Category: Press Room

Filipinos in Japan were treated to entertainment and freebies as Cebuana Lhuillier partnered with Digitel to celebrate Tokyo Summer Festival and Araw ng Mga Pinoy.

 

Cebuana Lhuillier joined the first Tokyo Summer Festival last June 3 to 11 at the Ueno Park, Tokyo, Japan. The nine-day affair featured trade exhibits and food fairs to celebrate the Philippine Independence and Migrant Workers’ Day. Filipino celebrities such as AiAi delas Alas, Arnel Ignacio, and Ruru Madrid also performed to the delight of their Filipino fans.

During the event, Cebuana Lhuillier also took the opportunity to promote its international remittance service in Japan with its partner remittance center, Digitel Remittance.  Participants who visited the co-branded Cebuana Lhuillier and Digitel booth received branded giveaways.

Earlier this year, Cebuana Lhuillier, also partnered with Digitel Remittance to celebrate the Araw ng Mga Pinoy event organized by ABS-CBN’s music radio station, MOR 101.9 at Ikeda Park, Nagoya, Japan, where Filipino celebrities Erik Santos and Sue Ramirez entertained the crowd. Attendees who registered in the co-branded Digitel and Cebuana Lhuillier booth received giveaways.

Armenia – Twenty lucky Ka-Cebuanas from the United Arab Emirates won an all-expense paid trip to Armenia, through Cebuana Lhuillier’s latest promo, Da Best Ka Summer, together with Tag 91.1, the leading Filipino radio station in the UAE. Cebuana Lhuillier clients from the UAE who sent money to their loved ones in the Philippines during the summer months were qualified to join the promo.

 

During their 4 night, 3 day stay in Armenia, winners had a chance to visit tourist attractions such as the Mother Armenia Monument, Cafesjian Museum, Genocide Memorial, Republic Square, Underground Tavern, Mount Teghenis, Lake Sevan, Sevan Monastery, Geghard Monastery and Garni Temple. Cebuana Lhuillier representatives and Tag 91.1’s disc jockeys Chickay, Bob Kebab and DJ Blue Bird also joined the trip, as well as front liners from partner remittance centers like Al Falah Exchange, Al Fardan Exchange, Al Ghurair Exchange, and Index Exchange.

 

Through this promo, Cebuana Lhuillier aims to expand its presence and influence through its partners in the UAE, as well as to strengthen relationships with front line agents to improve the Cebuana Pera Padala transactions, in line with CLSC’s strategy and directive of its Senior Executive Vice President, Philippe Andre D. Lhuillier.

 

Led by Cebuana Lhuillier, APPRISE, an organization of local remittance companies, has been reformed. Present during the induction of officers are (from left to right) BSP Governor, Amando M. Tetangco Jr., Cebuana Lhuillier Services Corp. Senior Executive Vice President and APPRISE President Philippe Andre Lhuillier, iRemit President and COO and APPRISE Secretary Harris Jacildo,Pinoy Express Hatid Padala Services, Inc. President and APPRISE Board of Director Armando Dayrit, Peragram Inc. President and APPRISE Board of Director Spencer Chua, and APPRISE Corporate Secretary Atty. Reynaldo Geronimo.

On a rare occasion, the Philippine remittance industry recently gathered to revive and rebuild the Association of Philippine Private Remittance Service Companies, Inc. (APPRISE), an organization founded ten years ago to unite, protect, and promote the interest, welfare, and the advancement of non-bank money transfer service providers and their clientele.

The newly elected officers, led by new APPRISE President and Cebuana Lhuillier Services Corp. Senior Executive Vice President Philippe Andre Lhuillier, were introduced to the stakeholders and presented the organization’s plans and projects.

“APPRISE was established for a good cause in 2006. However, it was inactive for years due to several factors. But now that the remittance industry in the country has proven its stability and now plays an important part in our country’s economy, we felt that it is now the perfect time to revive APPRISE and re-establish its goals and vision. As one of the major remittance service providers, I believe our voices need to be heard more and be involved in government and nationwide practices, rules, and regulations—all for the advancement and protection of our interest and the clients we serve,” Lhuillier said.

Following the announcement of the organization’s reformation, APPRISE officials were acknowledged and inducted through an oath taking ceremony led by then Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) governor Amando M. Tetangco Jr. at the BSP headquarters.

Other officials of the new APPRISE include iRemit President and COO Harris Jacildo as secretary, Ouryes Corp. CEO William Martin Cu-Unjieng as treasurer, Cebuana Lhuillier President and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier, Peragram Inc. President Spencer Chua, and Pinoy Express Hatid Padala Services, Inc. President Armando Dayrit as Board of Directors, and Atty. Reynaldo Geronimo as assistant corporate secretary.

APPRISE officers hope to bring tremendous impact on the growth and improvement of the whole remittance industry in the country and eventually expand their reach to other Asian countries and be the official representative of the Philippines in organizations comprised of various Asian remittance service providers.

With BSP Supervision and Examination Sub-sector III Managing Director Restituto Cruz as guest speaker, the event was also attended by 65 other high-ranking officials and representatives from various money remittance service providers in the country such as iRemit, Ouryes Corp., Pinoy Express Hatid Padala Services, Inc., Palawan Pawnshop, Ok Remit, Expresspay, Inc., Optimum Exchange Remit Inc., Uniteller Filipino Inc., Filremit Corp., Gemini Exchange, Global Pinoy Remittance Services, AAVA-EMPC, Bloom, Filhai Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Global Access Financial Services Inc., I-Net External Support, Inc., WCT Express Remittance Services, and Transfast.

 

Opening a bank account is a wise choice, especially when you’re looking for a safe place to store your hard-earned money. However, there are certain factors to consider when it comes to choosing the right bank and the requirements that come with applying for an account. Yes, it may be easy to pull up your personal documents for the pre-requisites, but there are more factors to consider other than paperwork. Always remember that in every well-formed establishment such as banks, there are always policies that you would have to comply with when to ensure that your membership doesn’t get revoked. Here are a few things to consider when opening a bank account:

 

1. Minimum Balance Requirements

This is a lesson that most clients learn the hard way. Just when you are about to withdraw from an ATM, it turns out that your balance is zero and you can no longer do any form of transaction. These are the very signs that your account has already been closed, brought about by the fact that you were not able to maintain a minimum amount prior to your withdrawal. Minimum balance requirement refers to the amount of money that you should leave in your account, never allowing your balance to reach zero by withdrawing it all. Depending on their policies, some banks require a relatively small amount to maintain your account; if not, they will have to close it within a given amount of time.

1. Extra Fees

Choose a bank that would enable you to save more than you can spend. Some banks would take a certain amount from your account for every transaction done, like withdrawals from the ATM of other banks, transfer charges, among others. Study the interest rates as well as they will play a critical role in your savings. In such case, you will find an account that pays higher interest on your deposits and charges lower interest on your debts. Now that’s a great deal!

 

2. Branch Availability

It is much preferred to choose a bank that is commonly open during the weekends. This is an indication of its well-received patronage; hence, it has numerous branches and is open on weekends. Some even offer their services in malls, open for at least six days out of seven, and even has working hours that extend way beyond the regular banking schedule. More branches, more hours, less hassle, less travel!

 

3. Online Banking Capability

Opening an account enables you to use other banking services such as bills payments and reloads. This is usually done in the bank branches, but if you really have lesser time on your hands, then you are entitled to use technology at its best. Using your smartphone, you may now do bank transactions without personally going to the branches. Transfer money, pay your bills, and reload at the click of your touchscreen.

With the proper knowledge of banking terms and conditions, you finally decide to open an account; however, you still haven’t chosen which bank to apply for, as each has their pros and cons. Well, worry no more. If you’re a resident of Cavite or Batangas, then the Cebuana Lhuillier Rural Bank is your one-stop spot for opening your own savings account. All transactions are real time, erasing all the hassles that you may experience in other establishments. So what are you waiting for? Visit the Cebuana Lhuillier Rural Bank now – we assure a fast, easy and secure transaction.

So you were involved in an accident and you desperately want to both save and settle the damages as soon as possible. This is an understandable situation as car accidents are every motorist’s nightmare, however, one should not risk making further mistakes that may hinder your insurance company’s approval. There are various factors that may either motivate or change their minds when it comes to providing your claim, so a sound mind and proper decision making may save you hassle and money along the way. Here are just some pointers that may either make or break your claim:

Reporting the Accident on Time.

It would be wise to remember that the specified time for reporting the accident to your insurance company would be within 48 to 72 hours. This doesn’t mean that once you fail to report within the given amount of time, your claim would be rejected, however, if something else were to happen to your car during this time frame, there is a possibility that your claim would not be approved, even for the original accident.

The Details You Provide Regarding the Accident.

Make sure to only provide the necessary details. This does not mean that you should lie or falsify anything to get your claim, however, do not give your insurance company any unnecessary details that may be used against you. Think of this as your typical Miranda Law, you have the right to remain silent and anything you say may be used against you and your claim. Provide the when, where, and how of the accident, but think twice regarding the what, why, and who.

Getting Your Car Fixed Without Informing the Insurance Company.

After an accident, you find out that your car just suffered a small bend with a few minor scratches. You think that you can already handle this type of repair expense so you had it fixed and repainted as soon as possible, expecting that you may just reimburse what you had spent for the repair. Unfortunately, you never informed your insurance company regarding the accident. This is a critical mistake, as this becomes a difficult process for the insurance company to keep track of the original damage and as to which part of the repair was actually done from the accident itself. This would definitely lead them in rejecting your claim.

You finally decided to avail of car insurance. However, you would prefer one that would really look out for you in times of need. No need to worry, as here at Cebuana Lhuillier, we offer the AutoCARE Insurance, a Standard Comprehensive Car Insurance that covers Own Damage (OD), Theft, Loss and/or Damage. Excess Bodily Injury (EBI), Excess Property Damage (EPD), and Acts of God/Nature (AOG/AON). Be a hero on the road, be safe, and be insured. Visit your nearest Cebuana Lhuillier branch now – we assure a fast, easy, and secure transaction.

Employees with fixed incomes often have savings accounts to keep their hard-earned salaries safe and secure. Students create accounts to save their allowances and ready themselves for the future. Even seniors, in their age, keep accounts to track their pensions and the money they get from their children who give them monthly extras.

Wherever you are in your financial journey, you should know that opening a savings account is as important as making money. Still not sure about trusting banks with your money? Don’t worry, you’re not the only one. But having a savings account does wonders and it will save you a lot of hassle (theft, misplacement, excess spending) in the long run.

So many account types to choose from

There are “Junior Savers” accounts with no maintaining balance and accounts with really expensive maintaining balances, around P2,000 and above. Before you open up an account, choose which account type is best for you. This is an advantage to you because you won’t have to fit to any one standard: if you’re looking for an account for daily expenses, you can use the most basic savings account type with no minimum balance. If you’re looking to save up and save well, then you’re best bet is to get an account with a high maintaining balance so that you won’t be tempted to spend it all and eventually close your account.

Easy to set up

Banks make it easier now for you to set up a savings account with a small initial deposit. When you’ve chosen the bank you’d like to open an account with, go to a bank teller and express interest that you’d like to open an account. She will then ask if you want an ATM savings account or a passbook savings account. ATM savings accounts are accounts that you can withdraw money through an Automated Teller Machine (ATM). A passbook savings account, on the other hand, allows you to keep a booklet bearing transactions you’ve made. Regardless of your choice of savings account, you’ll be glad to know that the steps are easy to follow. Make sure, though, you have the necessary requirements to submit to the bank.

Allow immediate access through ATMs and mobile banking 

Banking has changed in the last twenty or so years, and one big changed we’ve all noticed is that ATMs are more abundant, and the banking industry is catching up with mobile technology. Wherever you are in the world, you can check your account via online banking to see how much you’ve spent and how much you have left. Many banks have apps available on iOS and Android-powered phones that allow you to check your account much faster.

You can earn interest 

Savings accounts in general allow you to earn interest at a yearly rate. Make sure to keep a minimum balance in your accounts, which depends on the banks. For example, you’ve opened an account a little more than a year ago and you’ve kept around P5,000 left after a recent trip abroad, and you make a monthly contribution worth P1,000, and that totals P17,000 after one year. The interest per annum (ever year) at your bank is 0.25%. If you don’t touch your savings account, you can see a slight increase in your savings. You won’t see any significant changes after one year, but go back to your account after three or five years, or even 10. Your initial investment of P5,000 and your P1,000 monthly contribution will have made a big difference later on.

Keeps a record of your balance

Keeping a mental note of how much you’ve earned this month isn’t helpful. That’s why it’s good to have a savings account to show you how much you have left in your bank. There are two easy ways to check your balance: ATM and online. When you have an ATM card, you can check your balance through an ATM. Simply punch in your PIN Code and look for “Balance Inquiry.” You’ll be able to see your balance on the screen or the machine will print a transaction report that bears your balance. On the other hand, if you have an online account, you can check your balance via PC or mobile. The bank’s system does everything for you so you won’t have to count and make mental notes.

