Saving money is a way of life.

Saving money is a prerequisite of investing.

But how do you exactly save money? What’s your budget?

How much do you put away a week?
How much do you spend on food?
How much on gas?
How do you split your rent / mortgage up?

These are just some of the questions that you can find on OrlandoForums.com regarding our topic today.

Here are some of the answers  to those very basic and fundamental questions by the members of the forum (at random):

1. Save at least 10% of your income each month and you will surely go a long way in growing your money.

2.  5% on transportation but if  you drive – count  gas, insurance, maintenance and parking. This can go up to a little less than 20%.

3.  15% on food and groceries including toiletries.

4. 5%-7% – for all kinds of  bills such as electrical, phone, cable subscription etc.

5. 20%-30% – payment for mortgages, taxes and insurance.  Keep this  part as your savings if you’re not paying mortgages.

6. 5%-10% – incidentally a lot of the members are paying off  some kind of debts specially credit cards. Consider yourself lucky if you don’t belong to this group.

7. %% – the left over is for everything else such as clothing, entertainment, medical cost etc.

One of the senior members of the forum suggested the following  very practical ways to save money:

• Cook instead of eating out
• Don’t speed to save gas
• Make sure everything you don’t use is unplugged except for your fridge and alarm clock
• Ac temp never changes
• Got on a family plan for cell phone
• Paid off debt and never use a credit card unless you can pay the balance
• Paid off car debt, never buying a new car ever
• Teach your girlfriend how to be cheap like you.

I love the last point.

I know that there are a lot of opportunities in making money online. There are PTCs, affiliate marketings, membership sites and so on. But have you thought of earning while playing an online games?

Yes, I’m not kidding. You can earn money with games.  All you have to do is register at AlienDollar.com and participate in their their weekly gamebattles.

In reality, this site is actually a social network site which, aside from playing games online, can give you an opportunity to meet new friends and connect with other  people who share your interests.

And by the way, the registration is free. Just make sure that you have a PayPal account to receive your earnings from them.

BizWiz And PLDT Present: A Free Business Simulation Workshop!

For most people, starting a business is a mystery. They look at it as a
dense, hazy fog that’s risky to walk into.

We aim to clear the fog to help you get started on doing business.

BizWiz Resources, a proudly Pinoy company, together with PLDT SME Nation,
proudly present you A Free Business Simulation Workshop!!! It’s a fun,
engaging business simulation practicum which aims to teach the participant
these:
1. The rules in business.
2. How to deal with the competition.

Unlike the usual seminars, this workshop empowers its attendees by
encouraging them to participate in its activities. This translates to better
retention of knowledge that can be applied in real life immediately.

This workshop is for FREE!!! Free dinner will be served to the first 30
guests.

Register now to reserve seats. Send your name, name of company where you
work,and contact details (mobile number and/or landline) to 0916-5387103

Date: August 12, 2010 (Thursday)
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Venue: Max’s Restaurant, Shangri-La Mall

Most of you probably know what is debt consolidation but have you ever heard about debt settlement?

First some background what most people do in trying to solve their debt problem.

Recession, loss of job, hospitalization and other unexpected life changes can result in financial difficulties even for those who manage their debt well.

When we find ourselves having problems in making ends meet, the first natural course of action is to take a look at the budget and find ways to cut back on unnecessary expenses. This first step can help us pay down debts and keep monthly bills current. Unfortunately, this is just a stop gap until we can really find either a better paying job.  But what happens when we can’t solve our debt problems with budgeting?

The next step is we need to seek outside help.  It’s really  hard ask for someone’s help specially when you’re having money troubles, but if you don’t gain control over your debts, your credit rating will suffer. So it’s better to take charge of your debt before it’s too late.

Most debtors turn to debt consolidation like  transferring high-interest debts to a lower interest credit card. This is often done to secure a lower interest rate. However, debt consolidation does have definite drawbacks. Closing numerous accounts and putting all of your debt into one account can negatively affect your ratio of debt to available credit, lowering your credit score.

Another popular option for those with debt problems is debt arbitration, debt negotiation or debt settlement. Whatever term you are going to use, it is a way in which the debtor and creditor agree on how to approach the debt.  Usually, the creditor will give a reduced balance which is considered the full payment. The debtors can either pay this new reduced balanced in full or in terms as well. It depends on the debt settlement agreement that you will undertake.

By seeking a debt settlement from the creditor, it can often prevent us from going to bankruptcy.

Franchise 2010 is currently being held at SMX Convention Center, Pasay City.  While the conference started already, the official Franchise Expo will start  on July 15.  The expo will display exhibits of local and international franchises. It will also provide seminars on  empowering franchise, exciting business presentations, and vigorous industry networking and marketing activities.

