Compartmentalization: The Art of Separating Your Expenses

Oftentimes, we find ourselves with a lot of expenses, bills, and essentials-to-purchase that we forget to budget our financial resources. Understandably, people often want to spend their money in one go, so as to avoid overlooking any pending balances. People need to pay their dues, after all, and failing to do so would either result in penalties or sanctions. Essentials such as groceries and food are top of mind when asked what people spend on. Failing to buy groceries may leave you with a lesser budget to use later or worse, not having any supplies at But the thing about spending all your money in one go is that it doesn’t give you any opportunity to save. Of course, you may no longer have a pending balance and a shortage in household supplies if you were to spend them now, but therein lies the important question, “Is it possible for you to rank your expenses, and in turn, segregating your budget allocation?” If your answer to this question is a resounding “Yes!” then you are on the right track.

The art of separating your expenses would not only enable you to save, it would also help you prioritize your payments from one another, in the sense that you would be able to hold off one form of expense just so you can pay off the most important bill first. These following tips and examples may be able to help you in budgeting using this method.

1. Be reminded of the due dates.

Bills and subscriptions will always have their own set of due dates. They are, after all, a written form of alarm, which would always remind you of the last day of payments. Obviously, there are consequences when you don’t pay your dues on time. For some, it is a mere penalty, for others, it may be a straight-up discontinuance of service, and you wouldn’t want that to happen. In such cases, be sure to read your bills thoroughly, and be mindful of all your due dates. Sincesubscriptions and utility bills have separate due dates, it would be very helpful to arrange them in order. Whichever has the nearest due date should be dealt with immediately, then the one that follows right after, and so on. There are actually two advantages in paying off bills “in order”:

  1. Not paying everything in one go would actually leave you with something in your pocket (a sort of emergency fund), just in case something unexpected comes up.
  2. Paying in intervals may intertwine your current budget with your salary day/payday, thus, giving you an extra amount in the process.

It’s a form of a financial cushion, especially during these hard times, when the economy isn’t doing very well.

2. Sort out your priorities.

Segregating your purchases like groceries, wants, etc. may give you a well-needed time to reflect on the things that really matter, on the things that you’d really need. For example, if you were to analyze your purchases between canned goods and new earphones instead of buying them both and spending all of your budget, you may come to the conclusion that the canned goods are more important than the earphones itself, an item which you may very much still purchase, but only at a later time. Food is more valuable than electronics after all. The same goes for clothes, gadgets, sanitation items, toiletries, etc. We’re sure that while mentioning those items, you were already able to form a ranking at the top of your head, with the essentials going at the top of the list and the gadget at the bottom. Perhaps it’s our practical nature, telling us what we’d need to survive on a daily basis, rather than the things that we may call luxuries. Either way, ranking your shopping list would not only be a practical thing to do, it would also be very responsible, as you’d be wise to go for the needs before the wants. Segregate them and watch your money grow with each passing payday.

3. Time your budget wisely.

People often overlook the fact that time and money goes hand in hand. Both are very crucial resources, and if you were to mishandle any one of them, it may affect the other and leave you with lesser resource than before. This is true, especially with your monthly dues. We all have bills to pay, that’s a fact. We also have a limited time to pay them off before receiving penalties. Now, similar to the very first pointer, timing your payments would not only leave you with a “ready amount” on-hand, it would also allow you to sort through your dues and determine which should be paid first. This may become a bit tricky, especially if your bills were to intertwine with your grocery days. “Which one should I pay first? Should I buy less in order to pay for my bills? Perhaps I can still buy this essential item, but only after my next salary arrives.” These thoughts are pretty much the reason why timing your budget would be beneficial, as it gives you more time to think and strategize about your well-earned money. This is far more crucial when you have your own family, as you’re not the only one who’s going to enjoy the fruit of your wise financial decisions.