If you’re still not sure about having a savings account, you can always talk to your friends and family about this. You can research more online, and go to the bank websites themselves and see which gives a higher interest or has a smaller deposit fee. Your financial health will do better when you have a savings account, as it does everything for you while you work. With these advantages in mind, you can safely open a savings account at your nearest bank branch.

Auto insurance is a must-have for anyone who’s willing to save money. Sudden calamities and on-the-road accidents may damage your car, giving you a huge bill when it comes to repairs and replacement parts. Even minor scratches require expensive paint jobs, thus, you are left with only two options: save money by leaving off the required paint spray or spend big just to make your car smooth and shiny again. Fortunately, having a detailed knowledge on auto insurance may enable you to save big, even after an unexpected scratch or collision. Choosing the best one that fits your budget is the key to getting your money’s worth, which is why we have listed down a few examples to help you on your journey towards saving big and protecting your car:

Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

Your car is precious in every little way, but much more valuable is your health and welfare. The PIP coverage is much like any other medical coverage, except for the fact that it covers a much wider range of expenses after an accident has occurred. It includes payment for rehabilitation, work loss, funeral costs, and even replacement services. In other countries, this is a mandatorily implemented coverage.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Okay, so you bought an insurance that would ensure you big savings in the event of a collision. What if the other party involved in the accident doesn’t have insurance? No need to worry, as this type of coverage would still protect both you and your wallet. It gives Liability (body injury and car damage) coverage for you, if the accident itself wasn’t your fault.

Comprehensive Coverage

There are times in which your car would experience damage, not from another motorist, but from the forces of nature. It’s hard enough avoiding an unforeseen collision, but much tougher fighting the relentless weather. This type of coverage helps cover the losses to your car in the event of a flood or hailstorm. Other than that, it also includes vandalism, riots, fire, animal collisions, and theft (especially when you live in an uneasy neighbourhood, this one is a must).

So, you finally decided which insurance coverage works best for you, yet, you have no idea where to apply for one. Well worry no more, as we at Cebuana Lhuillier offer AutoCARE Insurance, a Standard Comprehensive Car Insurance that covers Own Damage (OD), Theft, Loss and/or Damage. Excess Bodily Injury (EBI), Excess Property Damage (EPD), and Acts of God/Nature (AOG/AON). So what are you waiting for? Visit your nearest Cebuana Lhuillier branch now – we assure a fast, easy, and secure transaction.

In this day and age, it’s absolutely important to save money. That doesn’t mean having to open a savings account and depositing your money there. There are other ways for you to earn and save so much. You’re bound to save more cash if you practice these tips on how to save more for your home and your family.

Sign up for discount cards or rewards cards

These cards work in such a way that when you buy something from a store, you accumulate points. When you’ve gotten enough points, you can use them instead of cash when you pay for a future item. Many stores have reward cards, but it’s best for you to choose which ones you’d use regularly, like a grocery rewards card. You can sign up for a small one-time fee (usually P100) at the cashier (they usually ask you if you want one) and get your card in a matter of days. There are some reward cards that you can use in different stores from the same retail group, too.So if you frequently shop for clothes, it’s good to get a rewards card to get discounts in the future.

Write a shopping list and stick to it

Usually, when you’re out in a mall, you will have the tendency to impulse buy and thus make an unnecessary purchase. Stop wasting money by writing a list and sticking to it. When you create a list, write your budget on top of the list (ex. Budget: up to P1,500 only!) and list down the necessary things you need to buy. You can also ask members of your family what one item they want from a store so that they, especially the younger ones, can practice shopping on a budget. This is especially good when you’re out grocery shopping. Look for ingredients that fit within your weekly meal plan to avoid buying food that will just go to waste.

Clean out your closet (and sell or donate usable, unused stuff)

More often than not you tend to stock up on clothes, especially after the Christmas holidays, an end-of-season sale, or after a shopping trip overseas. Your closet is about to burst with more than a dozen of clothes you’ve forgotten to wear over the past few months. While some of them may have sentimental value, they don’t have any other use if you don’t want to wear them anymore. This is a sign that you need to clean out your closet. Get three boxes and label them as: Keep, Sell, and Donate. Theoretically, you want to keep the clothes that (still) fit you and surpass any season or style. Sell those you feel you bought on an impulse, and have worn not more than twice. Donate clothes that are still useful but won’t have much of market value. You’ll be glad to trim your closet space down to a minimum.

Stop smoking

One pack costs almost P100, and getting that money isn’t easy. Why waste that much on something that gives you illness in the end? You’ll save money if you stop smoking altogether and avoid trips to the hospital because of a respiratory illness. You’ll do much better and save more without a puff of cigarette.

Buy appliances that will last

The best way to find out if a washing machine lasts for a long time is to do some research on reviews of the brand. You want to look for home appliances that will work as long as you do. Search brand by brand until you find the right match for you. If it’s within your budget, you can go buy it immediately. You’ll save so much more in the long run.

Plan and prepare your meals ahead

The night before you go grocery shopping, sit down with your spouse, parents, or even yourself about what you all want to have for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the next seven days. This is a cost-efficient way of saving money. You can do away with wasting food, overbuying ingredients, and doing impulse buys while you’re at the grocery.

Don’t resort to retail therapy

You’re stressed after a long week of work, or your home doesn’t feel like one right now. Whatever your situation is, it’s not a good idea to withdraw your savings account and make purchases based on your current emotional state. Not only will you feel bad when you run out of cash, you’ll also feel more down when you wonder what you’re going to do with everything you just bought. There are other affordable-even free-ways to de-stress, like sleeping, meditating, reading a book, or simply walking in the park. These might not solve your problems, but they won’t add any more, unlike the so-called “retail therapy.”

Cancel subscriptions

When you can, don’t renew your subscriptions to magazines and newspapers you’ve never bothered reading in the first place. But if you want to keep some subscriptions, do it digitally—it’s cheaper and won’t add so much physical space in your home. You’ll save a good amount of money if you stop spending for those kinds of literature.

Do regular scheduled maintenance for your car and appliances

A semi-annual aircon cleanup, for example, keeps your air con healthy throughout the rest of the year. Checking your car’s wheels, engine, and other internal parts can give you an idea if you need to replace something without spending so much later on. All appliances, for them to run smoothly, need to be checked regularly to avoid higher electric bills and replacement costs.

Buy staples in bulk

When you use items regularly, such as powder detergent, toilet paper, and cooking oil, it’s best to buy them in bulk so that you don’t have to keep buying them each time in the grocery. This will reduce costs and in the long run can save you a good amount of cash.

When you use any or all these ways to save money, you’ll be able to appreciate your creativity in how you can find even more ways to make money and save it. While having a savings account can help you keep cash, it’s also good to complement that with everyday actions that contribute to your healthy financial journey.

Managing your expenses doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, it should make you a more financially responsible person, not someone who just wants to keep the money to themselves. Spending for what you need and what you like means that you know how to budget your income and you are mindful about avoiding debt towards banks and other individuals. If you don’t know where to start on managing your expenses, here are a few ways that can help you.

Borrow the Small Stuff

More often than not we tend to buy things that we can just rent or borrow from someone else. For example, if want to watch a movie you missed at the theaters, you can simply ask your friend if they can lend you their copy over the weekend. Tell them you’ll return it clean and with a full tank of gas. Or, if you need some tools for a weeklong home improvement project, borrow from your next door neighbor.

Borrowing items isn’t always the best solution for everything though, especially if you regularly use tools and equipment. This is when you’ll need to buy your own set of tools when you need them in the long term. This cuts renting costs to a degree, and you can avoid getting into a neighborhood quarrel with your friend across the street.

Treat your credit card like cash.

Credit card is basically cash you’ll pay at the end of each month. Credit cards have limits, so it’s not true that you can pay credit with your heart’s content. It’s not free, and you won’t avoid debt if you forget to pay each month. When you don’t pay your credit card bill, you’ll be penalized with interest on your next bill, and you could get a low credit score.

That’s why it’s important to use your credit card like a wallet: money is going to run out, and you’ll have to pay eventually.

So how do you use your credit card? One way to prevent overspending is to use it only as a last resort. You can use it when you’re low on cash and you’ve bought so many groceries for a party this weekend, or when you treat your family out and the food bill is much higher than expected. Don’t use your credit card to pay your internet bill or telephone bill: you’ll be in a spiral of debt for sure. For everything else, use cash.

Track your expenses with mobile apps.

Technology today solves many of our everyday problems. If one of your problems is keeping track of your expenses, well… there’s an app for that! There are many apps actually, and many of them are available for free on iOS and Android phones.

If you want a simple expense tracker, download Mint, a free expense tracker app available on iOS and Android. The app helps users create budgets for different categories and notifies them if they’ve used up their money.

If you prefer something more sophisticated, complete with monthly reports and the ability to sync on different devices, download GoodBudget, another free app available on both mobile operating systems (get the pro version at $45/year). This app helps you set a budget and spend from that category. You can ask for reports at the end of the month.

Spend what you have, but don’t spend it all.

Create a budget plan with your actual expenses: Rent, Utilities, Groceries, Medicine, etc. These need to have concrete budgets as opposed to your leisurely spending budget. For example, you earn P25,000 a month. You live in a studio apartment, you pay for your own utilities, groceries, and medicine. Your monthly rent is P5,000, and your electricity bill see-saws between P350-500 monthly. You use prepaid credit for your phone, and you usually spend P500 a month for load. Since you have chronic skin allergies, you need to spend P1,000 a month on your medicines, and you allot P4,000 a month for your groceries.

To total that up, you need to set aside P11,000 every month for your monthly rent and bills. That means you have P14,000 left to spend on whatever you want.

While that’s a dream come true, you shouldn’t spend it all. According to seasoned savers and investors, it’s best to save at least 30% of what you are left with every month. That means you should save at least P4,200 monthly, for this example.

Still though, even with you saving 30%, that doesn’t mean you should spend the remaining P9,800 for yourself. While you can always gift yourself once a month with a new gadget or an evening in a spa, don’t think that your cash flows smoothly. It’s always a good idea to set a fund aside for rainy days.

Create an emergency fund

Gist: Should fund your necessities for at least 6 months.

Categorize your expenses.

Honestly, spending for yourself and others isn’t a bad thing. That’s your money; you earned it! The problem is that you might be overspending on makeup or shoes, and you’re not saving for your big wedding.

To avoid spending on something and losing capital on something more important, create categories in your budget. Here’s a simple example:

Necessities – As mentioned in the previous section, allot at the most half of your earnings towards rent and bills.

Savings – When you’ve subtracted your fixed costs from your overall income, save up to 15% from your remaining cash. As much as possible, don’t touch this unless needed be. You can use part of this category for a rainy day like an accident.

“Big Plans” – This can be for big events like a wedding, your child’s college tuition, or a new car. This is something you shouldn’t spend in less than five years. From your monthly remaining cash, save up to 15%.

Rewards – Because you’ve earned it, you can spend the remaining money for whatever your heart desires.

Categorizing your expenses will help you create your road towards financial freedom because you know where you will put your money and how much you have left. Do this at start of each month to be able to track your expenses early on.

It really isn’t difficult to manage your expenses, and it can be a fun way of keeping track of how much you’re getting every month. When you look back on how you used to treat your money and budget before, you’ll be glad that you’ve done one or two of these tips to get you more financially responsible.

Starting your own business is no joke. Aside from time, you would also have to invest money in order to run your business. This money in question is what we call “capital”, or the initial amount spent in forming the basic foundation of your business. Think of it as the amount that you may need in setting up your own burger stand, as you would need to purchase the buns, patties, condiments, and the fryer itself just to make a few sales within the day. When you have no money to start your business though, you would turn to loaning establishments, just to be provided with the main capital. And in doing so, there are various types of loans to choose from, depending on your business needs. With this, we had enumerated three types of business loans with their key features to help you decide which one to choose in setting up your business:

Term Loans

One of the most basic types of loans, this one enables you to borrow money for a certain period of time (between one to ten years, even 30 years in some cases) before paying it back, with added interests. This is like borrowing money from a friend, and then paying it back at a promised date, the only difference is, your friend wouldn’t ask you for an interest. This is applicable for start-ups, as it enables you to pay after a long period of time, as long as it is within the agreed term. Takes note that before you may file for a loan, your credit score will come into play.

A credit score is somewhat similar to an approval rating, if you happen to pay your fees on time, you have a much higher chance of being allowed to borrow money, and vice versa.. This type of loan is usually offered by banks, thus providing you numerous options when it comes to preferred branches and varying policies.

Short-Term Loans

This is similar to term loans; however, you are only allowed a short amount of time (usually 12 months) for you to pay it off. Of course, a shorter time would mean lesser amount of money to be allowed for the loan. Also take note of collaterals, as once you fail to pay back at the agreed period of time, the loaning establishment would take something in return, usually coming in the form of properties, such as cars or houses. Collaterals are basically your personal possessions, those of which you would have to write down as things that may be taken away from you once you fail to pay back the loan. Just like Term Loans, this is offered in banks, again providing you numerous options when it comes to preferred branches and varying policies.