Seminars provide an excellent forum for business matching between franchisors and would-be franchisees. The franchisors can promote their respective franchise systems to a pre-selected audience looking for a business.

Some of the seminars that are scheduled to be taken are:

Franchising Your Business Right

Turn your business into a gold mine. Franchise it!
16 – 18 July 2010, Friday to Sunday, 1-3 pm
SMX Meeting Room 10 (July 16 and 18)
SMX Meeting Room 7 (July 17)

Master Franchising 101

If you are looking for a foreign brand and want to be a master franchisee, an area developer or a partner, then this seminar is for you.
16 July 2010, Friday, 1:00 pm
SMX Meeting Rooms 8 and 9

Investing in a Franchise Wisely

Learn the basics of franchising
17 – 18 July 2010, Saturday and Sunday,  3-5 pm
SMX Meeting Rooms 8 and 9

How to Register as an Expo Visitors
1. Register On-line and you are entitled to Bring a Friend on a complimentary basis.
2. Register Onsite -  located at the lobby of the SMX Convention Center.

Admission rate : Php 100 per person

Franchise 2010 is using the theme “Getting Ready for the World” in preparation for Manila’s hosting of the Franchise Asia 2011.

Get the no. 1 Source for Franchising Your Business

Working for Money or Money Working for You?

Even if hundred of thousands of Pinoys are working abroad as OFW, survey still shows that 90% of Filipinos do not have enough savings even if they cut back on expenses already.

Why? Simply because of lack of  knowledge, specifically in financial management.

Did you  know that richest people in the Philippines and other parts of the world (based on Forbes Magazine’s “Richest” lists) built their wealth through business, investing, or real estate.

Opportunities abound that will make your hard-earned money work for you, create automatic and passive income, offer unlimited income potential, build appreciating and income-generating assets, and help you become your own boss. Money Summit & Wealth Expo will present all these opportunities. Now it’s your turn to become wealthy!

Money Summit and Wealth Expo 2010

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

There are different roads to riches. In this conference, you will learn the four most practical and most common ways to achieve wealth. Each opportunity presented will answer these three key questions:

1. How much money can I make? You will learn about the size of the market and what you can reasonably expect to earn.
2. How will I make money? You will get an overview of the different market opportunities, various business models, and strategies to make money.
3. How do I get started? You will find what you need to start and what specific steps to take to get started.

The Money Summit & Wealth Expo features real millionaires and money-making experts from the fields of real estate, investing, business, and sales.

The conference is divided into four areas, covering 16 income opportunities and wealth-building strategies. Each day will have topics on these four areas. Below is the program schedule (subject to change without prior notice):

Day 1, July 2, Friday (8:30-6:00)

• The Think Rich Quick system of flipping properties, with master real estate investor Trace Trajano (via live webinar)
• Infopreneurship: Make money in the information business, with Master List Builder Joel Christopher (via live video streaming)
• Get rich through rent-to-own properties, with rent-to-own specialist Eden April Alemania-Dayrit
• Secrets of direct sales superstars, with superstar sales performer, best-selling author, and top trainer Dr. Rodolfo “Dr. Dups” de los Reyes
• Simple stock market investing: The way to a richer life, with CitisecOnline.com chief executive Conrado Bate
• Beat the market with foreign stocks and funds, with Global Investor’s Center’s Malaya Laraya
• Telesales: How to make money selling over the phone, with One Outsource Direct president Butch Villamor
• Fast and furious profits in forex trading, with master forex trader Mark So

Day 2, July 3, Saturday (8:30-6:00)

• Make millions in network marketing*
• How to become a Pinoy eBay power seller, with certified eBay instructor and power seller Eireen Diokno-Bernardo
• How to build a million peso home-based Internet business, Internet marketing expert Jomar Hilario
• Make money in franchising, with Francorp executive and Philippine Franchise Association head Bing Limjoco
• Start and grow a lucrative Multiply business, with Renegade Folk co-founder Regina Sambalido
• Boost your portfolio with alternative investments, with Superfund Financial Hong Kong Ltd.’s Joseph Wong
• Quick profits in foreclosures, with The Property Forum founder and real estate auction expert Noli Alleje
• The Rich Dad way to getting rich, with Laurus Enterprises CEO Jerome San, official partner of Rich Dad Asia in the Philippines

* subject to change

If you would like to know more about the Speakers and the process on how to register, please visit: http://iluvlearning.com/money-summit-wealth-expo/

Business is the Answer to the Crisis (“Sagot sa Krisis, Business!”) – this is the battle cry of the radio show I was listening into  every Saturday nights. The show – Radyo Negosyo – is being aired on DZMM – a local radio station here in the Philippines.

