JonesLiew.com

Oh YES! YES! YES!YES!, it is finally over!!!! And YES! YES! YES!! I”m back in action too!!! Ha oH boy, my last post was dated 3 rd June, that’s easily 3 months and 18 days ago!!!  Ha come to think of it, it does seems a long time since the last post. Well, regardless of the length of the “invisible act”, rest assured I didn’t go into hidding or got lazy to contribute to my blog.  

The past 3 months had been great time in terms for work and financial status-wise!!! Was pretty busy and time to past by really fast.

And nope, I didn’t get super rich over the past 3 months just that, as my title suggested, I CLEARED ALL MY DEBT!!!!!

YA HOo!!! Yes, every single cents of the $10,000 odd plus plus had been cleared!!  And I cleared it before my declared deadline!!! Yeah! Yeah!! That’s right, well if anyone could remember, almost a year ago, I had made a commitment to start repaying my debt every single month and the goal was to clear it by 1st october 2009 on Children’s Day (Read  http://www.jonesliew.com/2008/10/06/its-time-to-repay-my-debt/).

And I did it before the deadline!!! Cool Stuff!!

With the debt gone, I am truly feeling really happy right now as it seems that I had just removed a heavy rock off my shoulder.

Well, I have to say that 2009 so far, have been great for me , as my past post suggested there were many “First-time” for me this year, from the family photoshoot, holiday trip, work trip to now the clearing of my debt.

Now, looking back, it was quite a shock to think about the amount of effort, discipline and commitment that I put in had to achieve some of the “WHAT I WANT” really surprised myself.

And I just can’t help but to think what will happen for the remaining 3 months of 2009. A few goals or targets had been met in the past 9 months, and really i just can’t help but to think what is next for me….ha ha…

So my friends, How’s your 2009 so far?  I hope it was also quite happening and I do sincerely hope and wish that for the remaining 3 months, everyone will have a great great last stretch/sprint towards the end and thus making 2009 the best year in your life!!!

Cheers, Jones.

(Total Amount left to clear: ZERO!!!)

What a tiring  training program, for the past 4 days, it was really a physically and mentally draining time for me, in fact, it was the most demanding program I had ever had in my whole life!!

Everyday, was a “war”. Everyday, there were “fights”, Everyday, there were “confrontation”, Everyday, there were “disagreement”. Everyday, there were “arguments” and Everyday, there were “crying”.

It were those non-stop “action” that really made this program so demanding and yet at the same time making it one of the most meaningful, worthwhile and mind-reflecting program for me.

This program was “special”, “special” in a way that the participants are not your normal mainstream students, “special” in a way that the teachers were a bunch of passionate people, “special” in a way that the training team were a bunch of committed and determined people.

The program was SPECIAL as it had able to create a big positive difference to all the people in this program. Well done, people!!!

Thank you once again APS, for the 4 days of emotional roller-coaster ride that’s comes with great life-experiencing learning.

*Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder diagnosed among children who exhibit severe social and communication dysfunctions and repetitive behaviours.

**Dyslexia is a learning disorder characterized by difficulties in reading and spelling.

***ADHD children always seem to be in motion. They dash around, wiggle, squirm, fidget and talk nonstop. They are whirlwinds that leave messes, throw tantrums, start fights and act obstinate.

FIERCE!!!!!!! This month is the month that I used the most CASH since a long time, the last time I had such a big money output was in 2006 when I decided to pursue my degree at SIM. At that instance, I paid S$10K straight for my 1st year tuition fee. It was pure hard cold cash…. man.

For this month,it was pure hard cold cash again, however, it is slightly different as the money output were for varies purposes and reasons rather, and that includes, my holiday expenses for my FIRST-EVER trip to TAIWAN,  and before that, I had spent abit for my FIRST-EVER trip to HONGKONG & MACAU as well. Up next, I had also made a payment for my family FIRST-EVER FAMILY PROTRAIT, and I also started a monthly (S$2oo per month) investment account recently and of course the most important, today, I continue to repay my debt.

It was really amazing for me at least, that with a single source of limited income, I had managed to do so many things in this brand new year. To be honest, I’m really happy and surprised at how a simple income distribution formula and what commitment and discipline can to do me. Without the above mentioned, I really don’t think I will be able to have so many “FIRST” for me in this first quarter of the year.

