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EXTRAS Quick Recaps

SavingsPinay September Quick Recap + Extra Income Report

Friday, September 30, 2016
This blog already moved to www.savingspinay.ph If you want the latest tips and stories on budget, savings, investments, productivity and making extra income go HERE instead.

 I must say that September turned out to be a great month for the blog and my finances. I had a number of events and was able to hit my highest pageviews so far. To spice up  a little I decided to add an "Income Report" on my Monthly Quick Recap. This income report is devoted solely on my side hustles or the things I do outside my day job. I hope this inspires you to make extra money whether online offline. Let's begin.



We reached 175,000++ Pageviews

I am so happy to report that we had a total of 15,000 pageviews in September alone. This is the highest in the entire duration of SavingsPinay. I see pageviews as a concrete expression of love and support on the blog. Thank you for keeping this SavingsPinay alive. Next month my target is 190,000 pageviews. My dream is to hit the 200,000 mark by the end of 2016.

Guest Post from Kyle Kam of MoneyMax.ph

I was surprised to receive an email from Kyle asking if I accept contributors here on SavingsPinay. Kyle works at MoneyMax.ph, a one-stop shop site for comparing car insurance, credit cards and loans. It's like a powerful comparison tool that can give you the best deals. Anyway, his post 4 Useful Tips to Live Within Your Means is a great quick read if you are looking for better techniques to stop living like a one-day millionaire. Thank you Kyle and MoneyMax.ph for this valuable post.

Resource Posts on How to Make Extra Money, How to Blog and How to Invest for Beginners

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I don't know if you notice but last week's published blog posts were actually a series. I wanted to write a detailed post that could be a resource page for people who want to know How to Make Extra Money, How to Blog and How to Invest for Beginners in the Philippines. I plan to put an image link of the said posts on the side bar of the blog so you can just click and read anytime. I will also update each post when I have new information, means of income or investment vehicle to feature. I received a number of positive remarks to these resource posts and I am beyond thankful for the appreciation.

Blog Milestones

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You all know I won a Caramoan Getaway sponored by TravelBook.ph. It was my first time to join an online contest and I fortunately won. I was able to explore the great Caramoan Islands and shared my travel diary on my personal blog. I also did a couple of posts related to this trip that includes The Ultimate Guide to Your Caramoan Island Hopping Adventure as well as Al Del Rio Villa Resort Budget Stay Review. You can also read my winning post to know how you too can earn as a TravelBook Affiliate. 

Posts from August and September

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August

September

Extra Income Report

I earned 8,000pesos in September for Event Hosting Alone.

September is a good month since I got not just one but three successful event booking. I hosted a 21st Birthday and two weddings. If I can just market my event hosting more I know I can earn more than 8,000 extra money in a month. I only rely on referral at the moment and wasn't able to create ads or any other means to tie up with wedding venues, wedding coordinators, caterers and other event suppliers. 


Next Action:
  • Finalize Marketing Spiel for Tie-Ups
  • Start sending email once marketing spiel is done to potential suppliers
  • Send follow up message on FB Page
  • Buy 100-pieces calling card
Next Month's Target Extra Income: 12,000pesos

I earned $36.19 USD in September for Freelance Writing.

Towards the mid of September I started finding clients again whom I can do freelance writing. I got an email request for my availability and now  I work part-time on an SEO Content Writing Service based in Bangkok, Thailand. I am per-project based so the earning looks really small. I did just about 5 500-word blog posts for the company and it took me less than an hour to write each post. 

Next Action:
  • Create a Portfolio Corner on the blog to turn visitors to potential clients.
  • Find one more client (if possible).
Next Month's Target Extra Income: $100 USD

I earned 1,500pesos in September for a Sponsored Post

I have talked about the many ways bloggers earn income online and sponsored post is one of the fast and most effective means. For September I got a sponsored post invitation for a reputable company and I can't be anymore proud and happy. Hope to receive more opportunities like this in the coming months.

