Read technobiography: OT: Jun-jun the Parking Man and think about the poor.

I think microfinancing is a good idea, BUT it must also come with
financial education. Most people are financially illiterate. Heck, _I_
still don't think I can start up just any company and make it
successful. People with little money have less education. They need
guidance and they need followup. They need to learn not to use
windfalls for consumption, but rather think of ways to make money with
it.

I wonder what would have happened if the group lent the money instead.
Edwin thinks it would have encouraged Jun-jun to use the money
responsibly, and I think so as well. It would be very tempting for
Jun-jun to go and buy things first and then just try to pay back the
loan, failing eventually because his income hadn't increased
proportionately. He would need to be taught not to use the money to
buy things right away but rather put money into something that could
yield more money later—a bananacue business, if that isn't saturated
yet.

But yes—you need to teach a man to fish.

What _would_ I do if I had extra cash? I should always keep business
ideas in mind so that I can take advantage of windfalls. I can save
extra money in the bank so that I can make decisions when I have more
money (an investment fund for myself). You need to have a certain
amount of money to take advantage of some opportunities. There are
also ways of making money on top of borrowed money, but I'm not
confident enough to risk that yet.

Tala's recent “Argh” entry
inspired me, and one of the businesses I'd like to put up is an anger release place. ;)

Hmmm. You know, it _is_ actually a viable business idea. Buy cheap
plates, have people pay a small amount (cost of plate + small margin)
to draw faces on plates and SMASH THEM! SMASH SMASH SMASH SMASH!

You can also have stuffed toys for cuddling–or ripping the stuffing
out of! Mwahaha… Voodoo dolls and the like, too.

I wonder where we can put up a small shop like that. We can call it
“Rage” or something…

I remember reading about the business idea somewhere. It sounds like
something one can set up easily. Get satisfyingly fragile plates,
black markers, a punching bag, paper and tape (put faces on the
punching bag), cheap stuffed toys, maybe even a photoprinter after the
shop is successful (and scissors and lighters, too)… Set it all up, have space
so that you can throw things a satisfying distance, and market it as a
cheap way to protect your valuables from your tantrums! If my sister's
anyone to go by, there's a market for a place like that! ;)