'Marketing Communications Strategy' - The business policy that annoys me the most.
I was thinking the other day, 'this is getting out of hand'.
In our social media feed, in big malls, on billboards, in magazines, in email, in mobile SMS, and through direct calls; promotion and marketing of different companies are highly present. We can't go out for a few minutes to see some ads.
**I'm okay with the passive marketing policy as long as I have control over them.** But when it comes to directly communicate with me just to let me know some discount offers or similar things; it annoys me. And guess what, by doing so they are losing customers; at least me.
image link https://unsplash.com/photos/mHusyBu4bxM
*I get direct phone calls from different places for their promotions and marketing, even from the online grocery stores. No matter where I'm now, in meetings, doing my own business in the bathroom, or in between a busy day!*
It's okay to reach out to customers and potential customers through direct means of communication from time to time. But doing this regularly would annoy anyone, I believe.
For example, I do grocery shopping from a certain company, they are fully online based, are trustable, quick, and hassle-free. But for the last couple of months, they probably renovate their marketing policy and now they call me for different offers, discounts, and whatnot; regularly! On top of that, I don't know if they trained their communicator in these ways or if they are underqualified because every time I say busy, they deny to hang up the phone and talk about other offers. I had to cut the phone off several times because I couldn't take it anymore. Also, they call with multiple numbers so blocking doesn't work.
I complained about it and will probably gonna change my grocery store because I didn't get any satisfactory answers.
*When you promote such a marketing policy you have to respect others' opinions. Their time is valuable. Also, people don't always feel like listening to something they don't feel interested in at that moment. There are so many options available in the market, that companies need to apply them instead of direct communication. Real customers will always be there.*
Another example I can give is also annoying.
When I do grocery shopping in stores, all of a sudden some people pop up talking about their brand. For me, I do shopping but my mind is always occupied with something else, I think about serious things also like my own business strategy. It's hard to shut people off and be polite all the time in situations like this.
I'm talking about the customer's pov. As I'm also a service provider, I do have customers too. That's why I take lessons from it about what not to do.
My motto is, **People are busy, it's better to do something to attract them instead of annoying them. Cut off direct communication through phone calls on unnecessary things and increase branding, and promotions through other means.**
What do you think?
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Nokshi Pitha - A beautifully crafted traditional dessert.
The very authentic Nokshi Pitha originated in the rural areas of Bangladesh. It's sweet, crunchy, and delicious. The design has so many varieties, sometimes it tells a story, and most of the time it exposes the creativity of the maker. There used to be a time when this Pitha/cake/cookies were the core of women's get-to gather, family events, social chatting, and whatnot.
In modern days, those things are almost gone. But still, sometimes I find this Pitha/cookies are being sold in places. Recently, I found a street market where they were selling this Pitha for just $.10. I didn't hesitate to buy some.
One thing I need to mention is that buying from the seller is the only way we can consume this. Because the making process is not for everyone's easy tasks. Perfecting the designs of this pitha is not easy at all. And many don't have the patience to try several times because it's time-consuming too. I don't mind buying it from time to time though.
I choose different designs from the seller to show to my kids. It's great to enjoy such delicate art and at the same time have something delicious.
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Using Multiple Crypto Exchanges - Is it worth it?
Managing crypto wallets in multiple exchanges is time-consuming for sure. On the other hand, it comes with great benefits. It is always good to diversify and use multiple exchanges. We all know, that not all exchanges allow using all the currencies and tokens for their own reason. But this never limits our usage. There are many types of exchanges and they all serve different purposes. So, I would say, it's okay to use.
image link https://unsplash.com/photos/VkRq5w3asCA
But that's not the conclusion. We have to carry some risks as well by using multiple accounts. I'm going to share my personal experience.
There's no argument that trading as well as holding funds on different crypto exchanges is a complex situation. Even if you don't manage this on pen and paper, there will be always something in your head that will create a little extra stress.
Not only that, the transfer fee goes up from time to time from one exchange to another. You have to always pay some extra for this.
In some cases, I don't count the small amount that I left there. To be honest, it always bothers me. I'm not a millionaire and I believe it's not a good practice. But we all know the withdrawal fees and all, so it's better to leave some and move on.
However, it's vital to use multiple exchanges because not all exchanges support crypto derivatives or crypto to altcoin. For example, Binance trades the numerous available altcoins there but there's a high chance that you will find something is still lacking. And that coin is supported by some exchange you may never hear of.
If we talk about fund security and or something unexpected happens, then it's better that you have your funds in multiple accounts for trading.
One of my reason to use multiple exchanges is that they offer very specific types of trading, such as scalping, swing trading, and technical analysis.
On top of that those exchanges offer different instruments that are unique to that exchange. So we are good to go.
It’s not unreasonable to use 3–4 different exchanges. But it's up to us how we manage it. For beginners, it's hard to trust, manage, and handle the complexity of multiple accounts. Good thing is, that most of the exchange interfaces are similar so it would not take much time to figure out what we need to do.
Keep the risks in your mind, it's time-consuming and brings extra hassle sometimes, also you may have to pay an extra fee for this. But if you are a regular trader, and like to diversify your funds, and analytics, then using multiple accounts is worth it. It all depends on your goals and what you want to do.
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Fuska feast.
Fuska is one of our popular snacks, it is also known as Panipuri. I wouldn't say that I love it but sometimes it works as a great snack option. I don't like the tangy flavor but love to taste it with yogurt/sweet curd. Also, it's better when I taste it at home compared to the shop.
A few days ago my mom made this at home. Mom's food is always the best and so is the fuska.
The fluffy outer shell was crispy and the inside filling was not too spicy; perfect.
My mom made two types of sauce to enjoy with the fuska, one is for the tangy lover and one is for me. Also, adding some chanachur over the fuska makes it more enjoyable.
This fuska feast made our afternoon a little more enjoyable.
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Measuring ROI before investment - A key that can save us.
A few years ago, I used to invest randomly in different sectors; from real estate to crypto, from gold to dollar. There was always some math in my head but doing this on pen and paper. Later I understand that I have no clue about what % I'm getting. Though ROI is a very intertrial and business term, even if I talk about it on a very personal level then I have come to realize it's important.