Equipment Loans

Also known as equipment financing, this type of loan provides you with the capital to purchase needed equipment or machines for your business. If you’re setting up a tailoring business, then weaving machines are the best examples of this. This one is also advantageous from the other types of loans, owing to the fact that once you fail to pay off the required amount at the agreed period of time, the equipment would act as the collateral, instead of your personal belongings, a much better option when your properties have their own sense of sentimental value.

After learning of these various types of loans, you are still doubtful of which one would best work for you and your business. Well worry no more, as we at Cebuana Lhuillier offer Lucky Loans, a multi-purpose loan offered to SMEs such as restaurant and mini groceries, among other businesses. So what are you waiting for? Visit your nearest Cebuana Lhuillier branch now – we assure a fast, easy, and secure transaction.

When you think about credit cards, you might feel a bit overwhelmed with all the opportunities you’re now open to because of that one piece of plastic. On one hand, it does provide you a lifestyle upgrade and you can get whatever you need or want. On the other hand though, misusing the power of a credit card can land you in debt and financial insecurity.

Before you get a credit card, you have to know why, how, and what a credit card can do for you, and how you can avoid drowning in debt. Here are three questions to ask so you can be a responsible credit card owner.

Q1: Why should I get a credit card?

A credit card is a convenient piece of plastic that allows you to get items now and pay for them later. If you want to get a brand new smartphone that costs P35,000, for example, you can simply swipe your credit card and start using the phone right away.

Credit cards also help you in dire situations when cash isn’t enough. When your son gets injured during basketball practice and you have to take him to the ER, you can pay for hospital services using a credit card.

If you travel frequently, it’s important that you have a credit card since many retail establishments and hotels abroad require you to pay through credit card. Without your credit card, you can’t reserve for your accommodations.

Q2: How do I get the best credit card deal?

There are several factors to evaluate when you want to get a credit card, and some offers are better than others. When you want to apply for a credit card, think of the following:

• nnual Fees: Most credit card issuers require you to pay an annual fee, which can range between P1,000-P2,000. There are a few issuers that don’t have annual fees, but they have small credit limits and are usually for those just starting how to use credit cards.
• Customer Service: This is often the make-or-break factor since individuals with credit card issues want to talk to an ‘expert’ about credit cards and not someone hired to say a few lines from a script. Most banks have toll-free numbers that you can call anywhere in the world.
• Credit Card Benefits: Credit cards often partner up with retail brands, airline companies and other establishments for their rewards program. For example, certain credit cards allow you to convert your credit card points to airline points so you can travel for less (or free!). Another way these rewards programs can work is when you purchase items that cost a certain amount in a single receipt, you can get freebies or discounts with partner establishments. The rewards program should be something that fits your lifestyle.

Q3: How can I use a credit card responsibly?

Owning a credit card can be handy in tricky situations, and there are many rewards one can have when they use cards for a purchase. It’s a tool for cashless transactions like in most online purchases, and monitoring your expenses in an organized manner. However, these perks come with responsibilities.

Let’s say you want to buy a brand new laptop that costs P42,000. You pay through credit, and you get a 15% discount because you used a credit card partner. Once you pay for your dream laptop, you calculate how many months it will take you to pay it off. You think it will take you six months to do so.

Because you can’t pay the required amount in full by the next cut-off, you’ll have to pay what you can plus an interest rate every month until you’ve fully paid for the laptop.

• Avoid splurging. It may sound like what our parents would say, but many credit card users do have a difficult time paying for their impulse buys by the time the bills come in. A credit card is basically borrowed money that you have to return at the agreed time.
• Pay what’s due. You’ll find in every bank statement that you’ll need to pay a minimum amount. No matter how enticing it is to pay the minimum amount, don’t. Pay what you owe the bank and avoid swimming in debt. Even if you pay half of your bill, you’ll be charged interest, which can add on each time you don’t pay the entire amount.
• Review your billing statement carefully. Before paying your bill, double check your purchases if they are indeed correct. Some individuals would scan their receipts and put them in a folder on their computer. They check the bill vis-a-vis the receipts if they are accounted for. If it’s all correct, go ahead and pay. If there is a discrepancy, immediately call your bank and let them investigate the matter.

Knowing what a credit card can do for you, as well as its limits, can lead you to be more financially secure and successful. If you already have a credit card, but you don’t exactly know how to use it, use this guide to find out how you can responsibly use your credit card when you’re ready to make a purchase. Being financially successful starts with asking questions about why you should use such materials, and how to spend responsibly.

Car purchases are a result of hard-earned money, which is why we would go to great lengths just to protect them from any type of damage. Considering that you had spent big in buying the car alone, it is understandable that you wouldn’t want to spend more after that, doing everything to save money right after. But sometimes, things don’t go according to plan and you end up with an unfortunate situation, such as an on-road accident. You may be okay after the collision, but the car isn’t. The bigger the damage, the bigger the restoration expenses. With this, it would be very wise to invest on car insurance, as it would cover most, if not all of the expenses. You may ask, which insurance would best work for me and my car? The simple answer, it would depend on your needs and allotted budget. Here are just a few of the common ones to choose from:

Collision Insurance

Accidents occur when one vehicle unexpectedly collides with another, so this is one of the most obvious choices. Basically, this coverage pays the amount that your car was worth before the accident. To clarify, it would not provide the price of the car when you first bought it (brand new), rather the amount right after you had purchased and used the car, say for a few months (think of it as a second-hand car amount). This is applicable for a fairly new car (a few months to more than a year), but not for old ones as you would be better off saving for a new car rather than getting low insurance return for an old one.

No-Fault Insurance

Road accidents are a confusing topic for some authorities to handle. Who or what was the cause of the accident? Who should you blame? Did you commit the wrong decision at the wheel? This one covers injuries and property damage, no matter who is ultimately responsible for a given accident. This is applicable if you would want to avoid arguments and would just like to settle the damages in a quick and hassle-free manner.

Gap Insurance

So you already own a car, but still haven’t finished paying for it monthly. All of a sudden, you were involved in an accident, thus, doubling your expenses (both the remaining unpaid amount and the liability charges). This would be a great choice since many insurance policies will only cover the value of the car, rather than the cost to replace it. Usually, car sellers who offer their vehicles for monthly payments include this type of insurance in the package, much to the convenience of their buyers.

So, you finally decided which insurance coverage works best for you, yet, you have no idea where to apply for one. Well worry no more, as we at Cebuana Lhuillier offer AutoCARE Insurance, a Standard Comprehensive Car Insurance that covers Own Damage (OD), Theft, Loss and/or Damage. Excess Bodily Injury (EBI), Excess Property Damage (EPD), and Acts of God/Nature (AOG/AON). So what are you waiting for? Visit your nearest Cebuana Lhuillier branch now – we assure of a fast, easy, and secure transaction.

You want to start your own business, however, you would also like to avoid borrowing your initial fund from banks and other loaning establishments (either due to strict policies or requirements). After all, collaterals and interest rates are a risky part of every start up business ventures. No need to worry;  we listed down a few alternative ways to fund your own venture, may it be a small scale business or a large scale manufacturing unit. These may seem unusual at first, but take note that they are proven and tested to have been the providers of some of today’s successful business structures:

Angel Investors

They are usually a group of people or organizations who are always on the lookout for new and bright, business ideas. They would invest on your business, given that once it becomes successful; they receive a share of your profits. One such company that was funded by angel investors was Google, who started out from scratch and is now a multinational company with a net worth amounting hundreds of billions. Take note that angel investors and any related transactions must be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Venture Capitalists

They are very similar to angel investors, requiring a share of your profits once your business becomes a huge success, however, there is a notable difference that you should watch out for as well. Unlike angel investors (who would step aside once you are given the start-up amount), Venture Capitalists would prefer to have some control in how the company is handled, as they are looking to ensure profit on their investments as well. This would be most applicable if you wouldn’t mind having an extra hand or consultant in your business.

Crowdfunding

The advent of technology enabled everyone’s voices to be heard. We have social media that enabled us to speak out our minds, and in turn, receive reaction on those thoughts, may they be positive or negative. Crowdfunding websites have also been on the rise. These are websites for people who wish to showcase their business ideas, and in turn receive financial backing from around the world to start up those ideas into an actual venture.

Credit Card Stacking

Also known as “unsecured business credit lines,” this method allows you to use different credit cards which has a total credit limit that matches the amount of financing that you would need for your business. It may seem like a fairly inexpensive way of gaining your capital, however, there is a reason why this method is also deemed “unsecured.” With the negativities tied to credit cards, some lenders would allow you to do this for free. Take strong caution in undergoing this procedure to avoid any possible debt problems in the future.

Inventory Financing

This method is perfect for those who are looking to try out the retail business. The lender would provide you with funds so you may purchase items which would be sold at your business, much like groceries or the local second-hand clothe stalls famously known as “ukay-ukay.” Take note that this method strictly entitles the lender to only provide funds for a retail type of business, other options of entrepreneurial ventures are out of the question.

Friends and Family Loans

When all else fails and you are already out of options, one way to obtain money for starting your business would be to borrow from your family and friends. Unlike banks and other funding organizations, they would be more forgiving when it comes to deadlines. Of course, never forget to pay your interest (and on time) as to not rock any family relationship or friendship over money. This would also avoid any unlikely sense of gratitude that may occur once your business becomes a success.

With all of those unique ways in mind, you are motivated to push through with your business plan and finally decide to venture out. However, you are still looking for a much convenient and hassle-free procedure to acquire your initial capital. Well worry no more, as we at Cebuana Lhuillier offer Lucky Loans, a multi-purpose loan offered to SMEs such as restaurant and mini groceries, among other businesses.   So what are you waiting for? Visit your nearest Cebuana Lhuillier branch now – we assure a fast, easy, and secure transaction.

Car owners are encouraged to get insurance for their vehicles so that, in an unlikely event such as an accident or theft, the insurance company will cover most,  if not all, of the expenses that the owner would otherwise have to pay himself. This saves car owners money, time, and energy.

Picture this scenario: You are in a three-car collision in a major highway. Your car got sandwiched in the middle of two other cars, so your bumper and trunk are badly damaged. Luckily, no one is injured. All drivers step out of their cars. Your driver takes photos in his smartphone while another driver calls the police to investigate what happened.

It seems that while in traffic, the car behind you didn’t brake in time, and crashed into you, while your car crashed into the car in front of you. It was a domino effect.

The first thing that drivers and passengers need to do is to stay calm at all times. No one wants any more accidents occurring after this event. If you’re the owner of the car, immediately call your insurance company and calmly tell them what happened. Provide them the time and location of the accident, as well as the other parties involved.

You’ll be brought to the nearest police station so that all parties can file a police report affidavit, which details who is at fault and how the cars were damaged. The process can take a while, but after a few hours of talking to the police and the other car owners who were in their respective vehicles, you all make deals to let your insurance companies settle this.

You again call your car insurance company and ask them how to claim your insurance. Over the phone, your account manager will tell you to submit the following:

• Copy of the Policy and Official Receipt of Premium Payment—This is proof that you paid for your policy so that you can claim your insurance.
• Police Report Affidavit—Details of how your car was damaged and who was primarily at fault.
• Photos—Print out or show through your smartphone the photos of the situation, the damaged parts of your car, and the cars and faces of other parties involved. Make sure that all license plates are visible in your photos.
• Photocopies of your driver’s license, receipt of your driver’s license, vehicle registration, and the official receipt of your vehicle registration. These should be within your person or at least inside the car at all times.
• Insurance claim form from the insurer—this is a legal written declaration of the accident. Many insurance companies have general forms for this.
• Repair estimate—the cost of damages covered by a comprehensive car insurance

Claiming your car insurance varies from company to company, but many processes are almost always the same. Remember to always to document the accident or any event, and be prepared with the necessary documents to ensure that unnecessary expenses are covered.

Pawnshops are places where you can loan cash in exchange for your jewelry. Sometimes, a person can’t get back their pawned jewelry because they can’t pay what they owe. These pieces will be sold to people who want to buy gold rings or necklaces at more affordable prices.

If you don’t have an issue of buying used jewelry, you can readily buy them at any pawnshop at your convenience.

WHAT CAN YOU FIND IN A PAWNSHOP?

If you’re looking to find some jewelry for yourself, but without spending so much cash, consider going to a pawnshop.

You’ll definitely find an array of vintage jewelry and hard-to-find pieces, often bequeathed to parent to child. There are jewelries bought from different countries, such as the Middle East, which travelers pawn or sell to pawnshops in exchange for cash.

Most pawnshops, if not all, only accept gold jewelry, but others can also accept silver, platinum, and other precious metals. These should be in good condition: no damage, no chipped stones, no missing pieces. They assess the price according to the weight and size, if it’s in mint condition or if it has damages.

But how do you know if the pawnshop you’re dealing with is legitimate and trustworthy? Here are five tips to ensure that you get the best price for the jewelry you’ve chosen.

