always using the reputed NFT marketplace. Never fall for lucrative advertisements and giveaways. Keep an eye on the link you are clicking on and the site is redirecting you. Check the NFT history and the pricing. And last but not the least, keep your wallet, device, and pass/seed secure.*
I believe, if you invest in the right NFTs you can make good money and earn some nice collectibles. Keep in mind to be aware of the scam, that's it.
Good luck.
Thanks for reading.
The game of losing everything- Crypto, FTX, and some more talk.
People used to say a crypto is a place where we will lose everything. It was somehow true to some extent. Even in today's situation, many already became to the bottom because of recent crypto heists, hacks, and dramas.
It will be the same for a long time. If you don't believe so, take a look at the market.
*Photo: made by Canva*
**Crypto is unpredictable. But if you lose everything it's your fault.**
There are so many altcoins, tokens, exchanges, and options; you can always make a second choice. The unpredictability and lack of info make it harder to take the right decision at the moment but it's never impossible.
For example, the uncertainty and financial stability of FTX were in the market for a few days before it went bankrupt. I wouldn't say investors had enough time to take away their billions. But it was quite possible to move some before the fund got stuck.
**Should we bet on something where we can lose everything?**
How come our strategy would be something that we have the chance to lose everything? That's the first question.
Keeping all our money in one exchange/one place is at the top of the investment risks. Just because some platform seems safe, and gives good returns doesn't mean we need to give them everything. And by saying so, I mean it. Because crypto is never in our hands, it's our money but they are taking care of it.
**What do I follow?**
I have shared in an earlier post that I keep 20% of my money in a liquid form, and 30% in such crypto/tokens that I believe are stable. And the rest 50% are on a bet, I'm hopeful about them but not sure.
I primarily use Coinbase, Binance, probit, and Bittrex. I occasionally use Huobi and Bitfinex.
They are not just for crypto exchange but I hold a portion of my asset there for regular trading. Also, Hive/HBD recently became another means of investment for me.
I never can imagine what my situation will be if I have to lose anything in one of my accounts. But if so, then I never have to lose at least everything.
That's the peace of mind I carry.
I know there are many clever ideas but this is what works for me. And I never like the idea of exchanging high returns with high risks. I would rather settle for a few less with safe money.
**In conclusion I never believe it is a place to lose everything but gain many things. The choice is ours.**
Thanks for reading.
Do you settle for less in return on your crypto investment?
Generally, the higher the IRR, the better. However, that’s not always the case. Many prefer to earn a high return in exchange for high risk and vice versa.
It’s an age-old question in crypto, should we sell or hold for long? Do we need to settle for less return or wait long enough for high payback?
I personally believe that it depends on our investment strategy, goal, and asset management, as well as many other unavoidable crypto environments.
*Photo: Made my Canva*
**Should we settle our investment earlier/with less return?**
I believe we can and we should if we think so and feel the necessity.
Money has a different meaning for all of us. If growing slowly doesn’t affect your total asset then you can liquidate your crypto earlier.
For example, many already sold their BTC holding in a recent $22k position. I too sold 20% of my holding but not everything because I will wait longer to get a good return. On the other hand, I didn’t want to lose more so I sold and settle for a 12% return.
I believe, waiting longer can give me as much as 25-30% in return.
You see, this all depends on how we manage our total assets. There’s nothing wrong to settle for less return if you feel the need. But keep in mind that this will remove your opportunity to take a big financial leap.
**Low risk = low return.**
If you find yourself short on cash, you might be tempted to cash in on some from your holding. Also, if you see a market crash you can panic sell.
I have done this too many times.
However, that means low return because we are agreeing with taking less risk. We do not have to “sell” out of everything of our holding to mitigate risks but we do so frequently. The cost of reinvestment, buying other coins and tokens, and withdrawal fees; everything minimizes our return.
**What’s the middle ground?**
I follow the 50-30-20% rule in investment and withdrawal.
I always try to hold 50% of my total asset/crypto, 30% in liquid form (emergency saving), and if necessary withdraw 20%.
This may not work for you if you are looking for high growth. But I’m settling for less for many years and find it low risks. I exchanged my opportunity of getting high payback with low-risk crypto trading.
It’s up to you what you want to follow.
**If you have something in mind that you think might produce a superior return then go for it. Otherwise, welcome to the low-risk club!**
**Thanks for reading.**
Crypto Heists: The Potential risk for market growth.
The recent outburst of interest in cryptocurrencies triggered some hackers to begin looking through different crypto exchange services. The big news of FTX and the recent Binance’s BNB hacking as well as Solana’s SOL brings tension to many’s foreheads. And why wouldn’t be?
People lose real money on it. However, the story doesn’t end there. The stolen crypto has been on the move. And like every other time, the thieves/people behind this hacking will be in the dark.
I have heard that ‘*steem.engine*’ is down and many are claiming their tokens got stolen. This is nothing new in the crypto space.
*Photo: My own creation using Canva.*
**The question is, in this high-potential market does this make the crypto world less lucrative for investors?**
By seeing the examples we already know that even the secured network, the popular one has the risk and possibility to get hacked. The world’s biggest cryptocurrency exchange confirmed that “Software code is never bug-free,” That means crypto will never be at risk of being hacked. Hackers have terrorized the crypto industry for years and this will continue.
A recent report from DappRadar has revealed that, despite the frequent hacks pervading the cryptocurrency space in October, the market has maintained its growth, recording a total market capitalization that exceeds $1 trillion at the time of writing. On the flip side, the unexpected market recovery did not come without a cost, as almost $1.2 billion worth of short positions were liquidated on the first day of the market’s rebound.
Source https://dailycoin.com/crypto-market-continues-growing-despite-hacking-incidents/
So this is a two-way path. The truth is, people never be less interested in crypto nor anyone can hold them from investing.
And the bear truth is, someone out there crying after losing money on the other hand some new one is entering the market.
**So what we are losing?**
We are probably not losing potential investors but many who have already in the market. If the environment would secure their stay, then the market will be growing to another billion. Like the big organization are thinking twice about their crypto presence before investing or simply taking their time.
It doesn’t directly affect us who deal with a few hundred dollars. But it’s sure making a negative impact on the market and it’s making the market less lucrative for the investors.
I have nothing to offer as a solution. Because hacking/heists are unpreventable. We are not also seeing any right intention to bring the hacker into the light. This gambling market will continue to exist until a big crash happened.
Who knows, probably we are heading to witness that!
**Thanks for reading.**
Crypto regulation: Investors' opportunity or risks?
**No single organization can regulate crypto for different reasons, it's plain and simple.**
The risks of cryptocurrency lie in that statement.
Crypto is and always could pose a risk to the financial system. The risks of cryptocurrencies are mainly related to their volatility. They are unpredictable, the nameless transaction makes it hard to regulate, and it's cashless.
It's well understandable why no government and especially banks don't like crypto in the first place. But this keeps away the real opportunity of the market. That means economic development as well.
*Photo: My own creation using Canva.*
**In the current global economic situation where we need a high-potential market with real opportunities to grow and distribute resources, crypto can be a good solution. For example, in the third world economy crypto making a real impact though it's not legal/limited in most of the region.**
**If we look at Indian crypto regulation laws, we will see how a simple rule helps change the whole culture of adopting crypto.**
The number one rule that the government implies is by taxing any fiat money used to cash out a virtual token.