Next Action:
  • Email possible financial apps and companies for possible sponsored post. affiliate link or banner ads along with 2016 Media Kit.
October Plans on the Blog and Side Hustles
  1. Manage My Time More. I still feel that I lack the proper time management when it comes to blogging and my side hustles. I want to maximize my day and really be intentional on the tasks I do and the time I allot for everything. Glad I have my bullet journal set up for October already and I am looking forwards for a great month ahead. 
  2. Promote more. I don't do any promotion at all on my blog, hosting and freelance writing. I know I need to promote more if my goal is to be noticed. I want launch a resource page here on SavingsPinay to gather pageviews as well as loyal readers. I also want to launch a new mailing list where I can send newsletter weekly without pause or break. I feel sorry for my past newsletter subscribers whom I FAILED ULTIMATELY. Babawi po ako. Promise!
  3. Search for other ways to increase my extra income. I am not satisfied with my current extra income so I am pumped up to search more ways to increase this. I am thinking a lot about Affiliate Marketing and I'll see how I can venture to this as another blog income stream.
Final Notes from SavingsPinay


Overall I feel happy on how September turned out. I still have a lot to do to make October better. I hope you enjoyed this new format of monthly quick recaps. If yes then don't forget to share your thoughts on the comment section below or my contact page or simply an email at izzaglinofull@gmail.com. I also entertain reader questions in the hope that I can publish them on the blog. If you have any question please, please email me directly so I can read and answer it.


This blog already moved to www.savingspinay.ph If you want the latest tips and stories on budget, savings, investments, productivity and making extra income go HERE instead.
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Budget PERSONAL FINANCE Spending

Where Does Your Income Go?

Wednesday, September 28, 2016
This blog already moved to www.savingspinay.ph If you want the latest tips and stories on budget, savings, investments, productivity and making extra income go HERE instead.

 Am I the only one excited for Friday pay day?! I bet most of us are looking forward to this also.
Today as a precaution for everyone I decided to create a post as to where does your income go. Here you'll find necessary guidelines and general tips on how your income should be distributed. Before reading the rest of the post I recommend checking the following related links:



Where Does My Income Go?

Every pay check I go over my 50-20-30 Rule of Budgeting Template and distribute my net income in the same manner. I have talked about 50-20-30 Rule of Budgeting on the blog and just last June I believe I finished revising the template and creating an e-Guide that will go along with the file. If you are already part of the SavingsPinay FB Community then you can download it for free under Files. If you are a newbie reader then please send me an email request at izzaglinofull@gmail.com for your own copy.

Currently my income is sliced on the following expenses.

First Paycheck (15th of the Month)

50% - Food and Transportation Allowance for the next 10-11 days of work
        - Monetary gift to my parents

20% - Savings
       - FAMI-SALEF Investment

30% - Relaxation, Toiletries/Other Personal Care, Book and Others

Second Paycheck (30th of the Month)

30% - Food and Transportation Allowance for the next 10-11 days of work

50% - Savings
       - Emergency Fund

20% - Relaxation, Toiletries/Other Personal Care, Book and Others

Notes:
  • I spend a lot on Food and Transportation since I work in Makati and my transportation alone is 120pesos back and forth. 
  • I have mentioned on My New Budget and Spending Tracker how I track my spending. I believe this what makes the big difference when it comes to managing your money. The ability to track everything you spend on a particular day. Once you have master this you will surely earn financial discipline that your future self will thank you for. 
  • My Second Paycheck (30th of the Month) is usually bigger than my first paycheck (15th of the Month) so I maximize it to go automatically on my emergency fund. How? I have two Metrobank Accounts, my payroll account and my personal account. I transfer immediately a dedicated amount from my payroll account to my personal account through online banking. READ: The Different Saving Funds You Should Own
  • I invest!!! If you still have no idea on how to invest I encourage you to check last week's post How to Invest for Beginners in the Philippines. I added a quick story on how I became an investor at 19 years old.
  • Monetary Gift to my parents. Actually my parents don't ask anything from me (from us) at all but if you still remember my 20-something panic I have this thing for my parents... I feel like there's so much they deserve and I want to do for them so badly. My gift isn't much but my hope is it could ease their financial burden somehow. 
  • Of course I need my relaxation and personal pampering once in a while. And by once in a while I mean once a week. To be honest this is a big loop hole in my finances and I know that I could save a lot if only I stop being such an impulsive shopper. If you go over my personal blog you'll know I had my mani-pedi experience at Let's Face It Trinoma, I also buy a new book every pay day and once a month I do some shopping. Last Monday's post on 4 Useful Tips to Live Within Your Means is a reminder for me to still live frugally no matter what. 
Do You Have Any Side Jobs?

