Year: 2019

Summer is finally here, and it is the perfect opportunity for us to spend time with our family. While it may be fun to go on an out-of-town trip with them, precautionary measures should be taken in order to ensure that the house we’re going to leave behind wouldn’t be a fire hazard. You have the scorching heat to thank for this, and while it may seem likely that a natural disaster couldn’t be stopped, its causes and effects are a different story overall. Prevention will always be better than cure, which is why we have prepared four precautionary measures for your home during the summer:

1)  Check all of the wirings.

The common cause of fire in homes and establishments is faulty wiring. Before you leave for the summer, be sure to check all of your house’s wirings. If your house has a ceiling passage, then check that all the lighting sockets are in place. See to it that no mouse nibbles are on the wires and that no rubber strips are loose. Even a slight cut on the outer parts of your wires can cause a spark, so you must not leave your wiring unchecked.

2) Check the condition of your kitchenware.

Most specifically, your LPG. Even the simplest gas leak may cause insurmountable amounts of damage in property. Always remember that fire incidences do not claim only a particular set of item, as it also ravages all your personal belongings. The fact that you’ll be leaving home with no one to check on your property while you’re gone only means that you should make sure that everything is in place. Check that the LPG hose is properly attached, that there are no holes on the surface. You may apply a mix of dishwashing soap and water in order to detect any unusual air bubbles coming out of the tank.

3) Unplug everything before you leave.

Okay, so your wirings are in place, no nibbles, no loose sockets, etc., but did you unplug everything before you left? Never leave any of your appliances plugged in while you’re away. This is like hitting two birds with one stone; you’d be able to avoid overloading your electrical appliances while saving a lot on your bills when you get back. Appliances, like the television, refrigerator, and electric fans still consume electricity even when they’re turned off.

4) Ask a neighbor to check your home from time to time.

So you’ve managed to tick all of the boxes, wirings, kitchenware, and all appliances are unplugged, but alas, natural disasters are always unavoidable, especially during the summer season. In that case, ask a well-trusted neighbor of yours to check on the house from time to time while the whole family’s away. Tell them that you’ll only be away for a short while and that they wouldn’t even need to monitor it every day, only a couple of times a week. A well-trusted and fast-thinking neighbor would not only be able to alert you when something goes wrong, but they may also save your home if ever something occurs out of the blue.

 

With all of those in mind, one main way of protecting your home from fire hazard is availing Microinsurance, that offers protection to buildings and residential dwellings including their contents against perils of fire, lightning and other allied perils such as earthquake, typhoon and flood.

You may be wondering which establishment would be best for availing microinsurance. Look no further than Cebuana Lhuiller, which offers affordable insurance products to help Filipinos avail of financial services and privileges. They have innovative microinsurance products and services that promise to minimize impact of distress and misfortune on one’s financial position in case of any unfortunate circumstances. Feel free to visit your nearest branch for more information.

Cars are like humans – they should be taken care of the same way that we would take care of our body. The thing is, while a car may not be sentient enough to indicate that there’s something wrong with its engine, tires, and other important parts, you can definitely see and experience its current condition after a few round trips. If you happen to see or feel that there is something wrong with your ride, then it may be high time for you to do a few maintenance routines, especially this summer season, where the summer heat may do more harm than good to your ride.

1) Water your engine if needed.

Never miss this important step. Humans require water, especially during the summer season in order to rehydrate and cool down; the same thing applies to your car. An overheated engine is equivalent to a non-functioning one, so you might as well avoid overheating your engine at all cost. Take an extra gallon of water with you when traveling during noon time. Be sure to stop as well if your engine begins to emit an unusual sound.

2) Check your tires.

Regardless of your tire brand or quality, always remember that it’s still made of rubber, and habitual travels on the hot roads and asphalts would only contribute to its wear and tear. Check your tires and never hesitate to change a few of them at the first sign of tear. The lives of your passengers would depend on it; a broken or ruptured tire due to the extreme heat would be very dangerous to say the least.

3) Check your air conditioning system.

Okay, so all your car parts are working like charm, except for the air conditioner. Imagine that your travel comes to a sudden halt just because of a non-moving traffic. It may not sound bad (you can roll down the windows, after all), but summer breeze isn’t really much of a comfort either. You’re stuck in traffic, in blaring heat, with no other alternative than to wait it all out. Your travel would have been much comfortable with a functioning aircon. And this is even more critical when you’re driving your family on a summer road trip, don’t let them experience the extreme summer heat; maintain your air conditioner at all cost.