It sounds so easy that you may think then why the government doesn't adopt crypto on large scale or regulate it properly! There come the real risks of crypto. It's highly unlikely and nearly impossible that a single authority/organization/govt can do so because of the nature of crypto.
What crypto regulation can bring? Opportunity or risks?
Applying existing regulatory frameworks to crypto assets, or developing new ones, is challenging for several reasons.
But starting with applying the simple rules of taxation, keeping an eye on transactions can bring a framework.
If we look at the stock market, we will see how heavily it is regulated, and these regulations protect investors from fraud and other risks.
However, this can't be implied in the crypto market for many reasons. But regulation has the potential to make the market much safer. It will still likely be a risky investment, but with protections for investors, it's less likely that the market will be able to face as much outside manipulation.
It's a long way to go through.
Seeing this as a whole makes more sense. Because keeping aside this high potential market never stops traders and investors of the market. It's the government's loss, overall, if they fail to regulate and bring crypto into a framework. I believe, there are more opportunities than risks for the investors and stakeholders of crypto if it gets regulated.
Overall, the regulatory responses to the currency will be a positive sign for the market.
What do you think?
Thanks for reading.
You are only in debt when you don't understand the breakdown of finances.
Taking the time to manage your money better can really pay off. The basic insights of the nature of debt and credit markets are simple but if anyone doesn't take them seriously, then he would be in debt. Mark my word.
It's mind blogging to me when I see the statistics. 25% (personally I think the number is more than that) of the population with debt say they'll never be able to pay off all of the money they owe. It's alarming to see how we are maintaining our personal finance.
I believe, in our life, we have seen at least one person closely or know about him who lost everything in debt. People go bankrupt and become homeless just in a few months. I say it's not poor management but ignorance or lack of knowledge about how to break down the finances.
*Photo: My own creation using Canva.*
The basic rule of thumb is to divide your monthly after-tax income into three spending categories: 50% for needs, 30% for wants, and 20% for savings or paying off debt.
There are many other rules like 50-40-10 is also a popular one. I say, follow the one you think fits best for you. But never ever spend everything you earn. It will force you to be in debt.
*In this era of credit cards and a show-off lifestyle, it's easy to spend more than what anyone earns. Because purchasing became so easy, people don't even have to have credit in their banks anymore. That's when it becomes scary though it will sound like a perfect shot for many. The truth is, the bank will tear your life apart for the last penny they own. You can never go away from it. So better earn to split your income.*
What I personally follow.
My taxable property is not in high volume but I still have to pay some. I have a family of 4 to run, a house to pay rent, and all the bills. What I do is, after getting my salary; I immediately split it into every expenditure. I put them in my personal drawer in different sections. Tax money in one, house rent and bills in another, and food/groceries in other sections. Also, I keep apart some for our kids' education and other daily expenditure/for my wife. My spouse can access the last two sections. It makes it easier to pay for/buy things on time. Lastly, I keep a small amount in my saving account.
I can proudly say that I'm not in debt.
I'm doing this for many years and now I know what money is going where. I agree that my saving account should be much bigger but the truth is, because of the inflation it's hard to put even $100 in the savings. But I keep some as low as $50.
If you are not doing this, don't know how to do this; learn, man. There's no way out if you fall into debt. 5 years ago I have finished paying off my debt and I know the feeling f freedom. But yes, you can have a good debt to help build important things in your life. if it helps steer you toward your goals. But don't fall into bad debt by spending more of what you don't earn and end up taking more than what you can't return.
Stay safe, financially.
Feeling stuck? Try next-level financial management.
Where I'm making things wrong? Why I'm failing to change my financial status?
I'm not too ambiguous rather consider myself a man with a dream, a dream to go big financially someday. But this 'someday' became the key instead of 'going big'. This is where most of us got stuck.
**Changing financial status is one of the biggest challenges, mostly impossible for many for their whole life and a struggle for the majority.**
If doing the same thing doesn't help, then we need to think about doing things differently.
*This post is kind of a self-reminder. You may not feel super motivated to read from a struggler. But guess what? I can give you some real-life insight rather than some bogus words.*
A few years ago, I didn't have any crypto or online asset. I didn't know much about money and finance. But now, I can proudly say that I have something to talk about.
*Photo: My own creation using Canva*
**But I'm stuck here!**
I'm trying hard for the last couple of months to take a leap to go to the next level. I'm talking about doubling my income. But seems like it's more difficult than anything.
**Also, this current bear market made me lose more than 3K.**
But I'm not hopeless. Rather I'm planning for something new so I can take the leap to the next level of financial management.
Here's how-
Invest and repeat.
This is the best thing I can do at this current time. I have already lost that can't be recovered. So I'm selling some holding, buying a few more, and swapping some others. All this is pretty chaotic but they can help me in long run. Well, hopefully.
Saving money, creating more opportunities to make more money; I know, you know all of this. So I'm not talking about the same thing. But I would tell you to take calculated risks. If you are doing the same trading, and stock but not expanding your financial strategy then you can never go to the next level.
*I have invested some money in an offline business recently. It's not giving me any return and will not for the next 6 months. But after that, hopefully, I can get a good return.*
Think about your plan of action and what you can do.
**It's not about money, the goal is to save time.**
I don't want to be a millionaire in my 80s but at a lot younger age. Youth is just something I can invest in now, just like you can do too. This is the time I can take the risks and plan finance differently.
Not only thinking about the macro level finance but at the micro level, I have done some changes. Like saving money in daily life, from groceries to lifestyle. It's not much but adding up.
For me, the next 5 years are crucial and that's why I'm thinking differently.
All this changed financial plan may sound ambiguous. But optimizing time and money properly will get me there. I'm hopeful.
**Thanks for reading.**
Your portfolio should be funded with money you won't need for the next five years.
**I have done some major mistakes in investment back in 2019 and in 2021. I wouldn't say, I had no other option but to withdraw the money I have invested. But I thought it wouldn't be a dumb move. That's where it turned wrong. And now, even after trying for more than a year, I still am not able to fill the money back that I have taken down!**
After listening to my mistake, one of my friends shared with me the other day; "Our portfolio should be funded with money you won't need for the next five years."
And I was shocked by it. Because to be honest, I never thought about it this way. As I do a full-time day job so my crypto investment is some kind of backup money. I withdraw when I feel like it and reinvest when I find the opportunity. Taking it less seriously didn't really help me to build a 'real portfolio' I can depend on.
*Photo: My own creation using Canva*
Investment should not be such a thing that only can back you up but rather something you can depend on. It should have the credibility to save you during rainy days. Otherwise, you are just playing, man.
**Important thing to consider is how much time you are willing to put to grow your investments, as well as the amount of capital to invest and future income needs.**
If you go back and forth, withdraw some, invest some, and don't have any long-term goals, then you will lose the game for sure.
Let me put it this way -
**Invest the money you will probably need in the next five years. Stores all the assets you own across, hold on and it will give you a good return.**
Also -
Keep cash in an account with low risk so you can withdraw whenever you need. Like I did with HBD saving.
