Kevin O'Bryan

Tag: planning

  • Figuring Out Finances – Part 2

    Figuring Out Finances – Part 2

    It’s been said that money makes the world go round, but mis-use of it can bring your entire world crashing down.

    Case in point, online shopping is so super convenient but left unchecked, it can create a permanent hole in your pocket and your financial future.

    Money pitfalls will happen and recovering is not impossible but it takes discipline and sacrifice. In this second part to my look at figuring out finances, I speak specifically about debt and some ways I have dealt with it in the past.

    Usual Disclaimer: I am NOT a financial advisor, not even close. In addition, I’m sure you may’ve have read some of these tips somewhere else, however, whatever I have added here is based on my own tried and tested experience.

     

    Pay off high interest debt first

    debt

    This piece of advice is standard fare on any personal finance blog worth its mettle and it’s GOOD!

    Things we consider bad debt – Credit cards, the hire purchase agreement for the sofa that was too good to miss, the high interest personal loan that you took out because you needed that ‘thing’- all are considered bad debt. They are bad because they are usually attained for items that are not gaining value and have ridiculous interest rates and repayment terms.

    So if you have three pieces of debt lined up, your car loan, credit card debt, and a personal loan from your employer at a sweet rate of about 5 %, which of the three would you put major priority in getting rid of first?

    The answer is obvious… Credit Card! Not only is that bad debt but depending on the interest rate and the amount owed, you could be adding an astronomical amount of money to the  existing debt each month in the form of interest payments. Get rid of it by paying more than the minimum balance and most importantly, STOP adding to the debt.

     

    Refinance your student loan

    Many years ago, I was blessed with a loan from the Student’s Loan Bureau (SLB). It was an important means to an end and I was thankful. I thought they were a bit unreasonable at times, but the alternative – loan from a bank – was not an option. Personal loans weren’t being thrown at you then, as they are nowadays.

    After receiving my loan and finishing college, I now had to start the process of repaying it and I had known this from the get go. When I got my first job, I was about 5 months over the grace period that the SLB provides after graduation. I recall making a momentous first payment. It was then that I realized that I had already accrued some late fees.

    Well for some reason – youthful exuberance maybe – I completely missed out on making any more payments for almost a year. Life got in the way, I guess. Anyway, after a very scary call from an SLB representative, I got my act together and I agreed to salary deductions. However because of my malfeasance, there was still those pesky late fees plus arrears on my loan. It seems like a pit that I couldn’t dig myself out of, until someone I knew who had insight into the operations of the organisation, suggested to me that I should get my loan refinanced.

    Refinancing basics

    Basically, refinancing is an option where they recalculate your entire loan, missed payments and late fees included as well as all principal and interest that you would’ve had to pay, into a new total.

    You would then sign a new agreement with the SLB, along with your guarantors to make this recalculated payment, via salary deduction.  That saved my financial life and set me on a track to paying off my SLB, which I did in 2010.

    I recall asking my loans officer at the time, why they didn’t tell us that we could have our loans refinanced and he replied “because we would be doing that all day.” #TheMoreYouKnow

    Shop for cost not just preference

    debt

    If you are planning to buy a car, what do you look at first?

    Your favourite car or the vehicle that fits within the budget you have set aside for a car?

    Rule of thumb is to look at the one that fits within your car budget not just your dream car, especially if you will have to borrow a substantial amount to get it. I know that many people say that it’s ok to purchase a car as long as you can afford the monthly payment.

    But being able to ‘afford’ the monthly payment is relative, especially if this affordability is looked at in isolation. What of the cost of tires, servicing every 5000 km, GAS? Breathing room is good, especially if you’re not paid to drive – as a travelling officer. Apply this to most other things, but particularly big ticket items.

    Save something

    I think we get so caught up in the conversation about interest rates and making your money work for you that we forget the simple power and purpose of saving, period.

     

    Interest rates are a bonus for an activity that will hopefully help you achieve a longer term goal.

    The concept of saving is simple… spend way less, than you retain. That retention will help you in many other ways, just don’t touch that money.