4) Check your brakes.

This should be one of your main priorities. It doesn’t even matter if you’re checking your ride for a summer trip or a winter season trip. The fact that your brakes should be intact at all cost would only mean that your safety heavily depends on it (only preceded by your safety driving skills). Make sure that the brake is still intact, still has a strong grip, and doesn’t loosen during those split second decisions on the road. Be worry-free, check your brakes.

Speaking of being worry-free, you may be looking for a full-pledged car insurance service that has nothing but your best interest in mind. Having car insurance is important, especially as you’ll have lots of long-distance travels, such as this summer family trip. With that being said, nothing beats Cebuana Lhuillier’s 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.

Nothing can be more fun than a summer road trip. You have your family with you, ready to embark on another memorable outing. You may either choose to go out of town or somewhere near and affordable, the most important thing is everyone will have a wonderful time, full of fun memories to be shared. But like any other road trip, preparations should be done in order to avoid any forms of hassle along the way. Remember, if something unexpected were to occur during the trip, it would not be only you shouldering the experience, but your family as well. Here are 4 important preparations before embarking on a summer trip:

1) Make a list of all the things you’d need to pack.

We’re not just talking about clothes and swim wear. Make sure that you have all the necessary footwear that you’ll need on your trip. Beach vacations usually only require slippers, but malling and hotel entry may require you and the kids to at least be presentable in rubber shoes or crocs. It isn’t more on the fashion, but rather the function. Never forget your IDs and ATM cards as well, as you wouldn’t want to travel empty handed, of course.

2) Brings lots of water.

This is most applicable, especially on long trips. A bottle or two would suffice if your destination can be reached in only a few hours, but a few days’ worth of travel would indeed require at least a few gallons of water. Remember, it’s the summer, where the heat can be quite unforgiving, rehydrate and replenish your body fluids, as you’ll be needing that, especially during those long hours of travel.

3) Never forget your charger/power bank.

Everyone loves selfies but hates their cellphone battery getting low on power. Avoid this experience by bringing a charger and power bank of your own. If everyone in the family has their own cellphones, then each one should bring their charger, corresponding to their own gadget. If you have a separate digicam, then a power bank would be sufficient as well. Never run out of batteries, especially as you’d want to document all of your happy and unforgettable moments.

4) Save up for the trip.

There’s no point in leaving if you have no budget. The thing is, you can save up for the summer trip during the early months of the year. You’d even be luckier if you happen to have a few amounts from your Christmas bonus left. If saving isn’t really doable for you, then perhaps having a part-time job would do good as well. Earning a little extra wouldn’t hurt, as long as it would result to profit rather than spending. Pawning off your pre-loved items is a good idea as well. If you happen to have any unused item from your bundles, then at least it’ll do good to pawn them off in order to gain budget for your summer outing, rather than leaving them for a long time to collect dust. If you’re looking for a pawnshop that would provide you with the most honest and highest appraisal possible then 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 collaterals. They also lead the pawning industry by offering safety and the highest appraisal rate in the industry in its more than 2,500 branches nationwide. Visit your nearest Cebuana Lhuillier branch now – we assure a fast, easy and secure transaction.

Summer is finally here! While for most people it’s a perfect opportunity to use up that vacation leave in their work contract, there are some who would rather set cash aside for a long term investment. Yes, summer is the perfect time to save. There are temptations in spending much for a luxurious out of town vacation, but even that can be avoided, while still having fun during the summer. This doesn’t mean you’d sacrifice the calmness of the warm weather for indoor activities, but rather, you can moderate your usual summer spending in order to save more than you had saved before.

1) To save on electricity, no more dryers.
If you happen to use a washing machine each time you’d do the laundry, then chances are you may be utilizing the dryer after. This adds further to your electricity bill. Since it’s the summer, the heat would be enough for your wet clothes to dry, even after hanging them for just 30 minutes. You would no longer need to use the dryer after every wash. If you’re the type to wash your clothes manually, then you’d be able to save more out of your electricity bill.

2) No school expenses. (For students)
Much of a student’s expenditures come from school activities and other extra-curricular assignments. No lunch money and fare for commute as the kids/teens are at home, hence, the parents would be able to save for further expenses in the upcoming school year. Of course, summer vacation also entails a possibility of other travel expenditures, especially for those family trips, but they wouldn’t be much compared to the accumulated amounts expenditures during the school year.