Put the majority of your liquid into a long-term investment. Consider making it at least 40%.
But remember, a good return requires an aggressive allocation, like 80%-90% of the investment. Otherwise, it will take almost double to time to reach the same goal.
I have learned from my mistake and I'm not going to withdraw more from my investment in the long run. I have managed to put some money offline so they can help me during bad days. And now what I have is all investment.
People say that it's your money, spend or invest as you like. Don't listen to them. That's what spoiled me. If you have a long-term vision, want to be financially in a better position, and earn a good return; then take your investment plan seriously. And if you really can build such a profile where you don't need to put your hands on it for five years, then the game is yours.
**Thanks for reading.**
Jobless economic growth in South Asian countries - An alarming scenario.
**Our economic growth is visible but we can't feel it!**
Yes, it sounds obvious but that's what it is. Huge highrises, highway interchanges, million-dollar structures, and billion-dollar projects will puzzle you. It's a phenomenon to showdown, a weapon to powerplay, to eyewash what's going on underneath. Not only in my country Bangladesh but most South Asian countries are facing the same problem.
Especially if we talk about India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh; it's highly visible.
There's a common pattern in our political economy that has a huge influence on shaping this economic psychology amount the rulers.
*Photo: My own creation using Canva*
**What is Jobless economic growth?**
When an economy experiences growth without an expansion of jobs, unemployment remains stubbornly high even as the economy grows, and the economic structure doesn't allow for the creation of job opportunities but rather makes a barrier.
It's sabotage!
**A real scenario.**
*Not only manufacturing jobs but agriculture, agriculture, and service sector job opportunities are declining by millions in number. Though the economic growth is not declining. Mostly because of foreign exchange and private-sector investment. The quality of the jobs created now also can't be considered sustainable or add as much to the economy.*
*Another big concern is the rise in the share of youth (aged between 15 and 29) who are not in employment and not in education or training. The energy they carry, if not used properly, they are the biggest threat to society.*
You can read about the Data on 'jobless economic growth' in India and Bangladesh in these 2 links. one, and Two. https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/economics/anatomy-jobless-growth-bangladesh-1572829 https://www.nextias.com/editorial-analysis/04-08-2022/jobless-growth-in-india
**Now what?**
As I have first-hand experience with this I can say, the situation is not good for overall socio-economic development.
Joblessness has a direct connection with social structure, crime rate, food production, and many more. A growing reserve of frustrated, unemployed youth threatens to turn the demographic dividend of having a young population into a curse.
As I have said, these million-dollar structures and billion-dollar projects can't save us, and can't feed us. It's like eye wash. Because all those projects are serving only 5-10% of the population. For example, the ongoing Metro rail project is a good example of the inefficiency of the usage of money. On the other hand, if that same amount of money would be used to venture into the private sector, it will create millions of jobs and will bring stable growth.
**My final words.**
Only growth has no good if it's not meaningful. These highrises can't run our economy but the youth through their employment. Growth must be able to produce jobs and livelihoods for as many people as possible. But the governments are doing so mostly intentionally to show down their power, eye washes their potential voters. That's where we lose the game.
This jobless growth can't be undone without removing the evil intention of the people in power. There are many 'bookish' way out we all can give but in reality, it all depends on the socio-political structure. I'm not very hopeful about them but the only hope is in youth entrepreneurs.
**Thanks for visiting my blog.**
Investing in Rental Property - How viable it is during Inflation?
**One of my properties is under construction which I will rent from 2013! And one is rented since 2017.**
I know, it sounds a little obvious to take this big jump during inflation. My cost of building the current property is as high as 35%. But I have some solid logic to go with the plan.
Before I share my strategy let's understand the real property market.
*Photo: My own creation using Canva*
**Buying and investing in real estate/rental property can be lucrative but, just like any investment, comes with benefits and challenges. You have to have good knowledge about leasing, mortgage loans, tenant and landlord relationships, and property management. It requires a commitment of time and money.**
Keeping in mind all of this, if you have the money you can be a landlord, can own a solid property that can save your back during a hard time is just a matter of fact.
The bigger challenge that comes with it is maintenance and upkeep costs. Also, it's not always up to the landlord how the tenant would be. So that's a lot of stress to deal with.
Fortunately, my tenant is good enough and is the same since 2017 and that's one of the big reasons to put my hands on another building construction.
From what I understand is -
The cost of property always goes high if you choose the location correctly.
It's a solid investment that can save you back.
It's a source of good passive income.
Real estate is a tangible physical asset and that's why I always prefer this.
**How viable it is during Inflation?**
Coming to the second part, how logical it is to invest in such a risky sector when the prices of everything are high? Do you still rent houses, and properties when they can't afford to meet many of their end needs?
That's when the importance of **Location** of your property and the **Target group** comes into focus.
If you know your target group, then you can always find a way to be ahead of the inflation game.
*For example, my target group is small families who come to the city for jobs and business. No matter how much the inflation rate goes high, there will always be people who will come to the city. And guess what, if the inflation goes higher the rate of this target group would also be high because people will have to be more city-based.*
Also, my second plan is to invest in rental properties for students.
And then comes the location. Choose where your property would flourish according to the lifestyle and needs of the tenants.
However, it's a risky sector. Especially when you don't inherit the land but 100% invest in it. It's not liquid so you can't sell it anytime you want. Maintenance costs and taxes will always be your headache, etc.
If everything is in your favor, only then think about it. And if so, then, one particular benefit is the correlation of rental prices to inflation. If you're a property owner, the high inflation rate could be good news for you. As prices increase, the value of your property goes up as well.
Good luck.
**Thanks for visiting my blog.**
Bagha Mosque - A beautifully designed ''Terracotta' building.
This is one of the ancient buildings of Bangla. The architectural significance makes it more attractive to tourists. There is only a handful of 'Terracotta' designed buildings that are still standing. Though there are different areas where renovation work is done. But the main building is the same as 500 years old.
History and detail.
The mosque is located in Rajshahi, Bangladesh. It was built in 1523-1524 (930 AH) by Sultan Nusrat Shah, son of Alauddin Shah, the founder of the Husain Shahi dynasty. There are 10 domes but I came to know that, many collapsed in the past and most of them are renovated. Terracotta designs are present everywhere inside and outside the mosque. This is what makes it different and attractive. The innumerable terracotta handicrafts were inspired by Persian carving.
The Wikipedia link has a detailed elaboration about the architecture and history. Here's the LINK https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagha_Mosque
My visit.
I visited the place in August 2022. My hometown is nearby so it was a day trip with some of my friends. The mosque is open for all but you have to maintain some rules like decent attire and cleanliness to enter the building.
The area is not huge but the lake behind the mosque is. I get to see a few tombs of different saints here and there. Also, the mosque has some hanging boards on the walls about the history and information about the saints who are lying there. It was very helpful to know detail about the place.
We took our afternoon prayer there. It was so peaceful, not like a regular mosque where we usually pray with many other people. When we reach there, only a handful of local tourists there. And we got the opportunity to pray in a very quiet, calm, and peaceful environment. It gave us a chill for sure.