    I know a good interest rate is ideal but I also know that keeping more of my money than I spend is even more important and beneficial. So make a decision about your income, whatever the amount and save some of it.

    Invest when you’re ready

    Once you have saved up some money, consider levelling up and start to invest. It is not just for ‘rich’ people either, as some of us have been led to believe.

    Now is the best time ever to invest on the Jamaica stock exchange, and the recent surge in Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) has created the perfect opportunity for new investors to get their feet wet.

    Randy Rowe over at Every Mickle has some great insights and resources on investing. This article is a good way to dive in as it sets you up with some of the fundamentals of how to get started in investing in Jamaica.

    I only wish that an investment app like Acorns, which is based in the US can become a reality in Jamaica soon and make investing even easier.

    There ends my literal two cents. I just hope that if there is anything that can help you be better, it will stick. If you missed part 1 of this article, read it here

    Be inspired, Be informed, Be Glorious!

    Kevin

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  • Pushing Through

    Pushing Through

    The first two months of 2018 have been quite interesting for me as I’ve been hit with a case of fatigue and lethargy which are both exacerbated by a bad case of insomnia.

    Two very important things have become critical to ensuring that I don’t self-sabotage and just say – SCREW IT to all the goals I’ve set for 2018.

    I’ve sought out small victories to help propel me onward to try and achieve the other larger goals that I have. For example, 2018 is my declared year of Reading, but imagine my quandary with the fact that it’s almost the end of February and I’ve completed only one book so far. Finishing that book was such a vindication, and prevented me from otherwise beating myself up. I’m in the middle of two others though, so that counts as progress. I press on.

    The other saving grace has been the recognition that the difficult moments are no time to slack off. There have been days I feel like just can’t bother to do anything but the mundane – work, home, sleep – repeat. But then I realize that pushing through is what it’s all about.

    I usually begin a 5k or 10k race wondering “what have I gotten myself into?” and I often ask myself the question “Can I finish this race?” Not only do I usually finish, but I feel good while doing so, proving to myself time and time again that the joy is in the journey, trials and all.

    Now that I’ve set the stage and you have a better idea of where I am, let’s talk a bit about Lent.

    Things we Give Up

    I never pay the custom any mind, because the point of making a sacrifice never quite made sense to me. However from a purely self-serving point-of-view I could see how making a deliberate effort to form a new habit, or destroy a bad one, can work in my favour.

    Well, this year, I took a few moments on Ash Wednesday and decided to give up something for Lent – Online Shopping!

    I hate to think that I am addicted to anything, but in reality my mind is always convinced that everything that I ever purchase online, I absolutely need. No matter how small or inconsequential, I need(ed) it. And the thing is I abhor hoarding so always buying stuff, that I probably don’t need is just not something I can cope with.

    I have forty days to free myself of online shopping and all the triggers that get me to do it. For example, I recall being in line at a restaurant waiting for my food and I just happened to be on my phone, browsing the amazon app. While browsing I came upon a shoe that I had been watching for a quick minute and decided to buy it, because – great price.

    It’s literally that easy, takes not time and is right at the click of a button.

    The only exception is the payment for road races that I may choose to run over the period, and that will only be if I can’t pay for them in another way.

    This is my confession and this is how I’m handling it. It’s been just over two weeks and I haven’t cracked though temptations abound.  I follow blogs and retailers that constantly send me emails reminding that sales are on, or open my eyes to new products, but I must resist, resist, resist.  Online shopping isn’t a bad thing but the disconnect that it causes between want, need and cost is.

    Every day I overcome the temptation to buy something online, is yet another victory for me to feel that much better about myself, and keeps me pushing on to the next goal.

    What’s helping you to push through? Let me know in the comments.

    Be inspired, Be informed, Be Glorious!

    Kevin

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  • Make it Count: 2018

    Make it Count: 2018

    As 2016 drew to a close, I made a promise to myself that I was going to make 2017 memorable.

    I was going to make myself so proud!

