Top 5 Must-Haves of a Mobile Banking App

 

Not too long ago, the only way to get hold of a savings account was to physically visit a bank. Today, with lots of technological advancement, opening a savings account with just a couple of clicks on your mobile device is fast becoming the new norm.

Leading the change on this front is PSBank, which recently launched the Online Account Opening feature of its mobile banking app. The bank’s primary reason for this feature is simple -- to make banking hassle-free and safe for Filipinos by bringing the first step of digital banking right at their fingertips.

In choosing a banking app, here are the top five must-haves:

Advanced/Cutting-Edge Features

 

Suffice it to say, times have changed. With online banking, you get to do a variety of financial transactions while at the safety of your home. What’s cool about the PSBank Mobile app is you can now open a peso savings or prepaid account via the app with just one valid ID and a selfie. It also offers a wealth of built-in money management features and powerful functionalities which lets you do your banking requirements such as pay bills, transfer funds using account number or QR code, monitor your accounts in real-time, P2P payment using PayMe, grow your money through time deposit placement, apply for a loan, even deposit checks 24/7 and a lot more in between watching your favorite shows on Netflix or while sipping a cup of coffee at home.

Convenience

Let’s face it—who has time to wait in line and accomplish transactions within limited banking hours? There’s a lot you can do with the time you’ll spend visiting a bank. The simple, intuitive design and navigation of the PSBank Mobile app allows you to complete banking tasks with just a few taps on your smartphone and the app wherever you are, whenever you want. Yup, that’s as quick and easy as it gets.

Security

With the rise in cyber fraud and financial scams, you would definitely need assurance that your hard-earned savings or accounts are secure. What’s great about the PSBank Mobile app is you can securely log in to the app using either face or fingerprint ID and transactions are authenticated by an OTP (One-Time Password) sent to your registered mobile phone.  Moreover, the app has an ATM Lock feature which allows you to lock/unlock your ATM card account/s to prevent it from unauthorized use.

Control

Nothing beats being able to access, manage, and move money as you see fit – from anywhere at any time. In addition to being able to perform banking tasks, you can also schedule transactions with the all-around PSBank Mobile banking app so you will not fall behind on your bills, forget to send money or reload your mobile phones. It also has and allows you to manage alert notifications for things like loan due date, withdrawal and other debits, and account balances.  

24/7 Access to Customer Service

Well-designed mobile banking apps make it clear how to get help fast. Assistance via the PSBank Mobile app come with a simple tap and in the form of LiveChat, phone, email or filling out an online form.

The PSBank Mobile banking app truly packed with powerful functionalities and more. It’s one of the most complete, reliable, and user-friendly banking apps in the market today.

“Our commitment to innovation, convenience, and safety is what drives us to keep adding new features in our mobile banking app that we know would be of great help to Filipinos who live in an ever-increasing digital world. And we’re just getting started. There’s so much more to look forward to in the coming months,” said Noel Tuazon, PSBank Senior Vice President & Marketing Group Head.

Download the PSBank app from Apple Store or Google Play Store today. For more information, please visit  psbank.com.ph/other-products-and-services/other-products-and-services/product-lists/psbank-online-account-opening/

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Pru Life UK advances financial literacy for Filipino families with Cha-Ching Kid$ at Home webinar

Have you joined the "Cha-Ching Kid$ at Home: Financial Literacy Basics for Filipino Families" webinar last September 12? Naku I missed it because of unforseen event. Sayang! But don't worry, kung na-missed nyo din, I will be sharing the  post-event press release and photos.

From the Press Release Kit:

Pru Life UK recently hosted the latest PRUWise webinar, entitled Cha-Ching Kid$ at Home: Financial Literacy Basics for Filipino Families. The expert-led and fun-filled webinar aimed to teach both parents and children the building blocks of a solid financial future.

Host MJ Pangan invites participants and their kids to take part in the fun, virtual games on financial literacy. 

The webinar was hosted by children’s show TV personality Tonipet Gaba and Pru Life UK’s Mary Jane Pangan. It featured education and finance experts Dr. Queena Lee-Chua and Dr. Mary Joy Abaquin, who shared their insights on how parents can raise money-smart children at home. Almost 700 parents and children from around and beyond the Philippines joined the virtual event.

Host Tonipet Gaba encourages parents to tune in to one of the webinar’s topic experts, Multiple Intelligence International School (MIIS) Founder and Directress Dr. Mary Joy Abaquin.

