Every month, the PMT Forum honors one outstanding member of the PMT community to be awarded as the "Member of the Month".
Our "Member of the Month" is chosen among members who are seen as consistently active, dependable, insightful, and friendly in the forum. He or she, therefore, may be considered as a genuine role model in our forum community. For us to know better our "Member of the Month," we request our awardee to answer a few questions. Other members of the forum may also post in this thread to ask our MotM questions.
Our September 2013 Member of the Month is vicces! Congratulations! 
Here are vicces's responses to our questions.
September 2013 Member of the Month: vicces 1. Hi vicces! How long have you been a PMT Forum member? Share to us how you discovered PinoyMoneyTalk.Thanks. It will be my 2nd year on Sept 23.
Google led me here. I signed up because I wanted to learn about stocks trading.
2. Why did you choose the username "vicces"? It’s my name. Sort of. I was originally signing up my first name, but it’s already taken so I added my initials. It was too late when I realized that it sounds girly pala, like a name of a Disney princess...
3. What things do you like about the PMT Forum?I will be the first to admit that when it comes to personal finance, I was a late-bloomer... but it didn't take long for this anomaly to be rectified. PMT is a watering hole for financial idiots like myself. I had low financial IQ and was just cruising along with life so I wasn’t really aware I was hungry for financial knowledge until I came upon this forum 2 years ago. But soon enough, that hunger was satiated and I honestly think I'm now equipped with the necessary tools to navigate through the dark alleys of this so-called road to financial freedom. And of course, it cannot be denied that one of the things about PMT that appealed to me is the "interesting" personalities here and my interactions with them made this learning journey less daunting. It has been crazy fun, and heartbreaking, too.
In almost 2 years of my time here in PMT, I was able to make up for lost time in the “wealth-building arena”. Hindi naman ako pinautang ni FG or sinuman from PMT, but the mindset and focus I slowly developed the past years, I very much credit and owe to this community (birds of the same feather, “fluck” together). Actually, for a time I was a bit confused how I managed na mas malaki yung savings ko sa official pay slip ko… but yeah, I did it! And part of it is because of the tips, advice (solicited or otherwise) and constructive-na-mejo-nanglalait na comments from the members to each other, I believe I smartened and toughened up a little bit more especially with the way I handle my finances. I later realized those extras and bonuses that went “unaccounted for” for several years (parang PDAF lang) – that’s what really made the difference now (aside from the change in lifestyle). I didn’t know I am capable of turning myself around financially that quickly, given that makalat akong tao, makalat ang aking buhay, literally and figuratively. 2 years ago, I have less than 10% savings, now I’m 14% up this Au-ghost month alone (this MOTM has some sort of bragging privileges, right?!
).. Seriously, malayo-layo pa ang byahe, but I honestly think I was able to cover a lot of ground, coz of all those learnings and support (directly and indirectly) I got from everyone here. Yun lang after 2 years… epal pa rin. #smugface
4. Tell us something interesting that we don't know about you. Nope, I won't tell you my love problems... But here: Nung Grade 2 ako, I received a special award: Most Behaved Pupil.
#MBP #FTW
5. What are your hobbies or special interests?Does running from my problems count as a form of exercise?
I used to play a lot of sports, played some guitar and played my organ too (keyboards aka electric piano!)
, and yeah, a tiny, little bit of photography... These days I rarely have time for any of them so my hobby now consists of reading, chart-gazing and surfing the net for stocks-related news... special interest would be, mambwisit ng taong masarap bwisitin... I've got a knack for it, I was told...
6. What is your ultimate goal in life?World domination. ‘Nuffsaid.
7. How do you make money? Share to us your sources of income so we can be inspired as well.Approximately, 35% from my official job, 30% from ‘gigs’, 25% from stocks, and recently, 10% rents.
8. Can you tell us tips or suggestions that guide you in order to succeed financially?Nakakatindig balahibong tanong, coz I don’t really think I am one to speak about financial success, baka batuhin ako ng kamatis dito....
IMHO, I’m still on my way there, just like the majority of yo’ pips here. I am in my mid-30’s, and comparing myself to the kids here who started out young-- it’s quite embarassing, so double over-time ang kailangan ko dito. Nakakapagod din honestly kumayod, kaya dinadaan ko na lang muna sa pa-pogi-an, pag may time…
Tips.. First, basically, it starts with writing it all down (I got this from Napoleon Hill’s book, Think and Grow Rich)… When you put your goals into writing, you have a concrete and tangible representation of what you want (if its a sum of money you are targetting, specify the exact amount). I think it helps psyching yourself up, plus, you put it out there—kind of a shout out to the universe: ask and you shall receive... make sure you read it regularly, like twice a day or oftener. Repeating it to yourself makes your goals/desires active in your consciousness and eventually your brain will subconsciously work, until one day, you will have that "Eureka!" moment. Seriously, it worked for me. #TrueStory
Second, keep your eye on the ball and know your priorities. There will be a lot of distractions and temptations along the way, so you need make your regular "reality checks", and if you're so inclined, train yourself to have a tunnel vision so you won't stray too far from your goal/s. Of course you can't avoid mistakes and errors in judgment, but make sure you respect your metaphorical "stop loss" and maintain your "margin of safety".
Third, give back and pay it forward. Its good for your soul.
Fourth, Don’t sell yourself short. If you know your true worth, you don’t need to over-compensate for your insecurities with big wheels, latest gadgets, fancy restaurants, expensive watches, etc. Stop torturing yourself trying to meet unreasonable expectations of others. Most likely, these people don’t really give a sh*t about your well-being, so what’s the point of pleasing them at your expense?
Fifth, be consistent. Make a conscious decision to live a simple, but full and awesome life, and follow it through…. Yeah, easier said than done. But hey, we’re already awesome, so we’re actually halfway there! BOOM!
Wait, there's more! Just for the heck of it...a. Favorite movie?
A LOT, but my all-time (non-Hollywood) foreign film favorites: Chungking Express and Amores Perros – just because they are stories about people – connected by some random events… oh and yeah, Cinema Paradiso.b. Favorite song or music genres?
Hard to pick favorites, but for today, ‘90s music.. like Red Hot Chili Peppers' #Under_the_Bridge #nowplayingc. Favorite actor/actress?
De Nirod. Cat or dog?
Doge. McDonald's or Jollibee?
Mcdollibee. f. Kapuso, Kapamilya or Kapatid?
Wala.g. Money or fame?
Money. h. Marry intelligent but ugly person or marry stupid but beautiful person?
Marry intelligent and beautiful. My world, my rules. i. To love or be loved?
To be loved… in RETURN. <-- Ayoko nung binabalewala ako. 
j. Your motto in life?
Hmmm, I stick to the basics, like the Golden Rule.. to modify it a bit, I added a “multiplier effect” on it: If you’re genuinely nice or kind (to me or to others), I will double/top that kindness, the best I can. Conversely, if you’re a mean and unkind person, I’ll be twice as mean to you, and there'll be no letting-up. I’m competitive that way. #Gives-Every-Man-His-Due==========
Thanks and congrats again,
vicces!
PMTers, now's your time to congratulate our September 2013 Member of the Month!
If you also want to ask vicces more questions, feel free to post them below. Let's see if our Member of the Month will indulge us when we put him in the hot seat!