With all of these in mind, you may be looking for a well-trusted name that would safely value the security of your hard-earned money and savings during these hard times. Well, look no further than Cebuana Lhuillier’s Micro Savings. At its core, it aims to provide easier banking access to all Filipinos. The product is almost the same with any regular savings account in the Philippines, but does not require a maintaining balance. It is also streamlined across all Cebuana Lhuillier branches, so you’d be able to experience the same wonderful MicroSavings service without missing a beat. For more information, feel free to visit the nearest Cebuana Lhuillier now!

CORPORATE AGENT PARTNERS

  • ACTION.ABLE, INC.
  • ALL ACCESS GATEWAY INC.
  • ANTRECCO (AGUSAN DEL NORTE TEACHERS, RETIREES, EMPLOYEES & COMMUNITY COOPERATIVE)
  • ACM VIP
  • ALL CASH
  • AGRILIFE/ AGRIVET
  • ASENSO PINOY STORE, INC. (EASY DAY SHOP)
  • AVICOM ENTERPRISES
  • AYALA ALABANG VILLAGE ASSOCIATION
  • BAUG CARP MULTI PURPOSE COOPERATIVE
  • BAGUIO BENGUET COOP
  • CARD BANK INC
  • CARD MRI RIZAL BANK INC
  • CARD SME BANK
  • CARITAS BANCO NG MASA, INC.
  • CEBU PEOPLE’S MULTIPURPOSE COOPERATIVE
  • CIS BAYAD CENTER, INC
  • COOPERATIVE BANK OF BOHOL, INC
  • COUNTRY BUILDERS BANK
  • CREDENCE FINANCING, INC.
  • CURAMED PHARMACY
  • DALTON PAWNSHOP AND JEWELRY INC.
  • DANIELA PAWNSHOP
  • DIRECT AGENT 5 (DA 5)
  • DEVELOPMENT BANK OF THE PHILS.
  • EXPRESSPAY INC.
  • EVRIJEM FOREIGN EXCHANGE AND MONEY REMITTANCE
  • FILHAI MULTI PURPOSE COOPERATIVE
  • GLOBAL PINOY REMITTANCE AND SERVICES (GPRS)
  • GEMARY PAWNSHOP AND JEWELRY (CORP.)

OVER 600 BILLER PARTNERS NATIONWIDE

  • 123 FINANCE CORPORATION
  • 123 LENDING CORPORATION
  • 2C2P
  • 8AMC (VIA ECPAY)
  • ABEJO WATERS CORP.
  • ABRA
  • ACOM CONSUMER FINANCE CORPORATION
  • ACTIVE REALTY & DEVELOPMENT CORP.
  • ADA MANUFACTURING CORPORATION (VIA ECPAY)
  • AEON CREDIT SERVICE
  • AETERNITAS CHAPELS AND COLUMBARIUM (VIA ECPAY)
  • AFC SME FINANCE INC
  • AFTERWEST MICROLOANS INC
  • AGODA – DRAGONPAY
  • AGRIBANK
  • AGRO-INDUSTRIAL FOUNDATION COLLEGE OF THE PHILS.
  • AGUSAN DEL NORTE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC.
  • AIR YOU GO TRAVELS PHILIPPINES CO.
  • AKLAN ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC.
  • ALAMINOS CITY WATER DISTRICT (VIA ECPAY)
  • ALLIANZ PNB LIFE INSURANCE INC.
  • ALPHA FUND SAVINGS & CREDIT COOPERATIVE (VIA ECPAY)
  • AMADEO WATER DISTRICT (VIA ECPAY)
  • AMYA POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE, INC. AND FINANCING CORPORATION (LENDPINOY)
  • ANGAT WATER DISTRICT (VIA ECPAY)
  • ANGELES ELECTRIC COMPANY ANGELICUM SCHOOL , INC. ILOILO CITY (VIA ECPAY)
  • ANJELMAN REAL ESTATE LEASING
  • ANTIQUE ELECTRIC COOP, INC ANTRECCO (BILLS PAYMENT)