“Pru Life UK’s advocacy of financial literacy applies to kids as much as it does to parents. We introduced the Cha-Ching Kid$ at Home webinar because we believe in starting the journey to financial wellness at a young age. It provided an avenue for parents to teach their kids essential life skills like money management in an engaging way,” says Pru Life UK Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Marketing Officer Allan Tumbaga.

Multi-awarded Ateneo professor and author Dr. Lee-Chua shared tips on how to introduce money concepts to kids. She advised parents to do frequent activities with their kids, from teaching them how much things are and where money comes from. She also encouraged parents to normalize lessons about monthly bills, exchange rates, or distinguishing between needs and wants when kids are older. According to her, "Parents and teachers are the best role models. If we don't practice what we preach, it will be absorbed by our kids."

Ateneo Professor and Author Dr. Queena Lee-Chua shares strategies for parents to introduce money concepts to kids.

Complementing her talk was the discussion led by Dr. Abaquin, author and founding directress of the Multiple Intelligence International School. She guided parents through the concepts of financial and fiscal responsibility, saving and investing, and responsible consumerism by making smart spending choices.

“Financial freedom is a mental, emotional, and educational process that all of us have to go through. As parents and teachers let us take an active part in giving our kids this lifelong gift,” she said.

Multiple Intelligence International School founding directress and author Dr. Mary Joy Abaquin discusses insights on instilling the financial growth mindset to children.

The Cha-Ching Kid$ at Home webinar also featured exciting games for kids aged seven to 12 years old about money management. The activities were designed to be an engaging way for children to value money and be careful with their allowance.

Participants estimated the correct cost of school supplies in Guess the Price, while they determined if an item is a necessity in Need or Want? The games were based on existing Cha-Ching Kid$ at Home modules. Game winners received P500 gift cards and exclusive Cha-Ching comics, while one lucky attendee won a brand-new tablet to aid in their home schooling.

“We are happy to supplement the Cha-Ching Kid$ at Home online resources, an initiative developed by Prudence Foundation – the community investment arm of Prudential in Asia and Africa – following its launch last June. The webinar, also done in partnership with Junior Achievement Philippines, reinforces our We DO Education promise, where we aim to teach Filipinos to be money smart. Previously, we worked with schools and institutions to promote financial literacy. Our new work from home setup has pushed us to pivot to digital and give parents an active role in their child’s education with simple yet quality resources,” shares Tumbaga.

“Financial literacy may be an intimidating topic for both parents and children. This motivated us to develop easy resources for parents to teach and facilitate, and at the same time, make learning fun and enjoyable for kids. Our modules are free and available online for everyone to access,” ends Prudence Foundation Executive Director Marc Fancy.

Prudence Foundation Executive Director Mark Fancy opens the webinar with an overview of the Cha-Ching program.

Parents can view online or print out the Cha-Ching Kid$ at Home modules, including parent guides and daily challenges that teach their children the four basic money management concepts– Earn, Save, Spend, and Donate. Modules come with hands-on activities, and music video links. Access the modules at www.cha-ching.com.

Hope this helps you to educate your kids to be a  money-smart kids. Till next webinar momshies!

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Pru Life UK Promotes Financial Literacy among Filipino Families

Teaching our kids how to save money is very important. Especially this time, it is also important to teach them how to be money-smart kids. 

But since kids are not allowed to go out, Pru Life UK and Prudence Foundation continue to highlight their thrust of raising money-smart kids at home through the Cha-Ching Kid$ at Home program. You too can join the free public webinar, please read the details below.

From the Press Release Kit:

Pru Life UK, in partnership with Prudence Foundation and Junior Achievement Philippines, is bringing financial literacy to every household through “Cha-Ching Kid$ at Home: Financial Literacy Basics for Filipino Families”. The free public webinar, taking place on September 12, 2020 at 2:00 PM via Zoom, invites parents and their children, aged seven to 12 years old, to participate and learn basic money management skills.

“In these extraordinary times, it is imperative that Filipino families empower their kids to be future-ready, especially around money matters. By offering the Cha-Ching learning and experiences online, we hope to reach out to and educate more people on basic money management,” says Allan Tumbaga, Pru Life UK Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Marketing Officer.

The webinar will be hosted by lifestyle and children’s TV presenter Tonipet Gaba and Pru Life UK’s own Mary Jane Pangan. It will also feature two education and finance experts as guest speakers.  Dr. Queena Lee-Chua, a multi-award-winning mathematics and psychology professor and the author of Study Smart: What Parents, Students, and Teachers Should Know, will lead the session “Introducing Money Concepts to Kids” and share tips with parents on how to teach their children about financial matters. Joining her will be Dr. Mary Joy Abaquin, the founder of Multiple Intelligence International School and author of 8 Simple Secrets to Raising Entrepreneurs. She will discuss different ways to develop the entrepreneurial skills of children in her session “Start Them Young: Instilling the Financial Growth Mindset to Kids”. 

