EuroAngel Graffiti

Photographs and Memories! These are the things that were left to me after my travels. Last November, I had the chance to meet friends and former neighbors in Frankfurt, Germany. It was quite a very interesting meeting after not seeing them for almost a decade. Actually, I met the present Congressman of North Cotabato, Philippines and his lovely wife and beautiful daughter in this city. I wish to share some images in my next post after asking permission from them. That was a very memorable and enjoyable trip I had in Frankfurt.

The Euro-sign in front of the European Central Bank Headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany.

Sometimes, there comes a situation when a member of the family got sick. The worst thing that could happen is, when that member of the family can’t be brought to the hospital due to financial problems. Sometimes, even your properties are being sold just to pay the hospitalization. Another worst thing is, when you make a loan with high paying interest just to pay for the hospital bills and other expenses. Yes, these things happen. It is a reality. That is how I realized the importance of having a health insurance. There are even people who are paying for extra medicare supplement plans just to be prepared for whatever emergencies that might happen along the way.

For those who are living in the US especially for persons who have disabilities, I read an important info about Allup’s health care and related services. This is only for general information.

“Allsup is a leading nationwide provider of financial and healthcare related services to people with disabilities. Allsup does not provide health insurance. They assist people that need disability insurance in getting it. Disability insurance is not purchased, it has been paid for through your FICA taxes. Since 1984, Allsup has helped more than 130,000 people receive their entitled Social Security Disability Insurance and Medicare benefits. Allsup employs more than 600 professionals who deliver services directly to consumers and their families, or through their employers and long-term disability insurance carriers. Allsup has a 98% success rate for those who complete the SSDI process with us. Complete Allsup’s free online Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) evaluation. Allsup appreciates how difficult it can be to get the Social Security disability benefits you deserve. People who choose Allsup usually get their SSDI award faster. Allsup only charges a fee if we obtain Social Security disability benefits for you. We can help you get the SSDI benefits you deserve, whether applying for the first time or appealing a denial. SSDI is provided by the SSA to people who qualify and have paid into the system (FICA taxes). There is no transaction – we shouldn’t use that word. We can help people file a disability appealafter they have been denied by the SSA. It is convenient and easy to work with us and we make the process easier. And the backlog is due to high demand or rather an increase in SSDI applications. No one pays us to get SSDI either – we are paid a fee for helping people through the process with the SSA.”

It’s Fasching time again in Germany. This is the German word for carnival. Some of the most famous cities in Germany that celebrate Fasching are Mainz, Cologne and Düsseldorf. Some other cities and towns like the ones we witnessed before in Dietfurt, Velburg and Breitenbrunn are also celebrating it.

During this festival you can see people who are dressed in different colourful and attractive costumes. Almost every town has also its own special carnival. Taking for example the Chinese Carnival in Dietfurt, where most of the participants are wearing Chinese motives and costumes.

Living in Germany is never boring but a lot of fun especially if you know all the festivities around. Here are some images we took last 2009.

the Chinese Fashing or carnival in Dietfurt, Bavaria, Germany last February 2009.

Although the festival and party season in Germany starts as early as the beginning of January, the actual carnival week starts on the Thursday (“Weiberfastnacht”) before Ash Wednesday. German Carnival parades are held on the weekend before and especially on Rosenmontag (Rose Monday), the day before Shrove Tuesday, and sometimes also on Shrove Tuesday (“Faschingsdienstag”) in the suburbs of larger carnival cities. The carnival session begins each year on 11 November at 11:11 a.m. and finishes on Ash Wednesday with the main festivities happening around Rosenmontag; this time is also called the “Fifth Season.”

Let’s talk about finance and accounting this time. I guess it is not too difficult for me to discuss about this topic being a former banker who was also providing merchant services as part of my duties before at the bank. It was quite an interesting job and I miss it sometimes.

Me and hubby have been making our budget plan for this year. There are financial decisions that we made last week and I believed, it is the best thing we did. We also agreed that we don’t used anymore debit card whenever we go shopping. It is better to use cash to control the flow of money. We put a certain budget each week for grocery items, gas for our cars and other miscellaneous items.

And yes, we also have debts but it is not really that bad because we already paid the most of it. We hope to have a debt reduction in the coming days because we decided to pay the two little debts we have. Thus, we will be decreasing the interest that we are paying every month. I am also trying my best to control my shopping and only do so when needed.

Just like you, we want financial freedom. Having one is living a quite peaceful and stress-free life. Only spend what you can afford. Take into consideration your income versus expenses. Don’t spend more than you earn. I believed we will be better with our 2011 budget plan. I hope you too!

This is already a very old image. This was taken as we were on our way to Cologne, Germany last 2006. It was my first trip to Cologne that time. The bus made a stop-over near a restaurant located near this bridge. It was so far the highest bridge I had visited in Germany and in Europe.

The Mosel valley bridge carries the Bundesautobahn 61 over the Moselle River. It is 935 Meter long and 30.5 Meter wide. The maximum height from the ground is 136 Meter.

such an amazing wonder of German engineering! sorry guys the image is not really good. It was my first digital camera that time and it is not really the best one.