Tag: managing finances

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Dealing with Money: How to Find a Financial Balance

I used to hate it when, after receiving a windfall, a big and necessary expense would suddenly come up. It’s like fate is testing my drive to save money. You know, instead of keeping the cash for a brighter future, I get to spend it. But lately, I have realized that God really never fails to provide for my needs. Things could have been bad. What if I didn’t have any moolah and a big and necessary expense has suddenly come up? I should have been grateful instead of whiny.

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Image Source: http://breakingmuscle.com/mind-body/finding-balance-in-our-physical-personal-and-professional-lives
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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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No to Mindless Spending

Aside from cutting back on my expenses to save more money, I took on the challenge of a shopping fast because I wanted to say no to mindless spending. I can be the worst impulsive shopper if I want to, you know. But I realized it would just lead me to nowhere in my journey to financial freedom, so I decided to stop.

We all have an imaginary (sometimes physical) list of things we want to acquire or have. It could be a designer bag, a set of expensive jewelry, a piece of modern furniture, a hi-tech gadget, or a trendy home appliance. Mindless spending, or in this case, shopping, happens when we suddenly come face to face with a particular item in our so-called “list.” Normally, such item is hard to come by that when we chance upon it, the tendency is we buy it right away without second thoughts for fear that such an opportunity won’t present itself again. It’s like a moment of destiny when the universe conspires to make things happen for us. I’m telling you, I’ve experienced it a lot of times and the impulsive shopper in me always won.

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Finances, Finances

I dunno why but I always get broke a few weeks before the bonus-giving time at work. Is it because subconsciously I could smell the money coming my way and I know a little overspending before its arrival won’t hurt? I know it’s not a good practice, financially speaking, but I just can’t help it.

This is especially true when I’m in front of the PC looking at things that could easily land on my lap with just a few mouse clicks. From bags and clothes, I’m now into fine jewelry and I’m seriously thinking about those men’s wedding rings at jewelryvortex.com at this very moment. No, I don’t plan to replace the hubby’s wedding ring with a new one. He’s a very simple guy and I just thought the simplicity and character of one of the wedding rings I saw from the site was very him. I can’t buy it because it costs an arm and a leg, anyway. Haha.

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Managing Credit Cards

UPDATE as of January 2015: I’m back to having just one credit card now. You might want to know how I became credit card debt-free. 🙂

I used to own only one credit card. Then it became two. Currently, I own three credit cards from different banks. So far, and thank God, I’m managing all three well. But it’s not a walk in the park, you know. Like many people, there are times when I get to overspend and end up getting charged with interests and late payment fees.

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Having credit cards can be stressful, too. That’s why managing your credit cards well is a must. I’m not an expert at credit card debt management but here are some things I do to make sure my credit card debts don’t balloon to alarming levels:

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