The truth is ROI serves as a benchmark for shaping marketing strategies, business plans, and investment actions for the future. We know the probability, we see the news, read the journals, and get the data and analysis. But measuring ROI is the best way to know about the probability. I would say, it worked for me as a very simple way to understand where my investment is going, how much I'm getting, and what I need to do next.
image link https://unsplash.com/photos/X4VwfPzy_2o
I usually follow a simple technique -
**ROI= Cost of Investment/Net Return on Investment ×100%**
There are different other methods, some are very complicated if you don't have a business background or don't have much knowledge of it. I would suggest if you are a beginner then follow simple techniques first.
For example, if I have a $20k investment in crypto, then my ROI would be the deviation of my net return from my initial cost of investment multiplied by 100%. Now do your math.
As I said there are many other methods as well. But from what I understand, people like me only do the math in their heads and invest as well as invest in mid-term can get real benefit from this method.
ROI helped me to develop my investment plans according to my best return. Not just do I see things as lucrative and invest in them but I do comparative analysis.
It gives me a clear idea about my position on reaching my goal and making new plans.
Most importantly, I became more organized and understood math better than before when I think about any investment, which is I believe a key to growth.
People like me who have different interests in different sectors and have invested capital and money in several things must measure the ROI. If you didn't do it earlier, do it now. It's possible to get the ROI from your past investment as well. I'm saying this because I got to know the comparative analysis as well, very quickly and easily, from ROI on different personal investments.
I hope this will also help you too as I get help from this simple technique.
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Kebab feast.
This is one of the best kebabs we can have at a low price in my city. The stall is just beside the streets a small space. But it's very popular for the taste. This kebab is almost like a tradition, the owner is running the restaurant for over three decades now. You can guess how famous the kebab is and how delicious It is.
Usually, they sell chicken kebab and beef shish kebab, both are spicy, coal cooked and delicious. Also, they provide butter toasted buns to enjoy the kebab with and some cucumber salad as well. We took some soft drinks as well with the kebabs to enjoy our meal.
The whole meat costs under $10. It was for three of us. Can you believe how cheap the kebab was. But don't compare the price with the food because they only can offer to
sell them in such low price because the place is nothing fancy but a small stall with good food. The restaurant's name is 'Lokan mamar Kebab' which is located in the middle of the city.
I will visit there soon for sure.
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Inflation and supermarket business: We are standing on the edge.
Food prices are rising and in some cases, they are at an all-time high. Unfortunately, the fact is, the era of cheap food is over. We may not gonna buy the same food at the previous price again.
image link https://unsplash.com/s/photos/supermarket
In my country, Bangladesh as well as countries like this where the supermarket business is just getting popularity in recent years but now they are standing on the edge. I read in a recent article that there's a falling trend in supermarket shopping. Also, not in these countries but also general supermarket business is losing customers because of its fragile model.
We have alternative shopping options like buying from confectioners where they don't charge any extra vat and service fee. Compared to supermarkets they have additional fees and all which is not attracting many customers through they usually offer a huge range of discounts. But we have to approve that, it's clever to buy products at a comparatively low cost rather than getting discounts on the things we can easily replace with other products.
This is where the market is lacking. As supermarket business needs a huge inventory, additional costs for transport and distribution, pay, and all software maintenance; so it's hard for them to provide any low costs anymore, even if they want to. Because the fuel price is also adding up with this price surge.
*If I give my example then I have to say, I prefer shopping from supermarkets to confectioners and grocery stores. But I can't afford anymore to go grab my monthly products from supermarkets. Because I'm not willing anymore to exchange my comfort with any more additional fees. I stopped shopping there for the past three months and more. This same thing is happening to people like me, who are in my social class, here as well as all over the world.*
It's understandable why food prices can't go any low. But in this inflation and upcoming days, I see we are standing on the edge. If we don't find any alternative now then it's hard to tell how this business model will gonna survive.
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Can BCH ever be a good investment option?
BCH gained its popularity over the year mostly because of its low fees and fast transactions. Also, the blogging platform based on BCH brings real value to the users. On top of that if we take a look at the price history then we have to admit that it seems it can go up anytime as it performed much better than any coins at some point.
But how much is this true? Can the price go high again soon? Can it be a good investment option?
To be honest I don't find many who are interested to invest in BCH. Because the price is going down even the other coins are up at the same time. While digging in I got to know that the miners get a comparatively low percentage. Probably that's the biggest reason people are not interested in it. Also, Insufficient security is a good reason to scare people off.
Keeping all this in mind, I was taking a look at the price prediction chart.
screenshot link https://nagax.com/
Apparently, BCH is on the top losers list. While I was writing this it was down to 3.17% already and the market cap going down.
The minimum cost of Bitcoin Cash will be $156.11 by the end of the year. It doesn't look good, I know. But the good news is, it can go up in two years. The question is how much that will be and how many of us can wait and hold for that long.
There are speculations that the Bitcoin Cas price will hit the average price of the $1500 mark by the end of 2025. No need to say it's a too optimistic and unrealistic prediction. As per I understand it can be around half a grand or a bit more than that. I personally wouldn't call that a good investment option.
However, if you are the one who uses their blogging platform and looking for a low-fee transaction for your money then you can go for BCH. But for investment, take your time and think how much you can gain.
I have to admit, BCH has the ability to be a major means of payment because of its quick, easy, and almost cost-free transaction. It's true that for decentralized money we need much more than that to make a network stable and work. Hopefully, we will get to see more update and upgrade so it can be a go up to the moon again like in 2017!
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Capitalism is a black hole!
As we are a neighboring country of Sri Lanka and our economy is also in crisis so many are saying that we would be the next Sri Lanka. There's a huge argument about whether that statement is nearly possible or it's just a hyped assumption. In this regard, people are also sharing tips, tricks, and thoughts on how we can deal with the current economic situation.
I was reading an article the other day that explains how we can go back to our countryside, live like our grandparents, and choose a different lifestyle to adapt to the economic crisis.
While reading this type of particular post, one thing always makes me wonder and that is people are ignorant to see the 'real' world out there.
Why I'm saying so?