TIP 1: Shop Around and Negotiate

The value of gold jewelry varies from pawnshop to pawnshop, so feel free to go around and see how much you can get for your ring. Of course, take note that because these pieces are more often than not one-of-a-kind, you might not find the same ring you’ll see in one pawnshop. Unless you trust the pawnshop due to your previous transactions, don’t settle with one. Until you find your dream ring, keep searching.

You can also talk to friends who have experienced buying from a pawnshop, or look around the internet for testimonials for the pawnshops you’d like to talk to. Take note of the positive and negative reviews on Facebook Pages, if they have, or check forums where people tell their stories about buying pawned items.

If you have a friend with a jeweler’s eye, bring them along, too. You’ll need all the help you can get to avoid getting a bad deal.

TIP 2: Test the Jewelry

When you’ve found the ring of your choice, ask the pawn broker to apply an acid solution to determine if your gold is indeed pure or if it has impurities (stainless steel may be sold as white gold if you’re not careful).

You can also see if the precious stone on the ring is authentic or a synthetic duplicate. For example, if you’re looking at a ruby-encrusted ring, you can check its brightness. It should look like a red-colored traffic light. If it’s much darker, it could be garnet. If it isn’t bright, it could be fake.

The best way to test the authenticity of precious stones is by scratching it with your fingernail or a coin. If you can scratch it, then it’s fake. Only diamonds can scratch a real ruby, emerald, or sapphire.

TIP 3: Check the Price

Upon testing the authenticity of your jewelry, check the price. Usually, there are price tags accompanying the jewelry pieces, but if they don’t, better be careful. They could raise the price, especially if you tell them what your budget is.

TIP 4: Read the Fine Print

Some pawnshops require you to sign a legal document, saying that what you’ve bought is authentic and that there is no return or refund policy. Read the policies carefully before making a commitment and spending your money. This document is to protect both you and the pawnshop from any unlikely event.

Buying jewelry from a pawnshop is always an adventure, so be sure to prepare in advance. Always do your research before going into pawnshops, and always choose to negotiate with notable ones, like Cebuana Lhuillier.

No matter how excited you are, it’s always good to have a skeptic mind before finally choosing your jewelry of choice. Be sure to have your jewelry scaled, tested, and appraised. You need to do this because you want value for your money.

With these in mind, the next time you want to add a unique piece of jewelry to your collection, you can buy from a pawnshop with ease and confidence.

Ka-Cebuana! Come and celebrate our 30th year with us with our grandest concert series yet FOR FREE!

HOW DO I GET MY FREE TICKET?

1.  Pawning (for new clients and renewal)
2.  Happy Loan application
3.  Gadget Loan application
4.  Domestic remittance
5.  Purchase ACP GoldClients can now avail as many tickets as they want.

WHERE CAN I GET MY FREE TICKETS?

Click HERE to see the list of participating Cebuana Lhuillier branches (select branches).

HOW DO I QUALIFY?

1. All new pawning and renewal clients will receive a free ticket. Minimum principal amount is at least P4,000.
2. Special privileges will be given to clients with the following principal amounts:

• 50,000 – 99,999 – 2 VIP/Patron tickets or 4 Lower box / ringside tickets
• 100,000 above – 4 VIP/Patron tickets or 8 Lower box / ringside tickets

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I HAVE APPLIED FOR A HAPPY LOAN. HOW DO I QUALIFY?

Each successful Happy Loan entitled to 1 VIP/Patron ticket or multiple lower box, ringside, upper box, gen ad tickets.
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I HAVE APPLIED FOR A GADGET LOAN. HOW DO I QUALIFY?

Each successful Gadget Loan is entitled to 1 free ticket depending on the amount of the acceptance rate.
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I AM BASED IN THE PHILIPPINES AND I SEND MONEY TO MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN THE COUNTRY. HOW DO I QUALIFY?

1. All Cebuana Lhuillier domestic remittance clients in participating branches are qualified to join the promo.
2. Clients may avail of 1 Gen Ad ticket for 1 sending transaction worth at least P3,000.
3. Each who wants to avail of ringside, lower box or upper box tickets must do multiple sending transactions worth at least P3,000 during the promo duration.
4. Clients must show the Pera Padala forms to branch personnel to avail of the ticket. Forms must indicate the same sender.

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HOW MANY ACP GOLD CERTIFICATES DO I NEED TO BUY IN ORDER TO QUALIFY?

Clients must buy multiple ACP Gold policies to avail of 1 free ticket.
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Join us for our biggest and grandest showcase yet! Learn about it on May 1!

Having a car insurance in the Philippines, while it helps minimize damage costs in the event of an accident, can be a pain to renew every year or so. The influx of vehicles coming in the country and with many people able to buy a car nowadays, it looks like insurance companies won’t lower their policy costs anytime soon.

But you, the responsible car owner, can avoid having to pay so much for premiums and heavy renewal costs. Here are some tips to cut insurance costs for you and your family.

1. Take a defensive driving course—Taking a defensive driving course can help you prevent an accident and incur higher premiums in your next insurance renewal. With a defensive driving course, you are able to save your own life and the lives of others, as well as your time, energy, and money on the road.

2. Look for better insurance policies—if you’re not happy with your current car insurance, you can always shop around for policies with better or more significant coverage for your cars. You can do this every few years, just so you get your money’s worth from a lower rate compared to your current car insurance. However, it’s always best to select based on research of other people’s experience with an insurance company.

3. Choose a car wisely—If you can afford a luxury vehicle, you should be able to afford the insurance price tag that comes along with it. In the same light, choose A car that’s fit for your needs, budget, and lifestyle.

4. Drop unnecessary coverage—When you’re looking for a better insurance policy, you might want to check what they’re offering. Are you paying for what you only need, or are you paying so much for coverage you might not need at all? For example, if you live in an in an area that doesn’t flood and familiar with zones that do flood during the rainy season, do you really need “acts of God” coverage? Think well.

These tips can help you choose and maximize your car insurance and minimize spending while you’re on the road.

A smart way to keep your finances in check is to choose the right bank for your savings account. While all banks have great benefits for their clients, it is up to you to see which bank can give you the best service for your needs. Those are up to you, but this list can help you zero in on the perfect bank for your needs.

Goal for Your Savings Account: What exactly do you want to achieve when you open a savings account? Your goal will affect your choices for your savings account.

Think very well. Are you saving up for a car, for further studies, or for a vacation of a lifetime? Will this be one of your many active savings accounts? When you find out what you want for your savings account, you might have an easier time focusing on a bank that can help you maximize your money.

Type of Savings Account: Generally, there are two kinds of savings accounts: an ATM (Automatic Teller Machine) account and a Passbook savings account. An ATM account allows you to withdraw money with a card through an ATM. A passbook savings account, on the other hand, comes with a booklet that records your bank transactions.

The ATM savings account has more flexibility than a passbook account, but the latter is better for those who prefer traditional banking than having an ATM card with them. ATM accounts are best if you’re just starting out in your financial journey and you don’t have enough money for a high maintaining balance, because to maintain a passbook account, you need to have a maintaining balance of P10,000.

Initial Deposit: To open a savings account, you need to give your initial deposit. Again, it depends from bank to bank, and from savings account to savings account. Some banks require you to give an initial deposit of P100 in order to open a basic savings account. When you’re more financially stable, you can open a bigger savings account with an additional deposit of P500.

Interest Rates: In the Philippines, banks have interest rates for savings account holders. Interest rates do vary from bank to bank; some banks give higher interest rates than others. As most experienced investors would say, the higher the interest rate, the better.

Even if your money is safe in your account, the interest rate enables your money to grow. Depending on your bank and savings account type, you’re required to have a certain amount to earn interest. It’s best to call up the bank or banks you prefer to know how much your savings invest every year, and how much the interest rates are.

Maintaining Balance: There are reasons why some savings accounts have maintaining balance, while others don’t. Some account types have minimal maintaining balance, around P500, and it’s good for people who regularly withdraw money. If you don’t maintain your balance within 30 days, your savings account may close and you cannot withdraw the remaining money in that account.

Access to Bank: There are many banks today that have 24/7 ATM services all across Metro Manila and major cities across the country, so it shouldn’t be so hard for you to check your balance through an ATM. Many commercial banks now offer mobile and internet banking, so if you’re in Hong Kong and you want to know if your client has given your commission for a piece of work you’ve done for them, you can check any time of the day.

Passbook account holders cannot use an ATM, unless they also have an ATM card, but they can check their account through the internet as well.

ATM Transaction Fees: As much as possible, transact with your bank. When you use another ATM for your card (ex. You have one ATM card that you’re using through another bank’s ATM), you could get a minimum charge for using that machine. Some ATMs charge cards from the same bank service charge, while some don’t. It also depends on the type of ATM savings account you have, and what kind of transaction you do.

Customer Service: Some banks excel in serving their clients both online and in the branch. You’ll notice that they use social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter to talk to you and tend to your needs. If you’re looking for fast lines and compassionate tellers, make sure you try out two to three banks before finally choosing one you want to trust your savings with.

To be financially healthy means you have to make the right choices so that you won’t add any more expenses. Your banking experience should be easy and fruitful. When you choose the right bank for your savings account, you’ll have more peace of mind.

A personal loan is money borrowed from an individual or a financial organization. People who apply for loans usually use them to pay for trips abroad, move from one place to another, or apply for a short course.

When you apply for a personal loan, you need to stop thinking that it’s difficult to get one. If you’re still unsure, you can read up on articles on the internet that can guide you throughout the loan acquisition process. Sites like Investopedia, The Balance, and Wall Street Journal can help you at different stages of your financial life. These sites also provide the basics on getting a personal loan, which are general and applicable in any location.

After reading different articles, and you’ve finally decided to get a personal loan, you now have to prepare several forms. Lending organizations need these documents and forms to verify your identity and your financial standing.

Most banks have an age requirement and minimum annual salary. At most, you must be 21 years of age and not older than 65 at the time of enrolling. Your minimum annual basic salary should be PhP180,000, or a basic monthly salary of PhP15,000.

In whatever way you get your loan, you will need the following documents:

• Government-issued photo-bearing ID (Passport, Driver’s License, SSS, PRC, etc.)
• Original pay slip and/or Latest Income Tax Return with BIR or Bank stamp (BIR Form 2316)

If you’re self-employed, you may still get a personal loan. All you have to do is submit 2 government IDs.

Other banks or money-lending institutions will want more documents to verify your identity and your financial stability. These may include:

• Your birth certificate
• Utility bills—phone, water, or electric bills that state your name and address
• Credit card and loan statements from your current loan accounts

You’ll also need to fill up a personal loan application form and submit that along with the rest of your requirements.

These requirements are important for you to get a loan. Collaboration is key. Talk to your HR Department to get your ITR Form and copies of your pay slip.

If you’re self-employed, you can call up BIR and ask for your latest ITR. Acquire the needed IDs and update your personal profile if needed. Talk to the lending organization what other documents you need to submit to further organize all your requirements.

It’s important that you organize your requirements to avoid wasting time and energy to get a personal loan. Create a good relationship with your preferred lending organization so that it could be possible for you to have a faster time in getting your loan.

Make sure you are tenured in your job, or that your self-employment has stable commissions. Finally, whether or not you’re making loans in the future, make several copies of the requirements you’ve collected to ensure you don’t have to go through another process of getting them again.

The road to financial freedom can be difficult to follow through, but once you have a system of budgeting your income, you’ll achieve prosperity that will last even beyond this year. All you have to do is prepare categories for saving and spending your money.

Creating a system is often the solution when you have a hard time organizing your finances. And it doesn’t have to be complicated at all. Think of it as having several jars that serve different purposes, but instead you can have a cash box, a few savings accounts, a checking account, and one jar or two for emergency cash. However you want to do it, your goal for each “fund” should be to manage them carefully so that you don’t need to live from paycheck to paycheck.

How do you manage your finances? Here are a few suggestions.

 Everyday money fund: This covers your daily expenses and monthly utilities. Think of rent, groceries, utilities, travel allowance, and other necessary expenses to get you through the day. Ideally, around 40-55% of what you earn should go here.

 Golden Goose fund: Never spend anything in your “Golden Goose.” This is for your investments and passive income. Never spend what you put, just the investments. Here, put in 10-15% of what you earn.

 Long-term fund: This fund is reserved for big-ticket purchases, like your dream home. If you have children or expecting, you’d definitely want to bring them to the best schools out there. This is where your long-term savings come in. Your long-term goals should go beyond five years, and within that time frame, you cannot spend any money you put in here. Put in 10-15% of what you earn.

 Recreational fund: Rewarding yourself is key to being consistent with this practice. You most likely have a hobby like collecting shoes or action figures. Maybe as a family, you eat in a fine-dining restaurant once a month or even go on mini vacations. Whatever you want to do every month, you can use what you saved here and enjoy the bite-sized fruits of your labor. Put in 15% of what you earn.

 Emergency fund: Whether you like it or not, having emergency cash will come in handy when you or someone in your family has rainy days. Whatever the situation is, you will need to set aside some funds just in case. The rule of thumb here is that it needs to sustain your day-to-day expenses for approximately 6 months. Put in at least 10% of what you earn. Once this fund is fulfilled, feel free to add on the extra 10% where you wish it’s most needed next.

