Pinay Money Maker

Pinaymoneymaker.com

noreply@blogger.com (suzaku_lace) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:08:00 +0000

Hi! Everyone,

I am making a come back! :) Kindly point your browsers to Pinaymoneymaker.com as new blog posts on money making and online opportunities would be published there.

See you all money makers in our new home!

Yours,

Pinay Money Maker

Working in Odesk

noreply@blogger.com (suzaku_lace) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 05:07:00 +0000

Odesk is the new cash cow of Pinay women who like to work at home, conveniently at the time they choose. So, how does a pinay like you get started with Odesk?

Pinay money maker tried it for the first time yesterday, and here are some tips and what to expect in Odesk:

1. Simply login to Odesk.com and sign up for an account. Your username should be close to your name for professionality's sake. For example, your name is Anna Santos, then try a username "asantos".

2. Don't be lazy to update your profile as your profile is the key to acquiring work in this virtual office. Upload a professional looking photo, fill out your employment history, skills, education, and upload sample works if you have them. If you have a website, then supply its link as well.

3. Get Odesk Ready by taking the Odesk Readiness Test. I had my Odesk account for years but I did not want to take the readiness test because I thought it is too long. In fact, it only has 11 questions and you can refer to the links provided beside each question to help you get the correct answers! I also could not believe how easy that was.

4. Apply like there's no tomorrow. The first "buyer" or the person you want to work for is always hard to find, specially if you are new in Odesk. In the find jobs section, look for Odesk Certified Buyers. Hourly jobs are safer to take than fixed rate jobs.

5. Odesk pays out via Paypal, so be sure to have a reliable Paypal account. The best way to withdraw your payments is through Union Bank's Eon card, according to pinays who have been working and making money with Odesk.

Try your luck in Odesk now and become one of the many pinay virtual employees making money online! :)

Pinay Money Maker increases Adsense Earnings

noreply@blogger.com (suzaku_lace) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:13:00 +0000

Do you have an old blog that you haven't posted in for quiet a long time? Well, make time to post a new entry because it could just surprise you with how much it can earn from Adsense!

I was surprised at how posting a new entry on Pinay Money Maker added a daily $1 increase in my earnings. Sounds small but where can you get $1 for free right? And for the first day since I posted a new entry about unemployment and being financially challenged, this blog has earned 7 clicks.

So think about your old blogs or if you don't have one yet, maybe it's time to tune in to your passion or even frustrations and start blogging.

What could have helped the increase in Adsense Earnings:

1. Change in blog layout

2. Fresh content

3. Effective use of keywords within the blog posts

Do you have tips on how to increase adsense earnings? Drop them here through the comments link and share the love :)

Suddenly Broke and Jobless

noreply@blogger.com (suzaku_lace) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:42:00 +0000

You are not alone! Remember, we are in a financial rut and it only means it's harder to get a decent job or even start a business. But hey, if there's a will - there's a way!

When a woman is suddenly jobless, problems aside from money build up. One of which is family and peer pressure. Why is your mother not treating you the same since you were unemployed? Why are your friends suddenly disappearing as soon as they heard you are broke? It's very easy to fall into depression but being in that state will only make it harder to rise above the situation.

First and foremost, this is the best time to take care of yourself. Put your health in check, forget about your family, boyfriend, or friends for a while. You must focus on getting things done and find creative ways on how to earn. Do not fall or get sucked in oblivion just yet, set things straight and make do with what you have.

1. What are your talents? - this is the best time to hone them and experiment on how you can earn by doing what you love. Be guided by the Internet, find success stories and ideas that relate to your skills.

2. Don't stop job hunting but don't be obsessed either - whenever you find an interesting job post, send your resume. If you think you are not interested in working for a company then do not bother sending your resume and getting an interview scheduled. This is a waste of time and money on both parties. If you really like something you are applying for, follow up on them to show your interest and for you to know the status of your application. This will save you from over thinking and stressing yourself out if you got the job or not.

3. Ignore the Unnecessary - financial and employment problems are huge matters for women to deal with. If your family, boyfriend or friends are not cooperating, ignore them. You don't need additional burden in times like these, yet do not do anything drastic or anything you cannot handle. They should understand that you need all the support and motivation that you can get at times like these. Do not push yourself to spend even more or borrow money just to be with them, accept your current situation and use this time to learn to be happy with yourself.