3) No alternate routes. (For employees)
The thing about being an employee is that you have no summer vacation; hence, your expenses are continuous. In such case, you can still save money, due to the fact that there is no traffic during the summer. Most of the time, you’re running late for work due to traffic, so in order to reach the office on time, you take the extra ride and spend more daily on alternate routes. Summer vacation allows you to lessen your daily commute cost by allowing you to reach your work on time without the need for alternate routes.

4) Perfect time for a summer job.
With enough time management, you can apply for an additional source of income. Summer jobs come in many forms; they may either range from being a delivery man to being a cashier in your nearby restaurant. Nonetheless, the most efficient way to save during summer is to earn more than what you can during the other seasons.

With all of that being said, you’re probably looking for a savings bank in the Philippines that you’d be able to trust with all of your hard-earned money. Look no further than Cebuana Lhuiller’s Micro Savings Account. Initially offered in Cebuana Lhuillier Rural Bank , it is now available through our entire Cebuana Lhuillier branch networks. Simply put, you can use your 24K card at any of our close to 2,500 Cebuana Lhuillier branches in order to withdraw your savings. With a minimum deposit amount of only P50 and no minimum maintaining balance, it’s incredibly easy to apply for one. You can even check your savings amount via our SMS service, reliable and ready to serve you 24/7. Visit your nearest Cebuana Lhuillier branch now – we assure a fast, easy and secure transaction.

As an OFW, sending money to your loved ones may be one of the most fulfilling things that you’ve ever done. Just think about it, all of those countless hours at work, all of those overtime and stress, all worth it as your family would be well-provided for at the end of the day. Just as long as they’re able to receive the hard-earned money with no hassle, they would definitely be able to enjoy the fruits of your labor. With all of that in mind, you may have been sending money via money transfer. While it may be the most common way for an OFW to send money, it isn’t always the most singular option. There are other forms of money transfer that can deliver any amount as efficient as a package delivery. Let us explore one, which may help you decide with comparisons.

First of all, what is money transfer?

It is the act of transferring money from one place to another. This may occur electronically or physically. Remittance centers are usually present to handle these types of transactions.

What is the other type of money transfer?

It is called wire transfer. Also known as bank or credit transfer, it is a method of electronic funds transfer from one person or entity to another. A wire transfer can be made from one bank account to another bank account. In such case, it must involve a bank, of parallel transactions, and requires both parties (the sender and the receiver) to have a bank account of their own.

Which is faster?

For Money Transfers:

“The processing time for money transfer depends on how you send the money, the provider you choose and where you send the funds. While cash is fast, you can save a lot of money if you’re willing to wait a day.”

-Quoted from an online manuscript regarding money transfers.

For Wire Transfers:

“Wires can be completed in one day, depending on how early you submit your request to send money. It may take several hours for the receiving bank to show the wire proceeds in the recipient’s account—even if the money is at that bank. A bank employee may just need to complete several tasks to make the funds available. If you’re in a hurry to use money you’ve received by wire, a few phone calls to the bank should do the trick.”

– Quoted from an online manuscript regarding wire transfers.

If we were to compare both options, money transfers are much faster, due to the fact that they provide an option for instantaneous transaction. Yes, it may cost more, but the process wouldn’t last a day, unlike wire transfers which (aside from all of the extra processes) may take about a few hours up to a whole day to accomplish.

Which is safer?

Both are particularly safe, as wire transfers involve heavily guarded banks, and the only ones to handle your transactions are the tellers. Money transfers almost operate the same way, as only authorized personnel are allowed to handle your details and process the transfer on your behalf. It all comes down to the proper implementation of work processes and daily security measures.

Overall, both processes of transferring money may seem equal, but in terms of speed and security, money transfer still takes the top place over wire transfer. It’s still a well-trusted option.

Speaking of a well-trusted option, you may be ready to send your hard-earned money to your family back at home; however, you are still undecided as to which remitting center you should transact with. Well no need to look any further. With Cebuana Lhuillier’s Pera Padala Service, you are ensured an easy, quick, and safe way to send and receive money. With close to 2,500 branches nationwide and accredited international partners, this money transfer service is made available to clients within and outside the Philippines. 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 for our beloved OFW patrons, feel free to visit any of our international partners – we assure a fast, easy and secure transaction.

