financial freedom Archives

June 4, 2015

Dealing with Windfalls

This year is getting to be very good in terms of financial blessings. The first quarter alone saw the hubby and I receiving some unexpected incentives at work. Then, during the second quarter, our mid-year bonus arrived and a few more monetary benefits came after that.

Receiving windfalls (in our case, it’s usually from work and nothing else) is always a pleasure and a reason to give thanks. By giving thanks, I mean saying a short prayer of gratitude to the guy above and sharing the blessing (in whatever form or way we like) with our loved ones.

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May 8, 2015

Teaching Financial Literacy at Home

I grew up in a family where money is a taboo subject and financial education is never taught. I actually learned about such important concepts as personal finance and financial freedom through self-study. My mother, who was in-charge of budgeting in our one-income household when I was little, wasn’t really a good example when it came to managing our limited financial resources.

Image Source: http://connexcu.wordpress.com/2013/09/03/connecticut-gets-an-f-in-financial-literacy/

Back then, we were living from paycheck to paycheck and we were acquiring liabilities instead of assets. While my parents certainly did their best to provide for our needs, the idea of financial freedom was non-existent to them. Or maybe they knew about it, but it was just not among their top priorities.

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November 22, 2014

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!

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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September 5, 2014

Road to Financial Freedom: A Constant Practice in Patience

When I’m committed to doing something, I can get very impatient. In my quest for financial freedom, for instance, I can’t wait to achieve my financial goals. I think I’ve had an overdose of personal finance articles and blogs online because I suddenly had this urge to open new investment accounts right away. But of course, it’s impossible for me to do so due to insufficient funds at present.

I’ve never been good at this! (Image Source: http://avidinvestorgroup.com)

Talking to self: Slow down, Edel! Breathe. Inhale, exhale. You can’t do everything at the same time. You have to wait for your money to arrive, unless you can make money appear by magic. Remember, patience is key here. And a lot of thinking and re-thinking. You don’t just invest your money in one instrument just because you learned from somebody it’s a good investment. You have to do your own research, decide based on your needs and future plans, prepare your money and invest at the right time.

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July 11, 2014

Additional Credit Limit from Citibank

Just the other day, I received an email from Citibank informing me that my credit limit has been increased once again. From P55,000, it’s now P80,000. Again, I didn’t ask for it, they just willingly gave it to me like in my previous line increase. Was it because I’m a responsible cardholder now? Yes, probably. Or maybe, they just want to lure me into spending more. Well, good luck to them because that won’t happen!

email excerpt from Citibank

Ever since I became credit card debt-free, I’ve been paying my credit card dues in full. After learning the hard way how credit card companies make money, I started to take my credit card spending seriously. I want to give them as little profit as possible by being a responsible cardholder now.

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October 2, 2013

First Real Investment

Last month, the hubby and I took the bold step of investing through retail treasury bonds (RTBs). Don’t ask the amount. It’s just a small one that’s why we didn’t hesitate to use it for that purpose. We think it’s better than keeping it in a savings account where it earns very low interest. We still have some funds left in case of emergency so I guess we made a good decision with this one.

RTBs are a good investment. It’s the government that borrows the money so the risks are almost non-existent. I think it’s better than time deposits as it offers higher interest at a fixed rate. The investment time is longer, though, so you really have to make sure not to touch the money within the set period, say 10 years or more. Otherwise, there will be some risks.

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