    At that point, in December last year, it wasn’t fully clear to me what my mission was but I knew that I had to fill the year with moments I could be proud of.

    With just a few days  left in the 2017, I am pumped! There is so much I was able to tick off and accomplish during this year. Even more important, was the foundation I was able to lay for things to come.

    I’m at a place in 2017 where I have already started to assemble some of the pieces that I hope will help me to make the most of 2018 and the opportunities that will arise.

    Let me share some of the strategies that I have developed to make my new year planning strategic and with achievable goals.

    Personal Retreat

    Companies, large and small, as well as business units all have one thing in common. They usually host a strategic annual retreat to figure out their plans for the new year. This retreat also gives the organisation the opportunity to look back at the year that was, to review what worked, what didn’t and how to improve in the future.

    I’ve been to a number of different types of retreats in my professional life and it’s always interesting how ideas and insights flow when participants are able to take a break from the mundanity of everyday ‘work’ and just do something different.

    So, why not stage a retreat for your personal life?

    2018 is ahead of you, and you have plans and goals, therefore, why not hold your own retreat and make strategic plans? After all you are the CEO of your life and the most important shareholder, bar none.

    I thought about this in 2016 and decided to do it.

    I took a day, went to a convenient place, with my laptop and strategised how I was going to make 2017 my year. During my own personal retreat I was conducting research, finding out costs, looking at different goals, setting deadlines and most importantly putting it all in writing.

    Throughout the year, I would occasionally go back into that document to keep track of my goals and identify things I’d achieved as opposed to things I hadn’t yet accomplished.

    You can enhance this by creating a vision board, based on the results of your personal retreat (if that works for you). Not only is this a deliberate approach to identifying and achieving your goals, but it helps to keep you accountable.

    Be Flexible

    In outlining the desires of your heart for the new year, be flexible, especially with your route to achieving those goals you have set. Note flexible is not a byword for lackluster or stagnant, instead consider it permission to be gentle with yourself.

    Acknowledge and count every move that gets you closer to the final goal. Every bit counts and preparing your mind to be flexible throughout the process, will be important.

    Be Realistic

    While being flexible, be realistic about your goals. Are all the elements in place to enable you to achieve them? What are you doing now or have done that will bring you a step closer to making that goal possible?

    Sometimes the route to the goal may not be immediately clear, but that doesn’t mean the goal is unrealistic. For example, if you plan to start selling baked goods on the side to make extra money during 2018, some of the realistic questions you need to ask are:

    1.      Do I have enough baking equipment?

    2.      Have I factored in the cost for ingredients?

    These are specific questions that are at the heart of a realistic plan to achieve that goal.

    Speak it into being

    You may hear self-help gurus say “Declare it!” as they encourage you to speak into the being the dreams and goals you want to accomplish.

    Guess what? It actually works!

    The simple act of vocalising the dream, the vision, the end goal is not only a powerful inducement to get it done, but also allows you to put it out their into the universe.

    I never realized how rewarding this was until earlier in 2017, when I was in the development stages of this blog.  I had given myself a deadline, one that I had to meet. While having a conversation with my older brother, Pete and discussing it, I felt so much more confident and ready to achieve the goal.

    Putting it in very simple terms, saying it out loud, made the whole thing REAL!

    Get Excited

    What are plans if you are not excited about them!

    Get over-the-top excited about everything you have coming in 2018. Be they small or large goals, they are yours!

    Let your excitement and enthusiasm be the propellant that pushes you forward, even during those dull moments when the effort seems pointless.

    Share some of the things you are doing to make the new year a go from the jump!

     

    Be inspired, Be informed, Be Glorious!

    Kevin

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  • Going plant based tastes good!

    Going plant based tastes good!

    Ever felt like you wanted to take a food break?

    Not a break from eating food, but a break from eating the same, regular stuff that you normally consume.

    The white rice, fried chicken and other meals that are a staple of modern Jamaican cuisine can eventually become blah.

    I felt this way earlier this year.

    Fact is, I was eating so many different stuff, particularly meat. I LOVE to cook when I get the chance, and for this year, I have spent a lot of time experimenting. Most of this experimentation involved marinades with different meats and poultry, in the oven.

