Tag: money talks

Posted on

Some Frugal Living Tips

“Living frugally allows you to live richly in ways that you choose.” ~Anonymous

2014 turned out to be a very positive and enlightening year for the hubby and me. It was the time when we took our finances more seriously. We started investing directly in the stock market in July and when November came, we opened a UITF account at a local bank.

While modifying our allocations for this month’s budget in my desktop, I thought about sharing some frugal living tips here in the blog. These are practices that the hubby and I try to do consistently to save money and live a simple but fun married life.

Continue reading “Some Frugal Living Tips”

Posted on

Weighing Our Options: Life Insurance and Health Cards

Our 2015 goals include two very important things: life insurance and heath cards. These are non-negotiables. The hubby and I have to get them this year or never. We’re actually very late; we should’ve gotten them a long time ago. But you know, we weren’t as prepared then as we are today.

How come we are invested in various instruments (e.g. stock market, UITF, and RTB) and yet we don’t have life insurance and health cards? I don’t have a very clear answer for this. Perhaps, we procrastinated. Or maybe, we just felt we didn’t need it just yet (I know, how foolish!). Or I guess, I’d justify it by saying we needed enough time to think as to which life insurance and health cards suit our needs.

Continue reading “Weighing Our Options: Life Insurance and Health Cards”

Posted on

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.

col
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.

Continue reading “Lessons on Stock Market Investing, Vol. I”

Posted on

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.

Untitled

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!

Continue reading “Why I Use Loyalty Cards”

Posted on

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!

IMG_3136

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.

Continue reading “Choosing BDO Peso Balanced Fund (BDOPBAL)”

Posted on

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.

Untitled
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:

Continue reading “Got Free Insurance!”