Financial preparation boils down to knowing where to put your money and how you spend it. With this these practices, you’ll never be broke again!

Does it sound strange that you need to get two insurance products for your vehicle? Aren’t they all the same? Think about it. The government is mandated provides its own public insurance policies—Social Security System (SSS) for private employees and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for government employees.

For some citizens, they still enroll in insurance products given by private companies. With two insurance policies, their lives and health are secure.

It’s the same for your vehicle. While you can apply for a comprehensive car insurance, you are required to apply for the Compulsory Third Party Liability insurance, or CTPL. Many experienced car owners are familiar with the CTPL, but for the new car buyer, what can you expect with this mandatory insurance policy?

Compulsory Third Party Liability (CTPL) is also known as compulsory motor vehicle liability insurance. It protects the owner of the vehicle from financial obligations to anyone who is injured or killed by the insured vehicle. Owners of cars and motorcycles are required to get this coverage before they register their vehicle to the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

Before you get a CTPL, you need to know the fundamentals of this insurance. This includes a couple of misconceptions.

One misconception is that the CTPL covers the driver of the insured vehicle. The CTPL only covers third parties, and that does not include the driver. Third parties mean anyone aside from a passenger who is not a member of the insured’s family or employee.

A CTPL is different from a comprehensive car insurance, and some owners think that this can substitute what a car insurance offers. A comprehensive car insurance offers more coverage than a CTPL, and covers the following: loss and/or damage of vehicle, excess bodily injury, property damage, no-fault indemnity cover, and auto passenger personal accident.

With this said, you can get a CTPL insurance from any licensed nonlife insurance provider. CTPL insurance rates from different providers do not differ so much from one another.

The CTPL insurance isn’t that expensive, compared to the problems you might face on the road. If you plan to get a one-year coverage, you’ll need to pay PhP560.00 for private cars and PhP250.00 for motorcycles. If you opt for a three-year coverage, private cars can pay PhP1,610.00 and motorcycles PhP720.00.

The CTPL only covers injury or death of a third party. It does not cover the damages of the insured vehicle and the driver, or any damages to the property of the third party.

With the CTPL, the insurance company agrees to pay for a third party’s hospitalization, bodily injury, or death in a vehicle-related accident. They, however, do not pay for loss or damage of property.

Even with the CTPL policy, you still have to be a responsible motorist. Keep calm and make sure to read the fine print. In the event of an accident, call the police for an investigation, or settle matters with the parties affected. Make sure you have photos taken during the accident (but you don’t need to post it on social media).

Remember: Driving on the road without CTPL is considered unlawful in the country, so you are required to get one when you get a new car.

In the end, the CTPL complements your existing comprehensive car insurance that it protects other people inculcating massive expenses over a car accident. It pays to spend a little more to protect yourself, your vehicle, and other people. With two car insurance policies in your glove compartment, you should always remember to be more responsible on the road.

Many small to medium businesses are growing in the Philippines. Perhaps you will join the ranks one day as one of the country’s innovative businessmen. If you’re thinking about building a business, you will wonder where you’ll get the money.

There are two ways. One is through loans, and one is through investment. When you loan money from an individual or an organization, you’ll usually pay them with interest after a period of time. Even if you are borrowing from a family member, it’s always best practice to still pay interest when borrowing money. When you get money through an investor, you’ll usually need to give up a certain amount of equity of your business in order to get the funding you need.

Depending on your business, you’ll have to choose wisely on how you’ll get money to start. If you do choose to get a business loan, you can choose from different sources like banks or credit unions. They will have their own set of requirements, but in general, the following documents should be sufficient to submit to acquire your business loan.

1. DTI permit for single proprietorship and SEC registration for corporation type of business
2. Completely filled up application form
3. Government IDs
4. Business Permit
5. Photocopy of Income Tax Return
6. Photocopy of Audited Financial Statement
7. Bank Statements

All of these are needed for big sums of money, but if you only need smaller amounts, there’s another solution.
You can also avail of a business loan from Cebuana Lhuillier. You’ll only need to give photocopies of your:

• Business Permit
• Proof of Income
• Proof of Billing

Interest rates are as low as 2%. While this is only available to the Laguna and Southern Manila area, you can be sure that one day your business will get off the ground with Cebuana Lhuillier as your business partner.

When you learn how to manage your finances, you’ll see that your money will flow in easily.

Are you having a hard time with budgeting your expenses? Here are 7 ways to improve your financial health.

1. Recognize needs vs. wants – Sometimes luxuries can become needs, but we all know that it’s just our mind’s trickery. For example, it’s tempting to buy a gadget with all the latest features at a premium price.

But in reality, do you really need a complicated but luxurious phone? Or are you okay with just the right specs? If you want to invest well on something, know the difference between a need and a want. From there you can tell if you do need to buy it or not.

2. Start saving – It’s never too late to save, and the best time to start saving is today. It’s not wise to rely on credit cards to pay everything for you.

Saving your money is a sign that you are on the road to financial independence, and that you have specific goals like buying a car, saving for your future family, or saving up for further studies. It’s important to create and stick to a budget so that you can see where your spending habits are taking you.

3. Maintain an emergency fund – You can create a separate savings account for your emergency fund. This is money that you’ve saved for an urgent matter, like a car accident or a medical bill. Usually though, you won’t be in an emergency. This can work to your advantage.

et your emergency fund grow by continuously contributing part of your income into your account. In an actual emergency situation, you’ll have enough money to pay what you need to pay.

4. Live within your means – It’s not enough that you save. You should be mindful of your spending habits. Do you use a credit card often? Do you spend more than you save? Living within your means simply means you’re spending less than the money you bring in.

If you’re living in an apartment you cannot afford with your salary, you can move out and choose to live in a more affordable place so that you can save more. If you’re buying too much groceries, learn how to plan your meals so that you don’t have a surplus of food that will just expire.

5. Track your spending – there are so many apps available on the Internet that you can use to track your expenses. Download those on your smartphone and be able to take note of bills, receipts, and other things you spend on the whole month.

One good app available for both iOS and Android is Mint—it helps users create budgets with many expense categories with easy control and a smooth interface. Other great apps are Wally, Level Money, Fudget, and Pocket Guard.

6. Invest in the right (micro)insurance group – with microinsurance, you take care of yourself and your investments even more. Having an insurance would protect you financially from untoward expenses like accidents and calamities. Microinsurance benefits low-income families and provides them with simply understood contracts unlike regular insurance policies.

Microinsurance policies covers life and savings, death and burial insurance, as well as even property insurance. This will help your family recover from calamities like earthquakes and floods and bill shock from hospital stays and other medical expenses.

7. Become more financially-literate – it’s a good idea to read more about how to save and invest. Read up on entrepreneur websites and blogs, as well as read up on financial stories to take lessons. You can read up on financial literacy blogs from investment experts and analysts, such as: Frugalwoods, Millennial Money Man, and Afford Anything.

You’ll learn how to afford your lifestyle by eliminating expenses that don’t matter. These blogs help you gain financial freedom, even if it’s to start your business or move up the corporate ladder efficiently.

When you create healthy practices for your personal finances, you’ll be able to save properly and spend on more important things in your life. Just follow these tips and you will have more money for your future.

In a rare team-up, two of the most talked about stars from rival networks have joined forces for the first time in the latest Cebuana Lhuillier TV commercial. Popstar Princess Sarah Geronimo and Pambansang Bae Alden Richards share the screen along with the former’s mother Mommy Divine Geronimo to endorse the products and services of the microfinancial company.

Called ‘Hero’s Welcome’, the TVC features the Geronimos revisiting their old neighborhood while recalling their family’s humble beginnings and narrating how Cebuana Lhuillier, particularly its pawning services, has been a great help when they were struggling to make ends meet. The mother and daughter then visit a nearby Cebuana Lhuillier branch where Alden welcomes them and introduces the company’s newest offering; microloans.

The success story of the Geronimos and the addition of a new range of products is symbolic of the company’s impact in the lives of Filipinos and its evolution from a pawnshop to a full-service microfinancial institution, which offers complete microfinancial solutions including pawning, remittance, microloans, and microinsurance, among others.

According to Cebuana Lhuillier’s President and CEO, the bringing together of the two stars is the company’s treat to their customers as it celebrates it 30th anniversary. “This is a very important year for Cebuana Lhuillier so we brought together two of our endorsers in one TVC, along with Mommy Divine who has been a client of ours even before her daughter entered show business. It is also a good way to show how the company has helped Filipinos in the last 30 years and introduce new ways that we can support even more individuals and families,” he said.

Sarah has been a Cebuana Lhuillier endorser since 2008 while Alden Richards became the brand’s ambassador last year and has since headlined a three-part series of heart-warming Cebuana Lhuillier remittance TVCs.

An individual usually applies for a loan to pay for a vacation, or to pay for house remodeling. Whatever the reason, personal loans don’t come cheap, and they may have high interest rates. If you’re interested in applying for a personal loan, it’s best to look for several options.

Here is a quick guide on where you can go to for a personal loan.

1. Banks – Traditionally, individuals apply for a loan through banks. You will need to fill out and submit a loan acquisition form along with other requirements. Interest rates in banks are conservatively low, but the process for applying could be sometimes long and tedious.

2. Credit Union – these are financial coops that provide financial services to its members. You have to be a member to apply for the loan.

3. Peer-to-Peer Lending – also known as “Social Lending,” P2P lending allows people to borrow or lend money without a financial institution as middleman.

4. Microloan – A loan containing a small amount, lent with low interests, to both individuals and new businesses.

5. Co-signer loan – a person who agrees to pay someone else’s debt if the person cannot pay for the loan.

6. Licensed Money Lenders – an individual or a group of people who lend small personal loans with high interest rates. They usually come out as a last resort for borrowers with bad credit history.

These organizations and individuals can help you attain your personal loan, but choose wisely. Sometimes, interest rates can be too high in one group, or the number of years for you to pay might be too short. When you’re ready to get a personal loan, you’re making significant life improvements and you’ll also continue to save up for something better.

We are about to end the first quarter of 2017. Have you started saving, spending, and investing like a pro lately? If so, congratulations, and keep it up. The next step is to share to your friends and family how they can also start maximizing their overall income so that they can earn more and save more.

If you haven’t started using your income wisely yet, there’s still time to learn! Your basic everyday spending habits may make or break your savings. To avoid being broke and living from paycheck to paycheck, this Financial Checklist can help make 2017 your year of prosperity.

Print this page and tick the boxes when you’re done.

Have you:

 Have you reviewed your bank statements and monthly bills? (You can find out how much goes into your savings account and how much goes to your rent, bills, utilities, groceries, and other everyday expenditures.)

 Have you set daily, short-term, and long-term financial goals? (Setting goals at different points of your year helps you become more responsible and give you more guidance how much you should save.)

 Have you created or revised your monthly budget? (A budget generally consists categories where your income could go to. These can be rent and bills, food, recreational activities, or your emergency fund. Knowing how much you can spend on a monthly basis can give you a better idea on where your money goes and how much you can save.)

 If you’re living with a partner or you’re married, have you discussed financial matters together? (You have to be open and honest about your plans. While traditionally, one partner is in charge of handling finances, it’s good to occasionally talk about your budget so that they can keep tabs on how much they can spend. You can discuss your overall savings and spending habits, for example, and talk through mistakes that you both can avoid in the long run. Don’t forget to use “we” when talking about finances.)

 Have you studied more about financial literacy? (You don’t have to spend a fortune learning about how to be financially healthy. Look for websites and blogs that give spending and investing tips for families like yours. You can learn to start a budget, how to use a savings account and a checking account, and how credit cards should help your life, not bring you in debt.)

The key to a prosperous year is to always check if you’re within budget, and revise when needed. It’s good to always be open and honest about your finances to those who matter to you. Beware of unreliable sources and unreliable people. Once you keep with your budget, it’s much easier to see that financial freedom is just a step away.

Are you growing your business?

All businesses need to start with capital, and usually owners get loans to get going. If you’re not sure what to prepare for a business loan—whether from a bank or from a lending organization like Cebuana Lhuillier—you should consider collecting the following to get you ready.

1. Collateral – this is an asset or a set of assets that the borrower gives in order for the lender to secure the loan. It offers security to the lender in case the borrower doesn’t pay the loan back.
2. Business Plan – a plan that contains your vision, mission, objectives, and budgets for your business to operate.
3. Accounts Receivable – this is money owed to debtors.
4. Accounts Payable — This is money that a business owes because it has been given proper goods and/or services.

5. Personal Credit Report – a summary of your financial information, including your creditor report.
6. Income Tax Returns – a document with the BIR that reports your income, profits, and losses of your business, as well as other deductions.
7. Financial Statements – a document reporting your financial activities and the position of your business in terms of assets and liabilities.
8. Bank Statements – record of your bank account’s balance, how much you’ve withdrawn, and much you’ve deposited.

9. Legal Documents – It depends from the lending organization or bank, but you might have to disclose certain legal documents like: business licenses and registrations, contracts with third parties, franchise agreements, and commercial leases
10. Loan Application Form – of course, you cannot apply for a business loan without filling out a loan application form!

Once you’ve prepared all of these, you’re now ready to sign up for a business loan. Take note of the number of years you have in order to completely pay your loan, as well as the interest rate and penalties if you don’t pay on time.

Being a responsible businessman is also as important as being a responsible borrower. So, prepare well for all your business endeavors.

Winning Cebuana Lhuillier clients and their relatives tour Dubai as prize for winning a contest in partnership with radio station Tag 91.1.

 

Five Lucky Ka-Cebuanas from Dubai were reunited with their loved ones from the Philippines through Cebuana Lhuillier’s promo, Da Best Kang Ka-Tag, Ka-Cebuana, together with Tag 91.1, the leading Filipino radio station in Dubai.

Anthony dela Peña, Alyana Colendrez, Aphrodite Salazar, Brylyn Aroma and Coleen Nucom each won an all-expense paid trip to Dubai from February 8 to 12 for three of their family members. The winners were also treated to local city tours in a limousine, a dinner cruise, and AED 1,000 shopping money. Fifteen on-air daily winners also received 500 AED worth of remittances to Cebuana Lhuillier.

Mr. dela Peña thanked Cebuana Lhuillier for the chance to bond with his family. “I always send money to the Philippines through Cebuana Lhuillier because of their fast and efficient service,” he said.

“As a Philippines-based remittance service provider, we hope to provide the most appropriate money transfer needs of OFWs and Filipino community and extend the heartwarming Filipino service to them even more. We hope that through this promo, they would feel less homesick and feel renewed strength and motivation in their work,” Cebuana Lhuillier Services Corp. Senior Executive Vice President Philippe Andre Lhuillier said.

The year is about to end and you’re currently auditing all of your savings and expenditures for this year. There is nothing bad about this. It’s just normal after all to analyze whether you have made any financial mistakes this year, what may have caused it, and what may be done to revert that mistake to financial success. Moreover, we Filipinos are conscious and alert when it comes to all things financial, whether towards saving (discounts, promos) or spending (night outs, gadgets, food), which is why we listed down a few factors to consider in preparing yourself financially for the new year. Take note that the following would not be achieved without self-control, which is why strategy and discipline go hand in hand when it comes to financial stability:

1. How much did I spend this year alone?

Food, transportation allowance, house rent, and utility bills are just some of the major expenditures of an average person. While these things are the usual responsibilities of people in their lifestyle, sometimes, they tend to spend much more than they should. Night outs for example incur about P500-P1,000 worth of food and drinks, perhaps even twice or thrice the amount of what you spend on food and beverage on a normal basis. This is why you should list down your expenses, whether on a regular day or not, to identify what may be eating up your allowance, or worse, your savings and be more aware of what you can do the next time you encounter such concern.

2. How much did I save?

Whether big or small, knowing your savings is important as well, as it helps you identify what you need to do in order to save more in the upcoming year.

3. How much do I spend for myself alone?

It’s one thing to spend for the bills, but another to spend on your personal needs and wants. Grooming charges such as haircuts may be a minor thing to consider when auditing your expenses, however, try to remember how many times you had a haircut in one this year alone. An average local barbershop charges P35, so if you groom every 3 months, multiply that by four and you have yourself P140 worth of haircut expenses. It may seem small, but this amount already has a big impact on your budget. Knowing this helps you find alternatives to be able to save up. If you work in a company with no strict haircut policy, you may cut down your haircut charges by either finding a more affordable barbershop, or perhaps getting cut every four months instead of the usual three.

4. How much do I spend for other people?

It’s okay to spend for your family, friends, and loved ones. It is a common part of Filipino culture to help others, even financially. However, one must also learn to say no. If someone were to borrow cash, analyze your budget and how this will greatly affect your bill paying. If it would hinder you from paying this month’s electricity bill, resulting to a blackout, you might as well just have kept and used the amount to pay bills. It is not to say that you shouldn’t share. However, also consider your options when it comes to stabilizing yourself financially.

5. If you happen to save a few amounts in your bank account, remember not to withdraw any amount at all.

This is due to the very obvious reason that you need to save. Whether you had saved big or small, do not ever touch it, except for emergency purposes. It may be tempting to buy new gadgets, but always remember that the needs should always come first, never the wants. This would bring us to the next important factor…

6. Planning to buy a new gadget or item? Consider function over fashion.

What better way to financially prepare for next year than not having to spend for anything that came out this year? Cellphones are a perfect example for this, seeing that they get outdated after a year, and then get replaced with a new one with much better features. If you are planning to buy something new, ask yourself if you’d really need it, if not, just keep on saving for next year, until such time that you would come across an item that would really tend to your needs.

7. Own a car? Get insurance then.

Spending for something is one thing, but what happens if someone damages or destroys your beloved possession? A car is no different. You may be a great driver, unfortunately, others do not share the same ability and skills. People encounter accidents on the road, which is why you should avail of car insurance, to avoid spending a lot for the damage to your car (and worst case scenario, spending a lot for your injuries as well).

8. Reduce utility charges by going for items which are environmental friendly.

Electricity charges take up a majority of our monthly bills. This is a common truth among us Filipinos, hence we should switch to appliances which only feed on minimal energy. Light bulbs, for example, should be replaced with their fluorescent counterparts as they consume lesser energy. There are also certain brands or air-conditioning units and refrigerators that offer the same feature and are much more affordable than normal units. If you plan to save more for next year, consider replacing a few of your belongings that are high-maintenance.

9. Sell the things that you wouldn’t need any more in the upcoming year.

If you plan on reducing the junk in your home, why not organize a garage sale. A new year deserves a new beginning. Hence, selling a few unneeded gadgets, appliances, or even furniture will not only provide you with a breath of fresh air; it would also enable you to earn a few cash in the process, enough to get you through the first few weeks of the new year. Much better, if you plan on not touching the proceeds from your mini garage sale, you may even keep it until your savings pile up all throughout next year.

10. Pay your taxes.

This may sound like an advice which seems out of place from this list, however, paying your taxes is one major thing you shouldn’t leave off this year, unless you want to suffer the huge penalties next year. You may hear news of celebrities, athletes, and even politicians being chased by the BIR due to failure of paying their taxes. They even have to settle their concern by the millions, so just imagine if the same thing were to happen to you. You wouldn’t be financially stable midway into the New Year just because of tax penalties alone. Pay now, save later.

After following our tips, you may still find yourself having trouble within the first few weeks, but it’s normal, as with other routines being practiced at first. With that in mind, you may want to provide cushion to your starter budget in the first month of the New Year. No worries as Cebuana Lhuillier has got you covered. With their Micro-Loan Services, reaching out for assistance is never a hassle, due to their simple application process, easy terms, and fewer requirements, cutting long lines and long waiting time. With a network of over 1,800 Cebuana Lhuillier branches and online presence, you are given unlimited access and utter convenience in applying for a loan. Their five-point application to disbursement process ensures services are delivered on time. So what are you waiting for? Visit your nearest Cebuana Lhuillier branch now – we assure a fast, easy and secure transaction.

The holiday season brings many expenses. People have to prepare their budget for various gifts and meals for the Christmas Eve dinner. Yes, indeed Christmas is one occasion that everyone spends so much on. However, that is not the only thing that requires proper financial management. The New Year celebration also requires a certain amount of money estimation, mainly due to the fact that it also has a traditional dinner before and after the clock strikes twelve. This doesn’t even include the after party, something which we Filipinos love even after the fireworks had ended. With this, we had prepared a few tips to ensure that you will be able to save a reasonable amount even after the whole celebration, something that will make your cash last longer than the ten minutes fireworks display after the countdown.

1. Budget your Christmas to save for New Year.

This is top priority with all financial concerns. If you spend too much for Christmas without setting anything aside for the New Year celebration, then don’t be surprised why you wouldn’t have any amount left by then. As with any type of budget, plan ahead of time and avoid overspending on something which will only last for a week or two, go for long term plans so that you will be able to avoid cutting too much corners on other upcoming occasions. Yes, Christmas is a major once-a-year occasion, but that doesn’t mean you should indulge all finances in one go. Set aside a few amount for the New Year celebration so you may have no trouble in budgeting thereafter.

2. Recycle your decors from Christmas.

Yes, you’ve read that right. We Filipinos do not actually end Christmas right after December 25th; in fact, we only remove the Christmas decorations a few days into the first week of January. With that in mind, do not take the Christmas tree down immediately, as our belief of polka dots and all things round bring luck, so must we leave the Christmas bubble decorations hanging. Never put away the green and red colors of Christmas as they add to the magnificent lights of the fireworks as well during the New Year celebration. Perhaps the only thing you may remove would be the Christmas lights. This is to save on electricity bills and to avoid sparking a few wires, especially during the fireworks-infested parties in the streets before the countdown.

3. Have fun with parlor games.

Parlor games are the staple of every Filipino party. Who wouldn’t be familiar with stop dance, newspaper dance, and musical chairs? They’re fun, they’re easy to organize, and their prize usually ends up being very affordable. Kid participants may receive knick-knacks and toys lower than P30 as prize, while adult participants may receive picture frames and Tupperware. This is planning at its basic form, yet fun at the highest level.

4. Christmas leftovers? More like New Year celebration feast.

Don’t be quick in throwing out leftovers from the Christmas Eve dinner. Any excess roast pork from the occasion? Make them into stew; they wouldn’t go bad with proper refrigeration. How about leftover cheese? No worries, convert them into toppings for other New Year’s Day meal. The possibilities are endless and you would be able to save big as you wouldn’t have to spend money for additional ingredients and groceries anymore.

So, you are a few hours away from the New Year’s celebration and are preparing to greet your loved ones a fruitful year through text. However, as luck would have it, you ran out of load. You try to load via your local store, but they also end up empty due to the countless numbers of families loading up for the festivity greetings later. No worries, as we here in Cebuana Lhuillier offer our E-Load Service, an accessible loading station for prepaid internet and mobile phone users subscribed to major telecommunication networks. So what are you waiting for? Visit your nearest Cebuana Lhuillier branch now – we assure a fast, easy and secure transaction.

There are a few times in which we may have to pawn a few valuables in order to make amends with our budget. This is normal as we have to make ends meet once in awhile, especially as some expenses are unavoidable. With this in mind, we only hope for the best payback after presenting our crown jewels. After all, isn’t this the very reason that we are selling them? But what determines the type of amount we’ll be receiving when pawning our jewelry and what would be the best way to ensure that the offered amount we receive indeed matches their value? Here are a few pointers to remember:

1. You don’t get paid the same amount you bought the jewelry with.

This is rule number one when it comes to pawning. If you bought a ring for about P15,000 or more, you wouldn’t get paid the same amount. It wouldn’t even be the basis for the amount you’re going to get paid with, rather, the condition of the jewelry itself. Does it have scratches? Is the gemstone still intact? Does it have any dent? The more mint the condition is, the higher the amount you’re going to get in return.

2. Gemology or appraisers? Which should you trust?

Gemologists are basically those who know how to value gemstones, but are weak in providing estimates in other forms of jewelries. Appraisers, on the other hand, are those that are trained to identify the value of any type of jewelry, and may have been jewelers themselves long ago. They have the edge over gemologists, in the sense that they know how to market research, hence, they can quickly provide estimates of the value when you’re intending to pawn your belongings and may definitely let you know if ever you may be receiving less or more than what was bargained for. Do take note though that some appraisers may charge a “consultation fee,” which is why you should prepare a little extra when asking for value.

3. Do your own research.

The best way to find out the market value of your jewelry is to ask around the stores. You may be surprised that the prices of jewelry change from time to time, even quicker than some other products, hence another reason to have it appraised as well as routinely as you can. This doesn’t mean that you should have it validated monthly. Rather, whatever changes you may hear from the store, you may confirm via the appraisers. Only then may you know the current selling price of your jewels. This is one of many ways to know that you are not getting less than what should be given during the pawning process. Knowing the right value would save you from possibly losing something and not getting the fair amount at all. Be informed at all times and stay firm on your price range.

With all of that being said, you may be looking for a pawn shop that would provide you with the most honest and highest appraisal possible. No worries, as Cebuana Lhuillier has got your back. With their Pawning Service you can never go short in any amount, as they accept an array of items, from jewelry to gadgets, as collateral. They also lead the pawning industry by offering safety and the highest appraisal rate in the industry in its more than 1,800 branches nationwide. Visit your nearest Cebuana Lhuillier branch now – we assure a fast, easy and secure transaction.

Have you ever wanted to send money to your loved ones, only to experience long waiting lines and inconvenient transactions? Ever visited a bank branch to do so, only to be hindered by the countless requirements and hidden remittance fees? Or how about trying online money transfer, only to be scammed by hackers in the process?

Well, worry no more, as Cebuana Lhuillier offers their efficient Pera Padala Service, an easy, quick, and safe way to send and receive money. All transactions are real time, which enables clients to claim the money as soon as the sender completes the sending process in the branch.