*We who live in big cities don't choose this life. We don't have another option but to live here for our living. There are millions of people around the world who don't have any other way but to live like this. Because even if I have a house back in my county home, I can't move out because every other thing is based on the big cities. It's highly unlikely that I can find or build an alternative source of income there to support my family.*
A major portion of us wishes to move out. But we can't brake the chain of capitalism.
image link https://unsplash.com/photos/znZFuVcGen4
It's totally possible to go back to the villages, start living in a small house, reduce the power cost to almost zero, do farming, and all. You know what I'm saying. I was asking myself after reading that article, can I live without having the taste of chicken wings for a month? The answer is, that it would be tough but not impossible. But can I live without using the internet, proving quality education to my kids, and the best health care for my family? Probably no.
I have a dream to own a nice house and other nice things. It's a chain of capitalism. But the truth is we also can't get ourselves out of this chain as well and many of us wouldn't want to for reasons.
However, I agree with the fact that it's necessary to have something as a backup; to have survival tactics, and to know how to live sustainably. Because we never know when we will be in crisis and can't do more. It's hard to avoid the black hole we are going into.
Is there any other feasible solution?
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Why do I believe crypto is reliable and has a long-term store of value in terms of investment?
There is still doubt about crypto. At least I get to see a lot of negative impressions about the major coins. And people don't even believe all the other altcoins and tokens. Although the crypto investor is growing every day.
But the problem is if anyone talks about investing in crypto on top of other investments people fear. I know the reason but it's the ear of information. We can always keep ourselves updated and make a different plan, isn't it?
I can proudly say that my major portion of the investment is in crypto. To be honest, I don't earn a lot from them compared to what I can get from trading. But they are my long-term investment.
image link https://unsplash.com/photos/9opiHRPIvR0
***There's no argument that the field of crypto is continuously expanding. It's the next-gen revolution of major industries. Meta is a perfect example of that. And because it's can't be printed or seized, cryptocurrencies may also provide a safe store of value. Look at NFTs and you will get the answer. The recent economic change showed us the power play of money. As crypto is something that has a limited supply and is capped by mathematical algorithms it's highly unlikely that any political body or government agency can dilute its value through inflation or control the crypto economy.***
Many say that digital currencies are the future of daily life usage. So it's better to own some and start investing in such things.
There are many examples of early adopters of crypto as a currency. I believe this is the beginning. The question comes down to **How reliable is crypto?** I truly believe that except for Initial Coin Offerings ("ICOs") crypto is mostly safe. If anyone can invest a good amount of time researching where to invest and the market, they can get a good idea. Remember, there's always a safe way.
However, we need to keep in mind that cryptocurrencies remain highly speculative and the major problem is it's highly unlikely that crypto will be mainstream anytime soon. Moreover, learning about the security protocol, not getting hyped about new coins, and taking the time to consult with professionals should always be our priority.
What do you think?
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When to start retirement planning? - A personal guideline.
I'm 37 now and think about retirement planning these days. I wouldn't claim that I came up with a concrete plan of action but I do have something in my mind. As I don't do a job that offers a huge return/benefit when I will retire so I have to think about this, there's no other way.
Lately, I was searching for some ideas about a retirement plan for people like me who don't have a secure pension, don't own a lot of property; mostly depend on current income.
Now the question is am I too early or too late to think about a retirement plan?
image link https://unsplash.com/photos/0ITvgXAU5Oo
*Though there's no concrete plan. But from what I understand about money is that I should start a little earlier. Unfortunately, nobody talks about retirement during our 20s or early 30s. The plain and simple equation is, that the earlier we start a plan, the more our money will grow.*
But the problem is, there's a high chance that what we are investing now is going to support our other costs like buying a house or car; even in medical/health. I have seen that so many times and it happened to me too. To be honest, I too invested some of my money in some properties as well. I mark them as a passive retirement plan though.
This is the reason people like me have to think about other options as a retirement plan at a very early age. If nobody told you about this before then take my words as wisdom. I can guarantee it will help you.
I believe in compound interest/benefit/return. That's one of the major reasons I invest in crypto. As crypto people will read this and many of them are very young in age so I would suggest you not crypto earning and investment as a day-to-day job only. But do this with passion like a long-term investment. Spare a portion of your earnings, as small as $10 every month, and invest a small portion if you can. One day this money will save you.
We are a generation that likes to enjoy life. So I think we should make a plan as early as possible to enjoy our old age. I'm planning to retire at the age of 60-65 if I can. And to afford that I invested and spearing a portion too I can have a good amount at that time.
To conclude this topic, I would say keep in mind two things -
Keep a portion of your earnings to save.
Invest as much as you can to get compounded benefits.
This two will hopefully help us a lot. Also, there are many schemes and plan available on the market. Take a look at them, think about other options, and expand your investment in different sectors like real estate, land, stock, crypto, etc. And save, save as much as you can. Even if you spend some of your savings on something emergency, that would also be a good use of money.
What do you think?
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The fume of insecurities - My wisdom.
To me, insecurities are the fear of failure. This is what I experienced but it can vary from person to person. To be fair, I was never been insecure about how I looked or my appearance but there was always a fear to fail. Probably I build this over time because of social pressure, I assume.
The fume is so thick that sometimes it contains me totally. It feels like I can't breathe anymore. Though I do a fairly secure day job, there's always some pressure.
*I come to an understanding that our insecurities do not wholely depend on facts but it's a feelings. More likely a habitual act that let us feel that way. And as our insecurities are different so the dealing process is also very different. I find that pushing myself towards my goals, and being financially advanced gives me peace of mind. It can be way different for you.*
The question is how do I figure out my insecurities and the way out?
It's a simple process.
image link
**Confront your feelings.**
This is the biggest help we can do for ourselves. There is a phase where we most like to hide ourselves thinking our insecure feeling will go and we will grow up. Truth is, it will never rather grow a huge fume that you may not be able to see clearly.
Rather than avoiding the feelings, we should confront them. Remember, confronting is the first step to acceptance.
**Be advanced.**
No need to say, when we see our achievements it makes us feel good. No matter what small thing we do, even studying, or crafting; we should do that with passion. So we can tell ourselves as well as others that we are great at something.
The feeling of accomplishment makes us fulfilled and reduces steams out the fume of insecurities.
