6 Ultra High Quality Websites to Feed Your Brain

Facebook is a total waste of time. You learn nothing.

In this post I will share to you websites I consider to be very important that I can’t live without.

You may have known some of these websites. In fact some of them became viral in social media.

Make your time productive as I share to you these top websites I consider to be one of the best alternative to Facebook.

1. TED.com

TED is a collection of live talks and conferences. Speakers are credible, top caliber experts on the subject matter.

Do you want to see SteveJobs, Elon Musk or Anthony Robbins?

Or what about topics from biology, sexuality, economics or mathematics?

Name it and certainly there’s a TED talk for that.

For a quick start, you can watch the Top 20 Ted Talks.

Trust me, the videos are priceless!

What I love about this

I could see myself in front of the speaker. Live. For free.

How cool is that? And you can also get tips on public speaking. Amazing. You can also download the TED app for Android and iOS.

2. Quora.com

If you have questions (about anything) or just want to learn a specific info, Quora is the go-to site.

I have seen Quoransasking how Drew Houston (DropBox founder) learned to hack operating systems and Barack Obama's opinions about Iran leaders.

What makes it very interesting is that you can choose the topics you want to follow.

I personally follow Lifehacks, Stocks, Backpacking and Learning New Things.

Quora is better than Facebook. See it for yourself.

What I love about this

A lot of CEO’s, founders and experts are in Quora.

1. Jimmy Wales (Wikipedia)
2. Adam D'Angelo (Quora)
3. Ashton Kutcher (Actor, Venture Capitalist)
4. Sheryl Sandberg (Facebook COO)
5. Michael Arrington (TechCrunch)
6. Marc Andreessen (Venture Capitalist)
7. Mark Cuban (Dallas Mavericks Owner)

Yes, the answers are straight from their mouth/heart/mind.

You can upvote or downvote an answer too. Download the Quora app for Android and iOS.

Let us meet in Quora – Paul Daveril Dabuco

3. Zenhabits.net

One of the blogs I follow. Zenhabits was awarded as TIME Magazine's Top 25 Blogs of 2009 and 2010. One of the best blogs in the world.

Talks about minimalism, simplicity and mindfulness. If you don't know what I mean, visit the blog.

What I love about this

Leo Babauta has emphasized the benefits of living with less stuff, veganism, meditation and mindfulness.

It will show you how to live life worry-free. Amazing blog.

Leo also has a sea change program that aims to develop a habit through accountability with other members.

4. Coursera.org

Free online courses from Harvard, MIT or Princeton professors. Yes, FREE at Coursera.

What I love about this

Wide array of courses to choose and professors are from Ivy League universities.

Courses take weeks or months but only require few hours a week.

Assignments are also given. For a minimal fee, you can acquire a course certificate of completion.

Download the Coursera app for Android and iOS.

5. FinancialSamurai.com

A personal finance blog who walks-the-talk. The author talks about his passive income investments and net worth.

Financial Samurai is founded by Sam, a financial geek who was a millionaire before he turned 30.

What I love about this

Very transparent. Author credibility is high.

Unlike from other self-proclaimed financial gurus, he does what he teaches. And he's a substantially rich guy.

6. Udemy.com

The best "learn-at-your-own-pace" e-learning platform.

I have spent courses on uDemy but the value I get is tenfold.

I enrolled in html/css programming and app development courses. Fantastic. Outstanding instructors.

What I love about this

The lectures are recorded in videos. You can access anytime even if you’re offline. Download uDemy for Android and iOS.

Unlike Coursera, there is no virtual class or assignments. But you can ask questions in the forum.

Absenteeism is not an issue. Learn whenever you want to.

Download the uDemy app for Android and iOS.

Check out my uDemy profile – Paul Dabuco

Conclusion

Social media has been the best and worst discovery of all time.

It distracts us from our tasks and devours our time. Worst is we learn nothing out of it.

Instead, why not spend your time on learning something?