    I opened up my palette to so many new flavours by incorporating different spices and herbs into these dishes. But alas, I got fatigued and I felt that my diet was taking a heavy toll on my physical well being.

    So I gave myself a personal challenge.

    I would spend two weeks during the summer to detox but not in the new age way of juice cleanses and smoothies.

    For me, this detox was a literal break from the foods that I felt had suddenly taken over my diet – meat and animal products.

    Plant based as opposed to labelling myself vegetarian or even vegan (hate the politics of those labels) was what I intended to do for two weeks.

    Eat What you Cook

    Whenever I want to ensure that I eat consistently wholesome food, I do what bodybuilders do, I meal prep, usually on the weekend, for the week ahead.

    For this challenge, that meant going stocking up on some ground provisions like yams and coco (I love coco) and greens, LOTS of greens primarily, callaloo.

    I chose to make the basis of my diet legumes because not only were they accessible but they were also cheap and added vital nutrients in many ways.

    Fruits were also a staple for those times when I needed to snack, especially those that were in season.

    There were some standout foods that I identified from the go that would form part of my diet for this activity. I will tell you more about each below.

    Split peas

    plant based
    Split peas

    I love split peas because they are high in fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals. For my own purposes they made the basis for good, filling no-meat soup! On the weekend I made a big batch, portioned them out and stored them in the fridge, ensuring that I had soup all week long.

    Chickpeas

    plant based
    Chickpeas

    Garbanzo beans or Chickpeas were my saviour throughout the entire exercise and the most pleasant surprise of all! Using a variation of this recipe I made a big batch of chickpea curry that lasted me the entire week. I infused it with coconut milk and seasonings and a nice curry mix. I used the canned variety to save on time, but drained and rinsed them in water to remove any excess salt. While doing research I read up on chickpeas and it is basically a superfood. It is an excellent source of protein and fiber. The best part of chickpeas was the mouth feel because that curry tasted like chicken. The texture was incredible and the peas fused so well with the curry.

     

    Hummus

    plant based
    Hummus

    Because so much of my main foods during the period fiber rich, I didn’t really get hungry, however if ever I wanted to snack, hummus saved me. Hummus is made from chickpeas and you can buy them flavoured or just plain.

    I chose to buy the plain stuff and flavoured with a bit of cumin to give it an nice Mediterranean flavour. I paired the hummus with cucumbers!

    This was something I picked up from instagram, and it was described as a low calorie snack. Work for me. The quickest way to have me finishing a package of hummus is to give me cucumbers or any other veg to eat it with.

    Red Peas

    plant based
    Red peas

    I couldn’t have done this without planning a meatless stew peas, flavoured of course with coconut milk and a dash of cumin to add some mystique. I also added carrots to the mix to add some colour and texture. Bean stews will always be a Yes for me, because they are easy to make, nutrient filled, and are just a degree of separation from soups, which I love!

    Callaloo and Cabbage

    I love callaloo and cabbage for the same reasons. They are easy to make, easy to digest, and are a good way to get my veggies in outside of a salad, but not in a smoothie. Callaloo was a mainstay throughout my no-meat campaign, followed by cabbage, which I consume a lot of.

    Brown Rice

    plant based
    Brown Rice

    I love brown rice and cook it under normal circumstances. For this activity it was the main staple, non-vegetable carb that I consumed, in measured portions. It gave me energy and was filling so, win win.

    Plant based outcomes

    The week went by swimmingly. I can’t say I missed or craved meat, or milk or cheese. It helped that I never allowed myself to be hungry for too long and always had foods that I wanted with me.

    After seven days of enjoying animal-product-free meals, I officially dropped out of my quest. I attended an event and they had no meatless options, so I indulged.

    I didn’t do this for weight loss, just to give my digestive tract a break. For what it’s worth, I got that. But I also recorded a 7 pound drop in my weight on the scale. That was quite dramatic, especially as it was unexpected.