**Accept, embrace, and be positive.**
The biggest truth is there's no one without insecurities. The millionaires, the commoners; everyone has some insecurities. Another truth is, that we can't change everything, every feature of us.
Rather we should accept some of our flaws, embrace whatever we have and be positive about life as a whole.
All this is not like we can achieve overnight. It takes a lot of studies and understanding to come to a position where we can accept ourselves; when can think about dealing with our insecurities in a positive way. It's an everyday job. I don't give up and push every day. You can do it too.
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How feasible it is to Invest in Gold and Silver?
The gold price is going to the moon. It's up by 25% according to macrotrends if we compare it with the last 5 years. And the silver price increased by around 16%. I have seen gold and silver savers/investors in Hive too. https://www.macrotrends.net/1333/historical-gold-prices-100-year-chart
I was wondering how profitable this is for a newbie. Because if I want to buy it now, it will cost me on an average around 20% more. That means more money will be held up in this investment.
From what I understand if anyone wants to add stability to their portfolio or is looking for a store of value during tough economic times Gold and Siver are perfect for them. But they must have to invest millions or not a good amount to get a good return after years. Otherwise, for the small-scale investor, it's highly unlikely to make anything out of it.
Another good reason can be if anyone trying to hedge against inflation Gold and silver are a perfect solution. Both of them are able to grow at a higher rate than the dollar.
Moreover, it's safe! There's not much evidence of losing these two metal rates but it always goes higher. Even in this world economic situation, the price of gold is a record high.
Both of them have great store value and they can give a good return, no argument on that. If it's good for you according to your research then go for it. But as a small-scale investor, it's nearly impossible to invest much in them because I can't take the risks to invest my money in something that would not give me a return in a few years. But I have a plan to buy it little by little mostly because of the inflation.
*Disclaimer: I'm not an investment management professional. Do your own research before investing.*
*image link:* *https://unsplash.com/photos/-3xhXkOcKvE*
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Renting a car - Is that a good business in 2022?
There are nowadays many apps and sites that offer passive income by renting our cars. It's a popular source of passive income in my country because here the % of personal car ownership is very low. S people like to hire/rent cars when they need them. Side by side Uber is making a huge market cap out of it.
It sure can not be one's only source of income but can provide a good return compared to banks or other businesses. To be honest, I gave it thought if I should invest in this line. But some pros and cons are holding me back.
image link https://unsplash.com/photos/19t6J2RVqQE
I personally believe, this business mostly depends on the cultural background of a country. Because it's almost impossible here to not take a huge headache, sit back, and earn. Rather I have seen people go through a lot compared to other businesses like stock in this renting line.
I can give you one example.
*Recently, a close friend of mine got himself into a huge mess by renting his car. He rented his car by a site with a monthly contract. Everything was going fine until a month ago his car driver got arrested with a huge amount of drugs. He was obviously not involved with anything but had a pay a huge bail fee to free the driver. His car is still confiscated by the police.*
This is just an example. There are many other risks like accidents, signal violations, etc. The problem is, all this will go under the name of the owner of the car though he might not be involved in any of this. I don't what's the policy over there in your country but here this is how it is.
However, car business is profitable because we don't have to put extra effort. Also, the return we will get monthly will soon go beyond the price of the car. My thought we should think about trustable websites or apps that ensure owner safety, give legal support to the owner, and help/support in any other cases. This is in my head for a long time. Probably in a few years, I will invest in renting cars.
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Force people to go homeless and help the refugees!!
Just today I saw our government bulldozing some unauthorized houses on the hill track. I understand the reason, they have no right to build and stay in the houses on government-owned land, especially by cutting down the trees on the hill. But the irony is there are millions of refugees living in Bangladesh now. And they cut down miles after miles without any permission to build their houses and the process is still running.
One thing to mention, I'm not against refugees or humanity as a whole. My compassion goes to the Rohingya refugees. I know how they have to flee from their own country and now live in inhumane conditions without proper shelter and food.
However, it's also true that our government has a huge fund as well as foreign donations to support the refugees. But there's never enough for the citizens.
image link https://unsplash.com/photos/qGH7FbtkXGc
People are going homeless every day because of river bank erosion, poverty, and every other reason. I would not say the government is not trying but it's as low as nonvisible. In our capital, there are millions of homeless along with the rest of the country. Not only that the news I stated above is almost an everyday life situation here.
There is political power play behind these types of unauthorized shelters. Also, those houses are not safe because of the hill track/flash flood. On the other hand, if I talk about Rohingya and the drug business through them, it will be huge. Also, they occupied huge land, deforested hills, polluted the river, and did every other thing. Recently I saw that HIV-positive cases are also raising in those refugee camps.
Again, I'm saying this to make it clear that I'm not against refugees and their rights. Tomorrow I can go refuge, who knows. And I may ask for the opposite thing then. But the government needs to make a balance point. They by no means should push people to go homeless.
This is not just our problem, this same situation is happening all over the world. All the government needs to think again about their stand and how they should distribute resources.
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Probably not investing in Hive is my biggest mistake!
Hive is on trend today. It doubled the price overnight. Also, a day before yesterday, HBD went up too. People are buying and selling like crazy. Unfortunately, I have nothing in my wallet; almost zero.
I wouldn't lie, I always knew that Hive will grow sooner or later. But to be honest, it took me a while to put myself into writing/blogging and that's the major reason I didn't consider Hive where I can invest.
I mean, you may also agree that it takes a lot to progress through writing only. I was never that committed and now I feel sorry for it. Moreover, after the split from Steem, it made me so frustrated that I was not quite sure where I need to take a seat. Also, I was invested in other projects and some offline projects too. My money was not in my hands anymore.
*Recently while I checked Hive it seemed a lot more interesting because of the number of new users and huge market cap. It shows how Hive will be in trend in a few years. One thing I must say is the way the Hive community is keeping its 'quality' is muchly appreciable. I'm sick of spamming and manipulating games on other platforms. Altogether, this will keep Hive up for a long period of time. If we talk about real freedom through content creativity, probably Hive will be a good example in the future.*
After considering all this, I decided to put myself together and be more active on this platform.