The inside and outside of the building are covered with Terracotta. The walls are very thick and they are made out of powdered brick (shurki). Can you believe an ancient building still standing which is not made out of any concrete and rod iron?
Architectural significance.
Now it's time to explore the detailed architecture. We took our time to see the handcrafted work on the walls. The detailing is amazing.
This was the most attractive one. This part of the wall is not collapsed and the terracotta is the same as before. Just look at the walls. They are fully covered with detailed hand works. They are mostly lily flowers, different herbs, some fruits, and different patterns. But it only took 1 year to build! I was thinking about how efficient the workers must be!
We couldn't resist but waved our hands over the walls to feel the beauty. The detail, yes, I'm saying repeatedly, that's what amazed me.
I believe, some renovation work ruined its original building but they were necessary to make the building stand.
*Many consider this mosque as one of the marvels of architecture from ancient times. The remnants of its glorious past have survived the wrath of time and also, and it is considered one of the most significant and beautiful archeological sites.*
It was my pleasure to witness the historical place, I would definitely visit there again.
**Thanks for visiting my blog. If this post interests you, like and share. Also, visit my other posts to see more historical places.**
2023- The fall of the third world economy?
Now as we approach the end of 2022, the global community as well as the government is warning about the upcoming economic fall down. We were expecting the devastating effects of the pandemic and the supply chain gnarls to ease up. On top of that, the war increased food and fuel price and impacted inflation greatly.
Our local government is saying to be mindful of food intake because there would be a shortage in the future. I know this is not the situation in western and progressed countries. On the other hand, if we look closely at the so-called third-world countries then, it’s clear that many have a shortage in reserves and wouldn’t be able to afford/meet the import price.
*Photo: My own creation using Canva*
**Upcomg feminine?**
When the population is huge, we have millions to feed, and only depending on domestic production can’t be realistic. But if we don’t have the reserve, and can’t increase it, then there’s a feminine waiting for us.
We saw oil prices, food shipments, inflation, and the continual presence of Covid and its variants create a “perfect storm” resulting in misery and deprivation for the non-combatant third-world countries.
This impacted every country but is obviously more noticeable in third-world countries from Asia and Africa. They don’t make it in the headline, but if you look at the local news then you would understand we are living by holding our breath kind of situation.
Meanwhile, the global economy is bracing for an economic slowdown because of inflation. But to cope with that, they are rising interest rates for the loan-taker countries. This creates a huge problem for underdeveloped countries and now it’s hard for us to even survive.
The food crisis and economic fall down are about to happen.
**What do we need to do?**
Our government is weak so is our country’s economy. There’s no fight back against global politics. Also, our politics is full of corruption and toxic power play they are busy with their own agenda rather than taking measures for the citizens.
This makes the situation worse and hard to do anything.
However, we can do things from an individual level best to back ourselves up. Like venturing into any business, building a side hustle, cost-cutting, etc.
**The truth is we are not going to be rich, not in another 50 years. There will be a continuous struggle to meet our end needs. This economic condition will put us in such a situation where we will lose the battle every single time. The manpower is in our hands and that’s the only thing that can save us.**
So hold tight and make your own plan. The government or the global community is not going to do anything.
**Thanks for visiting my blog.**
Government mulls short work hours - the global economy, and the so-called 3rd world countries.
**The official working hour is now 7 hours!**
Hard to believe but that's our reality. When we need to work more to fight this inflation, we are cutting down office hours because the government can't back up the whole time with electricity.
Bangladesh was in highlight globally for this decision for a while. We are experiencing power outages every single day, multiple times a day. The government is saying as the fuel price is almost double, we are in short of our reserve and can't afford to buy that much fuel to produce electricity.
No need to say, how this is affecting our total efficiency and productivity.
Photo: My own creation using Canva
**Fewer businesses are reporting rising input costs, many garments are already shut down because of the power crisis, and offices are not running smoothly because of the lack of a stable internet connection.**
Economists and central bankers have found it uncomfortable to attempt to predict when the current wave of inflation will peak. It's safe to say that, this is not the peak. It's not hard to guess what our situation would be at the peak.
Now what?
The fuel problem is not going to solve in a short while. Even after the war, it will be high priced and many countries like us wouldn't afford to buy it, at least as much as they can.
That indicates that our economy will fall behind.
It's a simple sentence but comes with several consequences. Like as, the employment rate is connected with the number of crimes. In bear eyes, it seems like a regional problem. But sooner or later, it will impact the global economy. For example, the refugee crisis.
I see it this way -
If the 'blue-collar job/workers' don't get the right payment, and can't afford to buy their end meets; the social structure will fall apart. In the same way, if the so-called 3rd world countries can't meet basic human rights, economic harmony will be hampered in every way. And it will break the equilibrium.
It's not an overstatement. If you think closely, you will get it. I can give an odd yet simple example. Bangladesh has the largest shipbreaking and recycling industry. Many countries will not do this odd job because of pollution, health hazard, and many other problems. Now, if we can't afford to run this industry ( I'm not a supporter for many reasons though), not only it will impact our employment rate but also the global economy.
The same goes for many other industries. If I talk about the raw materials of garments for food industries; then it's easy to understand how the global economy is gonna get affected.
Any solution?
The local government needs to wake up. They need to decide where to put the money for a greater purpose. Hard to believe that billions (yes, billion) of dollars are accused of money laundering and corruption. And here we are suffocating.
This is a clear example, of why the responsibility goes to the government to make better financial plans.
I wouldn't say I'm hopeful. No, I'm not. I'm just trying my best to be financially stable. This is the story for many of us. Where's the light?
**Thanks for visiting my blog.**
Sunset at Punarbhaba river.
I have seen the sunset on the beach, over the mountain, from my own balcony, and so on. But I can safely say that this is one of the best sunsets I have ever seen. Probably because of the calm and peaceful environment of the moment.
Unlike many popular tourists spot, this river is crownless. When we reach the riverbank there were only a handful of people. After a while they too left so we few friends were the only ones.
We took a boat ride and enjoyed the sunset from the boat.
*Punarbhaba is a transboundary river that connects India and Bangladesh. The water quality of the river is much better than any other I have seen till now. The reflection of the sunset felt like I was looking in the mirror when we were on the boat.*
You can see from the photos that the place is almost empty. We were there after sunset for a while. We have seen the sky changing its color. When it started to get dark, it was pretty scary. Everything felt so different because of the absolutely noiseless environment.
I would remember this sunset for a long time.
Thanks for visiting my blog.
Changing times and the bearish sentiment - Any hope left for 2013?
The Crypto community is divided into two categories now. There are two major hypotheses waving over the crypto market. One group is saying that it would fall in the upcoming month till mid-2023. Others are saying it will surge after December and we will get to see a mega move.
The problem is there's no middle ground.
If we only consider BTC the predictions show it would either be in 2018 or in 2021. It's hard to believe both of the predictions. It's highly unlikely that BTC will follow the 4-year circle this time. Also, the bearish market is signing that it's not going to vanish anytime soon.
**Changes in the market.**
We all know that BTC is no anymore the one and only dominator of the market. Especially after the evolution of Defi, Gamefi, NFT, and many more DAO and web3 organizations. I don't see this as a threat to the market rather it's quite opposite. Though more of these crypto-based projects are backed up by ETH but BTC will be affected passively too.
