A young balikbayan indulges her love for travel with cheap fares
By Heinz Bulos

Mina Rivera, 26, has traveled all over the world. Now based in the country working for an international humanitarian organization, she satisfies her wanderlust by taking advantage of the fierce competition in the airline industry.

She signed up at Cebu Pacific’s website at cebupacificair.com for its Low Fare Alerts, where she gets notified of special fare promos via e-mail. Everyday fares to the Visayas region for instance are P568 each way, but when they go on sale, she can get them as low as P199. When Cebu Pacific introduces new routes, they can go at dirt cheap prices, such as P99 one-way from Manila to Laoag.

Now, before you say “Wow Philippines!,” please remember that these are base fares. Cebu Pacific will add fuel surcharges and other taxes to these prices. For fares that start at P199, your final price will be about P2,500. For fares that start at P99, your final price will be about P1,800. In the end, these are still quite cheap. Try booking a last-minute flight, and it can cost you as much as P8,000.

Mina says, “The key is to book early. Once you have received a Low Fare Alert, grab the calendar and find out when the next three-day weekend will be. Then, start booking your flight.”

She adds that it is also cheaper to book online. You can save at least P100 for booking your own flight instead of going to the ticket counter. She concludes, “Traveling has never been this fun because these days, it has gotten so cheap!”

By Heinz Bulos

1. Do full loads of laundry. When using your washing machine, wash a full load of clothing as this is the most water- and energy-efficient. Do the same if you use a dishwasher, though it’s a better idea to just hand-wash the dishes.

2. Don’t let the water run. When washing either produce or dishes, don’t wash under running water. Use a basin or plug and fill one sink with wash water and the other with rinse water to use as little water as possible. The same advice applies in the bathroom. Don’t leave the tap running while brushing, soaping, or shaving.

3. Go low-flow. Retrofit faucets by installing aerators with flow restrictors. Place spray gun nozzles on the end of your hose so you don’t waste too much water when washing you car or sprinkling your plants. Install a low-flow showerhead and a low-flow toilet. Newer showerheads and toilets cut the usage by half to about 2.5 gallons and 1.6 gallons per minute, respectively, saving tens of thousands of gallons a year.

4. Use water outdoors at night. Less sun means slower evaporation. Water your garden or wash the car at early evening night or early morning.

5. Fix water leaks. A leaky faucet will add up to around 2,700 gallons of wasted water over a year. So check both indoor and outdoor faucets periodically for drips.

A frequent flier enjoys some of the best things in life for free
By Heinz Bulos

Life has so much to offer, and it doesn’t cost a lot to enjoy it. Take for instance Jo-Ann Galimpin, 35, who works for an international development institution. Traveling the world is part of her work but when she takes trips for short vacations, she does what smart consumers do: do research and take low-cost carriers.

“There are plenty of budget fares from Clark and even Manila going to Singapore or Kuala Lumpur and onwards to Cambodia, India, etc.,” Jo-Ann shares. “Do your research before traveling. A friend swears by Lonely Planet for tips on accommodation and tours.” When she flies to the United States, she makes use of Northwest Airlines’s cash + miles promo, which is available usually from September to December.

She really gets practical when it comes to food and entertainment. She avoids eating out by bringing lunch from home. But when she does, she eschews drinks that can add 20%- 40% to your bill. She also foregoes going to coffee shops like Starbucks or Figaro. Instead, she buys beans from them and brews the coffee herself.

Going to the mall is a quick way to separate you from your money. So Jo-Ann eats at home first and brings some quick snacks and water to avoid spending. Better yet, she advises, “Instead of going to malls on weekends, bring your family or friends to parks or museums, or take a short trip to Tagaytay or Laguna for some fun in the sun.”

By Heinz Bulos

1. Buy energy efficient. Look for appliances with the highest Energy Efficient Factor (EEF) as it is more efficient and costs less to operate. If you replace an old EER 5 air conditioning unit with a new EER 10 unit, you’ll cut your costs in half.