     

    This is by no means prescriptive. It was something I had to do for myself at that time. It has given me a fuller appreciation non-meat food and now I know that I could realistically live without meat.

    Be inspired, Be informed, Be Glorious!

    Kevin

    How do you feel about a plant based diet? Is it something you would consider? Let me know in the comments.

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  • 5 Tips to make your next trip overseas smoother!

    5 Tips to make your next trip overseas smoother!

    Guys, I know that you love those Crocs. In fact, I’ve heard that they are quite comfortable. But the next time you consider wearing them on that flight to Miami or New York, please ask yourself this question: “If this plane crashes, do I want my body to be found floating in the ocean, wearing crocs?”

    Trip

    That’s a stark way to begin but now that I have your attention, let’s consider the lengths we go to be comfortable when we travel and how we could possibly make the experience more seamless.

    I recently had to travel up north, via way too many connecting flights and the experience reinforced some vital elements of travel that many of us pay little attention to. Those contingencies that can make or break our experience, so I’m going to share 5 tips/tricks that you can use to make your next jaunt epic and comfy, sans Crocs!

    Blazers

    Trip
    Photo by Olu Eletu on Unsplash

    This one’s more for the gents but ladies you can apply this tip as needed with your own outfits.

    For the most part, travel apparel has veered largely into athleisure wear, with an understandable emphasis on comfort. However a black or navy blazer can class up just about any outfit (almost). And why limit it to black or navy just about any colour you like works just as well.  Just ensure it’s well fitting and compliments your overall look.

    From a more practical perspective, I love adding blazers to my travel wardrobe because the added inside pockets are the perfect place to keep those items I need a little closer to my body, specifically my passport, tickets or any other miscellaneous paperwork.

    First Aid Kit

    Trip

    Picking up an injury, even a minor one, is usually the farthest thing from our minds when we are travelling. But picture this, you are making your way from New York to London overnight, followed by a coach journey into central England and somewhere in the midst of it all, a hang nail decides to make itself relevant in your life. Extremely painful and torturous to even contemplate removing, what do you do? Put a band aid on it!

    Now if only you had a first aid kit handy with band aids and other items, you would be all set. I found myself in this exact predicament and was fortunate to have discovered this neat First Aid to Go kit by Johnson and Johnson at an airport convenience store.

    You could make your own, but these commercial versions are so neat and inconspicuous, it’s little hassle to add a few sachets of panadol or paracetamol and some gas tablets, just in case.

     

    Hand sanitizer

    Trip

    It’s always nice to see those pretty little Bath and Body Works hand sanitizer holders hanging from purses and other bags. But question, how often do you really use it?

    Airplanes are a germ playground, even when you’re not seeing the remnants of the snack the previous occupant of your seat was munching on. That’s why having a hand sanitizer for more than just decoration is essential.

    Head into any airport bathroom and observe the number of users who walk out of the stall and head straight for the door, and you will realise that hygiene means different things, to different people. Get the hand sanitizer you like and use it!

    Vitamin C

    Trip

    I’ve seen advice online about upping your Vitamin C intake just before, during and after a trip, to give your immune system a boost. I actually take 1000mg of Vitamin C everyday and this has helped me tremendously. So it was a no-brainer to continue this dosage while I’m travelling.

    There’s nothing more annoying than picking up a cold or flu virus during, or immediately after a trip.  And while Vitamin C is not a guarantee that you won’t get a cold, the extra assistance in fighting an infection goes a far way.

    Packing Cubes

    Trip

    Buzzfeed put me on to these packing cubes earlier this year and I finally got to use them recently. They were a life saver!

    The pack of five has 2 large, 2 medium and 1 small cube that can be used as needed to organise all your personal effects. I used three in my largest checked luggage for different types of clothes (pants, shirts, etc).

    Each cube is deep enough to hold a lot of clothing and you can even plan out daily clothing combinations and pack them inside each cube (if that’s your thing, of course).

    Finally, not only did the cubes free up space inside my bags for other items, but it meant that repacking, once I was ready to leave was easy as I didn’t have to completely empty the bag in the first place.

