money matters
money is but a bunch of numbers.
at least to me, lately. i get my payslip every pay period, but it's just a record of what will go into my bank account. it's a voided check, stating that i get so and so dollars for a couple of weeks' worth of work. once i get the slip, i login to my online bank account and see that the said amount has been direct deposited to my account. just a bunch of numbers.
and when i go to the grocery, i just swipe my credit card and every item on my cart is paid for. come billing period, hubby je pays our credit card bills online. again, just a bunch of numbers. same thing for the other utility bills we have. when we're not paying for them online, we're calling on the company over the phone, giving them our credit card information, and everything should be paid for in a few minutes.
and when i need to pay je for something he bought in my behalf, i just transfer money from my account to his. again, just a bunch of numbers.
i've gotten so used to carrying money back home, that in my first few weeks here, i carry a $100 bill in my wallet. when my sis-in-law's friends found out i carry a $100 bill around, they considered me "rich". what is wrong with these people?
and then months passed and i saw the convenience of having a credit card. actually, i'm just an authorized user of hubby's credit card. nobody wants to approve my applications because i don't have enough credit points to prove i have a good credit standing. and ironically, you need to have a credit card to build the credit points. it's like which comes first, the chicken or the egg? my last resort to get approved is to apply for a card that has an annual fee... rip off!
anyways, so i finally got the hang of using credit cards. i only carry $20-$30 on my wallet now. $10 of which should be in $1 denomination: for tips, vending machines, and asian stores who won't accept credit cards unless you're paying for at least $10. credit cards are not only convenient, it makes us earn back what we spend. we earn "reward points". get a cent back for a dollar you spend. it does seem like a small amount, but when it accumulates over time, it's like getting free money! of course, you need to pay your credit card bills on time, else, you just lose the reward points to the interest rates.
i must admit, i'm not very good in handling financial matters. that's je's department. i only stare at the series of numbers on my screen, and know that that's my money. just a bunch of numbers. =P
ps. people might be wondering... je and i have our "my money" and "our money". we have joint accounts, but we also decided to keep separate personal bank accounts. no peeking into the credit card charges when we want to buy something for each other.
at least to me, lately. i get my payslip every pay period, but it's just a record of what will go into my bank account. it's a voided check, stating that i get so and so dollars for a couple of weeks' worth of work. once i get the slip, i login to my online bank account and see that the said amount has been direct deposited to my account. just a bunch of numbers.
and when i go to the grocery, i just swipe my credit card and every item on my cart is paid for. come billing period, hubby je pays our credit card bills online. again, just a bunch of numbers. same thing for the other utility bills we have. when we're not paying for them online, we're calling on the company over the phone, giving them our credit card information, and everything should be paid for in a few minutes.
and when i need to pay je for something he bought in my behalf, i just transfer money from my account to his. again, just a bunch of numbers.
i've gotten so used to carrying money back home, that in my first few weeks here, i carry a $100 bill in my wallet. when my sis-in-law's friends found out i carry a $100 bill around, they considered me "rich". what is wrong with these people?
and then months passed and i saw the convenience of having a credit card. actually, i'm just an authorized user of hubby's credit card. nobody wants to approve my applications because i don't have enough credit points to prove i have a good credit standing. and ironically, you need to have a credit card to build the credit points. it's like which comes first, the chicken or the egg? my last resort to get approved is to apply for a card that has an annual fee... rip off!
anyways, so i finally got the hang of using credit cards. i only carry $20-$30 on my wallet now. $10 of which should be in $1 denomination: for tips, vending machines, and asian stores who won't accept credit cards unless you're paying for at least $10. credit cards are not only convenient, it makes us earn back what we spend. we earn "reward points". get a cent back for a dollar you spend. it does seem like a small amount, but when it accumulates over time, it's like getting free money! of course, you need to pay your credit card bills on time, else, you just lose the reward points to the interest rates.
i must admit, i'm not very good in handling financial matters. that's je's department. i only stare at the series of numbers on my screen, and know that that's my money. just a bunch of numbers. =P
ps. people might be wondering... je and i have our "my money" and "our money". we have joint accounts, but we also decided to keep separate personal bank accounts. no peeking into the credit card charges when we want to buy something for each other.
posted by beng at
12:25 PM
9 Comments:
am an avid "plastic" user, too. I also don't usually carry cash with me. Sometimes, my wallet is completely devoid of cash (as in $0). =)
So, it was difficult to adjust sa Philippines where not everywhere you go accept credit cards. Hehe.
By
Binut/Keyt, at 6:58 PM
ditto... i carry my credit card with me always. i dont leave home without it. hehe we have Octopus card here, which also doubles as cash. ala e-purse. can pay the bus/tram fare, groceries, food shops, 7-11, etc with this card. so convenient.
hirap lng sa credit card is i tend to spend, and spend, and spend. kaya pahirapan sa bayaran. haha oh, and with credit card, me bonus points pa. hehe
By
Anonymous, at 12:44 AM
wow! starting to be americanized! hehe. naku we used to have chase as a client before and un nga d people who wants to start building credit, would have to sacrifice having an annual rate of 19%. kaloka!
By
Anonymous, at 10:41 AM
i looked at my credit card just now, nabubura na yung pirma ko sa likod. that's how used it is. =P
By
beng, at 3:57 PM
hehe ... sabi nila it's better not to sign the back ... lagay mo na lang daw SEE ID ... para walang ID theft.
By
Binut/Keyt, at 11:52 PM
after being here for a year.. wala pa din akong credit card.. i guess i dont find the need for it yet.. ive my atm with me though.. debit card.. so like you guys, i tend to carry around $50 for eating at hawkers and for cabs =)
about the 'my money' and 'our money'.. we have that too =) 'our money' started when we got engaged and we have it till now.. and you're right about the 'my money' bengers.. like reading my mind.. =)
By
jane, at 11:55 PM
talaga binut? sabihin ko nga kay mister. =)
janey, better get used to it, para makabuild kayo ng credit. credit card is the easiest way to build credit. pag maga-apply ka for loan, kailangan may credit points ka . you'll need a loan to buy a house (unless milyonarya ka na, hehehe!), or a car (it's never wise to buy a car in cash). just my $.02.
By
beng, at 11:19 AM
pareho tyong may joint account but not on "separate personal accounts". Every penny goes to one pot lang...
Suggest ko din un VISA worldperks credit card from North West. You earn mileage points everytime you use your card --- every dollar. Just make sure you pay everything on time and wag kang magtitira ng utang bcoz the interest rate is 11.99%...un lang un catch dun. So far, Rodel and I have accumulated enough points to for a roundtrip tickets back home - both of us ;-)
By
Liz, at 12:11 PM
uy liz! i think meron si mister non, pero bihira nya gamitin. yung mga small ones, sa Chase-Mastercard Rewards credit card namin china-charge... 5% cash back!
have you heard of Bank of America's Keep the Change program? we earned $250 ata don! hehehe!
By
beng, at 9:36 AM
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