So you may ask, how efficient is Pera Padala when it comes to local remittances? After all, you may need to send money even to the farthest region of the Philippines. Relax, as Cebuana broadened its reach by strengthening its network of partners. Also known as the Pera Padala Agents (Domestic Remittance), they are mainly composed of:

• ADB Lending Company, Inc. (Pasamonte )
• Expresspay, Inc.
• Global Pinoy Remittance and Services (GPRS)
• Orient Asia Lending, Inc. (Prime Remit)
• Jewelhouse Pawnshop and Jewelry
• Ayala Alabang Village Association-Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative (AAVA-EMPC)
• Filinvest Homeowners’ Association Inc. (FILHAI MPC)
• Republic Pawnshops Corporation (H Lhuillier)
• Quickloan Pawnshop
• Cardbank, Inc.
• Tiaong Rural Bank, Inc.
• China Bank Savings, Inc
• Cantilan Bank, Inc
• Enterprise Bank, Inc
• ABS-CBN E-Money Plus, Inc (myREMIT)
• Opportunity Kauswagan Remit, Inc. (OK Remit)
• Rural Bank of San Antonio
• Dalton Pawnshop and Jewelry, Inc.
• Inter Asia Development Bank
• Gata Daku Multi-Purpose Cooperative (GDMPC)
• Sun Gate Pawnshop
• Bangko Kabayan, Inc.
• Card SME Bank
• Viaexpress Travel & Tours, Inc.
• Philippine Postal Savings Bank
• Bayad Center
• Tanglaw Pawnshop
• Golden Rural Bank
• Pazalonia Pawnshop
• Country Builders
• Rural Bank of Kiamba (Sarangani) Inc.
• Common Wealth Rural Bank
• Via.com

Okay, so you already have a list of their authorized partners, but how about the rates? No need to worry as we got your back with that. Here is a chart indicating the rates, depending on the amount/s sent:

Domestic Remittance Rates

Sending	Amount	Charge Amount	Charge Amount	Charge Amount	Charge Amount	Charge Amount
From	To	Metro Manila	Northern Luzon	Southern Luzon	Visayas	Mindanao
1.00	100.00	PHP1.00	PHP7.00	PHP1.00	PHP1.00	PHP1.00
100.01	200.00	PHP3.00	PHP13.00	PHP1.00	PHP1.00	PHP1.00
200.01	300.00	PHP5.00	PHP18.00	PHP2.00	PHP2.00	PHP2.00
300.01	400.00	PHP10.00	PHP25.00	PHP3.00	PHP3.00	PHP3.00
400.01	500.00	PHP15.00	PHP30.00	PHP7.00	PHP7.00	PHP7.00
500.01	600.00	PHP18.00	PHP35.00	PHP9.00	PHP9.00	PHP9.00
600.01	700.00	PHP21.00	PHP40.00	PHP10.00	PHP10.00	PHP10.00
700.01	800.00	PHP24.00	PHP40.00	PHP12.00	PHP12.00	PHP12.00
800.01	900.00	PHP27.00	PHP45.00	PHP12.00	PHP12.00	PHP12.00
900.01	1,000.00	PHP30.00	PHP50.00	PHP15.00	PHP15.00	PHP15.00
1,000.01	1, 500.00	PHP45.00	PHP80.00	PHP20.00	PHP20.00	PHP20.00
1,500.01	2,000.00	PHP60.00	PHP100.00	PHP30.00	PHP30.00	PHP30.00
2,000.01	2,500.00	PHP75.00	PHP130.00	PHP40.00	PHP40.00	PHP40.00
2,500.01	3,000.00	PHP90.00	PHP150.00	PHP50.00	PHP50.00	PHP50.00
3,000.01	3,500.00	PHP95.00	PHP180.00	PHP60.00	PHP60.00	PHP60.00
3,500.01	4,000.00	PHP115.00	PHP180.00	PHP70.00	PHP70.00	PHP70.00
4,000.01	5,000.00	PHP125.00	PHP220.00	PHP90.00	PHP90.00	PHP90.00
5,000.01	6,000.00	PHP145.00	PHP220.00	PHP114.00	PHP114.00	PHP114.00
6,000.01	7,000.00	PHP155.00	PHP220.00	PHP118.00	PHP118.00	PHP118.00
7,000.01	8,000.00	PHP165.00	PHP220.00	PHP125.00	PHP125.00	PHP125.00
8,000.01	9,500.00	PHP185.00	PHP220.00	PHP125.00	PHP125.00	PHP125.00
9,500.01	10,000.00	PHP195.00	PHP240.00	PHP140.00	PHP140.00	PHP140.00
10,000.01	14,000.00	PHP250.00	PHP250.00	PHP260.00	PHP250.00	PHP250.00
14,000.01	15,000.00	PHP300.00	PHP300.00	PHP310.00	PHP300.00	PHP300.00
15,000.01	20,000.00	PHP350.00	PHP350.00	PHP360.00	PHP480.00	PHP350.00
20,000.01	30,000.00	PHP400.00	PHP400.00	PHP410.00	PHP720.00	PHP400.00
30,000.01	40,000.00	PHP450.00	PHP450.00	PHP460.00	PHP960.00	PHP450.00
40,000.01	50,000.00	PHP500.00	PHP500.00	PHP510.00	PHP1,200.00	PHP500.00

Take note that the charges vary, depending on the location of the recipient.

With the following information in mind, let us direct you to one of Cebuana Lhuillier’s main offerings, their Pera Padala Service. With more than 1,800 branches nationwide and accredited international partners, this money transfer service is made available to clients within and outside the Philippines. So what are you waiting for? Visit your nearest Cebuana Lhuillier branch now – we assure a fast, easy and secure transaction.

During the holidays, we get to spend so much, in terms of gifts, decorations, and Christmas treats. While it may be true that the Yuletide season is all about partying to your heart’s desire and being merry, we should not forget to consider the possible effects of overspending. If savings would not be enough, people tend to utilize their credit cards, just to make up for the expenditures and cash that no longer exist in their bank accounts. Yes, it may seem like a convenient and harmless idea at first. However, such as with all things, too much of anything may do more bad than good. With this, we had listed a few pointers in utilizing your credit card during the Holiday season:

1. Know your limit, literally.

All credit cards have spending limits. This is clear from the very moment you had decided to get one from the bank. For those who are not familiar with the term, what does it mean? Basically, using a credit card is like borrowing money from a bank. Credit limit is set by the bank so that you may only avail within a certain range of amount. If you lose track of your spending, there is a strong possibility that you will go over the limit. Keep this in mind as you will incur penalties and charges if not careful.

2. Be careful of deceitful promos and discounts during the holidays.

It is natural for us to save, hence we go for the items that involve reduced prices. However, some retail stores tend to fake some deals, having a few fine print conditions in their discounts resulting to hidden charges. This is more critical when you’re using a credit card, since you’re technically spending more than what you had bargained for, adding the interest rates to the charges, etc. The best advice would be to plan your purchases ahead of time, so that you may be able to canvass and find a truthful deal along the process.

3. Take advantage of your credit card’s reward system.

Some credit card companies reward their clients if they happen to have a clean record, no overspending over the limit and no late payment on the monthly rates. In lieu of this, why not avail this certain feature? It wouldn’t only save you money; it would also enable you to pay less when the monthly bill arrives. Some companies even reward you with points, bought about by achieving a certain number of purchases using your card.

4. Be on the lookout for coupon codes.

Not to be mistaken with discount and other promos, coupon codes are those which may be found online, instead of the actual store itself. Some offer varieties of percentages in price deductions, while some may only be availed once you buy an item of certain amount. You may even validate the code itself using the main website of your credit card company, or the main server of the coupon website itself. Do remember to read the fine print though, just to be sure that there are no other conditions in your purchases.

After knowing of our valuable tips, you may definitely want to pay for the monthly credit card charges of your transactions with great ease, and through that be able to save for the future without any impending balances. No worries, as Cebuana Lhuillier offers their Bills Payment Services in their 1,800 branches nationwide. All transactions are online and are completed quickly and safely. Its current partners (such as Metrobank Credit Card) also include major telecommunication networks, insurance companies, online businesses, and schools. So what are you waiting for? Visit your nearest Cebuana Lhuillier branch now – we assure a fast, easy and secure transaction.

Image Source: http://www.creditlawcenter.com/shouldiclosemycreditcard/

Everyone’s excited to get their Christmas bonus. Why wouldn’t they, considering that the holiday season brings forth so many expenses. It isn’t just about spending all your money on yourself; it’s also about spending for other people as well, meaning you’ll have twice as much spending to do, and it just keeps on adding up depending on the number of people you’d have to buy gifts for. And it doesn’t stop there, as you would also have to prepare for the Christmas Eve dinner. At the rate of your spending, you may have nothing left by New Year, or worst, be in debt at such time. With these in mind, we prepared 10 Christmas money budgeting tips to make sure that you wouldn’t have to experience any money concern during and after the Yuletide season:

1. Save up.

Probably one of the most basic, yet, commonly ignored advice. Throughout the year, you are given an opportunity to save for future needs; hence, from January to November, you are given about 11 months to save. Learn to keep aside a few amounts each month leading up to Christmas, and only then would you have enough to spend for the whole December. The best thing about this is, the more money you save each month, the higher the chances of having more left even after New Year’s celebration.

2. Too many lights? Cut down the decorations.

Yes, all occasions need the appropriate décor, the same with having confetti in your birthday and having pumpkins on your doorstep for Halloween. However, it isn’t really about the appearance, but more on the amount of your decorations. If you have an average or small sized home, reduce the amount of Christmas lights. A few hanging over your window, shaped into a Christmas tree, is enough. Less décor, less maintenance, fewer expenses.

3. Collect those coupons.

Usually, supermarkets hand out discount booklets a few weeks before Christmas. Take advantage of this and try to look for more vouchers online. You may spend a few for print outs, but the amount you’ll save from the deductions in the retail prices is nothing compared to the big savings you will acquire from the discounts in groceries and shopping.

4. Pay your bills immediately.

This may sound like a conflicting statement against the purpose of this list; however, remember that bills tend to stack up with penalties when left unpaid over the due date. A much bigger concern occurs when one of your household utility gets disconnected due to lack of payment; the addition of the reconnection fee to the already high amount of penalty fee may leave you with little to no amount left. So be aware of your due dates and pay on time.

5. Make your own gifts.

As they say, it’s the thought that counts. Usually, hand-crafted presents are more valuable and less expensive than ready-made ones. Perhaps a hand-knitted scarf will do the trick, or even a paper Mache display animal for their living room.

6. Learn to say no.

Yes, Christmas is a time for sharing and unconditional giving, however, you are also liable for your own expenses, and giving in to the request of your kids (or other loved ones for that matter) in buying an expensive gadget may put your budget in jeopardy. Remember, sometimes you have to teach your loved ones that love is best expressed by actions, not by branded apparels or high-end cellphones.

7. Let your family know of the true importance of Christmas.

People do not appreciate the true meaning of Christmas. For others, it’s just all about expensive gifts and delicious warm meals, forgetting the fact that it was the time when our Lord was born, and that He sacrificed His own life to save us. Such is the strong message of “it is better to give than to receive.” Motivate, or better yet, initiate for your family to participate in outreach programs during this holiday season. Charity organizations practice the secret Santa program, where participants (without letting the recipients know of their identity) would donate a few second-hand clothes and supplies for the less-fortunate ones. This is hitting two birds with one stone, as you would not only teach your family the true essence of Christmas, but also, you would be able to save big as supplies don’t cost too much in groceries, and you wouldn’t even have to buy them new clothes for second hand apparels would be sufficient for the program.

8. Prepare your Christmas list ahead of time.

This is related to the first tip in this list. Saving up for Christmas is one thing, but knowing what you’re really saving for is another. You’ll also be able to approximate the exact amount and price of the gifts, hence, be able to plan out your gifts without overspending by mistake during the process.

9. Buy in bundles.

Christmas season brings about many promos like buy 1 take 1. Always remember to take advantage of this as well. If you’re planning to make fruit salad or spaghetti for the Christmas Eve dinner, for example, you may be able to encounter the ingredients in a plastic-wrapped basket, all bundled up for a discounted price. This is getting more value for your money, rather than buying things separately, which may cost more.

10. Take note of all your expenditures.

Regardless of what you buy or the services that you avail, pocket the receipt; don’t just throw it away immediately. Add up your expenses and plan out alternatives so that you may avoid paying more than you need to. Avail wisely, save highly.

So, you had finally decided to plan your budget ahead of time, however, you still came to the conclusion that it wouldn’t fit well enough to survive the holiday expenditures. Well, worry no more, as Cebuana Lhuillier offers its Pawning Service. They lead the pawning industry by offering safety and the highest appraisal rate in the industry in its more than 1,800 branches nationwide. Accepting an array of items, from jewelry to gadgets, as collaterals, the company’s core business has evolved with the needs of its clients. So what are you waiting for? Visit your nearest Cebuana Lhuillier branch now – we assure a fast, easy and secure transaction.