There are a lot more free resources to feed your brain. What else are you using that I haven’t mentioned?

My Personal Net Worth - June 2015

A personal net worth is the difference between your assets and liabilities: things that you own less things that you owe. If it is positive, you're on the right track. Else, you need to do something different. Tracking your net worth is a critical step towards achieving your financial freedom. The term is quite intimidating but let's make it simple anyway. 

Why Track Your Net Worth?

Net worth is being used as a tool to measure the wealth of a person. Say, Bill Gates has a net worth of $79.3 billion. It means he has more assets (cash, investments, businesses) to outweigh his liabilities (loans, mortgage, debts). The surplus of his assets than his liabilities makes him wealthy that  it doesn't require him to work anymore if he wishes not to.

The end in mind is to have a high net worth as a person. Personal assets should be higher (in value) than liabilities. 

The purpose of tracking our net worth is to ensure that our assets are continuously growing while liabilities are maintained or reduced. But in reality as income increases, liabilities do. Thus the only way to increase net worth is to accumulate more assets, not to reduce expenses. As they say, the buttonhole is proportional to the size of the button.

Assets and Liabilities

Before we roll up our sleeves and do the calculation, let us classify the entries that we can add in our assets and liabilities columns.

For assets, list all of the things that you own including but not limited to cash, business, bonds, stocks, savings, retirement, emergency funds. To make it simple, I do not include physical assets like house, automobile, jewelries although you may do so if you want.

Liabilities or debts include mortgage, student loans, credit cards, personal loan, auto loans, mobile plans and all other debts that you owe including the interest rates.

My Net Worth as of June 2015

DISCLOSURE: This is not a bragging room. I am showing the actual figures (as accurate as I can) to be TRANSPARENT as much as possible, INSPIRE you to also track your net worth and SUPPORT one another in winning the game of investing. I'd be more than happy to hear your questions, comments or even strategies.

So here's the net worth calculation. Prepare a tissue, you might puke when you see this :)

ASSETS

Cash  28,802.19

Emergency Fund 10,756.00

Savings - Cooperative A 12,582.58

Savings - Cooperative B 11,660.15

Stock Market Shares 46,927.94

Life Insurance 10,800.00

Index Fund 9,965.54

TOTAL 131,494.40

DEBTS

Mobile Plan  54,000.00

Credit Card A 23,114.82

Credit Card B 1,589.00

Credit Card C 10,515.88

Friend                                 40,000.00

TOTAL 129,219.70

NET WORTH 2,274.70

A Little Background of My Assets

The cash and emergency fund that I have is taken from my monthly salary and accumulated over the years. Cash is for my primary needs: food, clothing, rent and other basic necessities. Emergency fund is only used when I am (or someone) is in "dire" need.

My two savings are automatically deducted from my monthly salary. Savings A is Php 1,000 per month (Php 500/payday) while Savings B is Php 500 per month (Php 250/payday). Auto-deduction is really a good way of saving because you don't really feel the pain since you will only spend what's left in your income. It's like "stealth" savings since you are not doing the physical deposit of money.

Stock market shares are my investment in the Philippine stock market thru ColFinancial. Although currently I am losing by 23%, I am still optimistic to earn returns in the future. Life insurance is not just an investment for my beneficiaries but an investment savings as well. My annual premium is Php 10,800 payable in 5 years. Thereafter, I have the option to withdraw my money (earning with interest) or leave it there and grow more. Nevertheless, I can withdraw it anytime I want.

My index fund is the latest investment vehicle I undertook as a result of my not-so-good performance in the stock market. What index fund does is it mimics the performance of Philippine Stock Exchange indexes. The funds (of investors) are managed by a Fund Manager and is invested equally to Top 30 public companies in the stock market.

So Why Do I Have a Net Worth of Php 2,000?

Without looking at my liabilities, you would think that I am doing very very well. Not really. That is just the tip of the iceberg.

Yes, I have a positive net worth. It is okay but not that good. Hence, don't be deceived with a big asset unless you see the liabilities (whole picture).