OVER 600 BILLER PARTNERS NATIONWIDE

  • 123 FINANCE CORPORATION
  • 123 LENDING CORPORATION
  • 2C2P
  • 8AMC (VIA ECPAY)
  • ABEJO WATERS CORP.
  • ABRA
  • ACOM CONSUMER FINANCE CORPORATION
  • ACTIVE REALTY & DEVELOPMENT CORP.
  • ADA MANUFACTURING CORPORATION (VIA ECPAY)
  • CREDIT SERVICE
  • AETERNITAS CHAPELS AND COLUMBARIUM (via ECPAY)
  • AFC SME FINANCE INC
  • AFTERWEST MICROLOANS INC
  • AGODA – DRAGONPAY
  • AGRIBANK
  • AGRO-INDUSTRIAL FOUNDATION COLLEGE OF THE PHILS.
  • AGUSAN DEL NORTE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC.
  • AIR YOU GO TRAVELS PHILIPPINES CO.
  • AKLAN ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC.
  • ALAMINOS CITY WATER DISTRICT (via ECPAY)
  • CREDENCE FINANCING, INC.
  • CURAMED PHARMACY
  • DALTON PAWNSHOP AND JEWELRY INC.
  • DANIELA PAWNSHOP
  • DIRECT AGENT 5 (DA 5)
  • DEVELOPMENT BANK OF THE PHILS.
  • EXPRESSPAY INC.
  • EVRIJEM FOREIGN EXCHANGE AND MONEY REMITTANCE
  • FILHAI MULTI PURPOSE COOPERATIVE
  • GLOBAL PINOY REMITTANCE AND SERVICES (GPRS)
  • GEMARY PAWNSHOP AND JEWELRY (CORP.)

List of Accepted Government/ Valid IDs

  • Passport
  • Driver’s License
  • Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) ID
  • National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Clearance
  • Police Clearance
  • Postal ID
  • Voter’s ID
  • Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) ID
  • Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) e-Card
  • Social Security System (SSS) ID
  • Senior Citizen’s ID
  • Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) ID
  • OFW ID
  • Seaman’s Book
  • Alien Certification of Registration (ACR)
  • Barangay Certificate or ID (with picture and signature)
  • Birth Certificate (applicable to minors only)
  • Firearm License
  • Immigrant Certificate of Registration
  • Marriage License
  • National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons
  • New TIN ID
  • OWWA ID
  • Student ID
  • Alien Certification of Registration (ACR) / Immigrant Certificate of Registration
  • Government Office or Government Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCC) ID (e.g. AFP ID, HDMF (Pag-ibig Fund) ID, etc.
  • Certification from the National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons (NCWDP)
  • Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Certification
  • Integrated Bar of the Philippines ID (IBP)
  • Company IDs issued by private entities or institutions registered with or supervised or regulated either by the BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas), SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) or IC (Insurance Commission)

IDs Accepted

As required by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), clients who engage in a financial transaction with covered institutions for the first time shall be required to present the original and submit a clear copy of at least ONE (1) valid photo-bearing identification document issued by an official authority. For our clients’ convenience, Cebuana no longer requires submission of the photocopied ID. IDs are captured using a webcam in all branches. Clients are also required to submit an updated photo and other relevant information whenever the need for it arises.

Forms of identification accepted are the following;

Pawn Accepted IDs
1. Passport
2. Driver’s License
3. Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) ID
4. National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Clearance
5. Police Clearance
6. Postal ID
7. Voter’s ID
8. Philippine Identification (PhilID) card
9. Social Security System (SSS) Card / Unified Multi-Purpose ID (UMID)
10. Barangay Certification
11. Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) e-Card
12. Senior Citizen Card
13. Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) ID
14. OFW ID
15. Seaman’s Book
16. Alien Certification of Registration/Immigrant Certificate of Registration (for foreigners)
17. Government Office and GOCC ID, e.g., Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP ID)
18. Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF ID)
19. Certification from the National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons (NCWDP)
20. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Certification
21. Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) ID
22. Company IDs issued by private entities or institutions registered with or supervised or regulated either by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Securities and Exchange Commission or Insurance Commission
23. ID issued by the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA)