COLLECTOR$' HOTTIE TOTTIE CAR$

by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

Broom... Broom... Broom... 1, 2, 3... S-e-t and G-o!

Have you ever witnessed a race exclusively for superb cars or watched it for free as a streaming live video on the television? If YES, you might be a sportsman who loves competition or a person whose impulse is to collect top-notch cars.

A few hours back when I was on my table, I encountered the top ten most expensive cars in the world. I was intensely shocked with the cost of each car and thought deeply, why collectors are giving a big fuss in order to posses one of the expensive cars? Indeed, they are all expensive and seen by most of us as man-made machines only, designed for high speed driving and maneuverability. However, each is an asset that is likely to be converted into cash in the future.

Money Week magazine discusses mainly the latest happenings on U.K. stocks and shares. Occasionally, it features the top earning celebrities and their recent films, shows, amazing stories of ordinary people who are now big bosses of companies around the world and also, a list of stylish gadgets as well as powerful machines on the consumer's market today. Like the one (a set of fancy cars) below,

          CAR PRICE$ as of 2011

1.Bugatti Veyron Super Sports ( $2,400,000 )
2.Pagani Zonda Clinique Roadster ( $1,850,000 ) 
3.Lamborghini Revento ( $1,600,00 )
3.Koenigsegg Agera ( $1,600,00 ) 
4.McLaren F1 ( $970,000 ) 
5.Ferrari Enzo ( $670,000 ) 
6.Pagani Zonda C12 F ( $667,321) 
7.SSC Ultimate Aero ( $654,400 ) 
8.Ascari A10 ( $650,000 ) 
9.Saleen S7 Twin Turbo ( $555,000 ) 
10.Koenigsegg CCX ( $545,568 )

 *Source: Money Week

*Video courtesy of TopGear

UNEXPECTED EXCHANGE RATE

by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

I don't know what to say, surely, I am not happy with the current universal exchange rate!

In the past, the exchange rate good for UK Sterling Pounds to Philippine Peso was very assistive to one's expenses. It was like saving you from debts, if you have one, and/or adding more money into your savings account. Nowadays, the rate is quite bad (pretty low) for us who are always sending money to our old folks in the Philippines. To give you a rough estimate of the diminution, it went down to almost 50 percent and up to now it shows no signs of recovery. What a nasty and unfavourable circumstances for us?

Instead of blaming the United Kingdom's government officials and also, giving myself a hard time and wrinkles. Nowadays, every time I am sending money to my beloveds I am always making sure of their primary needs first before giving them extra dosh for their vices. However and in the past (just to compare), I was just sending £ without thinking twice, it's because the exchange rate before could cover more than their essential needs in life. So, having hesitations in sending money nowadays is inevitable especially that things here, in general, are getting more expensive too.

I am still not loosing hope that one day or within this year, the very 'stabilising' exchange rate of yesterday will revert!

*Photo courtesy of gbp.fx-exchange.com

FILIPINO STUDENTS ABROAD (England)

by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

I have been thinking deeply about, what are the many phases students have to overcome when contemplating study in another country. There are a few obstacles on the way and it’s good to stand like a flexible bamboo when in a foreign country.

I met Filipinas (Pinay) that became my newly- found comrades in this luxurious country, England. Their main purpose of being in England is to study. But they had other ideas too. Students who travel to the UK are usually keen to enhance their qualifications having first obtained a degree from the Philippines. They use their status as students to gain entry to the UK and employment.

Entering in the U.K. legally is such an opportunity that is why there are many people applying in the hope of acquiring an entry clearance. Being a self-financing student is a challenge that is why they seek employment while living in the country. Working to earn money which provides the means that sustains  life’s expenses. Wages, that are more than enough for a single person,  that is why a part of it is allocated for loved-ones at home.

Mostly, they work in a fast food as  service crew; in a healthcare home as a carer or sometimes both! Although wages swell the bank account, meeting people and making new friends is a relief from home sickness and boredome. We all know that they are speculating to succeed in life, however,to afford decent accommodation which is also relatively central they have to share several to a room. It is indeed a tough old world for the foreign students.

For those at home only the money and the cheerful pictures they send are what they see and enjoy, perhaps envy too. However we must remember that students have to endure hardships. Their new home may not be a relaxing place.They may yearn for their family’s presence and affection as they are far away from them.

A way to distract melancholic feelings is to maintain a busy lifestyle like mingling with cheerful friends or maybe even a day trip to the City or sea side. A busy day and cheerful memoirs are the remedies that will vanquish teary eyes or banish a drab day. However, a sudden illness like swine flue will reduce optimism and only medical assistance can relieve the dull pain that may cost more than a penny.

Remember, in all countries some of the local people do not take easily to foreigners and can be rude. It is best to try to put this in perspective and be as calm and friendly as possible and avoid being aggravated.

We can see that the students’ story shows their life, living and working abroad, and more importantly their hopes and aims. It’s an admirable continuation of their life’s journey. Becoming a successful individual supports their self-worth and pleases their families. Remember, many folk back home look forward to spending the money on essentials and maybe the odd luxuries.

In the end, I will leave you with this important and delicate question, not as a critic but as a fellow human being. Is it really their genuine decision in life to leave their home land or is it the wish to escape the impact of their countries’ poor economy?

*Photo courtesy of www.filipinosabroad.com

YEAR 2010: ECONOMY'S DIRECTION

by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

People, mainly buyers and sellers, seem to think that today or at the moment the situation of the economy is doing well, perhaps there's no direction!

Some people think the economy is doing well, mainly those people who think it goes up. A few days ago there was a news about Chinese exports and normally when you hear this type of news and when you get people analyse it you will find that the export were something like not proper goods but something else. Such as electronics stuff or components.

So far, what people are watching when comparing the 'book' is either the Chinese economy will go down or up.

A lot of people cannot see how the Chinese economy will continue growing if everyone itself is no longer buying like America, Europe, United Kingdom or the biggest market. Most of their sales are sold to those countries that reached up to 75% or 80%.

Today, all those countries are in absolute distress, so, how can their market continue growing? There are two ways they can adapt either to export more goods to the far east in which the far east has no big middle class consumers' society or its own people could be buying more goods.

The only way its own people could buy more goods would be if the Chinese government is prepared to give their people more money which would mean increasing the value of their currency. If they increase the value of their currency the prices of their goods will go up, thus, people will buy less offers so they are in catch 22; the buying dilemma!

So, on one hand a lot of people especially fund managers want to put their money into shares, earn dividend and see growth. But the more realist people are, they can see that most growth so far comes from government spending. Those from China, Europe and America, their government just about spend much they can afford to and if they keep printing money, the bond market will stop lending them money. That was happened in Greece as I said before!

So, at the moment the stock market has come to a shaky balance between buyers and sellers because there is no direction. This is because of the export growth in China that people will think and see as a sign that the world economy is picking up. Probably, this is a growth from the very lower, much lower!

The beginning of this year there was growth after a huge down-turn and most of that growth are people, factories, countries etc. that were so frightened in that banking crisis last 2008 and 2009.

A lot of 'people' recommended replenishing inventory, which is re-stopping. It is interpreted as an up-turn in the world economy but it is not really an up-turn but a job less recovery. This is nearly when people adding put-off through fear that is why the government had the cash for clankers which brings purchasing forward and gives the illusion of growth.