A communications professional commutes—and sometimes even takes his bike—to work
By Heinz Bulos

Driving a car to work from the South Metro can take, well, its toll. The highway toll alone if you pass through the Coastal Road will set you back P150, two-way every week. Gas from Las Piñas to Pasay is at least P700 a week.

So what Anthony Rola, 31, does is take public transportation, or sometimes his bicycle, for his one-hour commute. It doesn’t hurt that the communications professional and father of three is a sports buff.

Your initial investment for a bike though is not exactly cheap. Tonton says a good mountain bike costs around P15,000. And if you don’t want to die early, you’ll need a pollution mask that’s about P1,500. Still, that beats buying a car, plunking P150 thousand as down payment and spending P15,000 for the monthly amortization.

Taking a bike means huge savings, or as Tonton notes, “a whopping P850 a week or P3,400 a month.”

If riding a bike is just too much of a hassle for you, use public transportation. Tonton rides a trike, an air-conditioned bus, and a jeepney to get to work and back. It costs him just P575 a week, or P2,300 a month. That saves him at least P1,100 monthly, not counting daily parking fees, periodic maintenance and eventual repair costs, and annual registration fees.

By Heinz Bulos

1. Buy the right car. Get a car that’s fuel efficient, has good sources of spare parts and service, and with high resale value. Avoid the ones favored by carjackers, which naturally also have the steepest insurance premiums.

2. Buy a used car. Buy a pre-owned car, or what we like to call second-hand. When you buy a new car, the moment you it’s driven off the lot, it depreciates significantly and loses a big portion of its market value. A used car that’s only a couple of years old will come out a better value. If you’re uneasy about buying a lemon from a used car dealer, buy a certified pre-owned car direct from the manufacturer or from an individual you trust (have a mechanic inspect it). If you still want to buy a brand new car, drop the dealer’s options like extended warranties, rust proofing, paint sealant, fabric protection, and the like, which adds to the cost.

3. Keep your car at tip-top shape. Follow your car’s recommended maintenance schedule. It will save you a bundle in repair costs. There are some things you can do yourself, like changing the oil and filters. And check your tire pressure as under-inflated tires will result to higher gas consumption.

4. Gas up right. Schedule your trips to the gas station so you can pick the one with the cheapest gas (Petron is the price leader among the biggies). And fill up at night or early morning to avoid too much gas from evaporating. Don’t run on empty because your car will run less efficiently and use more gas. Replenish when you have half a tank.

5. Be a good driver. Don’t be a speed demon. Slow down at posted speed limits to save on fuel. Avoid sudden stops and starts as that uses up more gas and is bad for your brake system. Once you start the engine, don’t take too long to drive off. Similarly, avoid idling for more than one minute. Just shut it off. Unload stuff you don’t need as this decreases fuel economy. Don’t think you save gas by opening the windows at high speeds instead of using the air conditioner, since open windows create drag and reduces mileage. You do save fuel if you open the windows when driving at lower speeds. Park in the shade or use a car shade to keep your car cool and not let your AC work hard when you start. Plan your trips well and choose the right routes to avoid traffic jams and wasting gas.

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.”