For a complete list of our international partners, you may visit our website at https://www.cebuanalhuillier.com/pera-padala/

Quoted Manuscripts (Source):
https://www.finder.com/international-money-transfer-duration
https://www.thebalance.com/bank-wire-transfer-basics-315444

Summer is finally upon us, and what perfect way to enjoy it then to bask in the sun. However, take note that there should always be precautionary measures taken each time you enjoy the outdoors. The summer season brings moderate warmth during the early hours, but come noon time, the heat becomes almost unbearable, so you should be careful. Here are just a few ways to take care of your health this summer season:

1) Drink lots of water.
Avoid dehydration. Being in the heat means you’d sweat more. In such case, you should earn back lost fluids during the heat. Drinking the usual 6-8 glasses per day may not even be enough, especially as you may opt to jog in the morning. This also applies during those summer vacations involving the beach and swimming pools, as water displaces from your body if ever you swim for too long. Remember, always have a bottle or tumbler at hand.

2) Use sunscreen.
You may apply them regularly or moderately, depending on how often you’d go outdoors. Allergies would also come into play, as some people do not have the skin tolerance against ointments, so sunscreens may not even be an option. For those who are going to apply sunscreens though, be sure to check the SPF content and consult a specialist to determine which would best work for you.

3) Stay indoors.
This doesn’t limit you at home, of course, as indoors would mean a spot away from the summer heat. A shopping mall, a library, or a museum would also classify as indoors, as long as you aren’t exposed to the sun for a long duration of time. There’s nothing bad about enjoying the outdoors, as you’d need an appropriate amount of Vitamin D for your body, but being out in the heat for too long would definitely be harmful for you.

4) Exercise regularly.
This season is the perfect opportunity for you to lose weight. Think about it, the summer heat would be sufficient enough for you to sweat more; hence, you’d lose more pounds while exercising. You can run, lift weights, swim, the possibilities are endless. Some summer events are being held during this season, such as fun runs and iron man marathons. Feel free to participate in them if you feel that you can handle the consecutive activities provided by each event.

With all of those in mind, one main way of protecting yourself from unforeseen circumstances during the summer is availing Microinsurance. However, you may definitely want to weight in your options, analyzing which establishment would be best for availing microinsurance premium and coverage. Look no further than Cebuana Lhuiller’s Microinsurance an affordable insurance product to help Filipinos avail of financial services and privileges that higher-income earners have easy access to, with innovative microinsurance products and services that promise to minimize impact of distress and misfortune on one’s financial position. Feel free to visit your nearest branch for more information.

Some say that the teenage years are always the best years in a persons’ life. For the most part, that holds true. High school/college life, being with friends, having no job, no bills to worry about, enjoying the summer vacation, etc. However, such stage in life is also the perfect opportunity to develop one of the most valuable skills in managing one’s finances, namely, saving. A great way of doing this would be to open up a savings account. You may ask, what are the advantages of opening a savings account as early as your teenage years? Well, here are just a few of them:

1) Being able to save for college expenses.
Opening up a savings account during your teenage years would enable you to save up early in your high school years as well, meaning, depending on how much you save a month, you may be able to come up with a preliminary fund for your college years. We are not talking about your college tuition fees, as those are definitely handled by parents. Rather, we’re talking extra fund for all of those college expenditures outside of the usual school fees, such as immersion trips, costly school projects, donations for outreach programs, etc.

2) Learning the value of money.
During your younger years, you may find yourself enjoying too much of your parent’s budget, with not a care in the world. You don’t earn it, you don’t put much thought into it. Hence, you do not make any necessary steps to save. Things may take a turn if you open up your savings account. Not only would you learn the value of money as whole, but would also realize the importance of money once it’s all used up. Saving teaches discipline in budget; it makes you WANT to save, as you know the absence of savings would mean “no amount left for school projects” for you. This learning can be enriched and brought all the way through your adult life. If you develop this discipline now, you may not have a hard time saving in the latter part of your life.

3) Being able to help with the household expenses.
If you’re the type of person who cares for the household expenses, then deciding to open a savings account would be the perfect opportunity for you to show more of that. Saving a few amount monthly would help come up with emergency funds, just in case sudden expenditures arise. Your parents would greatly appreciate your efforts, while at the same time be able to trust you in handling further money matters. It’s not every day that you’d be able to show your maturity in financial matters, hence, this would be a chance for you to show that you can do well when trusted with money.

