Category: Personal Finance

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Lessons on Stock Market Investing, Vol. I

It’s been seven months since the hubby and I became direct stock market investors (through COL Financial) and so far, I’ve been enjoying the experience. I said “I” because the hubby has left the Herculean (exagg lang!) task of managing our stocks portfolio to me. He just helps put money into our account and I just report to him every transaction I make.

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a glimpse of our stocks portfolio

When 2014 ended, I tried computing our profit and was amazed to find out that we earned 7.55% from our original investment in just six months. I think we just got lucky because I bought mostly blue chip stocks like BDO, JFC, ALI, etc. For this year, I set a realistic target of 8% profit. If I could achieve a bigger profit percentage, I’d gladly take it.

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Why I Use Loyalty Cards

If there’s one smart living tip I know and apply in my life, it’s using loyalty cards whenever possible. Right now, I have five in my wallet: SM Advantage Card (SMAC), Happy Plus Card, Shakey’s Pizzanatic Supercard, Starbucks Card, and Citibank Cebu Pacific card. I buy and use the products and services of these companies from time to time so I might as well benefit from them. It’s better than nothing.

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With SMAC, I normally get 1 point (which is equal to 1 peso) for every P200 spent at SM stores and other partner establishments. I get less than 1 point for every P200 spent at SM supermarkets and I don’t know why. These points accumulate over time. I even get bonus points from PLDT!

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Choosing BDO Peso Balanced Fund (BDOPBAL)

Last Tuesday, the day after we received our Christmas bonus, the hubby and I realized another financial goal. Along with my sister Jodie, we opened a Peso Balanced Fund with Banco de Oro (BDO). It’s one of their Unit Investment Trust Fund (UITF) offerings. Our branch of choice was the one nearest to our place, SM Manila. Slowly but surely, this little investment, along with our other ones, will grow. We are already claiming it!

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It was quite easy to sign up. I just brought two valid IDs and that’s it. (We have decided to put this account under my name for easy monitoring.) Oh wait, another requirement is having a savings account with BDO which I do have. Anyway, the account officer had me fill up an application form and a signature specimen form. She also had me answer a Client Suitability Assessment (CSA) form to find out what type of investor I am and if the product I was eyeing suited me. She also took a photo of me through a camera attached to her PC (no need to bring 1×1 pics!). Then I handed my initial investment and I was issued an official receipt. I got the Certificate of Participation (COP) after three days.

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Got Free Insurance!

So, the hubby and I finally received our insurance certificate courtesy of the Provident Fund in our office. It’s just a personal accident policy, but we’re still thankful because we got it for free. It’s only good for a year but we heard it’s going to be renewed regularly as one of the perks of our membership.

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I already asked them to change my last name to reflect my married name!

I don’t know how much they paid for it, though. As I understood, it’s a group plan and boasts of the following benefits:

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How I Try to Live Below My Means

You’ve heard it before. Living within your means is good. But living below your means is better. I have been living within my means for as long as I can remember. And I found out it’s doable. But living below my means???

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Source: As indicated in the image.

When I started having solid “financial goals” this year, I thought about trying to live below what my income can afford. You see, the hubby and I keep our salaries to ourselves and we just share in our household expenses, mortgage payments, and other bills. (This setup is subject to change any time we I deem it necessary.) The exact percentages I cannot divulge here, but let’s just say he’s a real gentleman.

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3 Cash Dividend Payments in 1 Month

There are two ways to earn money in the stock market: capital appreciation and dividends. Last month, I was pleasantly surprised to receive three cash dividend payments. These were from the three companies in my stocks portfolio: Meralco (MER), Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI) and Banco de Oro (BDO).

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notice of cash dividend (MER)

As a newbie stock investor, this good news made me very happy. It was my first time to receive dividends, after all. The feeling was kind of surreal. Haha. They were just small amounts, but they were still passive income. I didn’t work for it; my money worked for it. And thinking about it now makes me more inspired to manage my finances better so I could continue making my money work for me (hello Mr. Robert Kiyosaki!).

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