Yes and of course, with all the cash output recently, my bank account is once again not in a healthy line but at the same time, it is at a ”OK” line that can allow me to survive, to pay my bills and of course to repay my debt, at least t can last till my next payday.  

Right now at this moment, despite the low numbers on my bank statement, I’m still a very happy man, and that’s because, by looking back for the past 3 months, I had created, gained and experience quite a lot of new things from the stuffs that I put money in. The value of what I had gained was definitely worth more than the cash I put in. Whats the point of keeping alot of money and not spending it? I will rather spend it and enjoy my life or even spend it to create special memories with the people I cared about.

However, before we can do that, we must also ensure that we must follow what almost all the financial advisor will always tell us to do, and that is to save a sum of money for the raining day, and to start saving money for future uses.

And of course, rest assured, I had did the above mentioned, and because of that, I’m able to enjoy my life, and started to be a happy man and it had also made me a man that’s is always looking forward to create more ”FIRST” with his future pure, hard, cold cash.

(Total Amount Left to Clear: S$5900)

Oh Yes! Once again, is the time of the month to reduce my debt. Another few hundreds had been return to my loaner a few days back. I’m really glad that I made the effort to return the money, if not I couldn’t image what I will do with the money.

As we all know, Chinese New Year is just round the corner and it is time to buy new clothes, new shoes, new wallet and even new underwear and for me,  I do have a lot of things that I want to buy. So, for sure, if i delay the payment to my loaner, the few hundreds will come in handy, don’t you agreed?? (OF COURSE, YOU CAN”T AGREED!!)

Ha, guess what, that was what I told myself too, the angel and the devil were fighting in my head and of course, the angel won, for sure, I can’t agreed to that kind of thinking mentioned above. The reason is simple, I had made a commitment to pay my debt every month, returning minimum of S$500 every month. No way, I going to break that agreement, another reason is clearing my debt is one thing that I really want to do. 

So despite the temptations of keeping the money, I managed to stay focus and do the RIGHT thing for myself which is to clear my debt. I’m so glad that I’m able to exhibit my self-control and forgone the things that I want to buy and because of that I’m now once again a happy man and once again I’m able to reduce my debt. Cheers!  

(Total Amount Left to Clear: S$7400)

Ya hoo!! ha ha ha, never did I feel so happy when I see that there were little money in my bank. Yes, there are lesser money in my bank than before but I am happy!!!!!

Ok, before you are thinking that I going nuts, I want you to re-read my post title again, It reads “It’s time to repay my debt II” Yup, Yup, this is an updated post on my committment to repay my debt. 

The last time I wrote about my debt was on the 6th Oct 2008.

Today is the 9thNov 2008, which is almost a month plus later, I had once again taken a portion from my paycheck to clear my debt. As per mentioned before, the commitment was to use minimum S$500 dollars from my paycheck to repay my debt every month. However, what makes me happy this time round is that I able to give a little more, ha, don’t worry I still have enough money to be used for my daily allowance, transportation, food, insurance, bills and not forgetting some entertainment fee too. 

Have to keep some money for myself to spend lah, if not it is very very demanding and stressful to see all my hard-earned money to be used just for clearing debt. I hope my creditor will understand my situation I still have a life to live… oops!  

Anyway, I just know that I’m very happy that I’m doing my part to ensure that I will be debt-free by next year Children Day haha, remember to celebrate the day with me ok!!

(Total Amount left to clear: S$8450)

Hmmm oh oh, only 5 posts and I have had broken my commitment that I had made in my first post. Thanks to my friend, Siew Cheng’s reminder, I realised that I had totally forget about my 2 post per week commitment to this website.

So when I went to review what I wrote on my first post and I found out that, in deed I really did mentioned that I will post at least 2 post per week… and based on results.. I failed!! I didn’t post at least 2 post per week… I’m one posting short!!!

Gesh, I’m not going to make any excuse for it. All i know is I didn’t keep my words to it. Then again, I will also not going to beat myself hard for it….as I’m clear that I really didn’t meant to break it and the 2 posts per week really just skipped off my mind. In fact, this episode actually let me learn and see how fragile an agreement or a commitment can be…..Well… it really just shows that how commitment and agreement can be broken so easily. 

Really and I swear I’m really committed to writing in this post and I really totally forget about the “at least 2 post per week” thingy.

Granted I was busy with work for the past weeks, granted I was tired but that make no excuses for not writing the 2 posts. A commitment is a commitment.

