Borrowing Money

 It seems like to society, people who borrows money are not seen in the good light. Why?

Yes, we've come across so many cases of people borrowing for drugs, gambling, selfishness, scams, con etc.....and yes we've all been there or heard of it.

But there are so many genuine cases of need of help and people generalise them all the same.

I myself when doing well, I had people come and borrow money from me. It is up to me if I want to lend them of course. And if I do, I don't go around mouthing off telling people that this person borrowed money from me. What is the point? Does it make me look great? Am I trying to tell people that I am the better person and the borrower is not? It is because i believe that this person needs some help and i am in the position to do so and I am willing. Not that I am great or anything but I believe every person has their down time. And one day if i am down I hope that someone would help me like I do with others.

I have never borrowed money from people till I went bankrupt. When I got laid off, that was when it started to get hard to make ends meet. I tried all way to try and generate an income and also there were many considerations involved which is hard to explain. But yes, I was down and out and I had to borrow some times. When I had the ability, I would pay back whatever I could. Because my income were not stable it was hard to predict or plan. It wasn't something I choose or want but I made do and try.

During this 5 years of bankruptcy, I realised how hard it was to borrow money. How hard it was for a person to ask another to loan money. It meant bringing down your pride, begging, thinking how to ask etc.....a lot of thoughts involved. But most importantly if that was the last resort to solving a problem to prevent more coming. Is it temporary, how much can it help etc.......

People judge you.  Which also means loosing relationships, trusts and so forth.  To those who were willing to help when I asked, I thank them from the bottom of my heart and pray that they prosper with good health and wealth. Because they are kind. And I promise to pay them back even if it took me a few years. And I will keep my promises. I don't like owing people either.

Everyone is different. Everyone has their own problems. Unless you know that this person is using the money for bad uses, you have the right not to lend. But if you are willing to help this person who is borrowing, please help with an open mind and heart and trust that it will come back. Don't judge because one day you will need their help too. And don't go mouthing off about this borrower, because you are not helping at all if you do.

Everyone has debts and problems. If you want to help, help. If not, just keep your mouth shut because it doesn't make you a better person when you go mouthing off about others.

I've seen my fair share of who are willing who are not, who are the ones that step on you when you are down and who are the ones that throws you a life line. It is when you are down you see the true colors of people. And that is the hard truth.

A recent comment hit me quite hard. Am not sure if it is directed at me or why it was said. But it made me think why is it that the borrower is always the one that is put in the bad light. Why is borrowing such a bad thing. We all borrow from hdb, cpf, banks etc.....that is also borrowing. So why is it that individual one to one is a bad thing or looks bad on a person when borrowing from instituitions are not.

The answer i was told when i asked was this is society. We can't change how people think or feel. We can hold our head up as long as we pay back, we are not cheating or scamming or doing something that is not right or ethical. Not everyone has gone through a bad patch and not every bad patch is ever the same. So no one should judge another.

Living honestly is how one should be and not be affected by how others think of you. 

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Scams

 Scams.

Everyone at some point would have been scammed. I am not the smartest but at some point I would have been scammed too.

Recently I think I have been scammed. There was this click on certain instagram pages and then you get paid. First I thought ok, they are buying clicks so no harm. Few dollars each time. Then they had this task you have to complete. Which is linked to crypto currencies. Okay, the amounts are not too big so you can actually chose the smallest amounts. Then they have this group with you will join and choose the amount and suddenly it became in the thousands. If you don't complete your task, you loose your money. And it has to be prepaid.

Then there is another which I am not sure whether it is a scam but it is called Hostelworld. Where you do bookings for rooms and then suddenly they have these deals where you earn 4% commission. At first too they are small amounts and then suddenly they have bigger amounts and they only give you 24 hours to recharge otherwise your money gets stuck for 6 months inside. Who knows if they are still around after 6 months.

So..I would say when people are in desperation or need they look for outlets to find money. And things like these they suit the seekers needs. Only to be even more broke and desperate after because they have lost whatever they thought could help them get more.

With the world of scammers these days, I wonder how they could live with themselves. Scheming off the poor and making them worse off. Really. I would really like to see them face to face and give them a punch in the face and curse their parents who brought  them up!! But normally they are through messengers. And never the real person. Sad.

To think that we want to make the world a better place but it seems that the humans are getting worse instead.

So if you have been scammed before, don't worry. You are not the only one. Treat as a lesson learnt and move on. Money goes around and it will come round to you too.

With the internet these days it is hard to tell what is true and what is not. So just be careful and skeptical instead of just believing. 

Have a good weekend!!

Next Small Step

Well, what do we do when we are eye brow high in debts only being able to pay the minimum and juggling between all accounts?

Well, I think I took another step. I took up a loan to pay off the 24% credit cards which were charging over $200 in interest every month. I took a 4 year loan such that I can be disciplined to pay off every month without fail. I also made sure it was another account where there is no monthly deductions from so that I will not be confused or mess up. My normal bank account has got too many deductions and sometimes I forget and mess up.

I think taking the responsibility and realising that there is no easy way out is at least a small step that I can make to make sure I see the light at the end of the road. Right now, I have cleared 2 cards with that amount I loaned and it sure feels good to see zeros in an account. That way I know that the bank is no longer able to make anymore money out of me! Hah! Take that!

Then I have a one month holiday before the loan takes off and that would ease another account as well. 4 months of interest and i am paying off one month's loan. If you do the math, it comes to be alot and I have heard friends who has been in this before and is still paying after 10 years!!

It's coming end of the year and I am ready to clear another card to lower all my acconts to interest under 18% and lower. I am making sure that I do not fall back into the same trap. Even though there will be relapses, but it will be under control. Because I cannot afford to take another loan for the next 4 years.

Also, by next year March, one of my loan will be over and it would be easier on me and I wouldn't be so tight. At least then I will have more to look forward to like holidays etc. Plus I guess my mum's new place will be coming and we will be moving which will need some money for furnitures etc. Which is something I need to save for.

I work in sales and from commissions to help me make more. With this economy, I still dont know if next year will be up or down. Which means my income could be lesser then the last two years. I am still at the 70K mark but at least it is getting lesser. With the loan, every month it will get lesser. And it is this little step we take.

Keep on going, I am sure I will make it there one day. My target is to clear within 3 years if I can. Hopefully we will get bonuses and that would help alot. And alot faster too.

We have to believe in ourselves to make things happen.