2. Use compact fluorescent lamps (CFL). A 16-watt CFL produces the same light as a 60-watt incandescent bulb but consumes 75% less energy and lasts 10 times longer.

3. Clean and maintain your appliances. The three biggest energy hogs at home are your air conditioner, refrigerator, and cooking range.  Make sure to maintain them regularly to keep them running efficiently. Clean the filter and coils of your AC as a clogged filter uses 5% more energy. Clean your refrigerator’s condenser coils, which remove heat, at least once a year. Check that the seals on the door of both your fridge and oven are air-tight.

4. Use your air conditioner efficiently. Keep it in the shade as that saves 5% less energy than when exposed directly to sunlight. Turn lights off to reduce the heat. Use light colored window shades or curtains to reflect sunlight. Keep all doors and windows closed tight. Install a plug-in timer to shut if off automatically or programmable thermostat that can adjust the temperature on its own.

5. Turn off, unplug. Turn the lights off if you leave a room for more than 15 minutes. Unplug your electronics if you’re not using them, including transformers or voltage regulators as they consume more electricity when they heat up.

A pastor and his family adopts Biblical principles to frugal living
By Heinz Bulos

Who says the Bible isn’t practical? Just in case you didn’t know, “money” is mentioned more times than any other topic in Scriptures. Joey Batungbacal, 53, a pastor at a local Christian church, knows this. “The first I’ve learned,” he says, “is that God owns everything and we’re just stewards of His blessings. If He can trust you with little things, then He can trust you bigger things.”

To put this principle to work, Pastor Joey applies prioritization. For this family of five, that means God first, spouse second, children third. They tithe 10% of their income to the church, a practice that dates back to the Old Testament. He explains, “Give God what is due Him. Whatever comes in goes back to Him. This is a given,” adding that their experience proves that if they give more, more blessings come. He cautions however that people should not take this mean that they’re free to do whatever they please with their lives.

When it comes to family matters, Pastor Joey consults with his wife for financial decisions. They work together on a monthly budget, which reflect the priorities they’ve set. They also set aside 10% to 15% of their income for savings, particularly for family vacations. He points to a verse in Proverbs 6 about the ant which stored food little by little. In his case, he was able to save up for educational plans for his kids, two of whom are already working professionals, as well as life insurance and estate protection.

They also use the envelope system, wherein during payroll, they insert cash in envelopes labeled according to their budget’s expense categories. “What’s left is our personal baon for 15 days,” he says. This way, he explains, they don’t fall for the idea of false prosperity, thinking they have so much cash to spend.

They also make sure to differentiate wants from needs, asking themselves if what they want to spend on is really needed. Pastor Joey notes, “Even if it’s a need, but the money’s not there yet, we don’t borrow. That’s a signal it’s not the right time to buy.”  Instead they save up for it. And often, he adds, after waiting, they realize they don’t really need it after all. “We are careful about impulse buying,” he shares.

Food takes up much of their budget, so his family makes sure they have this cost under control. For instance, their house help buys food at the wet market, which Pastor Joey notes is 30% cheaper than at the supermarket. Before they troop to the mall, they eat a heavy meal and return home before dinner. They also gave up on things they can do without, like soft drinks, which he admits they used to consume morning, noon, and night. “The little things add up,” he shares.

Based on experience, Pastor Joey also advises against buying second-hand cars because you’ll “inherit the headaches of the first owner.” So he always buys brand new, since he can break it in properly and extend its useful life. It’s also important to follow the car’s regular maintenance schedule, he says, since that prevents costly repairs and results in a higher resale value. “And develop good driving habits,” he adds.

For a family who loves to travel, Pastor Joey is as meticulous about preparing the travel budget, saying, “We’ll go only when we can meet the budget.” So they wait for special packaged tours and “buy 1-take 1” promos, usually during the off-peak rainy season of June to September, and they plan and reserve in advance.