This is the importance of tracking your net worth, you will see your financial condition when you sell all your assets and pay all your debts. Will you still survive or you will have nothing in the end?

Evidently, the reason why I have a very small net worth is because of my debts. Here are my Action Plans to improve my net worth in the next month.

My Action Plans to Improve My Net Worth

1. Of all my debts, I need to repay my credit cards first. Here's why: credit cards impose the highest interest rates! They are sneaky and nasty! Thus, I need to pay all my credit cards above other debts.

2. Close the least needed and lowest credit limit card. Currently, I have 3 credit cards. While it is a good advantage to have multiple cards to increase your total credit limit, you will be more tempted to spend more and annual fees will eat your money out. Thus, it is convenient and economical to retain the two most important cards.

3. My friend agrees that I will pay my debt in installment basis. I'm very blessed with this person. Hence, I will pay Php 4,000 every month and pay off my debt next year :)

4. My mobile phone is not a want but a need. My old phone has been with me for 2 years and it serves me well not until 2 weeks ago when a major defect started to appear. When charging, the phone seems to increase its volume always even if you don't move anything. It's distracting especially in the office. So I had no choice but to buy a new iPhone 6 :)

CONCLUSION

Having a small (or negative) net worth is not so bad after all. The fact that you care and take action in tracking your net worth is a vital action towards improving it in the future.

Remember, you can't improve what you can't measure. Ergo, since you already have an idea of your net worth, the next step is to improve it.

P.S. I am excited to show my net worth in the next month. Will you join me? Show me how you're doing! :)

My Stock Market Update - 2nd Quarter 2015

On December 17, 2012, while being stuck in the office waiting to go home, I was suddenly struck by a lightning bolt. I had just received my 13th month pay and I didn't know what to do about it. What if I invest it in the stock market?

Yes I could spend it one time with a fancy iPhone or splurge into a drinking spree but I opted not to since I knew I would experience a buyer's remorse. (It's a good intuition by the way and it serves me well along the way)

DISCLAIMER: This is not a bragging room. I am not the richest man. The main purpose of showing the actual figures is to ENCOURAGE our community (including you) to invest and to HELP one another on how to increase our chances in winning the bizarre game of investing.

Upon profound thinking, I realized I didn't need such things. A new smartphone is not necessary since I just bought a new Quad-core phone last June of 2012. It sure did look new and shiny, no scratches or whatsoever and it's running smoothly. Thus no forcing reason to buy a new one.

And then a bolt of lightning hit me - what if I invest this in a stock market?

I have read few articles about stock market and how few people found their fortune in this investment vehicle. Fascinating. Intriguing. My curiosity broke out and so I followed where it go.

I tell you, my initial motivation to invest is not mainly for profit but for curiosity and fun. I'm a dynamic person. I get fed up easily so I want to try new things. Being scared is like a second nature to me and I embrace it. Sometimes I want to break the rules, I don't follow what people are doing and saying. Unless they are the person of authority. Stubborn. Yes, that's what a Taurus is.

Next thing I knew, I was trading in the stock market. I was buying stocks, held it for a while until it increased in value and selling it for profit. It is fun when you are always winning. "I'm gonna be rich with this!", I greedily thought with a demonic laugh. But NO.

After two and a half years, I am now showing you how my stock market investment is doing.

Note: Prepare to have a tissue, you might puke while watching this

Nasty, right? I told you. I have an "unrealized" loss of Php 13,659.62. Take note of the word "unrealized". This is so because you haven't lose this money yet not until you sell your shares. But the moment you sell your shares, it will become a "net" loss. (Read the Basics of Stock Market)

What the hell did I do wrong?

With a 23% loss I'm sure we are thinking the same thing - what did I do with my investments?

When I was just starting out in the stock market I was a busy bee watching my stocks go up and down. I've heard about investing in blue chip stocks but I didn't believe them. For me they're like an average investor doing safe, fear-based decisions. I wanted to be a maverick. A true hard-core investor.