However, the high price of Hive is temporary. That's unfortunately true as well. So any investor who does daily treading, it's not a good sign to invest. But for the long term, it sure gives a good return. Those, who are active here, earn a good amount or holders and can easily exchange their Hive now. Also, who are interested to get a good return it's not too late either.
The market cap and the prediction is saying a lot. I'm thinking about buying some Hive too. hehehe...trying to save me from the shame.
*Images from:* *https://coincodex.com/*
Inflation is making you broke again? Here's how I'm hedging against inflation.
The world economy is changing. Any sane person will understand that we will be going to face worse inflation in the coming days. Or simply saying would be much more difficult in the future. We will be able to buy less than before.
I also wrote another post a few days ago about how the local/domestic currencies are losing their value day by day. So we who live in other currencies than USD will be in much more danger because of inflation. Therefore, it is important to find the right strategies and investments to hedge against inflation.
From my personal experience, there are a few things we can take a look at before setting any plan to deal with inflation.
Keep an eye on anti-inflation assets including gold, real estate, etc.
Crypto is a far better option for investment, think about it.
Build a diversified portfolio so your asset can thrive when inflation hits.
Reevaluate your expenditure and overall money habit.
I know all these sounds very bookish. People usually skip reading these words. So I will share what exactly I'm doing.
image link https://unsplash.com/photos/lOg_fQLHo7s
I invested a little amount of money in gold and I'm trying to increase it. In my country, it's quite uncommon to save gold, also it's risky in terms of security and maintenance costs. But it can be done in a traditional way like keeping it as ornaments.
I'm more invested in crypto. Recently I have managed to invest in a few projects. I'm still buying many coins, building my profile, and all. Hopefully, it will pay back.
I have invested a few in real estate too. In my country, it's also not a common practice but I have done this with a friend group. Probably it will give me a good return in a few years too.
Lastly, I keep down all my luxury expenditures. You may not gonna believe it but I didn't buy any branded clothes and shoes for more than a year, keeping it simple. Because I have to run a family and provide for my kids. So it's tough if we still expend money on those things rather than what will give us a good return. It may sound 'poor' but this is the reality.
I'm in the borderline middle class, you can say. It's very important for me to see what's coming and prepare myself accordingly. It's a struggle, sure. But it's also a lifesaver.
**Thanks for visiting my blog.**
Is it worth investing small amounts in crypto?
I was going through a feed on Reddit about if we should start small in crypto or not. Because to be successful here it's mandatory to have a good amount to invest. I'm not talking about crypto blogging but trading mostly. There was a debate on that feed and we know why. Because it's true that crypto needs a lot of passion and a good amount of money too to stand out. It's highly unlikely that you are staking something and in a month it will boom and you would be a millionaire. There's a high chance that you will lose at first because of not knowing many things.
So what should the people who don't have much but can learn and have the passion to grow?
**My short and simple answer is if you can't buy more today, buy a small amount initially and invest more tomorrow.**
image link https://unsplash.com/photos/oPRU2Cne0Pw
To be very honest that's exactly how I started. Back then crypto was a very alien concept in my country. There was not many access and knowledge-sharing platform like today. I was not attached to any Facebook group, didn't know about discord or anything. Also, crypto has a negative impression in my country like something illegal. So taking a big step was not possible. So I initially invested only a few amounts. It was around $15. Can you believe that?
My second technique is **reinvesting.** For over a year, I didn't withdraw anything, totally zero. People used to say what I do. Where are my money is going as I don't earn anything? But I know very strongly that I need to build a profile than withdraw instantly.
*Moreover, when you are into crypto, there's no way that you will roam around without learning more, knowing about different projects, how to analyze the market, different predictions, and all. Your small investment is the* ***entry ticket*** *to dig more into crypto. Buy that ticket, see the show and decide what game you want to play.*
There are some apps also that offer to invest as little as $10. But be aware of them because many of them are scams/pay after meeting goals/levels. Try to do some research, read, and learn more about this gradually. If you are reading this explore the opportunity. Don't sit back thinking you will invest someday when you have more money. Invest today and build your profile gradually.
Good luck.
The real danger of Identity Theft.
Just today I saw on a local news channel that some farmers from my country got a notice from banks about their due loans which they are not aware of/never took. Some scammer used their identity and got the loan years ago. Now the farmers are trying to figure out what they need to do, going to the lawyer, and doing the rest. No need to say it will cost them money and time for no reason.
This is the danger of identity theft, this is what we are going to deal with on a massive scale in the future.
image link https://unsplash.com/photos/em5w9_xj3uU
We who are aware of this, know how to protect ourselves (though we also sometimes can't resist the temptation to click on alien links) and are in a much safer zone. But those who know nothing about this like the older generation or people who have less knowledge will face a huge problem in the future.
**Credit cards and social security number/identity cards are easy for the predator to target and get the information. They will never ask you to put your pass or pin. We are not in the first phase where they will withdraw some money by hacking our card. This is the second phase as the experts are saying, they They will simply use your info to purchase something illegal or do other illegal things.**
Just think about it how compromised our data is, and how vulnerable we are in this situation. If such a thing happens then we would have nothing but to spend our time, effort, and money to defend ourselves.
I saw another news a few months ago where some BTC traders were using others' credit card info and selling it to the black market where they are using the info to purchase guns and all. The police and intelligence branch caught the local agent of this group but the international chain which is still out of their reach.
This is what we are heading!
Financial losses seem threatening but to be honest this type of theft is much more dangerous to me.
*Keep your personal information secure at any cost, even don't share it with your friends. Always monitor your credit card report, don't allow taking load/debt with the card without your signature. Don't fall for the email trap, click alien links. And always ask questions as long as you are not satisfied whenever you get suspicious calls.*
Be safe.
Do you keep Inertia Risk in your mind while investing?
As a full-time day job holder, I have to be more careful when it comes to investment. Because I can't always keep up with all the updates, to be honest. Checking the market and doing trading every day is also not my thing. I do things randomly. It may sound dumb but it's true. In this context, I know that sometimes I would pause, and I would make poor choices. That's the major reason I keep inertia risks in my mind.
So what is it?
