How to save up, get rich and make your money work for you

There is no one way to get rich, but these tips are certain to help you have more money in the bank.

MANILA, Philippines – They say money can't buy you happiness, but it surely helps you be happy by taking some of life's burdens off your shoulders. If you're financially secure, you can enjoy life more and worry less about the bills, big purchases and other emergency expenses.

How does one get rich though? There are a million ways to answer this question, as we've seen from various rags-to-riches stories to anecdotes on individuals born rich but were able to cleverly manage their finances and make them grow.

There is no one way to get rich, but these tips are certain to help you have more money in the bank.

1. 

While it's amusing to think about the possibility of you winning the lottery someday, it's lazy to rely on luck, as it is more likely you'll get struck by lightning than win the jackpot.

Have a long-term goal in mind, even if you feel like you're too young to think about finances. Do well in school and prioritize your education so you'll have a clear vision of how you'll position yourself in the real world. Plot your career plan, and make sure you have enough experience to take on bigger jobs that come with bigger salaries.

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2. 

Saving money requires a lot of self-discipline and control. While it's tempting to spend your cash on the latest gadgets and the hottest trends, these purchases should be done in consideration of bigger, more important items that need long-term investment.

If you're planning to buy a house someday, you won't get there by living an extravagant lifestyle that satisfies your short-term want rather than your long-term needs. Cut back on your night-outs, keep your lifestyle spending to a minimum and only give in to your impulse-buying tendencies if you have extra money outside your budget.

3. 

Some people get rich because of the people who surround them. They may be your friends from college, your officemates or someone from your other social circles. These are driven individuals who will refer you to more fulfilling jobs, provide insights on potential businesses you can invest in, and give you tips on how to manage your money wisely.

Who knows, these people can also be your business partners in the future, encouraging you to invest in ventures that will make your money work for you.

4.

Finding the right item to invest in requires a lot of homework, because it's no small matter and relying purely on your gut won't cut it. Investing is a make-or-break moment that involves a lot of risks, so it's wise if you spend time studying which things are you willing to put your money on.

 The stock market is a good place where you can make your money work for you, but you have to be sure which stocks give you more bang for your buck and are most likely to weather the fluctuations in the international and local markets. Investing in your own house is also a good investment, as the value of property appreciates over time. Find a reliable developer with a track record of having projects whose values have doubled - or even tripled - over time.

5. 

Some people might not be aware of it, but a serious illness can make you go bankrupt. Unless you have a reliable health plan, hospital and medical emergency expenses can be a real pain in the neck. Not only can they siphon your hard-earned money, they can also bury you in debt. Being sick also takes away the opportunity to enjoy the things you've invested for yourself, sending you into a downward spiral of irony and frustration. 

Eat right, stay away from vices and make sure you get regular health checks.

Bishops slam Duterte for cursing Pope Francis

Former CBCP president retired Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz warned the public that Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is “dangerous and worse than a dictator whom we knew once led our country.” 

MANILA, Philippines – He’s a womanizer who is worse than a dictator and does not deserve to lead the country, Catholic bishops said yesterday after Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte cursed Pope Francis in public.

The newly proclaimed presidential candidate apologized yesterday and denied cursing the pontiff. 

“Is this the leadership by example that Mayor Duterte excites in us? Is this the leadership by example that makes a public official deserving of the title ‘honorable’?” Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas said in a statement yesterday.

“We have so many leaders in office and many more aspiring to sit in office but are they examples of good citizenship? If the leaders we choose are to be leaders for national progress they must be visionaries and exemplary,” he added.

Former CBCP president retired Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz also warned the public that Duterte is “dangerous and worse than a dictator whom we knew once led our country.”

During the proclamation rally of PDP-Laban on Monday, Duterte complained in front of his supporters about the traffic jams during the papal visit in January, saying he was stuck in traffic from the hotel to the airport because of road closures.

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“Gusto kong tawagan, ‘Pope p******, umuwi ka na. Huwag nang mag bisita dito (I wanted to call him and say, ‘Pope ******, go home. Do not visit us here),” said Duterte, a Catholic.

His remarks drew some laughter from the crowd.

Villegas expressed disgust at the crowd’s laughter.

“My countrymen have gone to the dregs,” the prelate said. “When a revered and loved and admired man like Pope Francis is cursed by a political candidate and the audience laugh, I can only bow my head and grieve in great shame.”