4. Make money online - sounds cliche but if you dedicate time and effort, a Pinay like you can make money online inside your own house. (Will post an update of the latest sites that can earn you some dollars with your blogs).

5. Sell Stuff - if you are a shopaholic, you probably have something unopened and new. Try selling things you do not need to friends to keep you upfloat. Yet, refrain from capitalizing on inventory. Start with your vintage things like clothes that do not fit, unwanted shoes, books, and open up an ukay garage sale.

Finally, use this time to improve yourself if not by going to salons then by natural methods such as drinking plenty of water, sleeping on time, running, or yoga. This is also the best time to observe how you are a strong pinay that can rise above and learn from the current financial crisis.

Join Babae Yaman ka ng Bayan!

noreply@blogger.com (suzaku_lace) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 04:22:00 +0000

Women entrepreneurs - heads up! Go Negosyo is holding a summit for women entrepreneurs entitled "Babae, Yaman ka ng Bayan"on March 2, 2009 at the World Trade Center. Be empowered and learn more about business from other women-entrepreneurs and even celebrities like Lucy Torres and Charlene Gonzales.

(click to enlarge)

Aside from entrepreneurship, a forum will be conducted where women can talk about ways to reach their full potentials.

If you have a product and would like to join the exhibit, log on to Proudly Filipina.
Exhibit fee is only Php 200 so don't miss this chance to join your first Go Nesgosyo event!

Looking for Scrap Glass buyer

noreply@blogger.com (suzaku_lace) — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 10:49:00 +0000

I am looking for buyers of scrap glass. I have 8 drums of glass trimmings (non bottles).

Kindly email suzaku_lace(at)yahoo.com if you know any junk shop or trading business :)

Referrals will be much appreciated.

Check your SSS contributions online!

noreply@blogger.com (suzaku_lace) — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 05:27:00 +0000

SSS or Social Security System has finally made their website work and members can finally check their total contributions, loan status, claims, and so on.

Members should register first and you will receive the temporary password on your nominated email address. Register here: https://www.sss.gov.ph/sss/member.jsp

SSS and other government deductions on a pinay's paycheck may seem like a pain for the Pinay worker's wallet but don't forget that you will reap the benefits anyway! Being able to see our total contributions added with that of the Pinay's employers is very motivating to keep working and paying SSS contributions!

Think of it as another piggy bank that you can crack open when you retire. I am not sure though how contributions can be claimed even before one reaches the age of 60.

Remember that after registering online, keep monitoring your email until it comes. It may land on spam so also check that folder. Once you get the password, login with it right away and change the password to the one you prefer.

I actually received 3 different passwords and when I tried it, they did not work so I just clicked on forgot password. Now I can see my SSS contributions too!

Keep on making and saving money! :)

Job Opening: SEO (night shift)

noreply@blogger.com (suzaku_lace) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 21:05:00 +0000

Brisbane Technologies Inc. is looking for additional SEOs that can work on night shift schedule: 8:00pm until 6:00am (Mondays to Fridays)

Qualifications:

- Extensive experience on on-page optimisation

- Can conduct keyword research efficiently

- Can maintain an organised record of SERP daily monitoring and targeted keywords

- Able to prepare SEO plans/recommendations and SEO reports

- Updated with Internet Technology

- Can develop optimised copy/content for websites

- Can work under minimum supervision and in a professional environment

- Has a sense of urgency and is proactive

Send your resumes to lace.llanora@brisbanetechnologies.com

Thank you and good luck!

Job Opening: Online Researcher

noreply@blogger.com (suzaku_lace) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 02:18:00 +0000

Online Researcher for Brisbane Technologies Inc.

Night Shift : 8:00pm to 6:00am Monday to Friday

Major Duties and Responsibilities
• Conduct Internet research and be up to date with the latest in IT
• Responsible for emailing clients with prescribed information

Qualifications
• Must have good English communication skills
• Must be willing to work in a highly professional environment
• Dedicated and can work under minimal supervision

Email your resumes to: lace.llanora@brisbanetechnologies.com

My First $10 from Project Wonderful

noreply@blogger.com (suzaku_lace) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 05:28:00 +0000

Last January, I blogged about how Pinays can earn money from Project Wonderful
and now after 5 months, I earned my first $10 from them!

$10 may seem minute to what other bloggers may earn but $10 is equal to more or less Php 500. And it all came from a hobby called blogging, not bad at all.

I just requested from Project Wonderful to forward my first $10 earnings to my Paypal account and I expect it to be done after 1 business day.