I’m a bit disappointed with myself but at the same time I’m glad that this “forget to write a 2 posts” thingy actually make me learn something too. 

For one is that, once you put your mind and energy away from a commitment that was made, the next thing you know is that you will break your commitment. It is just so easy.

Secondly, it make me realises the importance of being focus and discipline, as once you are not focus and discipline enough to do the things you plan to do, other issues and stuffs will just start creep in and take up your time. Again it is just so easy for all this to happen.

ha.. so were there times like this for you too?, like when you promise or make a commitment to do something but end up you spend your time on other things and in the end nothing was done??

Does it sounds familiar to you. If it is a yes, then maybe, at that point of time, you are not just as focus or discipline as you should be.

Of course, when it comes to breaking a commitment, there can be many other factors too. But as for now at this instance, what is real for me is, the lack of focus, discipline and the easily distracted mind and energy can really take you further away from the things and goals that you are commitment to.

So people, it is time to take note and be aware of that man!!!

Yeah!!, Finally!! ha I have started to repay the money that I owed…. ha.. It a moment worth celebrating.

My Journey of studying and running my own biz, in the last few years had left with a loan debt of approx. 10 Grands and left me quite penniless for some time.

Well, Maybe to somebody, 10,000 dollars is not a lot but it is not a small sum either. Given my current income, It might take a while to clear it totally, but I glad I have started clearing it in this month.

Like I had mentioned in my previous post, the topic for the is month about Commitment and Discipline. Beside committing to write on this blog. There are many tiny things that I’m committed to get it done..

Clearing my loan debt is definetly one of the bigger commitment i gave myself. A minimum of $500 dollars from my monthly income must be used to clear the loan debt. and thats the commitment I have made.

And to help me to keep track of the balance. I have also done up a spread sheet. Ha, I know It might not sound like a big deal, but for a man like me who is not that organise and discipline, it is already a big step for me.

So, yup a minimum of $500 a month is put to clear the loan debt, starting from this month. and I have also set a time frame that I will clear it in 12 months time and by 1st October 2009, I will be celebrating together with all the children in Singapore, as they will be celebrating Childrens Day, while I will be celebrating my debt-free day!!!! Anyone care to celebrate the day with me??

(Total Amount left to clear: S$9114)

This is really going to be a joke to many. I had mentioned to others that I will start writing my blog and make full use of my www.jonesliew.com since August 2008 and till now.. my blog is still so empty.

Infact, I had have my name to this site for the past 2 years and yet nothing much is done.

I have been giving excuses that,” I don’t know how to start”, “don’t know what to write”, or “I still can’t find the correct theme that I want”…. man.. I really feel ashamed of myself. To think that I actualy encouaged my friend to write his own blog in past and now, he already had 15 posts!! and I have none!! Ergh!!

Talk about inspiring others but yet struggling by myself. This is all Bullshit man, Bullshit!

“Enough is Enough! Jones!” Time to walk the talk and and it will starts from today.

Once again, it might sounds “NATO” —-> (No Action, Talk Only)from me, but frankly I really dun care now. I’m not going to care what people going to say, all I know now that the state I’m in now is not what I want.. and I want to change it…..

To be honest, I know the answer or how to change my mental state, I know alot, is just that I afraid to commit to it or I just refuse to do something, dun ask me why? but for now.. the only thing I know is I don’t like it at all… and for sure that there are certain values of excellence is definetly not in me and I want to change that.

Two of the many values in achieveing excellence that I am strongly weak in is ” DISCIPLINE and COMMITMENT”.

Take my blog for an example, 2 years on, nothing, nothing is done.

Reasons?? I don’t have the discipline to blog and i don’t have the commitment to blog, is as simple as that.

And, where else, does the lack of commitment and discipline show up in my life??? The Answer?? Everywhere!!

Is time to take my life serious… the past few weeks, i have been talking to too many people… the message they send me is that “I have all the potential to be great but what the F@#K am I waiting for?”  

Enough already, really but I not going to rush things… for Now, I will work on the values on “Commitment and Discipline”

This first Commitment and Discipline I going make?? You guess it, it will be my commitment and discipline to blog on this website. I will commit to at least 2 posts per week and I will have the discipline to do so.

I remember my friend, Dennet, says this to me ” DISCIPLINE equals FREEDOM”.  and today I feel free once again!!