*The investment sure comes with many risks. The least tangible one is probably Inertia Risk. It's something that can be explained as a risk of doing nothing. More precisely, depending mostly on the compound interest of our interest. It's true that the better the investment the better the return would be. But if the market crash, if you need a good amount of money to invest somewhere else; you can not have that instantly. That is the real side of inertia risks.*
I used to follow this technique a few years ago. When the price of BTC was low, I used to just hold a certain amount, not trading, not doing anything. When the price went high I made some money. But I realized that if I took the risks to trade more, and invest in other coins I would be in a more profitable position.
image link https://unsplash.com/photos/9opiHRPIvR0
**Investor inertia** is a real thing. Personally, I don't think it's a bad choice. Because sometimes we need to pause and research where our money to put. It's okay to take the time. But feeling too comfortable by doing nothing and enjoying the compound interest will not take us to the moon. That's the reality.
The risks of such action are well predictable. Wealth is created when its current use is sacrificed for a future benefit. So we are compromising on this point. Yesterday I have shared how I struggled to keep up with my financial mindset. I believe it's all because I have a secure day job. I never take big risks in investment. But that's also blocking my path to earning more.
I have learned a few things to keep going even if we fall into investor inertia. I will write that later on. But for today, share with me if you are also the one like me who keep this inertia risk in your mind when you invest.
**Thanks for visiting my blog.**
Financial mindset and changing money habits - What I have learned from my failures.
How you make key financial decisions every day depends on how much you have finance in your mind. As simple as that. And the interesting this is, that it can have a big impact on your ability to achieve your financial goals.
I have failed miserably several times. When I start to evaluate my actions, I came to realize that I had never built a strong financial mindset. I wanted to achieve but I was never focused, I was not sure what I really want. So I did many random things which were just a waste of time. But it's true they gave me some life lessons.
image link https://unsplash.com/photos/gZB-i-dA6ns
***Why I'm saying this?***
When I started trading I don't know about many apps and sites, I didn't know how to keep up with all the updates. Gradually I learned a few things. I believe how much I have learned is all because I put my financial goal focus on.
I started with some of my friends but eventually, they get off the market. I have seen many who don't feel it necessary to keep up, and engage with traders and groups. What I noticed in them is the lack of long-term goals. Don't think that I became so successful that you can make an example with me, that would be wrong. But what I'm trying to say is, that having the passion in one to achieve financial goals can at least take you somewhere.
***Now the big thing is how can we focus on building a financial mindset?***
There are no magic words to do this. It's a process. What I learned from my failure is If you change your mindset about money, you tend to make better choices about how to overcome challenges.
• The first thing is having the goal to be successful financially.
• Second big thing is, that we need to be focused on what we vision. Here in this financial world, everything is so fragile and all the ups and downs of the market will kill you. It's so very necessary to stick with our goals.
• Last but not least, never stop. We are calling it 'goal' but when you will achieve that you will see there are much more things to do ahead. So keep going and do more.
Understanding that this mentally will keep you going bring a big difference. Once you believe that you can make it happen, you will automatically get to see many opportunities around. Pick some, keep rolling, try this or that. Don't fear falling, it's okay sometimes to lose a few things. As long as you are focused on keeping going it will change your money habits, that's a guarantee.
**Thanks for visiting my blog.**
The 'dearth' of creativity - The challenges I face.
Not everyone is a creative person. Yes, I said that because the sooner you get the truth the better.
Just today while I was looking for what community I should join in Hive, I came across so many creative communities. Like Hive DIY, Alien Art Hive, needlework, and so on. But guess what? I don't fit in any of these categories. hahaha...Yeah, I don't have a much creative mind.
image link https://unsplash.com/photos/anpOTRbAvM8
*Humans are creative, no doubt about this. It doesn't mean that we all are bound to be creative nor we all can fall into the typical creative category. We have a sort of creativity but in so many forms that it will not be fair to say someone is not creative. On the other hand, we all can't express our creative selves as vividly as painters.*
One reason can be because people like me didn't get the chance to explore many creative things throughout their life. Another one is, that many don't like to spend time producing something creative, you know what I'm saying. Should we call them lazy or what?
Because I also fall in the second category mostly. I love to watch football and movies. But if you ask me to draw a flower I may fail.
I know, you will say 'you are writing and this is also creative work. I agree. But believe me, the pressure I feel to write every day is enormous. Most of the time I don't feel any joy in this.
So I sometimes think, what is left for us?
Because the world is sure going to be for the creatives only. I work with a branding agency and I see every day how things are changing. There's no room for people who are not able to express themselves creatively. There is no room to be lazy on this.
Even if a piece of writing, a creative idea, or a small random drawing; it's necessary to nurture the creative mind. I feel the challenge that every day I am stepping backward just because of the dearth of my creativity.
It's not like there's no room for us. Half of the world is still there. But the room is shrinking for sure. What do you think?
**Thanks for visiting my blog.**
At the end of the day, people only value what you are putting on the table.
It's good to think about living in a society where materialistic goals come second. But in the last 15 years, the world changed aggressively, and we are forced to accomplish so many materialistic things that are out of the thoughts of our previous generation. The idea of money was different back then. Now money is the core of the survival game.
*Growing up listening to the quote, 'people will value you as a person, not your money' gave me a very wrong idea about relationships and overall life. When we became adults, we start to see the contradiction in the quote in real life. Maybe it was true back then but not now anymore.*
People only care about what we are bringing in, how much value we are adding to their life, to their company, and all. Selfless friends, parents, partners, co-workers, neighbors; you name it. Every relationship requires this. And why it wouldn't be? Don't we also want the same from others?
*However, the good news is, that this concept is not at all toxic but a true life lesson. This is how life works, you offer something in exchange for getting something. We are living a very busy life where time really matters. So what we are putting on the table is really important. There's nothing wrong if anyone is expecting something from others as well. But keeping it simple makes life easy. On the other hand, I would say we must think about what value we are adding; to our personal life as well as professional.*
image link https://unsplash.com/photos/FBiKcUw_sQw
We all want respect. I found that this is the one best way we can earn respect from everyone. No need to always out something materialistic, it can be love, care, or a simple smile. But I have to agree that people expect us to provide. Don't live in a bubble thinking people will value us even if we don't provide?
It's no one's duty to care for us, the world is selfish already. So I took the road to always bring something on the table as long as I can.