To make the webinar even more exciting, the event will also feature interactive money-related games and special prizes for children. A lucky participant will also win a brand-new tablet through a raffle.

The webinar is part of Pru Life UK’s We DO Education commitment, which aims to help more Filipinos become money-smart. In June, Pru Life UK and Prudence Foundation launched the Cha-Ching Kid$ at Home initiative to provide online and printable materials to parents, helping them teach their children easy-to-learn money management concepts like Earn, Save, Spend, and Donate. These resources, including music videos, topics for discussion, and engaging activities, can be accessed and downloadable for free on the website, www.cha-ching.com. 

“We understand the important role that parents play in shaping their children’s financial future. By making the learning process more fun and inspiring, we aim to help cultivate more financially-responsible behaviors among both parents and children in the Philippines,” says Marc Fancy, Prudence Foundation Executive Director.

To join Cha-Ching Kid$ at Home: Financial Literacy Basics for Filipino Families, register at link.

For more information, visit the Pru Life UK website at prulifeuk.com.ph or the Facebook page at facebook.com/prulifeukofficial.

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About Pru Life UK

Established in 1996, Pru Life UK is the pioneer of insuravest, or investment-linked life insurance products, in the Philippines and is one of the first life insurance companies approved to distribute US dollar-denominated investment-linked life insurance policies in the country. Since its establishment, Pru Life UK has expanded its reach to over 190 branches in the Philippines, with the biggest life agency force of more than 32,000 licensed agents.

The company ranked second (2nd) among the country’s life insurers based on the Insurance Commission’s 2019 rankings in terms of new business annual premium income. Pru Life UK is headquartered in Uptown Bonifacio, Taguig City.

Pru Life UK and Prudential plc are not affiliated with Prudential Financial, Inc. of the United States, Prudential Assurance Company (a subsidiary of M&G plc, a company incorporated in the United Kingdom), Philippine Prudential Life Insurance Company, Prudentialife Plans, Inc. or Prudential Guarantee and Assurance, Inc. (all Philippine-registered companies). Pru Life UK is a life insurance company and is not engaged in the business of selling pre-need plans.

 For more information: www.prulifeuk.com.ph

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Crafty Ways To Make Money

If you don’t have a job or find yourself stuck at home for whatever reason, you may be interested in finding a way to make some extra money. There are several things you can do from home that could help you with this. If you have any type of desire to do crafty things, here are a few things you could make from home and sell.

Décor

With the various tools that are out there, it’s easier for people to make custom decorations. Wood signs and sayings are some of the most popular items being searched for right now. Other things like vases, decorative bowls, and plaques can also be made from home.

Jewelry

While you can find jewelry throughout various stores, there are some pieces that can only be made specially. Whether you use clay, bead, or string as your material, there are several different ways and styles you can make. Indian jewelry designers are up and coming and the sets filled with multiple colors are just a few of the popular styles people are looking to buy.

Art

Whether you create custom paintings or portraits, having an artistic talent can really come in hand. Some people want their home filled with landscapes and scenes that come directly from a person’s brain, causing them to buy straight from a seller rather than a store. Drawing, painting, and watercolors are just a few of the ways one could do it.

Cups

The customization of various cups is a hot commodity right now. Several people are looking to have sayings, names, or even pictures placed on their tumblers. It’s a fun way to have something that’s personalized to you. If you want to look into making these cups, you’ll need to make sure you have the right supplies.

Making extra money is never a bad thing. Starting some of these ideas may even make you rich and famous someday, as that’s how other businesses began.

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Summer Fun on a Budget: Splurge vs. Save

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For those in the northern hemisphere, summer has arrived — and with it comes days of brilliant sunshine and bountiful fresh air. Are you protecting your skin? How about your budget?

We all know how easy it can be to overspend on summer fun. You’ve been sheltered inside for months, and now that all signs of snow have finally vanished, you’re ready for fun. Summer temptations are calling your name: beach vacations, trips to the pool, weekend getaways, outdoor concerts, new dining adventures.

This time of year brings nearly-endless ways to spend money—and yet, your funds aren’t endless. The good news is that financial stress doesn’t need to be a part of your solstice this year.

With just a little thought and some well-laid plans, it’s easier than ever to save money on all your essential summer experiences​.

SPLURGE: Invest in Good Sunscreen

A sunburn can quickly ruin even the best days. Make sure you shield your kids—and yourself— from sun damage with an​ ​effective sunscreen​ option. This is one area where cheaper isn’t always best. 

