Top 10 Common Filipino Sidelines to Make Extra Income of 2014

No doubt that Filipinos are fond of sidelines or so-called "raket" such as selling stuff along sidewalks, streets, offices, schools or house-to-house. Social networking and internet access have great impact in changing the shape of our personal businesses. Check the top 10 common Filipino sidelines of 2014.

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Philippine Start-up Report

The World Start-up Report, led by Ron Hose, a Silicon Valley Entrepreneur and Investor, shared an interesting quick report on the Philippines. 

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How to Make Your Cash Last Until Payday

Posted on Jan 15 by LenddoFriend (Lenddo.com.ph)

With all the expenses for food, gifts, and decorations, the past Christmas season certainly made you stretch your wallets to the breaking point. In that case, you’ll surely feel the struggle for money just before payday.

Don’t you think it’s time to include “spending money wisely” on your 2014 New Year’s Resolution list?

Here’s a six-step plan to help you survive until the next payday, not just for this holiday season, but for the rest of your life.

Step 1. List down all your purchases
The best technique to keep an eye on your money is to note down all your purchases (however small) in a spending diary or money management app. By recording everything you spend, you’ll always know exactly how much cash you have left and you’ll know where all your money is going.

Step 2. Figure how much you’ve got and how much you need

To determine how big your budget shortfall is, put a figure on the money coming in every month and the money going out. List all your expenses including all your household bills, as well as your day-to-day spending. If your “leisure” spending far exceeds your “household” spending, then you may have a problem that needs to be solved right away. (Hint: You spend too much.)

Step 3. Budget your money.

You need to start thinking about making some budget cutbacks if you’re spending more than you’re earning. If you find you have a tendency to fritter on certain items, try to cut them out or, at least, replace them with cheaper alternatives.

Step 4. Use cash, not your credit card.

It’s difficult to track your spending if you use your credit card to pay for things. Unlike if you have hard cash in your hands, it’s much easier to see when it’s running out.

Step 5. Make changes.

There are literally thousands of ways you can make savings. From the obvious things – walking or cycling to work, cancelling an unused gym membership, taking homemade lunches to work, shopping around for your food – to the more obscure. It is best to eliminate your unnecessary purchases and luxuries.

Step 6. Make bigger savings.

Give your finances a good overhaul. You might find once your finances have a clean bill of health, you actually have some spare cash. Continue all your hard work by putting this extra money into a savings account.
Once you succeed all these steps, you should find your salary lasting all the way to payday and beyond!

Image Source: bizbuilder.com

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2014 Freelancer Career Kick-Off - Manila

Elance has teamed up with Payoneer, the global payment solution in sponsoring a free and informative sessions for the freelancers in Manila, Philippines. 

This event will happen on February 22, 2014, Saturday 4:00PM. No specific location yet. Event includes:

▪ Free training session

▪ Introductions to Elance and Payoneer

▪ Success stories

▪ Panel discussion with local guest speakers

▪ Networking with the team and fellow entrepreneurs

There will also be a drawing for an Apple iPad Mini.

Plus they’ll bring food and beverages, as well as other prizes. And they’ll honor top-performing freelancers from the area. So join us and take your career to the next level! 

For more details visit Elance.com

Book now at Eventbrite

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Cost of Working in Manila

Manila or formally known as Metro Manila is a vast mega city composed of 16 cities and 1 municipality. Metro Manila is the Philippines densest city in terms of population with around 19,000 people living in a square kilometer. Almost 25% of the country’s population is living in contiguous zone of the capital. The growing number of population is compensated by the growing number of business districts. The growth of prominent business districts is one of the major developments in the Metro that became the number one hotspot for the Filipino job seekers.  The well-known business districts are clustered into (1)Ayala/Makati, (2)Ortigas in Pasig  (3)BGC in Taguig/Makati, (4)Binondo in Manila. There are more than 20 emerging districts that have sprung up in the mega city, to name the few these are Eastwood City, Araneta Cyberpark, UP Techno Hub, Rockwell Center and Filinvest Corporate City.

Despite of the congestions and full pack of uncertainties in the capital city, people are still trying to search and hoping for a better future in here. We have hundreds of reasons why we keep on visiting and working in Metro Manila.  One of our reasons may be, it generally pays higher salary compared to provincial cities with salary range of Php12,000 – Php25,000 per month.

Although Manila pays higher salary but it also offers higher cost of living. And the question is how much it would cost to work in Manila. Here are some tips to save and live with the budget.

Budget	Min	Max
Meals	Php3,150	Php6,000
Rent	Php2,000	Php2,500
Transportation	Php700	Php1,000
Food Groceries	Php500	Php1,000
Personal Items	Php500	Php1,000
Clothing	Php500	Php700
Mobile Load	Php300	Php500
Miscellaneous	Php500	Php700
Total	Php8,150	Php13,400

Meals

Your daily meal budget for shall range from Php105 to Php200 for 3 meals. A Php35 budget meal is the cheapest meal you can buy in local street food stall or so called “JolliJeep”. This Jollijeep offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. If you want to cook for your own, there are available local wet markets in the local areas. Cooking for your own may be the healthiest meal but for this busy city it may not be the practical way especially for those living in a boarding house wherein cooking is not allowed.

Rent

If you don’t have your family or relatives living near your work place, living in a boarding house is the best way to cut your budget. A Php2,000 to Php2,500 rent fee will already provide you a reasonable comfort. Security, facilities, food accessibility, transportation accessibility and price should be your primary consideration. You must plan and expect for a 1 month advance, 2 months deposit policy or in short 3 months initial payment.

Transportation

Jeepneys and buses are the cheapest way to commute in the Metro. The flat rate for jeeps and buses are Php8 and Php12 respectively.  In riding a bus or jeep, you must move quickly, never hesitate to ask, keep your eyes on your bag, and never put your money or cellphone in your pocket.  Living in a ride away is a good choice but walk away is the best.

Food Groceries

Don’t forget to stop at the grocery store to buy your snacks. Aside from your meal you must have a stored food on your boarding house or work place to solve your starvation. Buying in a grocery stores like PureGold, SM Hypermarket and etc is cheaper compared to buying in convenient stores like 7Eleven and Ministop.  

Personal Items

Hygiene and grooming must also be prioritized especially if you are working in a corporate or professional world. A Php500 – Php1,000 monthly budget is already enough. Try to list down your usual grooming products and sum it up.

Clothing

Monthly clothing? Yes. It is better if you buy one clothing a month. But of course think about your budget. If you think this is not your priority, well it is just okay as long as so still have your presentable clothes. In choosing your clothes, you must consider the quality and price not the brand or price alone.

Mobile Load

You need this to communicate your family, relative and friends across the country.     

Miscellaneous

You should have your miscellaneous budget for the unplanned or variable expenses like going out with friends, occasional dinner or lunch out, and other fitness and social activities like running. In this case, your above budget will not be affected. But remember that your miscellaneous should not be higher than your top 3 primary budget.

Bottomline:

Living in Manila while living in your budget will cost you at around Php8,150 to Php13,400. It is not a guarantee that you will live in a very comfortable life since it always depends on your lifestyle such as food choices, preferred activity and spending habit. To improve your budget management you should always track your usual expenses and modify it if necessary or simply adjust your spending habit.  

Image Source: Fineartamerica

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