With all of that being said, you’re probably looking for an insitution that you’d be able to trust with all of your life’s worth of savings. Look no further than Cebuana Lhuiller’s Micro Savings Account. Initially offered in Cebuana Lhuillier Rural Bank (CLRB), it is now available through our entire Cebuana Lhuillier branch networks. Simply put, you can use your 24K card at any of our close to 2,500 Cebuana Lhuillier branches in order to withdraw your savings. With a minimum deposit amount of only P50 and no minimum maintaining balance, it’s incredibly easy to apply for one. You can even check your savings via our SMS service, reliable and ready to serve you 24/7. Visit your nearest Cebuana Lhuillier branch now – we assure a fast, easy and secure transaction.

Ah, early retirement. Not many Filipinos are aware of this concept, due to the fact that many prefer to work all throughout their lives, only stopping right after attaining their own house and personal properties. You’d think that this is just a new concept that came out of nowhere, but retiring early has been somewhat of a big decision amongst Americans in the past few years, more so some good-earning Filipinos. You might ask, “How on earth could I attain this, given that the current economy doesn’t agree to such way of life?” Well, simply put, there are a few effective habits when it comes to saving. If you begin to develop these habits now, you’re in for a treat in the upcoming years. Here are just a few important factors to follow:

 

1) Sticking to your budget.

You have your monthly salary, you’d create a list of all your expenditures, you stick to that list with no compromise, and then save a few amounts in the process. Rinse and repeat. This may seem easy and very procedural, but remember that there will always be temptations when it comes to spending. Fight them off! Resist! Even when it seems that you’re only able to save a few change per month, let that accumulate for a year until you get used to it. You’d be surprised at how far sticking to your monthly budget can help you.

 

2) Needs, needs, and needs.

New cellphone models, new flat screen TVs, new car, new Frappuccino latte in your local coffee shop, these are all temporary fillers in your otherwise long-term savings plan. Do not be fooled by them. Only buy what you need. This is somewhat similar to the first pointer, with the slight difference of the first one focusing on your monthly utility expenses (bills) while this one focuses on your monthly needs (food, water, electricity, etc.). Do not sacrifice your needs for wants and you’d be able to save a significant amount monthly, well enough for an early retirement in the future.

 

3) Declutter

“What does this have to do with saving for my early retirement?” you may ask. Well, if you organize and declutter your home, not only would you achieve a very productive personal space, you’d also find a few of your belongings which you thought might have been long gone. Going through your clutter, you might find important stuff which you can still use, thus, avoiding the need to repurchase them again, resulting into you saving more. Your favorite shirt, that beautiful mug you got for Christmas, that well-written novel your best friend gave you, all of it are filled with sentimental value, and you definitely wouldn’t want to buy a duplicate again just so you can satisfyingly utilize them to their fullest.

4) Avoiding interest.

A great habit to keep in mind is to never pay for interest. This would mean that you shouldn’t avail anything that may result in you paying for a high interest rate. Such may be found in credit cards and loans. If you plan to make a loan to buy “wants” versus “needs”, you may want to think twice. If you’re not careful, you may end up losing more in the consecutive years to come, rather than saving up for an early retirement. Interest rates are like prison chains, you can never be free of them until you’ve paid your dues. Never make this critical mistake. If you really need to buy something (an integral need), make sure you can afford it first.

5) Set aside an amount for both savings and emergency funds.

If you want to effectively save for an early retirement, take it from us, set aside a separate fund for your emergency expenditures. This may seem like you’d have to double down on your savings, but think about this, would you rather have a separate fund or would you rather use up all your savings in case of an emergency. A good emergency fund should cover up to 6 months of your living expenses. Strategize an effective savings plan and segregate every peso or centavo. At least, when something unexpected comes up, your personal savings are still safe.

With all of that being said, you’re probably looking for a way to keep your life’s worth of savings safe. Look no further than Cebuana Lhuillier Micro Savings. Initially offered in our Rural Bank branches, it is now available through our entire Cebuana Lhuillier branch networks. Simply put, you can use your 24K Card to open a micro savings account at any of our close to 2,500 branches in order to deposit or withdraw your savings. With a minimum deposit amount of only P50 and no minimum maintaining balance, it’s incredibly easy to apply for one. Only 1 valid ID is needed. You can even check your savings amount via our SMS service, reliable and ready to serve you 24/7. Visit your nearest Cebuana Lhuillier branch now – we assure a fast, easy and secure transaction.