Whether you’re looking for an option that plays double-duty as a moisturizer and sun guard or a more natural sunscreen that doesn’t contain chemicals, there are a few constants to keep in mind.

1.​ Always look for the words “broad spectrum:” this means that your sunscreen will keep out the largest spectrum of harmful UVB and UVA rays.

2.​ Always, always stick to at least SPF 30, and don’t be afraid to take it up higher. The​ ​FDA is in talks​ to raise the label limit to SPF 60 (right now it’s at 50), but SPF 60 filters out twice as many rays as its half-aged cousin. Know your skin, and be prepared whenever you step outside.

SAVE: Summer Fun & Eating Out

Chances are good that your local community likes to live it up in the summertime as much as you and your family. In fact, many cities host regular free events like street festivals and outdoor live music to get you outside and socializing.

  

Even if every event isn’t free, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to​ ​score great deals​ on your favorite local activities this summer. Check nearby water parks and pools for promotional deals or discounted admission prices before you go, especially if you’re bringing the whole family. Or, if eating out is more your style, you can look for dining coupons or new summer happy hours at your favorite places. Everyone’s schedule is a little different in the summer, and some restaurants offer special deals to bring in more customers during less-busy hours.

SPLURGE ​AND ​ SAVE Vacation on the Brain 

When it comes to summer vacations, turns out you CAN have your cake and eat it, too.

Going somewhere exotic? Flights, hotels and rental cars can get expensive, but that doesn’t mean you can’t​ ​save a few dollars​ on your travel. Many airlines run summer specials, and if you avoid flying on Friday (the most expensive day of the week for flights), you can keep costs a little lower.

Check your hotel, too. Some hotels offer a free night if you book 3 or more nights. For an even more affordable trip, try sites like​ ​Airbnb​ or​ ​VRBO​. Summer trips can be some of the most memorable experiences, but your bank account doesn’t have to suffer.

And if traveling isn’t in the cards for you this year, try a staycation! Sometimes, it can be just as fun to stay home, take a few days off, and try some new things in your local area. After all: summer fun happens wherever you make it happen.

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What Does an LLC with a Tax ID Number Protect You From?

Every business that is an LLC or is a Limited Liability Company in formation has to apply for a tax id number to have its assets protected. The reason many businesses choose to set up an LLC, is that the owners will be safe from having their personal assets seized to pay off any debts that their company or business has taken and could not be repaid.

photo source

In case if the company is sued, and found liable of wrongdoing, then the owners’ personal assets will remain protected, as long as the owners are not personally involved in the wrongdoing. Wrongdoing such as committing tax fraud, intermingling of personal finances and that of the business, both the people involved and their personal assets will be held accountable.

A tax id number is needed for the Internal Revenue Service to identify the LLC business in the company’s tax filings and any tax dealings with the agency. Any LLC with more than one member or owner need to apply for tax id or an employer identification number (EIN). This EIN is needed to fulfill the company’s tax obligations.

To apply for EIN, the business owner has to go through the process to fill up the form through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website and once the application has been processed, a nine-digit tax id number will be approved. Once the number has been approved, the number can be used to open the business bank account.

The tax id number is used for opening business bank account, filing of taxes, handling employee payroll, obtaining business loans, obtaining credit cards in the name of the LLC, and also for applying for business licenses. Once a tax id number is assigned, it will not expired and it will not need to be renewed.

The IRS also requires the estate of a deceased to file an income tax return on the income generated by the assets, and in this case the estate tax id is required to do so. The types of assets that could generate income that are taxable include savings account, stocks, bonds, mutual funds and rental property.

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Paymaya: Modern Household’s Partner for Payments

Looking for a reliable online payment app? PayMaya enables modern parents to save time, track expenses through digital payments.

From the Press Release Kit:

Millennials are known to do things differently, including parenting. With a number of them now experiencing parenthood, the generation of digital natives is maximizing technology to raise their children the right way, and to manage their household efficiently. 

PayMaya, the country’s pioneer and leader in digital financial services and mobile money, underscores how basic household transactions can be made hassle-free and more secure through an e-wallet. Designed for the underserved to have a safe and accessible means to pay online, PayMaya extends its services to millennial parents in search for a better way to pay bills, send and receive money, and more.

“As a generation that grew up surrounded by technology, millennials expect the same level of convenience in paying bills, sending money, and shopping online. PayMaya evolves with its market by empowering millennial parents with the financial services they need, in the most secure, user-friendly, and convenient way possible,” said PayMaya Philippines COO Paolo Azzola.