Now aside from my income (salary) I also make extra money through the many side jobs I do. This isn't a surprise for those who have been reading SavingsPinay since the beginning. My side jobs allowed me to save more, invest more and share more. This is something I am always thankful for to God --- that He blessed me with such gifts that turned me into a money-making machine. My post All About Making Extra Money in the Philippines will prove you that there is soooo much ways you can earn extra income. 

Currently here are the hustles that let me earn extra on the side:
  1. Event Hosting for all Occasion is something started when I was 17 years old college student. I earn per event or special occasion I book.
  2. Wedding Planner/Wedding Coordinator is something I venture after a year of hosting. I have a passion in planning events and wedding in particular give me so much happiness. I gathered my own wedding coordinator team and have been to Tagaytay, Antipolo, Batangas etc.
  3. Makeup and Hairstylist for Special Occasion is something I offer once in a while. I do hair and makeup for brides, entourage, debutant and guests.
  4. Blogging. My blogs SavingsPinay and IzzaGlino both started as a hobby and now they manage to give me some side income. I earn through ad spaces, sponsored post, blog contents and affiliate marketing. I also manage to get clients thanks to my blogs since it became my online portfolio. 
  5. Freelance Writing. Writing has been part of my life since the beginning. I've been part of the school newspaper from elementary to high school. I took up BS Journalism in college and I currently work as a Technical Writer in Makati. It became apparent that I will become a freelance writer someday. It was the book So You Want to be a Freelancer that motivated me to enrich my writing skills and offer my service. Today, I work  part-time on an SEO Content Writing Service based in Bangkok, Thailand. 
The money I get from side hustle related to event from hosting, coordination and hair&makeup are all paid in cash so it is actually harder to keep. My next action it to open a passbook savings account in BDO since the minimum initial money I need to is only 5,000pesos. I believe having a passbook will ultimately help me track my earnings. My plan is to deposit my earning as soon as possible to my passbook savings account. 

All my Blogging earnings are still on hold since I haven't reached my payment threshold yet. It is actually harder to earn money blogging than I thought plus the fact that I only started getting serious in transitioning blog to business come early 2016. 

My freelance writing payments are well-kept on my Paypal account and I use primarily on online payments like buying this blog's theme of Etsy. 

What Should You Do with Your Extra Money?

If you have any extra money whether it came from a side job, bonus or unexpected gift then here are some recommendations on where you should invest it:


1. Save it


Excess cash can be used to fund your savings. Open a new savings account or use any separate account your have deposit it. 


2. Invest it

You can also choose to invest your extra money on a mutual fund or Unit Investment Trust Fund for example. These type of funds are perfect for beginners plus opening fee are most likely 5,000 to 10,000 pesos only. Below are some mutual fund, UITF and other investment options I have discussed on the blog:



3. Use it

You deserve a reward for your extra hard work so why not use the money to go on a much needed vacation. You can also save all your extra money to buy your bigger expenses like luxury items, car, downpayment for a house etc. 

Final Notes From SavingsPinay

Knowing where you income goes is important because it gives you so much awareness when it comes to your finances. I don't know about you but for me, wondering where my money went over the last pay day isn't cool. I want to know exactly how I spent my income whether it's from my salary or the extra income I earn on the side. 

My Next Action For You are as follows:


1. Answer where does your income go? Grab a pen and paper and list down the areas where you spend your earnings from bills to unnecessary expenses. This will lead you to create you budget and will soon become your basis in managing your money every month, week or day.