There's an upcoming crypto conference on August 2023. People are looking forward to it. So hopefully in mid 2023 market will start to change.
**The bearish sentiment.**
The bear market is still existing. It would be an overstatement if we say that crypto have done falling low this year. Because it's not.
Unlike every year, at the end of December, there may not be any surge this year, according to experts. Also, the current market has shown a positive statement, but not very high. This suggests that markets are unlikely to expect the start of a new bull run any time soon, but perhaps a steady or low market will exist.
Moreover, ETH is also showing bearish movement and didn't meet any predictions and probably will not very soon.
All this indicates how tough it will be for the market to get off from the bearish sentiment and start to rise.
**However, if everything goes well, the market can still fall. Because those who bought earlier in the hope of a price increase will sell to monetize their return once the market starts to rise. On top of it, the global financial market sentiment could influence to veer into negativity.**
I have seen a lot of people seeing BTC in $20k and I believe that's a good move. If we consider all these facts, then it's clear that the market will not be going to see the bull run until mid-2023, at least.
So I put it this way if I'm in a good price position in terms of my buying price; I'm going to sell it and I'm currently doing so. I will keep some of my holdings till mid-2023 to see the situation.
What do you think?
Thanks for visiting my blog.
Saving HBD as a means of investment! 5K goals!!
I'm seeing a lot of hype about HBD recently. It made me rethink my investment plan.
Probably it sounds dumb but I believe if you are looking for some passive income HBD saving can be a good idea.
What do you think?
Photo: My own creation using this photo by Canva. https://hive.blog/hive-148441/@mayorfaruk/various-logo-designs-for-hive-blog
I read a post recently by #bitcoinflood about HBD, you can see the post Here. After seeing APR return calculation and the benefit of saving it in defi, it sure influenced me. https://leofinance.io/trending/#bitcoinflood https://peakd.com/hive-167922/@bitcoinflood/why-i-m-using-defi-for-my-hbd
But that's not the only reason.
**I had some spare money in exchange. I would put it this way, it's part of my holding. I was looking for a good price to trade them off whenever I can, probably gradually. But the return I was looking for was not meeting my expectation. After doing a rough math, I thought it would be better to put that money in Hive as HBD.**
*$227 saved till now. A long way to go.*
Moreover, I'm recently getting less time for trading and all the other crypto activity after pausing my blogging profiles. As I do a full-time day job so managing time is quite tough for me. Also, if I say honestly I think the 20% APR is another factor that influenced me.
But my mind is going around thinking -
**If HBD saving can be a good option for passive income?**
I came to conclude my thought this way -
*If you have spare money if you are not looking for another investment opportunity but rather will be satisfied with the 20% return, then it's good. Also, it's kind of 'safe money as you are not lending or investing directly but rather getting the return by holding it in YOUR wallet. The money is withdrawable after 3 days. So why not?*
*If I'm not wrong then 10k savings will give $2.735, which means $82.05 a month. Which is not bad at all.*
I heard that CubDeFi it's possible to turn it into 27% by holding stablecoins. But I'm not currently thinking about doing so. Because I don't want to take the risk of a market drop.
**Can I reach my goal?**
I may not withdraw anything from Hive for a long time. So I can save up some from my daily earnings. But that's too low and will take forever to reach 5k.
Rather I would go with my first plan as I explained above. I would swap some other coin with Hive and invest in HBD. For now, I can probably do $1000. Gradually, I will put more after getting my return from other holdings.
What do you think about my plan?
**Thanks for visiting my blog.**
The Mausoleum of Saint Sultan Shah Balkhi.
Shah Sultan Balkhi was a 14th-century Muslim saint from Persian. His name is associated with the spread of Islam in Sandwip and Bogra of Bangladesh. His resting place, the Mausoleum is a popular place in this area. Many visit there for their belief and many others just to see the place.
There's a mosque where people come from all over the country to pray. Also, as the place is considered very holy, people go there to meditate and be along with right-minded people. Many local people who believe in Sufism visit there regularly. What amazed me most is that random people sat or gossiped here and there. They seem very relaxed and not too worried about life. It gave me a whole different perspective on life.
***The domed mosque makes the Mausoleum significant. Also as Shah Sultan Balkhi was a popular saint and part of our history, so people have a very positive attitude toward this place. If you want to know history, there are a few articles on the web, you can search by his name. I didn't get much information about him but came to know that, Saint Shah Sultan Mahisawar Balkhi was a ruler of Balkh in Central Asia. He was a dervish of royal lineage who came to the Mahasthangarh area with the objective to spread Islam among non-Muslims.***
To be honest, many believe that praying on the Mausoleum can fulfill wishes, they also donate a huge amount of money here. So it's kind of a business for the Mausoleum authority. They own a charity. You will get to see many get free food from the place. Also, once every year there takes place a huge religious program for several days. Thousands of people attend there. The whole area becomes like a festival place. They help a lot of people, I agree. But the idea behind it confuses me.
Anyway, maybe that's just me and my friends. But this is not part of Islamic values but you can say a cultural thing.
I visited there to see the architectural significance. We were a few friends there. The Mausoleum requires one to be in proper attire to go with the religious value. We enter, visit the place, and took our prayer but didn't donate to the Mausoleum.
***Though there are not enough historical data about this Mausoleum. I came to know that, in 1719, during the reign of Emperor Farrukhsiyar, Khodadil built a large single-domed mosque near the shrine which remains in use today. The old building seems like standing by holding a lot of history. I'm not sure but people say that there are a few other saints that are buried there. The Tomb of Shah Sultan Balkhi is in a separate place. The place is very neat and clean. There were a few visitors as it was a work day. But during the weekend, I heard that the place gets full.***
This place is right beside the 'Mohasthan Garh' which has a significant history. So, if you visit the Mausoleum, you can take a look at other historical places as well. I went there too. I will share about that place in the next post. Keep in touch.
Thanks for visiting my blog.
Investing in Tech - a risky but hotshot segment of the market.
Investing in the technology market became the new hype. Especially after Meta hit the market everyone went crazy about tech stocks and company shares. I wouldn't hide my fear that I believe this market is too risky.
Mostly because of the changing nature of the market. On the other hand, it's also true that there's a high chance that if external factors go right, this sector can make multi-millionaires.
Another thing to note is that who live outside of the USA or from the other part of the planet; it's hard to make ways to directly invest in major tech companies like Microsoft, Apple, or Tesla. On top of it, our local tech market is not stable and not growing fast, there's not much option. So we are not getting the benefit from it the way globally we should. But, yes, there are many other ways to invest in the global market like cloud services.
Keeping this point aside, if I talk in general then I have to say that, Tech market is moving forward faster compared to other industries. And we all know the reason.
*Photo: My own creation using Canva*
**The tech sector is diverse, from software to hardware to artificial intelligence. That's why there is no one-size-fits-all approach to investing in the sector. The market is always growing and changing at the same time. The risk and reward calculation also depends on these factors.**
I came to notice the growing interest in investing in Tech Stocks. As the return of the renowned companies are high so it gives a good return. Another option is to invest in technology-based exchange-traded funds. Though investments in technology-based firms involve greater uncertainty because if you don't have the right knowledge about the market you may put yourself at risk.