Project wonderful ads are still running in Pinay Money Maker and I hope I earn more next time.

Put project wonderful ads on your blog now :)

Rent vs. Gas Expense - Is it time to move closer to work?

noreply@blogger.com (suzaku_lace) — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 10:12:00 +0000

Should Pinays consider paying on rent and relocating to a place nearer to the office rather than spend on gasoline that is ever increasing in price?

I think this is a good idea but it depends on how much you actually spend on gas or in transportation expenses such as bus, tricycle, and train fares.

Rent usually costs 4,000 pesos up to 8,000 pesos. Of course, more expensive rent fees means more upscale apartments and locations. Aside from savings that you can make from transpo expenses, you also save on time and earn more opportunities to catch some sleep.

Imagine being able to walk to your office building and waking up to a maximum of 30 minutes before work starts. Wow, that is a dream come true for many Pinays like me.

One drawback is that you cannot bring your family and all your comfy furnitures with you when you relocate but you have more energy to work and less worries on making it on time or getting home safe.

Consider these options, I too am in the look out for space. During these times of price increase and heavier traffic, renting is an attractive idea.

Can Mangoes Help Pinays Retire Early?

noreply@blogger.com (suzaku_lace) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 11:48:00 +0000

Yes I am talking about mangoes, the favorite fruit of many. Last year, I came across investment information on how one can buy or invest in a single mango tree for Php 30,000 ++ and as the tree grows and bear fruits, you will receive investment income each year.

The tree starts bearing fruits after 6 years, and at around the 10th year you would have 100% ROI. The tree continues to give you income up to 50 years - which means that even if you are just lazing around for 50 years, you continue earning passive fruity income. Returns range from Php 10,000 to Php 50,000 annually. So buying lots of mango trees seems a clever idea.

The company/business/organization behind this is Golden Harvest. I found their website at http://www.goldenharvest.com.ph. In the website, there is no mention of initial investments but I researched online and found some information from its early investors.

I asked my mom about it since it seems a very good type of investment to put money into and she said that like all investments, we've got to investigate, study, and be cautious. Their office is in Ortigas so if you want to know more, you know where to find them.

There are also commissions for referrers and sellers of the mango trees but I am not one of them :)

If you would like to share some information about Golden Harvest, please do leave a comment after this post.

My first $100 from Blogging

noreply@blogger.com (suzaku_lace) — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 03:59:00 +0000

Yehey! Aside from being a hobby, blogging was able to give me $100. Some professional bloggers earn $100 a day and that's because they dedicate time and a hefty amount of braincells to their blogs.

$100 is like a milestone for me, convert it to pesos and that's around Php 4,000. Adsense is not yet included. Most of the money is from Smorty and a bit from Blogsvertise.

Yet, we can see more earning opportunities with Project Wonderful and a newcomer called Pay per Play. Pay per play is an audio ad that plays once your blog is loaded. The ad is around 5 seconds or so and they say it will let you earn more from Adsense.

It will be awhile before I can reach $100 in Adsense though, I'm not even at 50%. So what to do now? Since we've proven we can make money with blogs, it's a good time to start looking for more lucrative money making schemes.

I was at the Entrecard Shop yesterday and guess what, I saw that some people are already exchanging entrecard points for $25 via paypal. Not bad eh? I am dearly waiting to be able to exchange e-points for some dollars.

So, hold on to your blogs because someday, all those words will also give you $100 and more! :)

Project Wonderful - Earn money from your blog

noreply@blogger.com (suzaku_lace) — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 12:39:00 +0000

Being a work from home person is always a dreamy thought and with the current developments in the blogging scene, it's possible to make blogging a full time job. Read: It's possible.

The latest money making website I found is Project Wonderful. They let you sell ad space on your blog and advertisers with the highest bid gets to display their ad on your blog.

They use what is called "ad boxes" and you can choose from different sizes, this means you get to choose how big or small the ads will be.

Project Wonderful pays via paypal which is available here in the Philippines. As you accept more ads, the bids will get higher too and that means more money for you!

Project Wonderful is only one way to earn money from home, back track to my previous posts to read more about making money out of your pinay blogs. If you have time to write and promote your blog, surely your work will be rewarded in time.

Visit Project Wonderful's website at projectwonderful.com

Pinays can work from home with Odesk

noreply@blogger.com (suzaku_lace) — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 04:00:00 +0000

Pinays always dream that they can work from home, beside their kids and family. Odesk has made it possible for several Pinays to become virtual employees of international companies. It's simple and easy to create an account, upload your resume, and start looking for a virtual employer.