During an event on Sunday in Taguig, Duterte also admitted that he is a womanizer, providing details about having two wives and two girlfriends.

In releasing personal details of his life, the mayor said he wanted the public to know him for who he is. He also stressed that no public funds were used to support his girlfriends.

Gabriela women’s party-list slammed Duterte for objectifying women after photos of the mayor kissing female supporters sitting on his lap were released on social media.

Gabriela Rep. Emmerenciana de Jesus said womanizing and treating women as objects are an affront to women and should not be flaunted.

“This reeks of machismo and reinforces the society’s low regard of women and consequently increases women’s vulnerability to violence and abuse. This is both distasteful and unacceptable,” she said.

“The usual face of corruption that we recognize easily is stealing from public funds. Corruption, like a monster, is a devil with many faces,” Villegas said.

“Adultery is corruption. It makes married love cheap and uses people for pleasure. Adultery corrupts the family; it destroys children and victimizes the weak,” he added.

Villegas said that vulgarity is also corruption and “when we find vulgarity funny, we have really become beastly and barbaric as a people.”

Cruz also warned Filipinos that Duterte’s earlier statement that he would kill anyone who he thinks committed wrong is a sign that Duterte has no regard for human rights.

“But to say he will kill anyone he thinks commits wrong and urge the people to put up more funeral parlors and has no regard for human rights, that is another thing,” Cruz said. “He thinks he is above God and does what he wants although the Lord said no.”

Mar on Duterte run: Do I look worried?

“Do I look worried?” was the reply of Liberal Party presidential candidate Manuel Roxas II when asked if he felt threatened. 

MANILA, Philippines - Presidential contenders were unfazed by the possible entry of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte in the race.

“Do I look worried?” was the reply of Liberal Party presidential candidate Manuel Roxas II when asked yesterday if he felt threatened. 

Roxas regards Duterte’s decision to seek the presidency as a welcome development.

“Welcome to the campaign. It would be great if those who seek to serve or present their platform become part of this contest,” he added.

Roxas said Duterte did not talk to him about his plan to run for president.

“This decision is personal for every candidate,” the administration coalition standard bearer said.

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Vice President Jejomar Binay welcomed yesterday Mayor Duterte’s possible presidential run in 2016.

“I’m happy that Mayor Duterte will also run, the people will have more choices,” the Vice President said in an interview in Tondo, Manila yesterday.

Binay said Duterte is “very qualified” to run for the presidency.

“He’s a successful mayor. A good leader,” he said.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said Duterte’s plan to run for president “may have some effect” on the campaign of other presidential candidates.

He said Duterte’s strong anti-criminality message appears to resonate with many Filipinos and could have influenced his decision.

“He’s bound to have some effect on the playing field right now. Everybody will just have to make some adjustments,” Belmonte said.

“I don’t want to use the term ‘game changer’… maybe there will be effect on the campaign of the candidates,” he said.

He declined to comment on the legal issues of Duterte’s possible filing or substitution before the Commission on Elections.

He said he believes Duterte’s statements on killing criminals were really more to emphasize his point on the need to act decisively on crime.

Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone said Duterte’s decision would favor Roxas as it will further divide the opposition votes.

“Definitely, he is a negative factor for opposition presidential bets,” Evardone said.

Reacting to Duterte’s announcement that he is open to running for president, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said discussions should go beyond personalities and focus on issues.

“Let’s move the discussion from one of personalities to one of issues-based and that’s where the President wants the whole campaign to be. Let’s talk about issues, let’s talk about your program of government,” Lacierda said.

Lacierda claimed that the administration is clear about what it wants to achieve in the next six years.

“Let’s talk about their platform. Let’s talk about what they are going to do with jobs. We have a clear idea; we have a clear blueprint for those things,” he said.

Duterte’s son, Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, hit back at Sen. Grace Poe’s running mate Sen. Francis Escudero, who had called on the mayor to stop using the Senate Electoral Tribunal ruling as an excuse to run for president.

The young Duterte reminded Escudero that the senator is a lawyer and that he himself knows the law requires that only natural-born citizens are qualified to run for president. 

“I am certain that Escudero, who is a lawyer himself, knows all too well that Grace Poe cannot be considered a natural-born Filipino citizen and does not satisfy the residency requirement, yet he persistently pushes her to the presidential race. Who’s now using who?” Vice Mayor Duterte said.