Seeing the potential and risks of the market, I'm not considering investing in this market right now. Because the truth is, to do well in this sector, one needs to devote a segment of their holdings to tech stocks. Otherwise, it's not possible to make a good return.
Also, this market is highly influenced by stakeholders as well as investors. So if you are not a millionaire already, it's hard to tell if any window would open for you here. At least, that's what I understand from the market.
While no one can guarantee that investing in the tech market is a good idea with high returns, it's true that it has the potential. But considering all the risks and volatility in the sector it's suggested to gather knowledge about the market before taking any decision.
What do you think?
**Thanks for vising my blog.**
Buy and invest in assets, not in liabilities - Know where to put the line.
The new millennial trend is, investing in posh cars, big houses, and lifestyle products. I'm not calling it buying because in most cases they don't buy but do this mortgage or loans. It would seem like a stupid move a decade ago but now it's the new normal.
Or is it?
Old school like us still wouldn't do so, I guess. I read it somewhere -
**Rich people buy assets, middle-class people buy liabilities that they think are assets, and poor people only have expenses.**
There's nothing more clear than this. It says a lot about why the middle class does so. Mostly because they want to change their class by showing off what can they can afford. But the truth is, this doesn't bring any good.
*Photo: My own creation using Canva*
**Why do you think rich people remain rich? Isn't it because of their long-term goals and financial habits?**
On the other hand, people who spend money on liability can never ensure that their wealth will even last for the next generation.
*The line between asset and liability is obvious. But many see liabilities as future assets or long-term investments. That's when the problem begins. One of my friends took a good amount of loan from a bank with an interest rate of 17%. Oh, that's huge. He bought cars, rented them, and got kind of scammed. One of his cars was seized by police because the person he rented that was carrying drugs. Long story short, he had to pay a huge fee (about the same as the car price) to free the car.*
Here, buying cars seems like a good investment and gives us a false impression of an 'asset'. It would be an asset if the intention was to use them personally. But for business, it was a huge risk.
Yes, there will always be risks in business even if we only buy and invest in assets. They can devaluate. But considering the example, I can say, there must be other solid idea rater investing in liabilities.
My idea is pretty simple -
**Invest in something that is legal, has good return, have long-term potential to grow, you can call that a solid asset. If it's not fully owned by you, even if in your name; that's not a good investment. Asset sure comes with liability. But the pressure liability creates can rip us financially.**
The temptation of having a lifestyle is too big nowadays. It always sounds good to buy a big house instead of an apartment even if you have to pay the mortgage for the next 15-20 years. Even after saying this, many will agree that they will give up their shelter for that lifestyle.
This mentality will block us from growing. Maybe you are making good money, no need to take advice from anyone. But if anyone fails to learn the basics of financial management, there's no guarantee the money will last forever.
**Thanks for visiting my blog.**
Is this a good idea to invest money in Side Hustle?
Side hustle by nature is a rational framework to bring extra cash flow. But not every time we will be able to make it for free. Good side hustles build recurring revenue streams that go a long way in earning extra income not just some pocket money.
That's when it comes to investing money in it. Feels like everyone either has a side hustle or is scheming to create one - but are they all they're made out to be? And when money is involved in it, we can't be ignorant about it anymore. Rather an active effort and analysis are necessary to grow a stable income. And that's good, you know. It gives us a sharp idea about the upcoming money flow and plans for investment.
If I answer the question from my personal understanding then it's simple YES.
I mean, why not? If anyone is sure about the market, knows the business, have trusts that they can build a side portfolio that can save him on rainy days; then putting some money in it is justifiable. I would say a must.
**World economy is changing. Doing a day job and saving money is not enough nor it can save us in the upcoming day. Building a good side hustle can go a long way.**
*My own creation using Canva*
**Our total portfolio = human capital + financial investment.**
If we think about the future, then I would say, we can't depend on human capital only. Because there's no guarantee. But financial investment with a good return can help us in our retirement age and in a demand basis.
*Hive can be a good place of investment as a side hustle. In a few years, I believe, people will think about prioritizing it over a day job. Because why not if it gives a good return by investing money in it?*
**The challenge is, understanding the market, planning for the future, and executing the plan.**
I believe that's also not an impossible task. No matter what you do as a side hustle, even if you are a Uber driver, you can always work on building your profile. But before that, know what makes you feel interested.
If you are not found about blogging, don't invest your time in it but find other ways like investing in HBD to earn a return.
As simple as that.
The same goes for other sectors. We need to be good at it, know the market, understand the wave, then go for investment. If you are not sure about investing a huge amount, do that gradually.
Fortunately, there are many places where you can earn for free if you are not sure about taking the risks in investment. But the truth is, that would take a long time to build a profile and continue a good cash flow. Rather, investing in sectors with a high return like stock or business shares can do the same job in a shorter period of time. Now the choice is yours.
Money helps to make it grow faster. That's a fact. Investing in side hustles is a great way to use our skills and talents to crush our money goals.
What do you think?
*Disclaimer: I'm not an investment expert. Take financial decisions at your own risk.*
**Thanks for visiting my blog.**
How much short-term pain are we going to require to sustain?
This is a genuine question we should ask in this economic situation. I know it's not just me who feels like we are just living day by day. More precisely, just surviving one day after another in a hope that things will be good someday.
There's no certain answer to this question. Just like there's no certainty about when the 'good day' will come.
*My own creation using Canva*
**The price of food is almost double now. The price of shelter/housing is more than double. And the fuel price, every living cost skyrocketing without giving us any chance to adjust with our earnings.**
How we are living is a kind of short-term pain. More or less, all we are accepting is that in the back of our minds there's a foggy calculation. The war will stop, the economy will go back to normal, etc. But the truth is, even if everything goes back to normal, the cost of living will be the same. We better understand it and try to find ways to cope.
Have you noticed that there is no measurable act from the government and the authority to solve this? It's because they have their own agenda to act upon. World politics and the economy are changing so rapidly, it will be hard for many countries, especially ours with a small land, to survive.
*Unfortunately, I don't see any way out of this. Rather than working our a*s off to sustain, every day. If you can't relate to what I'm talking about, know that you are fortunate. For people like me, who have a family to support, mount to feed, and ensure shelter and lifestyle; it's getting tougher every single day.*
What about you? Did you ever ask yourself this question?
**How much short-term pain are we going to require to sustain? Is this gonna be for a few years? Or for decades? Or our offspring, the next generation will have to adjust to the same pain? Are we ever able to change our economic condition? Or will it be progressed but leave us in the same condition or worse?**
And I believe, sooner or later we all are gonna be in the wave of the impact of this economic situation.
*Remember, things are gonna be worse. We have already failed to hold anyone accountable for unethical business practices and involvement in immoral activities. This proves what is waiting for us. Some day it will happen to you, me, or the person next door, and will have nothing to do.*
This pain of survival is not short-term at all. It became imposed in our life and we have to continue it, probably generation after generation. At least that's what I believe. Now, there will be some who will get out of this coop and will be able to improve their life. But for many of us, it will be our life story.