Yup, you can earn in dollars at the comforts of your home. Most of the jobs are paid by the hour. In Girltalk (a forum for Pinays) many women have earned and experienced working with Odesk. You can read their online job thread.

Pinay Money Maker will continue sourcing online jobs and opportunities for those Pinays looking for jobs especially the working moms out there.

Happy New Year!

Note: I haven't work with Odesk so feel free to share your experience here! :)

Did Christmas leave a hole in your pocket?

noreply@blogger.com (suzaku_lace) — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 16:50:00 +0000

Sure, Christmas was so much fun it wasn't hard to forget about budgets and savings. To be honest, Pinay Money Maker also exceeded budgets! But 2008 is approaching and we've got to take hold of our pockets and recover. Yup, expenses may send any money maker into the doldrums and create a monetary snowball effect.

First you've got to forgive yourself. Even if you can't see where your money went, be kind to yourself and think about the warm memories during Christmas. Remember the face of your favorite niece as she opened your multitude of gifts? Priceless.

Count again. Don't pretend nothing happened to your savings account during the Yuletide season. Track once more how much money you've left, it's okay to feel discouraged but hey, it's good you still have savings instead of debts.

It's not the end of the world. Come January you'll receive yet another roll of pay from work and you can use this to patch up the hole created by the oh so happy season. Think rich and even if it's not yet in your account, stop frowning and imagine how much more you can make in 2008.

Be thankful for the gifts you've received. And use them! don't stack your gifts up in the closet. Keep your gifts somewhere visible so you can actually use them. This will save you from buying the same item in case you forget.

Now is the perfect time to create your money making goals for the New Year. Would you like to start participating in Mutual Funds this coming year? or would you like to build up your time deposits? What is your money making goal?

Happy Money Making everyone!

5 Christmas Bazaar Money Tips

noreply@blogger.com (suzaku_lace) — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 02:22:00 +0000

Pinay Money Maker was at the World Bazaar yesterday, lots of people shopping and if you observe, you can see lots of stressed out faces too!

To prevent turning this fun activity to a stressful and expensive one, here are some tips for you:

1. Go with a mission - take 5 minutes and ponder your mission, are you buying more for yourself or are you going to buy gifts for others? Most of the time it's both so just give a percentage like:

30% - gifts for myself
70% - gifts for others

Doing so will not only help you sort your money but also manage your time. Time flies during bazaars and you have to be in control.

2. Eat before you go - eat as if you are going to war, seriously. If you don't have carbs and protein in your system, you might not endure all the pushing and toe stepping : ) having a full stomach contributes to have full focus and that will prevent you from making unnecessary purchase.

3. Plan - if you have a Christmas list, bring it. If not, just keep in mind what are the items you are looking for and have a counter plan when you don't find them. This way, you don't contribute to the direction less crowd. This is not the time to think what you should get for who because there is no thinking floor space, it's either you buy or move forward.
4. Skip the abubots (accessories) unless for gifts - ever wondered where all the stuff you bought from last year's bazaar went? They went to unused and forgotten planet! Most of the time, the accessories you buy gets lost or you realize it's not going to work out for that fancy bracelet and your closet. Try to skip the abubots like trinkets, bracelets, key chains, necklaces, and fancy rings. Stick to buying stuff that can be used for all purposes like tshirts and pants.

5. Go against the crowd - from the entrance, look at the areas which are filled with people and those that still have breathing space. Go for the second if you don't want pushing and be able to enjoy looking around without hurrying up.

P.S.

Only bring your bazaar budget, mine was just P1,000 and I ended up with all useful stuff that can be used anytime and anywhere :)

Pinay Tipid Tips for Work

noreply@blogger.com (suzaku_lace) — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 12:29:00 +0000

Let's face it, going to work can be a wallet vacuum with the transportation, clothing, and food expenses. But hey, we should be going to work to earn money and not to spend! So forget your daily signature coffee and get a 3 in 1 while we list down other saving tips we can practice at work.

1. Walk and save 10 pesos daily - what better way to start your work day but walk and burn some morning calories? Short FX rides, say from the MRT to your office costs you 10 pesos daily. And if you're lucky to be early, why not try walking to your office (if it's walkable!) ?