The Modern Household’s Partner for Payments

With PayMaya, consumers can pay utility bills in-app, anytime and anywhere. They can give their kids allowance or emergency money without leaving the office or while on-the-go. Parents can also pay the family driver or give the household help a grocery budget with just a few taps on their smartphone.

To help account holders keep track of their expenses, as well as the expenses of PayMaya cards linked to their account, a real-time SMS notification is sent for every transaction. A transaction record is also automatically updated in the app.

For parents who are also ‘digipreneurs’, PayMaya can be used to pay for webhosting and sponsored posts on social media. They can also rely on PayMaya to pay suppliers and receive payments from customers. For freelancers who receive fees from clients overseas, PayMaya can be linked to a global payment platform like PayPal to withdraw their earnings. Money transferred to their PayMaya wallet can be immediately used to transact online, to pay bills, or to be withdrawn as cash in any Bancnet ATM.

PayMaya can be used to pay anywhere Visa or Mastercard is accepted, including seat sales, paid mobile apps, and on-demand services such as Uber, Netflix, and Spotify. Users can also save on mobile and data load in all networks with all bundles and offers at 5% off in the PayMaya app.

“We all know that parenting is not an easy feat. At PayMaya, we want to help parents manage their finances in a more efficient way through digital solutions. We work hard to lighten the load of our customers, so they can have more time, energy, and resources for their loved ones and for their personal fulfillment,” said Sharon Kayanan, Marketing and Brand Head at PayMaya Philippines.

“PayMaya is my reliable partner in paying bills. It saves me from the stress of commuting and waiting in line just to settle my utility and phone bills. Without a doubt, PayMaya helps me be more productive as a mom and blogger,” shared Ava Te-Zabat, millennial parent and founder of the blog ‘Artsy Fartsy Ava’.

Wiji Lacsamana, a tattoo artist, illustrator, natural perfumer, and millennial mom also shared, “Freelancing is more efficient now with PayMaya. It allows me to pay and get paid instantly without the need to carry cash, which I find inconvenient and unsafe. After receiving my payment from clients, I can immediately use PayMaya to promote my business through social media ads. No need to leave my studio just to withdraw money or make payments."

What is PayMaya?

PayMaya is a free and secure app that gives users a reloadable mobile wallet, which allows them to send and receive money, pay their bills, and shop anywhere online even without having a credit card. Users simply have to download the PayMaya app, register, load up in over 15,000 touch points nationwide. Smart, TNT, and Sun Cellular subscribers will receive a virtual Mastercard upon registration to PayMaya, while Globe subscribers will receive a virtual Visa card.

Users may also opt to have a PayMaya Visa physical card or Smart MasterCard, which can be linked to their mobile wallet. PayMaya physical cards can be used to pay in groceries, bookstores, malls, or any store that accepts card payments. It can be ordered online at paymaya.com/shop, free of delivery charge nationwide.

PayMaya reloading stations include SM Business Centers, Robinsons Department Stores, 711 with Cliqq Kiosks, Petron stations along NLEX, Ministop outlets with Touchpay Kiosks, UnionBank ATMs, Shopwise, Wellcome, 2Go outlets, Smart Padala centers, Palawan Pawnshop branches, and online banking via BDO.

For more information, visit paymaya.com. Join the conversation online by tagging us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @PayMayaOfficial. Get support at @PayMayaCares on Facebook.

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Online Shopping: Cashback at ShopBack

I am a self-confessed online shopping addict. I do most of my shopping transactions online. Why not? It's very convenient and hassle-free.  

Did you know that you can have your cash back by spending online?

Cashback at ShopBack

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Teaching Them Young: The DO's and DONT's of Teaching Kids How to Save Money

Hello there guys? How's your week so far? Mine is okay so far except that half of our laboratory is being demolished. Dust and dirt are everywhere, which makes me which we have the best stick vacuum to clean up all these mess. But it's okay because I still be able to do my work despite limited space.

Anyway, today let me share another great article on teaching our kids to save money. If you find my post about  Ways to Teach Our Kids to Save Money helpful, then this is a must read too.

More than a year ago, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas launched a financial literacy campaign that targeted kids as young as six years old. The endeavor called Banking on Your Future, aims to start kids early on the path of savings, teach them the value of putting money in the bank, and eventually, create future generations of money-savvy adults. In partnership with the country's biggest banking institutions and the Department of Education, Banking on Your Future allows parents to open up account for kids with a minimum deposit as low as PHP 100.00.

Since there are programs like this that teach awareness to kids to become future savers, as parents how can you help them see the importance of saving money?