**Thanks for visiting my blog.**
Financial stress and crypto blogging platform - Searching for the best coping mechanism.
**The higher your income, the lower your stress.**
It seems like a myth in today's world. I would say it's kind of the opposite in the current economic sense. Financial stress is huge if you have money and you are on the way to making money. Especially if it's not a major financial gain through inheritance, business share, or sudden boom in the market then you will always be stressed about your daily income.
And who joined in crypto and Hive knows it better than anyone. Don't say that, you feel relaxed if there's no vote if your posts. People put their day and night into it. So the stress is justified.
There's no need to say, we can easily make much more with the same amount of effort than just blogging here and there. I believe it's kind of a passion, a passion to grow a stable profile than just gaining daily returns.
*My own creation using Canva*
**Is it possible to remove the emotional tension while blogging?**
Probably but that's not easy.
Well, I don't earn a lot here. So you may not find it interesting to listen or get any suggestions from me. That's justified. But agreeing on a few things doesn't cost anything, right?
As I'm not a good earner here, so I can clearly say how I adjust to the financial tension of blogging.
*I found that there's almost an equilibrium of how much you can gain from your popularity, effort, and financial investments as well. So if you are lacking one of these or all of them, then don't expect much. If you put everything and still do not gain then think about what you are doing wrong. I believe, the answer will be right there.*
*Focusing on building a profile rather than only money is a good thing that can keep us going. Just look at my profile. I didn't have the opportunity to invest here for many reasons but when I got it, I started to act accordingly. Keep the consistency and try to be stable gradually.*
Lastly but more importantly, don't compare with others' profiles. It will add another brick to your frustration, nothing else. If you want to analyze their model of success, it's okay. But paving your path based on your own strategy is what I find more logical.
Only worry about the things that are in your hand but you ruined it. Feeling anxiety about the things you can't control is not a financial behavior we should adopt.
**Do what is right, feel the passion, put in your effort, and grow gradually.**
That's what I follow. What do you think?
**Thanks for visiting my blog.**
Building alternative income options to survive in upcoming stagflation.
Who doesn't love passive income? The time and money need to invest in it is not everyone's matter to hands. In most cases, not only money can buy us the right idea to invest in the right place. Also, there's no guarantee that the investment sector will give us good returns all the time. So, even its passive, it needs active actions to be stable in the market.
If you Google alternative income options or passive income ideas, you will find a huge list. No need to say, not everyone can adopt everything and that's not even necessary.
I would rather say -
**Find a sector that you are interested in, look around if there's any passive income option, and invest your money there.**
This way, we can mitigate the risks of losing everything. Because I have seen it so many times, people put their money in alien places and later can't figure out what they need to do to earn a good return.
*My own creation using Canva.*
**Why do we need to make passive income seriously?**
*Global growth is expected to slump from 5.7 percent in 2021 to 2.9 percent in 2022. And it will be around 3 in 2023. You can see the potential risks waiting for us. There will be high inflation combined with a high unemployment rate in the upcoming days. If you are struggling with this inflation, I'm telling you, time will be much harder in the future. It's better to think about some alternatives right now.*
There are already so many layoffs in industries and companies. It truly scares me. Because some of my friends already lost their job during the pandemic or after the pandemic though they were efficient in their sector. So efficiency and skill will not save our a*s this time.
That's why I personally also trying to find ways to make myself stable enough so I can survive in the upcoming stagflation.
**Alternative income option spans a big spectrum. From stock and bond to freelancing everything counts. Keep in mind that doing a single job or having one source of income can't mitigate the risks in the upcoming days. While you can't always have the money to earn passively, you can find a way to build an alternative income. For example, what we are doing in the Hive or crypto in general.**
I wouldn't say, we need to do two or three jobs a day to survive. That's not a good option. Rather, find some sub-income sources. I calculate this way -
**My alternative income should provide my food costs or any major costs of my living. If it covers a major sector then I can take care of the rest with my main income source.**
This calculation helps me keep going and save a little bit.
Find your own interests, start a side hustle, and invest your time and money in them. Time is getting hard, we need to fight harder.
**Thanks for visiting my blog.**
The potential risks of leaving the working class behind from economic growth.
Working-class families are getting hit from all sides. Two years of a pandemic, then inflation is making their everyday life worse. They experience more negative income shocks, typically from job instability such as layoffs, cuts in hours, and loss of overtime pay. In this economic situation, middle-class families are forced to live on basic. It's hard to tell, how the working class is surviving.
The thing is, it seems like no one cares.
**“Capitalism cannot survive without a working class, while the working class can flourish a lot more freely without capitalism.” ~ Terry Eagleton.**
I believe this is very true.
There's no way, all we are having as an out result would be the same if we eliminate the working class. That's not an option. But the economic condition makes them so tenuous that they are forced to choose other 'options'. Policymakers must use the opportunity to make fundamental changes so that they can survive and add more to our economy. Not taking control of the situation and doing nothing can make your problems worse.
*My own creation using Canva*
**Class gap by no means brings anything good, for society, or the economy. The correlation between class defines many social norms and economic structures. If one is affected, it will affect the whole. Achieving more social mobility in the workforce can only be possible if we make such a structure where the working class will live well.**
The truth is, we are walking backward.
One of the things it's harder for some people to grasp is the ripple effects of structural changes. There will be a huge impact on the workforce, stress, anger in the young generation, supply of the marginal products and services to run the economy, etc. When one will live in luxury and the other one is left to survive on basics or even low, this is not what I call justice.
Leaving the working class behind from economic growth has a direct connection with our economy and social structure. If we talk about production, marginal services, and the food industries' position, then it's not very hard to guess what will happen. Also, if we talk about behavioral change in classes, like lack of empathy for other classes, and crime rate; everything is interconnected.
It's high time the government needs to think about an alternative plan to include the working class. Otherwise, we will all find ourselves in the same gutter, sooner or later.
**Thanks for visiting my blog.**
Focus on what you can control - Improving financial well-being.
**Personal financial management becomes tough when we become panic every now and then with the changing factors, for example, politics and inflation.**
There will always be a lot that we can never control like the decreased rate of our currency. But that doesn't mean it must impact negatively on our personal finance. It's easy to blame external factors for our failure or poor status. But in the end, we will be the stakeholder of the consequences. So it's better to work on the other side to make it better.
What I came to realize from my own life experience is, only focusing on what we can control can solve this problem and improve our personal finance.
WHY?
**As I say, "we can't control the market but we can choose how to invest, our spending habits, and saving practices.**
*My own creation using Canva*
I can give you a real-life example.
*I used to have three fixed-term deposits in government own banks. The interest rate used to be 12% a few years ago. The government decided to decrease that to as low as 7%, after tax almost 6.5%. It's almost half of the profit before.*
It was not in my hand, I couldn't control this situation nor I knew this could happen. But what I choose to do afterward was on my hand.
I withdrew the money and invest in other places and got a fairly well return.
This is just an example. There will be hundred more factors that we can't control like tax rates, inflation, global economic impact, etc.
That's why it's better to start working on our own financial management that we can control.
**I have seen this advice in different places like we need to focus on our expenditure habits to improve financial management. That's a fact. But I would like to add, start with investing in your education and skill. This will be a lifelong investment and will take you a long way.**
Another wise equation I can provide.