2. Find a side hustle you can earn extra money! This next action is actually life changing. It could make or break your ability to earn money. Do you have any skill you can offer to others? Maybe you are good in writing too then start finding freelance writing gigs now. 



This blog already moved to www.savingspinay.ph If you want the latest tips and stories on budget, savings, investments, productivity and making extra income go HERE instead.
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PERSONAL FINANCE Spending

4 Useful Tips to Live Within Your Means from Kyle

Monday, September 26, 2016
This blog already moved to www.savingspinay.ph If you want the latest tips and stories on budget, savings, investments, productivity and making extra income go HERE instead.

 Hi everyone! Today we have an amazing article from our SavingsPinay Guest Blogger of the Month. 

Last week I received an inquiry from Kyle Kam whether I'll be happy to feature his post on SavingsPinay. I happily agreed knowing how this could add value to our readers. I have heard about MoneyMax.ph for sometime now and it's an honor that someone from the brand noticed the blog. Kyle will give us the 4 Useful Tips to Live Within Your Means.

Hope you enjoy the post that Kyle wrote for us!


You’ve probably received the advice “live within your means” before. The thing is that living within one’s means is largely subjective. Everyone has different set of financial circumstances, and therefore, living within their means will be largely different.

Between the differences in finances, there are a few principles when it comes to living within your means that still hold true, and here are some tips to show you how to live within your means.
Lifestyle traps

 The trap of lifestyle inflation is the biggest and least obvious one to spot and dealing with it is essential whether you earn a lot or less. The trend for most people is to spend a little more as their pay grades go up, rationalizing that it’s fine since they can afford it. There’s a difference between being actually able to afford it, and playing at being able to afford it.
The difference between the two is that you’ve actually got more income than you’re spending. If the case is you end up uneasy and waiting for payday, you can’t afford the lifestyle you’ve been trying to live.
Know your net worth

 Figuring out your net worth will give you a better understanding of how your finances are working for you. While your annual salary is a figure on its own, you’ll have to include other income streams in order to get your total net worth.

One formula for it – written by Burn Gutierrez – involves adding up your total assets, consisting of the following:
  • Add your: Savings + Retirement Accounts + Investments + Any Real Estate + Other Income Streams
  • Add together any outstanding debts you might have together. This includes constant bills, like credit card bills, insurance payments, loan payments and the like.
  • The sum from your debts must be subtracted from the sum of your total assets. If the result is negative, then at least according to Burn’s guide, you’re living well beyond your means.

Cash is king


 The thing about living on a credit card is that it’d be all too easy for you to rack up debt. Living completely on cash, or a debit card, ensures that you can only spend what you actually have.

A great many people think that a credit card is one way to prove that you’ve got the means – and there are times when a credit card is a great tool to have. That time is when you’ve got the financial responsibility to handle paying those bills full and on time every time.

Developing the habit of using only cash or debit means you won’t consider buying or spending unless you’re 100% sure that you have the money for it.

Success is relative


 A lot of things can define success, and much of it is just as subjective as the means you use to attain it. A large part of considering yourself successful comes from what you deem as the most important wants and needs in your life.

Figuring out what success means to you can allow you to make changes in the way you think about your money.

Overall


 Being able to live solidly within your means carries with it an understanding that there’s a time and place for spending your hard-earned cash, and a time for conserving and saving for whatever future goals you have.

A firm understanding of these will allow you to live within your means, but comfortably.

About our Guest Blogger:

KyleKam is from MoneyMax.ph, a financial comparison website aiming to help Filipinos save money through diligent comparisons of financial products.

Final Notes from SavingsPinay:

Thank you so much Kyle for making this wonderful post. I know you've shared some valuable information to all SavingsPinay readers too. To anyone who'd like to submit a guestpost you just like Kyle you can send me an email at izzaglinofull@gmail.com or message me via SavingsPinay Facebook Group.

This blog already moved to www.savingspinay.ph If you want the latest tips and stories on budget, savings, investments, productivity and making extra income go HERE instead.
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