We Filipinos love to eat. Whatever the occasion, a personal party or a big time feast, the centerpiece of our celebration would probably be the buffet right at our dining table. Christmas season is no different. We are entitled to choose our own meals, tinted with our top secret recipes just to impress our visitors for the Christmas Eve dinner. And no matter the cost, as long as our delicacies generate the expected smiles from our guests, we are definitely smiling along with them, thinking to ourselves, “We had succeeded!” Yes, great food is one way towards other people’s hearts, however, such may only be the case if we managed to mix the right ingredients, and sometimes the right ingredients would cost too much. Well, in such case, keep your worries away, as we had prepared a list of the Top 10 Budget-Friendly Filipino Noche Buena Favorites:

1. Bibingka – A familiar treat among Filipinos, this variety of a sweet steamed rice cake has strong heritage significance from our rich history. Just as our great, great grandparents enjoyed having this on their dinner table, so do their cheerful descendants who are avid fans of this delicacy as well. No need to go to fancy restaurants for this, you may find this treat right outside the church during early morning masses leading up to Christmas day, with the price usually ranging from P35 – P50.

2. Fruit Salad – If you want your budget done right, you have to do it yourself. Food that is prepared by your own hands can give you an advantage, especially if you’re already familiar with the preparation process. The more you know about the exact amount of ingredients, the fewer mistakes you’ll make in purchasing them. This is true when it comes to fruit salad. You see, a true expert in preparing one knows how much condensed milk or cream, canned fruits, and additive syrup he/she would have to put in to achieve just the right amount of sweetness. The whole ingredient ranges from P300-P450. Choose your ingredients wisely.

3. Puto Bumbong – Similar to bibingka, this may also be found outside the church during early morning masses leading up to Christmas day. If you want variety, in terms of desserts, you may have to include this one as it features the stickiness that bibingka lacks. The sprinkled sugar and coconut bits add a majestic flavor to this already delicious treat.

4. Queso de Bola – This is one treat that every Filipino family should have on their table at Christmas Eve. Not to be mistaken as a mere traditional display, this rounded cheese made more appearances at Christmas than some of your aunts and uncles, who mysteriously disappear every Yuletide Season (hmm, we all wonder why). The elegant taste adds a smooth, salty variety to your meal. Don’t let the appearance intimidate you. Yes, some are truly expensive. However, if you would persevere, you would surely find a grocery selling certain brands of this delicacy for a much affordable price; sometimes, even buy 1 take 1.

5. Embutido – Tired of hearing your visitors complain about how you had served them with cold food? Worry no more, as this delicacy may be served in either cold or hot temperature, depending on your preparation. As our own version of meatloaf, this favorite is a must-have on the table, exploding with different flavors due to the variety of filling in the middle. This is also affordable, as some are even sold in foil-wrapped bundles, having enough for every guest at the Christmas Eve dinner.

6. Leche Flan – Another delight that may be served as either hot or cold. This desert may be purchased or prepared. Regardless, you would be able to get more value for your money, as price of this delicacy is within reach, one tub us usually priced P35 – P50, depending on the size. Discounts are also given if bought in bundles.

7. Filipino Style Spaghetti – What Filipino gathering would be complete without spaghetti? It may seem strange for foreigners, but our love for this delicacy never fades, whether at birthdays, weddings, or even blow outs. Recently, groceries started selling pastas with tomato sauce and other needed ingredients in plastic-wrapped baskets. This offer usually appears during the yuletide season, indicating that stores indeed study their customers. The best thing about this is it also comes in a reduced price. Imagine getting all of the ingredients for less, unlike buying them one by one in which you would likely never save any amount by the time you exit the supermarket.

8. Lumpiang Ubod (Lumpiang Sariwa) – This is another one of those masterpieces, not due to its appearance, rather because it is made by your very hands. Yes, you purchase a few to save up preparation time, however, where’s the fun in that? Besides, purchasing the ingredients may help you think wisely about the exact amounts to be bought. The right amount of vegetables and sauce mix that you can buy for its preparation may make the difference between getting the right amounts and spending less, or buying more than what you need and spending a lot in the process.

9. Barbecue – Notice a certain pattern in the list? There are numerous times in which you may be able to save more only if the food to be served is prepared by your own hands, meaning, you would spend more if you were to buy ready-to-eat meals. Again, this is due to the fact that you would be able to buy the right amount of ingredients and avoid overspending at the same time. Barbecue, whether pork or chicken, may not be too pricey if you know the right delicious parts to be bought. Some pork parts are cheaper than the other but less tasty, this may be remedied with the proper marinating. Ketchup and soy sauce, with a touch of citrus and garlic definitely adds to the taste. Brush the pork/chicken while being grilled to add a tender coating of sweet marinate, even after pulling out from the charcoal.

10. Kastanyas – “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire…” – Isn’t that the opening lyrics of a famous Christmas song? Yes, it is. As the song clearly signifies, nuts are a traditional part of our Yuletide treats. Here in the Philippines, it is identified by its hard outer shell, which then softens as you expose it to heat. The result is a holiday snack sold per gram or kilo, depending on the current market price. Nonetheless, it’s another must have on the dinner table.

So, you are prepping up your budget to prepare the said delicacies, but you had only counted enough as the other half of your expenditures would be allotted for the gifts to be given this holiday season. You need a few extras to survive this Yuletide season. Well, worry no more, as Cebuana Lhuillier offers its Pawning Service. They lead the pawning industry by offering safety and the highest appraisal rate in the industry in its more than 1,800 branches nationwide. Accepting an array of items, from jewelry to gadgets, as collaterals, the company’s core business has evolved with the needs of its clients. So what are you waiting for? Visit your nearest Cebuana Lhuillier branch now – we assure a fast, easy and secure transaction.

Image Source:
http://www.kusinamasterrecipes.com/bibingka-recipe/
http://www.kawalingpinoy.com/leche-flan/
http://bambit.kusangpalo.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/

Christmas season is among us and there are already countless holiday promos in malls as of late. This has caused many to rush to their nearest brand stalls and purchase to their hearts content. However, as delightful it may sound to shop for items for a much lower price, the hassle comes with the crowd. Shopping in a mall with countless sale offers may prove too much of a struggle, as people have the same idea as you, and the huge crowds may make it difficult for you to walk through the aisles. There are countless viral videos online which show many people getting hurt due to stampedes and panicking shoppers, worrying they’ll get the least from discount offers if people get ahead of them in the line. With these, we had listed a few money-saving, stress-free Christmas shopping tips to protect you, our avid readers from deceiving offers and the hostile environment, which are the discount-infested shopping malls:

1. Plan ahead of time.

Do you already know what you need to purchase? If you’re going to a crowded shopping mall with an incomplete shopping list, then you might as well just waste valuable time. Remember that going through a crowd is exhausting, and that going back and forth due to unbought and forgotten presents may take too much time and energy. Plan out your list as early as possible and route your direction within the store isles (if you’re familiar with the mall structure). Take it from us, you’ll have more time to prepare for the Christmas Eve dinner after.

2. Make your own presents.

Why waste time and money going through a crowded mall when you can just make your own presents? Hand-crafted miniature models, self-made paintings, and hand-knitted sweaters will surely bring a smile to your loved ones more than expensive brands may do. Prepare your own gifts and save big without going through any hassle.

3. If others can do it, ask for their help.

Bustling in the city malls and spending your own money in one go may be ineffective, especially if you’re going through a financial drought. What would be your best alternative then? In the Philippines, there are such things as “Bayanihan,” or the well-appreciated gesture of help and assistance from our family, neighbor and friends. In this way, why not ask a loved one to buy for you a few gifts from your Christmas list? You may pay them in full right after, or perhaps pay up in installments, rendering it as a form of gift from them. This may seem like asking too much from a family or friend, but there are times in which you definitely have a valid reason, perhaps needing to get away from stress and they will surely understand your reason for avoiding it all this holiday season.

4. Recycle old, unused items from your home.

We’re not talking about furniture, rather well-kept appliances that you may not have utilized due to your fear of high electricity bills. An unused iron or rice cooker may be a great gift for your relatives. No need to spend much for wrapping as well, you may decorate a few layers of bond paper with Christmas patterns and redecorate with a cheap ribbon to top it off.

5. Be aware of discounts online.

The best way to get real-time information on available vouchers and sales within your favorite malls is to check their official social media page or website. This is related to the very first tip in this list, as you would be able to plan ahead of time, preparing you for any possible holiday rush or panic.

So, you had already allotted enough for your shopping list, but forgot a few more acquaintances in the process. To your surprise, you may need more amount than what you had listed, just to make amends for the sudden change in your budget. Well, worry no more as Cebuana Lhuiller offers its Happy Loan Service. It is a multi-purpose loan amounting to Php 5,000 offered to any individual who is employed, self-employed, student, or a remittance beneficiary. The best thing is, almost anyone can avail this service, as any individual with source of income (employed, self-employed, remittance, allowances & pension), falls within the age bracket of 21-65 years old, and has passed the company’s credit scoring guidelines may avail of this spectacular opportunity to receive a few extras this Yuletide season. So what are you waiting for? Visit your nearest Cebuana Lhuillier branch now – we assure a fast, easy and secure transaction.

Cebuana Lhuillier, one of the country’s leading microfinancial companies, has forged a partnership with Bayad Center to further boost its domestic remittance service in the country.
The partnership officially makes Bayad Center as one of Cebuana Lhuillier’s Pera Padala Authorized Agents, which adds 250 transaction outlets more to the company’s already existing over 1,800 branches nationwide.

“As one of the most trusted companies in the financial industry, it is really an honor to have Bayad Center as an addition to our list of remittance agents. This partnership will open new doors of opportunities for both of our businesses and will definitely provide our clients an added fast, easy, and safe option for their domestic remittance needs,” Cebuana Lhuillier President and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier said during the partnership signing on September 19, 2016 at Makati City.

Known in the Philippines as a bills payment service provider, Bayad Center can now accommodate sending and receiving money remittance to and from any Cebuana Lhuillier branch in any part of the country.

With the addition of Bayad Center, Cebuana Lhuillier’s roster of domestic remittance partners increases to 31. These partners form a network of 2,561 branches located nationwide.

Also present at the event were Cebuana Lhuillier Chairman and Philippine Ambassador to Portugal Philippe Jones Lhuillier, Cebuana Lhuillier General Manager Hamilton Angluben, Bayad Center President and CEO Manuel Tuason, and Bayad Center Senior Vice President and COO Francispito Quevedo.

We all have our home sweet home. It’s the place where we relax, take time off from work, and even celebrate with our friends during some weekends. However, as much as it may deem to be the safest place for us and our family, cautious measures should always be implemented so that we may avoid possible injuries and big amounts of expenses, especially when disasters such as calamities and storms arise. Yes, we shouldn’t need to worry if our house is well-built, but some disasters are strong and unavoidable, so much that what we can do is just simply prepare for any type of catastrophes. With that being said, a home insurance is always a good option when it comes to protecting our home and financial well-being. We had enumerated a few valuable tips on getting the most out of your home insurance.

1. Know your home’s value.

As with the prices of things we buy in the supermarket, knowing the value of our home may save us hassle in the future. This would help the insurance company and home builders to determine how much claim would be given to you, in such time that your home is damaged due to calamities. This is not limited to storms, as fire and other accidents that happened within your home that caused the damage/destruction may also be covered. Take note that there are premiums that would extend some coverage, which is why it is wise to research about home insurance policies as well.

2. Cause and effect.

Speaking of policies, know that external factors matter when it comes to choosing a premium. May it be crime rates in your neighborhood, your living habits, your home location, how close you are to highways and busy areas, trees around or near your home, etc. your surrounding will always have an effect on your home. The more risk your home faces from these external factors, the higher the premium that your home insurance should be entitled to. It may cost much at first, but it is always better to be prepared for everything.

3. Prevention is better than cure. It will also bring discounts.

This is true in most cases, as some insurance companies are willing to give you a deduced price on your premium expenses if you have safety measures in your home. Things such as a home burglary alarm system, well-maintained bolt locks, fire alarms, well-maintained wiring and electrical system, a nearby fire hydrant, a nearby police department, and a well-structured and maintained stairs, sidewalks, driveways, and entrances (less chance of injury), etc. may show the insurance company that you clearly care about your home and may share that concern well enough to provide you discounts. The reason that most insurance companies would do this type of offer is that some people with no best interest at heart would try to scam the companies by purposively damaging their own home, and then blame it on the lack of security measures.

After reading our tips, you decide to avail a home insurance so that you may be protected from the unforeseen occurrences of nature; however, you can’t decide which one to go for. No need to worry, as Cebuana Lhuillier Pawnshop offers their HomeCARE Insurance, a very affordable Residential Fire Insurance coverage. It offers loss protection to buildings and residential dwellings including their contents against perils of fire, lightning and other allied perils such as earthquake, typhoon and flood. Never fear the force of nature, ever again. So what are you waiting for? Visit your nearest Cebuana Lhuillier branch now – we assure a fast, easy, and secure transaction.