**Saving = Financial flexibility.**
We do control our asset allocation and investment. So it's in our hands how we plan to save a little bit or as much as we can so we can reinvest and have some financial freedom.
There are so many small things we can control in our life. maybe they don't sound very glorious like shifting one coffee brand to another that is not on the top list. But that's okay, you know. As long as you are in the survival game, it's all okay.
Build the mindset that you need to save up, you need to choose what you can control like your education plan and your investment sectors. Recheck with the market whether or not you are going well. In this inflation era, if we don't focus on these things, we will be in huge panic mode for the rest of our life. Because things will be much more out of control in the coming days.
Remember, you may not control the cost but you can control the expense.
**Thanks for visiting my blog.**
The rise of Artificially Generated Influencer - Are we Stupid?
If you are an active social media user then you may have already seen some AI influencers. This is nothing surprising as we live in the time of Meta. Humans are social and this rise of artificially generated influencers says it all, how we create a bond with them, even knowing they don't exist in real life.
Still not sure what I'm talking about? See the Instagram page of 'lilmiquela' and you will be stunned.
I'm not against it nor do I support this. To be honest, there's a need for this but on the other hand, my 'old brain' think, it's stupid.
*Gif: My own creation using Canva,* *Photo link* https://ageofrobots.net/ai-will-replace-influencers/
*There are more than 150 influencers right now and the number growing. Whether or not you like the idea, you have to approve that in digital marketing, they are the next big thing. Because look. You don't have to wait for the 'models/influencer', the right angle to take photos, their makeup or mood, in general, anything human anymore to use them for marketing purposes. At the end of the day, we only connect with influencers through the material they provide, whether they are actual or virtual. And they are easily associable, can make them speak for us on certain issues; so why not?*
However, the truth is -
**We do not like deep fake and don't likely associate with demonstrably false content. Also, a sane mind knows what they are looking at, what they are forced to believe is not true and it's highly unlikely that there would be no 'influence'.**
Their impact on our life is more than real. Humans are fighting with their self-esteem for a very long and these AI influencers will make that a bit worse. They look imperfectly, perfect and real. We have seen how the young gen is running to look like celebrities and now this gonna add to their lists too. Also, this raises the same question we asked about robots, aren't they taking away opportunities from humans? I believe so. On the other hand, virtual influencers might just be “yet another way people can be made to feel inadequate”, says Peter Bentley.
We will soon be living in an era where there would only be a thin line between real and AI. That sure will bring many good sides like people can be less lonely. But there would be huge cons too. Like some of the influencers have already shown a 'modified/unrealistic body image', supporting certain issues that raised debate. Because it's the people behind them that use them for their own gain, as simple as that. So the next war would be on Meta.
Moreover, I believe, the human brain is designed in a different way. No matter how much we feed it with 'more than real/just like real', it will search for the real. This whole concept is just another struggle waiting for the human race.
**Thanks for visiting my blog.**
Depending on Imaginary Money - What I have learned a hard way?
The value of money is by definition imaginary. It has an exchange value, sometimes high and sometimes low; it depends on many other factors. If we take a specific time and consider the influencing factors, we can get the real value of money.
What I'm saying is imaginary money.
**The money that is not in your hand, it's somewhere in your deposit, savings, investments, or holding and we are imagining its value of it in terms of our understanding of the market and surrounding factors.**
It can be crypto, can be our assets, holdings, or even our local currencies. Especially about cryptocurrencies, many say that it's nothing but imaginary money.
***My own creation using Canva***
*Take the Venezuelan and Sri Lankan cases for example. Both countries struggle differently. But the topic is the same, the value of money. In one case, the currency value is decreasing and now has no value at all. On the other case, no about of money couldn't buy them the products they need. Also, we can talk about the Lebanon case. The same goes for them too. Having the money in the bank is not returning them any favor.*
**My Granddad used to tell me, "Don't rely on something that is not in your hand."**
I truly believe this quote. But I fall into the money trap!
Though in today's world, it's never possible to hold all the money in cash. Also, cash is not anything secure as its value can go down in no time.
That's why we need to depend on the money that is 'in the circle on our access, the money that is withdrawable. If we plan our future depends on the future value of our investment or holding; there's a high risk we are creating because it will define our present monetary management.
This is what exactly happened in my case.
I invested a good amount of money in an offline project. Now there's a shortage in investment, I need to pour more money to get a profitable outcome. No need to say, I was too sure about my current investments but that didn't go well. Also, the value of my crypto holding is not where I thought it will be. So now, I'm kind of broke even after having everything.
This happened all because I failed to forecast the worst and totally relied on my imaginary money. My whole calculation was dependent on 'IF' and 'THEN'.
The damage is already done, and now I'm trying to recover from this. I thought I need to share this. Because I have seen a lot of youngsters live a life depending on their imaginary money.
***Depend on the money you have now, can assess, and don't depend on what you think is money.***
That's all I can say.
**Thanks for visiting my blog.**
Why our hard work doesn't pay off? - A very personal answer to this genuine question.
I'm an investment hustler for many years. There's a long way to go before I can introduce myself as a successful one. This doesn't mean I'm a lazy guy rather I'm doing hard work as much as I can.
So why doesn't my hard work pay off?
I searched for this answer for a very long. After observing my surroundings and analyzing many examples I came to realize, ***" it's not a fact that our hard work will return us favor with success."*** If it does, then we are lucky. But for many of us, or I would say for the vast majority, it doesn't, at least proportionately.
*My own creation using Canva*
**Hard Work x Luck = Success**
I believe this formula tells only half the story. But it's not always true though.
Firstly, it depends on what we are doing and how we are doing it. Someone doing 15 hours shift in a restaurant and some other one is earning the same or more doing less. We would consider the first one as hard work but clearly, there are many factors that influence this reality.
Secondly, when we compare our life with others, there we will see a huge gap. The truth is, the outcomes of my life now and in the future have and always will be greatly influenced by the work I have put into things.
In conclusion, I would say, success is like an iceberg. It's hard to see what's going on underwater. So when we tag other's work as 'less' comparatively ours, we do not justice.
Keeping all these facts aside, it's true that even after working our a*s off, we can't always become successful or let's say reach our goals.
**Why so?**
**We need to put enough effort according to the changed time to reach the right kind of goal.**
This is complicated, I know. Because only putting effort will never get us there. That's what happening in my case. I failed to change my goal/setup according to time.
We need to acknowledge the importance of chance, which can blow away or turn in our favor based on our preparedness. This is the major factor in terms of reaching our goals.
So you see the success and hard work equation is not as simple as we think it is.
What I came to realize is -
I work in short bursts. I have a huge lack of motivation. Sometimes I do work day and night and after a few days lose all motivation and seat doing nothing. Keeping continuity is the biggest challenge for me. And that's why I wouldn't consider it 'hard work.' Also, I only work when I feel others are winning the race. This toxic mentality doesn't help in competition rather it makes me drain out.
Keeping all this in mind, I know exactly why my hard work is not paying me off. I have given you enough food for thought. Now it's your turn to think about why yours is not working.
**Thanks for visiting my blog.**
@Iamjohn