DO'S

Teach them the value of saving by giving concrete examples

It’s easy to tell stories to your kids to imply the significance of savings, however its better if they can see a real life example. For instance, you're running low on money for food, you can share to your kids the importance of having a savings account during tight times. Realistic scenarios will have more bearing on them as opposed to concocting stories about saving. 

Include them in the process of saving

Nothing beats the power of engagement when it comes to teaching your kids on how to save money.  It pays to include them in the process, instead of just telling them that you’re saving for their future let them be involve in the process.  Take them on occasional trip to the banks and let them experience on how depositing money works. After all, the bigger goal of the whole activity is teaching them the habit of saving money, not just to make an account under their name.

DON'TS

Hide your financial problems from them

Teaching your kids something is more than just telling about butterflies and rainbows; at times, you have to share tragedies as well as cautionary tales in the process to make sure that lessons will have a great impression in them. If you want your kids to fully understand the gravity of having a savings account, let them know the financial hardships of the family and how savings account play an important role in that. Let them know that it affects them as well, and that they will remember those lessons very well.

Take away their choice to save or spend

The problem with some parents is that they coerce their kids into saving, a very dangerous act that may deviate them from what they actually intend to teach them. To make sure that saving will be a conscious choice rather than a mandate, let them know that the money you are giving them can either go to the bank or can go to unnecessary expenses. If they start to save out of their own free will, then you are successful in imbibing them a sense of financial responsibility by saving money.

There are many ways you can let your child save money, but the main point would be the habit of saving money should always go over the money itself. When they grow up, they will have this invaluable lesson that not even money can buy.

eCompareMo provide a complete comparison portal for Filipinos looking for quick, secure, and complete banking and insurance information in the Philippines. For more information about their product or service you might want to check out their website at www.ecomparemo.com.

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The 52-Week Money Challenge + Some Budgeting Ideas

One of my goals for 2015 is to save more. So Daddy and I agreed to do the 52-week money challenge. Actually last year I saw this money challenge already. But because I already have my saving plan, we didn't do it. Now, we will do it not just for us but for Matthew, my in-laws and my mother. Here's a sample chart if you are interested.

52-Week Money Challenge

For Daddy and me, I'll do the +50 increment that starts with 50 pesos, just like the above chart. For Matt, I will do the +20 increment that starts with 10 pesos. While for my in-laws and mother, I will do the +5 increment that starts with 10 pesos also.

I hope my in-laws and my mother will appreciate these small amount of money we can give to them at the end of the year. As for Matthew, all these will go to his savings account. We are planning to invest some of his saved money to stocks too, or mutual funds. We are still studying what's the best for his savings.

This year, as I promised to myself, we will do more of saving and investing. Last year, I started to monitor our daily expenses. With that I can easily see if we are already over the allotted monthly budget. Also, we limit going to grocery and schedule it once or twice a month na lang. However, upon checking my expenses monitoring sheet, I saw that we are not saving with that set up. 

Why? Since we go to the market every week, there are times we still go to the grocery even if we just had our bi-monthly/monthly grocery. Chances are we buy more than we should and I think also, we fail to buy all that we need for a month. We have no monthly meal plan too. Aside from that, when Daddy suddenly think of cooking something and we have no ingredients for that, we need to go to the grocery to buy. Which tempted us to buy that just those ingredients but others not in the list. With that, we over spend na.

What I did is to split the budget for grocery in 4 weeks so it will be like weekly going to the wet market + grocery. We always do a list of what to buy and as much as possible, we will only buy our basic needs for a week + a little buffer just in case we fail to go to the market and grocery same day next week. Glad that it's working better than our previous budget scheme.

Also, our top priority is always our basic needs. If we want to buy something other than our basic needs, that should be plan. Just today, I saw an apogee duet online. That would be so helpful especially that we want to encourage our son's talent of singing. However, it's way over our budget so I have to wait or save for that. I'm happy we are not impulse buyer anymore.

That's it and hopefully we can survive the 52-week money challenge.

How do you manage your expenses?

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Ways to Teach Our Kids to Save Money

One of the changes I want to make on this blog is to have a regular post about topics I love to talk about. If you notice since Monday, I have a consistent daily post. This is because I am already following a specific subject each day to write about. I hope I can cope up with this change . So for today, I choose to write about ways to teach our kids to save money.

Start Early

The little boy on the photo is Matthew Andrei (and I bet you know him a lot, haha!) with his coin banks. This early, we are teaching him  to collect and save coins. We bought a Mickey Mouse Coin bank for him to put inside the coins. However, we want to make more organize and easier to count so we decided to separate collect and save the coins.