It’s a very informative show that presents topics on entrepreneurship and new business ideas. What so good about the show is that it features successful businessmen and entrepreneurs who mostly started from nothing.  The only downside is – it’s only a weekly one-hour program which is really very short for a full-packed show like this. The show airs from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM. In this 1 hour alone , you will learn a lot from their guests and resource speakers who are mostly experts on their fields.

Most of the time, they  give gifts or prizes to their weekly listeners and phone callers. If you are lucky enough, they also gives financial help  and provide assistance to their deserving listeners specially to those who has a business plan already.

Since the show have won numerous times already, it was awarded the much coveted “Hall of Fame” for winning the  “Best Business News Feature recognition from the Catholic Mass Media Awards.

The show is being anchored not less than Dr. Carl Balita, an educator, entrepreneur, an actor, producer, writer. a professional singer, nurse and a business leader rolled into one! His encouraging voice in the airwaves really inspire the Filipinos to bring out their best when it comes to setting up their own business and be optimistic about it in spite of the economic crisis.

Tune in to DZMM Radyo Negosyo every Saturday nights if you want to be inspired and wants to know the  best business for you. Who knows, you might be featured as their next “successful entrepreneur”.

View exchange rates for top currencies from over 50 countries.

We just installed our own currency or money exchange rate page here at KayaMoPinoy. This page is dedicated to all who looking for the latest exchange rate in the market and not only to our OFWs kababayan who always on the lookout for the best exchange rate of their hard-earned money.  We also display a widget version on top of our website  for the more popular currencies.  Just click on the words “More Currency Exchange Rate” to see other currencies.

Kindly note that the information is provided ‘as is’ and solely for informational purposes and not for trading purposes. Data is provided by financial exchanges and may be delayed as specified by financial exchanges.

We highly suggest that you check the currency Exchange Rate page before you run to your nearest bank or your “suking” currency exchange shop (or what we call “blackmarket”). This is to give you an advance information  if the bank or the shop is giving you the fair exchange rate.

The page is still in a beta phase. Kindly let us know if you have any suggestions or how to make the page more useful to you.

Once there was “Free Refill” then “Bottomless” was born. It became a  household name err a restaurant product specially on drinks. I’m sure you are familiar with “bottomless iced tea”  or “bottomless softdrinks”.

Those words are a thing of the past.

Here’s comes ” UNLI”.  You know the meaning of “UNLI”, don’t you?

Well for the sake of non-Filipino readers of KayaMoPinoy, “UNLI” is the short form of “Unlimited” . Thanks to the mobile or cellular phone service providers, “UNLI” has been nominated for the Word of The Year among others such as “jejemon”.

Globe, Smart, Bayantel, Sun and other providers are competing each other  to grab a bigger  piece of the market. This is the reason why they were all eager to promote this “UNLI” craze.  In the end, it’s the subscribers or end-users who is winning this war. The result is cheaper plans, bigger and better promos and hopefully a better services too!

Other businesses such as those in food industry even tried this “Unli” craze. Some of the restaurants that are using this technique are Abe Restaurant in Trinoma, Best Friends restaurant along Pureza St. cor Magsaysay Blvd. Manila and the famous Mang Inasal.

If you have a business or product that you can offer as “UNLI”, I’m absolutely sure that you will keep your customers happy. We, Filipinos, love this type of offer, don’t we?

Study, learn and apply the profitable lessons from those businesses offering this kind of scheme. Tap into the “unli” craze while it’s hot and who knows, this might be the magic word that your business is waiting for it grow exponentially!

Whether you’re expanding your business or just buying a used car, there’s a flexible Plantersbank loan suited to your needs.

Plantersbank Handy Credit – Entrepreneur Personal Loan

A non-collateral cash loan worth P100,000 to P500,000. The installment plans are flexible, ranging from 12 to 36 months. Applicants should be sole proprietors or self-employed individuals between 30 and 65 years old, with a business operating profitably for the past three years and total gross monthly sales of P50,000. Applicant must also be credit card holders for at least one year with good credit standing and with single combined credit of at least P50,000.

Plantersbank Auto Loan

This is for aspiring car owners who wish to purchase a brand new or pre-owned car up to five years old, or existing car owners who either wish to refinance an existing car loan or get a cash loan with an existing car as collateral. The minimum loan amount of P100,000 can be paid in up to five years.

Plantersbank Small Bizloan

A multi-purpose credit facility lending P500,000 up to P5 million as a revolving credit line or term loan. Approvals are given in only 10 days upon submission of requirements.

For more information, visit www.plantersbank.com.ph or the Plantersbank nearest you.