How to cut lining up in banks during payday in half.

Everybody has experienced lining up in banks during payday. The long queues are actually disheartening to see. It's an indication that a lot of Filipinos are living paycheck to paycheck.

The short answer to my question is to simply not take out money during the 15th and 30th. In liue of that, here are things I did that might also work for you.

Be online.
1. I pay all your bills online. Water, electricity, phoneline. I charge these to my credit card. Everytime a bill comes, I just logon to the bank's website and charge it to my card.

2. If your payroll account is the same bank as your personal savings account then you can just do an online transffer of your funds.

If not, then a roundabout way to do this is to open a checking account in the same bank as your payroll account. Then everytime you get your payslip, you can just issue yourself a check and have it deposited in your personal bank account.

3. I also pay my credit cards online. Most banks would allow you to pay another bank's credit card using their online facility. Use it. ^_^

4. A special mention to BPI.

Before, you can only pay BPI's credit card by going to a branch and standing in queue and Lord knows how long those lines can get. What I did was, I applied for a BPI Family Savings account and linked my BPI credit card. Why? Not only does BPI Family have shorter lines compared to BPI, it's also nearest where I work. So, even if I do have to physically take money out of my account, I can easily deposit money there. As an added bonus, you can use their DEPOSIT MACHINES and be done with your deposits in less than 5 minutes.

I also use cash but I try to get cash on odd days like the 6th or the 19th. There's usually no one there at the atm.

-Maria

How to maximize your use of Citibank's Cashback Card

Photo credit: Citibank



First of all, this is for the Citibank Cashback card issued in the Philippines.

I love this card because you can get a maximum rebate of Php 1,000 per month. You can also do this with careful planning.

The cashback card is great only if you happen to be spending enough to get the rebate but if not, I suggest that you pick another card. The only reason I am even using this card is for purchasing things that my parents' needs.

So how does this actually work?
According to their terms....

Item                                                Rebate

Meralco                                          2%

Non-Meralco & non-grocery         0.2%

Grocery                                          6% (but only if Non-Meralco and Non-gro is Php 10k or more)


So, that's the deal breaker. You can only get a whopping 6% rebate on groceries if you can find a way to charge 10k of purchases to your credit card.

How do I do it?
I charge the following
-phone bills
-cellphone bills
-medicines
-water bill
-dining out.

All of that will make 10k for me.

I've also prepared a spreadsheet for people who want to check if they can also do this.

Computation Sheet

How do you handle the free stuff?

I was out of toner a few months back. I've decided to purchase the one from Etude House since that product has never stirred me wrong.

I was surprised that the box was bigger than the usual. Turns out they have free facial cottons to use with the toner.

I tried using the whole pad each time I needed the toner and gradually realized that half the pad would work out just as well. Since you can still use the other side of the pad.

So before I use a pad, I get a pair of scissors to cut this in half and use both side in a single application. This is my happy minimum. Not only did you save on money (since it was already free in the first place) but you also do your turn in conserving natural resources.

Happily minimizing,
-Maria

Books-for-Less Warehouse Sale (August 1-30,2015)

I love books and to score books for cheap prices? Well, that's the icing on the cake.
Books-for-Less recently held their annual booksale.
This event runs this month of August.

THE PROS:
-They are open during weekends
-All books are only Php20 each.

THE CONS
-Location is a little hard to get to
-A few number of books are mutilated and all are dusty.
-Cannot use credit card, cash only
-Almost 80% of the books are children's books

This event is a great way to stock up on children's books. They give you a small variety in different fields though. I was able to find a watercolor book on flowers and the Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyczyn, so those were steals.

If you ever decide to go though, here are my tips.

TIPS
-Bring an ecobag. There are no baskets available.
-Come in early. Opening is at 9;00am and I suggest you go there before it opens because it does tend to be crowded by noon.
-Bring smaller bills
-Bring alcohol and tissues. The place and the books are dusty and before long your hands will bear the marks of your labor.
-Patience is a virtue, learn to exercise it.

It's worth a Saturday to look at the books.

Credit Card Promos August 2015

BDO (for claiming only)
Promo Period: May18, 2015-July 18, 2015
Claim until: September 18, 2015


Minimum Spend           Threat
Php 3,000                       100 GC from Pizza Hut 


BPI (for claiming only)
Promo Period: July 1, 2015-September 30, 2015
Claim until: November 30, 2015

Minimum Spend           Threat
Php 3,000                       various food item from Jollibee and Red Ribbon

Php12,000                      various food item from Jollibee and Red Ribbon

Php 25,000                     various food item from Jollibee and Red Ribbon

Standard Chartered
Promo Period: May 7, 2015-July 31, 2015 Extended until September 30, 2015
Claim until: September 30, 2015 


Minimum Spend           Threat
Php 1,500                       food item from Mrs. Fields

Php 2,500                       food item from Kenny Rogers

Php 3,000                       food item from Seattle's Best
.                                      food item from Cupcakes

Php 5,000                      100 GC National Bookstore
                                       100 SM Gift Pass
                                       food item from Mrs. Fields

                                       one bowling game (SM Bowling)

                                       one planetarium show (Exploreum)

Php 8,000                      food item from Kenny Rogers
                                      food item from Seattle's Best

Php 10,000                    SM Skating Rink
                                       Exploreum