That's why you can see 4 other containers in the photo. We collect 5, 10 and 25 cents, 1 peso, and 5 and 10-peso coins. As of this moment, most are half filled. We are planning to deposit it on his own BDO Junior Savers account once all are full.

Open a Savings Account

Yes, Matthew already has a savings account. We opened one for him before he turned two, and all the money he gets go to his savings. We also allot a portion of our monthly salary to go to his savings account. Having his own savings account will be his security in case (but I hope God does not permits) anything not good happens us. Also, since we are saving for him since 2012, we used a portion of it to pay for his tuition fee. But as much as possible, we don't want to withdraw money from his account for just like what I have already said, this is his security fund. Here's how to open a BDO Junior Savers account 

Encourage them to save money by giving rewards

Giving rewards is a very good motivation. This is proven, especially with my son. When he get big or super stars for a good behavior, he will immediately have a reward in terms of pasalubong when we got home. You may match his savings so he will to encourage our kids to save money more.

Teach the value of saving

It's not enough to teach them how to save. Teach them the value and importance of saving money. My son will sometimes think we can buy him anything he wants. Earlier, he will have tantrums whenever he can't get what he wants from a store. But I always tell him it's not good to get whatever you want just like that. That he needs to wait to buy something he wants. He may not get my point right away and because he's just a little boy who badly want that something inside the store, but in time he got my point. So the next time we go to a store and he sees something he wants, I will just give him a gentle reminder that buying that is not our purpose or we will buy it some other time. Or better yet, he can save for it and he will agree.

With this, he will not just learn the value of savings but he will surely give importance to the things he buy from his savings.

Teach them how to share

Matthew sometimes refuse to give or share. That is especially when he's so jealous. But with a good talk, I can persuade him to share. That's a good sign.

Also, if he can save to buy what he wants, he can also save to share. This will be one of the values I want him to learn - to share.

Be a good example

You may not notice but our kids adore us. They are looking on anything we do, and they are listening to what we are saying, even if we thought they are not. So if you want them to do something, set a good example by saving money too.

Since Matthew is seeing us collecting coins, he got this hobby too. That's why when he saw coins around, he will get it and ask me if he can put it inside his coin banks. Even the coins inside my coin purse, haha!

One time when he saw my pink coin purse, he opened it. Then I saw a big smile on his face.

Matthew: Mommy, ilalalagay ko po ito sa alkansya ko ha. (I'll put these inside my coin bank.)

What can I say but okay son.

Those are just few ways to teach our kids to save money. You may have your own effective ways but make sure you will not just emphasize money. Always emphasize the value of savings, not just money but anything he can save like electricity, water, and food.

If you have something to add up, please feel free to comment down.

Weekend is here, so I wish you a great one with your family.

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The World's Richest Man

In today's world where money and material things are the main source of people's happiness, I wonder if there's still someone like this man who can find joy in someone else's happiness. And I call him "The World's Richest Man".

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Payday Friday + My Gluta- C Collection

It's Friday payday! At long last payday na, hehe... I am always looking forward to our 30th/31st salary. Mas maluwag kasi kami with expenses during the end of month. Almost all of our bills payment due falls before, on or just after the 15th.

However, it maybe weird but this time I am not excited with what are we going to purchase. Surely we will go the grocery or market to buy our basic needs. Usually, we go to the grocery on the 4th day of the month because by that day, Daddy Allan's credit card has a billing statement na. As much as possible, we buy all the things, food and others that we need for the entire month. Then we go to the market once a week to buy fish, meat, vegetables and fruits. In that way, we can get rid of unplanned purchase. 

Though I can't say we are strict with this because there are times that suddenly we craved for a food and we don't have ingredients at home for that. Si Daddy Allan pa, ang maisipan, hehe...

Before anything else, let me share first my Gluta-C collection.

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Our Monthly Family Expenses

Have you notice how easy money can be spent nowadays?

When I was a kid, I used to accompany my mother to the market every Sundays. From her I learned how to look for the fresh fruits, vegetables, fish and meat. I even learned how to haggle for the price. I remember that time, 500 pesos was more than enough to buy all that we need (food, consumables) for a week. We were 6 in the family and sometimes our extended family (my half-brother's family), joined us as well.

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How to Make Money through Blogging

As I have said before, we can actually earn money online. Many are earning money online more than what they used to earn from their regular job.

I create my blog for personal use only. But then through blog hopping, I have learned that I can make money online through blogging. To start a blog, it is very important to define your blog’s Niche or subject. Choose a subject that people are interested in and you know a lot about. Decide for your blog’s name. Make it simple, catchy and easy to spell.