But I failed to be one because I lacked the dedication to study more and didn't have the time to do so. I'm a private employee.

Now things started to pay off as a toll to my ignorance.

What could I have done that you can DO now

My loss is still a "potential" loss. I may be able to recover it when the value of my shares rises (oh please, rise) or if my other portfolio is performing better that breaks even the loss. I still believe this downfall is temporary and it will bounce back.

For starting investors, you might want to take these tips with you as you pave the way on your investment journey:

1. Don't invest without knowing anything

Starting is better than not doing anything. But be wary, starting it wrong may cut you off from achieving your goals. Before you invest in any industry (or company) in the stock market, make sure you had your research and solid reference.

Sometime in early 2013 I invested in a mining company because I've read somewhere that the price of silver and gold will increase on that same year. I bought several shares, optimistic that the price would go up and earn massive profits.

But lo and behold, the price fell on the brink, rose up again, froze and I never had the chance to earn my investments. When the loss was quite a little (Php 9.00), I sold my shares and dreaded the mining industry forever. But, is mining industry really a bad investment? No. I was ignorant that time.

I later found out that the reason why the stocks fell was because their operations had a mining spillage that caused an environmental impact which resulted to a violation and a fine of several millions to the area affected.

2. Don't get swayed with other people's (crappy) opinion

The people who don't know what is really happening are the ones who talk too much. So don't listen to any of them.

They are just scared of what will happen so they tend to influence others with their baseless opinion so that you will be afraid too! At all cost avoid these stock pickers, self-acclaimed gurus and other wannabes.

3. Mirror the trades of successful investors

You simply want the best of your investments - profit. Do your homework, read about the company you are interested in and ask help from an expert. I suggest you subscribe to Bo Sanchez's stock market investment guide.

No, he is not doing that alone. He has a team of stock market experts that alerts them what stocks to buy, at what price to buy and what price to sell. They are trustworthy. Had I listened to them, by now I should have made a profit from Jollibee (JFC) stocks.

CONCLUSION

It takes a person with a brave heart to invest in the stock market. Assess yourself before you take the plunge. Anticipate loss but have the courage to win. Powerthink the situation and seek help from an expert. You can win in your investments!

P.S. Are you gaining or losing in your stock market investments? Share your experience below :)

Udemy Review: A Comprehensive Assessment

Traditional learning like schools offers a great way for us to obtain a degree or learn new skills. But there are disadvantages in this medium: first, it is very expensive and second, actual presence is mandatory. There is a better way and worth investing. It is through E-learning.

E-learning is an interactive way to learn skills or acquire knowledge through the internet via information products like videos or webinarseries. The price of the courses usually ranges from $9-499 (Php400 – 20,000) which is way cheaper than universities and the best thing is that you can take this course while snorkeling in Maldives or climbing Machu Picchu.

One way to obtain a course for FREE is through Coursera, TreeHouse, Codecademy and other online courses. However, the topics for these websites are very broad and it would take you 3-6 months to finish. My recommendation is to try Udemy!

Enter Udemy

Udemy is an excellent website for learning great stuffs like Basic Accounting, Fashion Design, Android App Development, Stress Management, Photoshop CS6, SEO, Project Management or even Self-defense. You name it and most certainly they have it.

The best thing that I like about this website is that it's very cheap and the courses are well-structured. Besides, there are other relevant advantages that set Udemy apart from other sites.

Top 9 Advantages of Udemy

1. User-friendly

The user-interface and web design is really great. I never had a hard time searching for the courses I've enrolled, available courses, instructor's profile and payment processing. It's simply perfect.

2. Course reviews

Before you enroll in any course, you can browse through the course reviews and see for yourself what others are saying about. You can rate courses from 1-5 stars and post comments about your experience. Some instructors though will ask you to give a positive review for an incentive. This is solely to increase their rankings but your review greatly depends on you.