**Thanks for visiting my blog.**
The Illusion of Passive Income!
Every day how many posts are you come across that say, earn some easy money just by inventing a few dollars or sit back and earn. When I was new to crypto, it used to confuse me so many times. Because of so many tokens, coins, projects, and all. I used to think that doing this and that in different places will earn me some good money.
No need to say I was wrong. But there are still many who are taking the same path to this day. I would say, people are victims of this illusion we create - the illusion of passive income.
*I can remember when I joined Hive, people used to say it's so easy here to earn money. You just post daily, no need to invest, and you will get votes. Well, look at my profile. Does this seem lucrative to you?*
image source https://unsplash.com/photos/EMPZ7yRZoGw
The 'passive income' concept is itself entirely and insidiously destructive. There's no such thing as earning money doing nothing. Even if you invest a good amount of money, you still have to spend a good amount of time and effort to make it happen.
Need example?
Look at the projects around crypto, the stock market, and the nft platform. The list is long.
Just yesterday, I came across a new project claiming the same. Earn easily without doing much. When I dig deep I realized, there was a chance to earn. Do you know how much? Maybe a couple of dollars by doing nothing. But after that, you have to invest. Honestly, why people will throw their hard-earned money into building a platform to let others earn money so easily.
It's all illusion.
Now the question is, how can you save yourself from this illusion?
First thing first, don't fall for the easy money, especially the digital dollar.
Don't spend your time on something that offers too little like $0.50 after putting in a good amount of effort. That's another kind of scam.
Before investing, look thoroughly at how much the return and what's the risks. Most of the time, the project will show its back.
Look for good projects to invest in rather than earning some easy money.
Again, I would like to remind you that there's no such this as 'easy money'. Passive income sounds very desirable. But the truth is, you have to work hard to earn that. Passive income is totally possible but that's not us people like me or you who are broke. If you already established a business, if you have enough money to invest somewhere, if you are putting much effort into some projects, if you are a creative person and have an income chain, only then does it sound legit. If you have none, I'm here to pop your bubble.
***My advice is to resist the temptation of solely working towards ‘passive income’ rather than spend more time on earning it.***
**Thanks for visiting my blog.**
Growing up poor is not a misfortune, it can lead to success too.
I was listening to a podcast on a success story of a teen business entrepreneur. He was sharing how he struggled to even manage a meal but continued his study as well as business. One thing he specifies very strongly is that the hunger he saw in life worked as fuel to his path. He never wanted to go back to the situation where he came from. That keeps him running.
I don't consider myself successful by any means. But I agree with him.
Even if anyone grew up with everything the hunger in that person to grow, to do more is much needed for success. But I'm talking about growing up poor specifically because I can relate to this. Even if you look around at most of the successful men in history you will see the same.
People blame their fortune that they don't grow up in a rich family. But hay, can't you see? Our hard work is what made us successful.
image source https://unsplash.com/photos/VwsuhJ9uee4
I strongly believe, that growing up poor works as extra fuel to hunt for success. I can give you my life example.
*I do a 9-5 job, not high paying. But there was a passion to do more and I found crypto on the way. I invested, made some money, reinvested them and the process is going on. I have done some offline projects as well with that money. Also, I managed to have some savings to buy a beautiful house in the next couple of years, if everything goes smoothly.*
These are not much, I know. But for me it's everything. I never claim that I did many things or this and that. What I did is plain and simple. I stick with my plan, I was focused to get out of the financial pressure and be freer financially. And I can proudly say, I did that successfully.
I'm not there where I see myself but I'm on my way.
The teen I was giving example at the beginning is extraordinary, he began with $80 only and made millions. Not everyone can do that, I didn't manage to do that. But the passion I feel because I know what growing up poor means is leading me to do more.
I can stop where I'm now. I can do my day job, get a pension, and live. But I choose not to.
*Before anyone blames their fortune, they should take a look. It's very possible to break the boundary and do something that you someday call 'success'.*
**Thanks for visiting my blog.**
The falling exchange rate and our vulnerable domestic currencies.
The depreciation in the exchange rate all over the world after the recent war is astonishing. Most countries are struggling to hold the previous exchange rate. And it's impacting inflation, foreign reserve, and the overall economy. In recent years, we have seen some countries unofficially using USD on top of their local currencies because they have no other option.
The big question is, where we are heading? What we will do with all our weaker currencies?
*No weaker currency is good for their own economy. I can give you our example, the current economic situation of Bangladesh. We are paying more than 100 takas for $1. It's a record. Also, the euro is just 96 taka which is a record low compared to the dollar for the first time. This makes our imports more expensive. All daily goods are in high price now. Even what we grow here is affected by the exchange rate.*
It's an unavoidable impact on any vulnerable currency.
I know 'taka' is one of the weaker currencies. So let's not take this as an example. But if you see the overall situation now, you can't ignore the fact that globally there's a trade deficit. Just see the example of Sri Lanka. Or maybe other countries as well. Simply because Government can no longer afford it.
Image source https://unsplash.com/photos/9oHlADjtBTQ
And this is not just a 'war impact'. This is where we were heading for a long and only now it looks obvious.
*Moreover, the countries which are running on debt are at high risk now because of the exchange rate. And this is such an unbreakable chain that it's almost impossible to pay back, do development, increase the depreciation, and at the same time head to grow more. It's way more difficult.*
In this situation, we need another alternative currency. We all know how China failed to do that. So it's not happening in recent times. Only one thing can help us and that is trade. But that's a temporary thing as long as we all depend on one currency. It's about time, we will get to see some poor countries get poorer and the world economy goes insane.
I have a crazy solution but no Govt will listen to it. And that is investing in crypto. Yeah, they have limited resources and not enough money to invest. Then should promote crypto and make crypto more accessible/open for all like in business. That also come with many high risks like terrorism and unmanageable scamming.
So in conclusion, I don't know where we are heading.
**Thanks for visiting my blog.**
When you say, money can't solve problems; you are wrong!
We are seeing the worst inflation all over the world. I believe you are not unaware of what is happening with Sri Lanka as well. There are more like unemployment, imbalanced distribution of, the stock market crash, and manipulation. The list is long.