After creating a blog, you need to blog on a daily routine. Connect with different bloggers, build network and fill up your blog rolls through link exchange. This will help you promote your blog and build rank to get more traffic.

Then, how to make money through blogging?

Advertising. This is the most common way your blog can earn money. You can either put a CPC or CPM Ad Networks in your post and side bars. Google Adsense is a CPC Ad that pays on a click basis. Google Adsense program basically allows you to select ads related with the content of your blog and pays you based on how many readers click on the ads. On the other hand, CPM Ad pays by the total number of impressions. You can use ContextWeb, Adify, Adbrite and the likes. You can also sell ad space directly to advertisers.

Sell Other’s Product.  Another way is through affiliate program. This enables your blog to be a sales agent. Your blog will serve as the medium between the readers and online sites like Amazon.com. By displaying their products, readers can click directly from your blog to Amazon to get more information about the product. If the reader buy and pay for that product, you get paid as well.

Accept Product Review. Mommy bloggers like me often accept products for review. Either you get paid for making a review or you get some good products. Many companies are reaching out with bloggers, especially mommy bloggers because most readers value what they are saying. In this case, always be careful in accepting product reviews. You need to really try and use the product for your own credibility.

Publish Paid Articles. You can also publish paid articles in your blog. There are blogging communities like BC Bloggers that you can join. They will help you connect with other bloggers and link with your blog. Link exchange will help you to build rank and to get more traffic for your blog. Advertisers are usually more interested with blog’s of higher page rank.

Online Selling. You can actually use your blog to sell your own products. Although some online seller still use other social networks to promote their blog.

Join Blog Giveaways. Since you develop network blog connections, you can join different blog giveaways. Actually, most blogs are giving away cash usually through Paypal, to promote their blogs. Joining is just easy and sometimes they require you to have a Facebook, Google+ and Twitter accounts to complete tasks.

I am a working mom and I really aim to have a home based work so I could stay at home. The possibility of making money through blogging is really great. But again, it cannot be done overnight. You need patience, knowledge and continuous exploration of the different possibilities and ways to earn money online.

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How to Make Money Online

Being a working mom is very difficult and I need to manage my time for my work and my family. Especially that I have a son, I really want to stay at home and just look after him.

In my search for online home-based job I have discovered several ways on how to make money online.

Blogging.  Since I am a mommy blogger, this is what I have learned first. You can actually start with a free blog. You need to find a decent free blog flat form like Blogger.com and then define your niche or your main interest, and start posting. Choosing a blog’s subject is very important since you need to consider your viewers interests. Make your blogging a daily routine to invite readers and create more traffic. Then you can accept paid advertisement and product reviews. That's how to make money through blogging.

Freelance Writing. If you have a passion for writing or think you are good at it then you can apply as a freelance writer. There are sites like oDesk (now UpWork) that offers many writing jobs both full time and part time. It depends on what you prefer for.  You can also earn money by selling your articles. You can join sites that will give you topics to write for and then ask you to submit it within a period of time.

Paid-to-Click Ads and Surveys. You can also earn extra money by joining paid-to-click sites. They will ask you to click ads with an equivalent amount. Also you can earn money through taking surveys and then the site will pay you either through cash or through points convertible to cash or gift checks.

Joining Blog Giveaways. If you are a blog hopper then you can earn money through this. Many bloggers are organizing giveaways like cash ($) usually thru paypal, giftcards and different products from their reviews or sponsors. You must have a valid email address, and most of the times they will require you to have a Facebook, a Google+ or a Twitter account for the tasks. Joining is easy and no purchase is required. Just follow the instructions to fill in a form or the easy rafflecopter button.

Online Selling. You can actually sell even with no cash capital. How? You can start by selling your personal things that you are not using. In case of a mom like me, you can sell your baby’s pre-loved clothes, shoes and toys. You just need a camera to shoot a photo of the items for sale then post them at buy and sell websites. You can also sell using your Facebook page. The money that you will earn from it can be used as your capital to buy more stuff that you can sell. But always be careful not to be swindled by a bogus buyer.

Note: Having a Paypal or Alertpay account is very important because most of the payments are through this.  

There are lots of ways to earn money online and you can even earn money through discussions. But always be careful not to be scammed. As much as possible avoid sites that require you to pay for membership.

You can actually earn more money online at home than working full time outside home. What really excites me is the fact that I can command my own time and be with my son 24/7. But it is not that easy as everyone thinks. You need to study how, establish yourself especially if you are from other field like me, have patience and always be trustful.

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