    There you have it guys, my two cents on making your next trip a bit more comfy, and not a Croc in sight!

    Be inspired, Be informed, Be Glorious!

    Kevin

    Remember if you have any content ideas, feel free to share them with me here.

     Disclaimer: The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have about supplementation. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on a website.

  • Just do It: How I finally became a Blogger

    Just do It: How I finally became a Blogger

    What’s it about?

    The first question most people ask when you tell them that you’re planning to develop a blog usually:

    “What is it about?”

    Still fresh to the blogosphere, I’ve already started to field this question from persons when I share that I have a blog.

    For a while, I was challenged to find an answer to the question as I attempted to identify a focus or subject to cover.

    “When I discover who I am, I’ll be free.”― Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man

    But after three years of planning, ruminating and procrastinating, I decided that this space would be an extension and expression of the multi-faceted person that I am.

    So, why be limited to just one area of focus?

    That being said, I still have to answer that question — “What is it about?”

    Kevin O’Bryan is a personal-lifestyle blog.

    Personal, because it allows me to open up like never before, to the whole, wide world.

    Lifestyle, because it will reflect so many aspects of my own life as well as the aspirational and inspirational areas of my interests.

    Accepting the challenge

    It took me a while to fully grasp this concept and it took even longer for me to admit that it was an obstacle. One that I had to jump over to achieve the goal of becoming a blogger.

    Along the way, I had great help getting my thoughts and actions aligned, in order to create what exists today.

    The first person to come to my aid was a friend from college, Quame.

    He saw my plea for help on Facebook for a graphic designer who could create a logo and volunteered his services.

    Unbeknownst to me, he had established a choice agency – Q3 Studio  that specialises in photography and graphic design.

    Considering that Quame resides in Ottawa, Canada, it was incredible that he was as attentive and willing to take the time to work with me to realize a vision, I was still fleshing out, way back in 2014.

    Early on, he let me know, that based on my posts on social media, he would be very interested to see what I would produce as a blogger and that is the reason why he was willing to help.

    I received top class service and was able to review and give feedback on the various iterations of what would eventually become my logo.

    And then it sat, unused but still valuable, for over 3 years.

    Forget the Excuses!

    During that period, I took the time to work on my Master’s Degree, which provided a good excuse, not to pursue my vision, for two years.

    But once I completed my studies at the end of 2015, I was out of excuses and as 2016 drew to a close, I knew it was time to get the ball rolling once again.

    Often times, it’s not the huge hurdles or obstacles in our way that prevent us from finishing what we start. Instead, it’s just tiny pebbles in our path that we percieve to be dream killers.

    One such pebble for me was the task of selecting a look and feel for the blog. So I asked a co-worker to select 10 themes, five free and five that come at a cost.

    From this list I found the perfect theme, which you now experience and once I selected that, I truly had no more excuses.

    The Full Picture

    The next big thing was deciding which photographer I would shoot with to make this whole dream pop, just the way I envisioned.

    My friend Racheal recommended a photographer she knows very well, Jik Reuben and after procrastinating for about a month or more, I finally gave him a call and set up a meeting.

    He was a joy to work with!

    Not only did he understand my vision, he embraced wholeheartedly the spirit of what I was aiming to achieve. He showed me samples of his impressive portfolio and outlined everything in detail.

    Roll around to shoot day and with the help of my fave chica, Nakeeta, who did my makeup, I was all set and ready to be a star for two hours.

    It took some music and laughs to get me relaxed and after a while, it was almost as if I was one with the camera (in my head).

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    Helping Hands

    The whole experience taught me some valuable lessons about myself and achieving goals. The most important being this – It is ok to ask for help!

    If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. – African Proverb But no matter how much help you ask for and receive, it will be worth nothing, if you do nothing!

    So, whenever the urge comes over me to pull back from a goal, or fear tells me it’s not possible, I have learned to put on a brave face and just do the damn thing anyway!

    It’s gotten me this far.

    Be inspired, Be informed, Be Glorious!

    Kevin