I was reading it somewhere the other day, people who used to be the so-called 'middle class' came to the bottom of the economy because of inflation. And those who were in the bottom line are dying. In a few years or maybe in a decade, there will be no middle class. People couldn't afford to be middle class anymore.
And I somehow agree with this. Because when I look at myself I can clarify what is happening, and what injustice we are facing. It's nothing like happening without any cause or any backdoor powerplay. We are the victim and we are bound to be, we have nothing to do.
So when people say, money can't solve everything, I say, wait. Look at the world, where it's going, how finance starts to work, and how people make money. That statement was true maybe 30 years ago. But not now.
image source https://unsplash.com/photos/cjeThQtJpaw
In this materialistic and capitalistic society as long as you have money, you can survive. The moment you are out of it, the game will end for you. It may sound harsh but that's true.
People are struggling to manage the end meet. The same people who used to own a car a few years ago. I have seen this with my own eyes. So what else I can expect from this system!
That's the reason people are not following any ethics and morals to earn money now. And the definition of the two also changed. Why would it not be? Because when you are hungry, you can do anything. Though I have different thoughts about this concept. But as society is heading towards 'show off' so it's normal that we would not be satisfied/settle with/for 'less'.
Money can sure solve the problem, most problems. So don't make this illusion to your next gen. Teach them how to earn better. Otherwise, they will be lost in dark. A tough time is coming, just like the hunger game.
**Thanks for visiting my blog.**
A true bull run or a sudden price surge?
The crypto market has been on a bull run for the last couple of days. We are seeing the long-awaited bull run again. The question is if it will stay for long or if it's just another hike and will drop in a few days.
I'm sure you have already seen many predictions about this bull market. We all were prepared for it. I have seen in communities how people were staking some coins and tokens. Good to see that finally, the effort is paying off.
*But what about those who are still not in investment? Or thinking about making an investment now? If they will face a huge fall in recent times?*
To be honest the answers are not certain. Because each coin/project/token has its own. But if we observe this in general then seems like this bull run will last for the whole month.
image source https://www.fxstreet.com/cryptocurrencies/news/ethereum-price-prediction-a-true-bull-run-or-just-another-suckers-rally-202207181638
The graf says it all.
There is still time for those who are willing to make some quick money because the price will go up to some extent for a few weeks.
My prediction is, that the price will go a little low from September to November and again in December it will go up. For BTC hopefully, the price will be around $35k at the end of the year. Also, we can't ignore the fact that every year there's a hike like this. So maybe this is it.
If you decided to hold for a little more, you can make a good amount of profit. That's all I'm saying.
As a BTC holder and treader myself I'm very hopeful about this bull run. But as I said, the market will soon go down. People who survived the bearish market are making good money now. But there's still time as I said.
So now the decision is yours.
**Disclaimer: I'm not an investment expert nor a financial advisor. Better you do your own research before investing.**
**Thanks for visiting my blog.**
Own your words.
We are responsible for our words. Unfortunately, when something goes wrong, some of us decide to back flip. I have seen this so many times that I lose my respect for some of the very respected persons. People use words like a joke. They don't think that words have power, the power to build someone or to destroy.
Also, in the back of our minds, we think that we will take a side if something goes wrong. You will see how messy the situation goes when we choose to act like this. I have seen a married get ruined because of false promises. From bottom to top, from a very common man to politician; no one owns their words anymore. It became a common practice.
image source https://unsplash.com/photos/hbkWMj41Y0I
I can give you an example from my life.
*One of my close friends shared a secret with me, many years ago. I didn't tell to anybody as promised. But somehow it got leaked and he charged me that I did it. I swear that I didn't. After arguing for hours, showing him my proof, he finally realized it was not me but another person with whom he shared the same secret. I owed my words and I was very strong on my point. But you see, what went wrong. My friend didn't understand the weight of his words and trusted someone who doesn't own it.*
It happens in family life, in the workplace, in politics; everywhere.
I say, why take the opposite stand when you already said something for the other side. Words shouldn't be flipped like that. This is the reason our society became like this. We cheat, we do misdeeds thinking we will come up with something and cover up the situation. But wait, remember; words are powerful. Maybe not today but someday, somehow people come to realize what the other person said is wrong. It ruins relationships, man.
It's better you own your words, you become responsible for what you said. If you have done something wrong approve it. If that's impossible for some reason, try your best to follow the highest ethical standard. But if you choose to own your words your hands will be burden free forever.
Promise.
**Thanks for visiting my blog.**
Self Made (miniseries) - Kind of a personal review!
Coming from other parts of the world I was unaware of this Netflix series. I noticed someone is discussing this the other day on a review platform like how excellent the drama is. I couldn't resist but search on Netflix to watch it right away.
To be honest I'm not quite familiar with 'black' history. Also, didn't know about Madam C. J. Walker, maybe heard her name a few times but couldn't remember any detail. So this series was sort of a window for me to learn and understand the history. Through I have seen some criticism about historical inaccuracies but as a newbie like me, I didn't notice much but rather wondered about the iconic part of the history.
image source https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self_Made_(miniseries)
Let's jump into the story.
If you are not also aware of Madam C. J. Walker then I would simply say, she was a black hair care pioneer, mogul, and self-made female millionaire.
*The Netflix series consists of four episodes. I love the part where we get to visualize how their dress, hair, makeup, and lifestyle change over time with money coming at home. How people's treatment of the black community changed over time. Also, it's not like a very boring historical documentary but rather very entertaining. Octavia Spencer sure played an amazing character. On top of it, Tiffany Haddish as her daughter added some extra punch to the storyline. Also, I liked Garrett Morris's scene very much.*
I wouldn't say the storyline was very exciting. Like I didn't wait eagerly for the next episode like other series. But that doesn't overtake the recognition of the series. I think by many nominations and awards this series made its own place in the TV series industry. There's no doubt about the amazing character play of Octavia Spencer as Madam C. J. Walker. But I didn't like how it ended. It feels like things should be much more organized for the audience to know more afterward.
But that's all my personal view. I would give 7.5 to this series out of 10. I highly recommend the series to anyone who wants to learn more about the first black millionaire Madam C. J. Walker.
**Thanks for visiting my blog.**
@Iamjohn