3. 30 days Refund Policy

It´s absolutely safe. One time I saw a course on Swift and iOS Development. I checked the instructor, his experience, what could I learn on the course and the requirements. It's all fine. So I hit the “Take This Course” button and paid with my Paypal account. I went through the course but on the 4th video, there was something that I needed to install for me to run xCode (MacOS program) because I'm a Windows user. Unfortunately, my computer wouldn't allow me to install the program.

In the "About" section of the course, the instructor stated that if someone couldn't install the program, he can opt out and ask for a refund. I emailed the instructor about my case and asked to cancel the course. Automatically, he sent me a refund. No fuss. It´s that easy. As long as you cancel within 30 days, you´re good to go.

4. Niche courses

There are numerous courses out there and you can enroll easily what you can imagine. You simply have to choose the best ones based on ratings, reviews and price. Read about the course entirely and see if it matches what you need.

How to pick the best Udemy courses

a. Read all about the course

Navigate through the course description, instructors (to see if he is competent enough on the subject), the requirements (so that you would know if it requires an intermediate knowledge or if it's newbie-friendly); or if it requires a software to install or an investment to start.

b. Topics and video length

The individual topics and video length are very important to see if the course covers everything that you need to know and it's not missing anything. Try to check the preview video(s) if the instructor's coaching style is clear enough in terms of the following:

• Amplitude – make sure you understand exactly what the instructor is speaking on his lecture. Some instructors have soft voices that you don't hear what they are saying. For me this could be a deciding factor.
• Quality – select instructors that speak and enunciate the words clearly. Although most instructors have presentations on their lecture, others don't. It will be hard for you if the voice is not conducive for learning.

c. Ratings

Nothing could go wrong on a course with 5-star ratings. Check out the average rating and if it's less than 5 stars, search the least rating and read the comments for you to have a glimpse of what other students are saying.

c. Price

Some courses are FREE. Yes, you don´t have to pay a dime. Other courses are extremely expensive like Shoemoney System but other students are not satisfied about it so don´t be deceived. Intuitively we know that the higher the price, the better but it doesn't apply all the time.

5. Payment Options

When I enrolled in my first course, it took me just a blink of an eye to process my payment. Yes it's fast and easy. You have two options to pay: Paypal or credit card.

I prefer to use Paypal because it's fast and safe. You simply have to type your email and it´s done. I suggest you sign up for Paypal here.

Credit card is another option but it's not safe all the time because you are exposing your credit card number every time you make a transaction. Thus, the recipient can see your credit card number and we might not know if it will be in good hands or not.

6. Full autonomy

One thing special about Udemy is that no one is putting pressure on you to learn. Learning should be fun. You decide when to start and when to proceed. You control the pace. If you want to take it slowly in details, it's up to you. Or if you want to skip the minutiae you can do so and go to the next chapters.

7. Mobility: Udemy App

Udemy has its own Android and iOS apps. What's better is you can even download the videos so that you can view it offline!

(Download the app here ==> Android | iOS)

Here's how to download videos:

a. Select the course that you want

b. Click the download button (you need to hit the download button every chapter)

c. Wait until it's done and voila, you can now view videos even without internet connection!

8. Completion certificate

Some courses offer a certificate of completion. This is great for courses like Social Media Marketing, Project Management or Talent Management because you can use this as reference for relevant purposes.

9. Discounts

This is what I love most! Some premiumUdemy courses are expensive that you can't chase the price. What I usually do is add these courses on my "Wishlist" and wait until they offer discounts.

This is how I acquired my course on CPA Secrets for just $10! The original price is $97 but when Udemy offered a 90% discount, I had no doubts but to buy. This happens frequently as they are continuously promoting courses.

Update: Sign up HERE and get started to learn for free!

Conclusion

Udemy is a goldmine if you want to learn new skills. The site is user-friendly, courses are cheap and you can even enroll FREE courses. Just make sure to check the ratings, reviews and topic discussions before you enroll. Overall, the courses are worth investing. I highly recommend this site!