2. Bring your lunch box - it takes some effort and patience to wake up early and prepare a packed lunch for work but if you do this, you'll be able to save 50-100 pesos daily. Not only that, you won't have to think incessantly which store you'll be getting your lunch and eating inside the pantry is more convenient rather than squeezing yourself in a jam-packed cafeteria.

3. Eat before you go - it really pays to wake up early and eat breakfast at home. It'll prevent you from panic buying breakfast in the morning and it will even make you less grumpy.

4. Coffee and tea in your pocket - take advantage of the hot water facilities at work and instead of rushing to an expensive cafe for a pick me upper, why not come prepared with sachets of coffee and tea? You can have as much as you want for only 5-6 pesos per cup as compared to 100-150 pesos in a cafe.

5. Don't forget snacks too! - okay, we're not being gluttons here but really, a huge slice of our salaries go to food. We are pinays after all and we LOVE to eat. Come rush time after 5pm, we hurry to the bus and train stations with an empty stomach. To quiet your rumbling stomach, always bring small snacks like cupcakes that you can buy cheap at the grocery.

6. Assemble a 5-day uniform - some are lucky to have uniforms and it's really a money and time saver. If you don't have one, assemble a two week uniform line up with your own clothes. Who cares if you repeat them after sometime, you're going to work and not a party :) This saves you from shopping every payday just to refresh your wardrobe. Think: Others may look good with their new and branded clothes but you'll end up simple yet RICHER.

7. Relax - stress can cause any girl to run to the salon or spa and get an expensive hair treatment or a luxurious body massage. This is not bad but try to breathe, relax, and think of your happy place whenever you feel some pressure. Stress and problems can lead to spending misbehaviors.

8. Buid your retreat spot - not in the mall but in your house. Designate a quiet place like your bedroom to become the place that will heal you after a tiring day. Looking forward to this will save you from loitering outside the metro where you will end up spending just to feel better.

9. Saturday Treat - or any day at all, schedule a day to become YOUR day when you can pat yourself at the back and give yourself a treat for being able to save. Be reasonable with your self treats though! Count the money you saved and just get a tiny bit of which as a prize for being a hardworking thrifty girl.

How about you? Do you have any tipid tips to share? email your pinay saving tips to pinaymoneymaker@gmail.com and let's share them here ^^
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Pinays can Make Money out of their Blogs

noreply@blogger.com (suzaku_lace) — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 01:09:00 +0000

Hello! Pinay world, I am back from yesterday's Blogging for Money Seminar and because generosity is never a bad thing, here are the things that Pinay Money Maker learned for the benefit of our readers.

There are a lot of bloggers who blog for different reasons and it's not bad to make money on the side. First things first, to be a successful blogger you'll need patience and focus. The more focused your blog on a single topic, the more valuable your blog is for advertisers and readers.

Advertising placement is the main money source for most blogs and here are some of the best links that can monetize your blog:

1. Google AdSense - everybody knows already so move on to number 2.
2. Text Link Ads - this one is easy to setup but your blog has to be approved first.
3. Kontera - links will appear inside your content, making relevant keywords hyperlinked to the advertiser's websites. Very neat and effective.
4. Amazon Associates - best if you target US audience who are comfortable to use credit cards online
5. Review Me - get paid to post reviews of various products, this one affects the content of your blog.
6. Join blog networks - search google for blog networks more popular ones include b5media, CW, and Know more Media. Here you can be paid per post or do profit sharing.
7. Direct Ad Sales- if you're confident about your blog you can ask local and international companies yourself, if they'd want their ads on your fantastic blog.

Blogs can make your dreams come true, no kidding! It can help you earn from doing what you love most, make a profession out of it, and get your skills noticed. It is only a question whether you really have the dedication and time to manage your blog and the topic you chose should be that subject that you breathe and live everyday.

Job Opportunity: Full-time Bloggers

I am looking for 4 bloggers, whether you think you are good or not, as long as you have the will, you can achieve it! :) It's for a regular job, 8am - 5pm, we don't accept work from home. If you are interested kindly send your resumes to suzaku_lace@yahoo.com

What is your financial security blanket?

noreply@blogger.com (suzaku_lace) — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 13:43:00 +0000

I still bring my pillow whenever I ride the car to work, it makes me feel more comfortable and it gives me that warm and fuzzy feeling! Now when it comes to money, what makes you feel secure? do you have a financial security blanket? If your answer is no, then you should start weaving one.

Nothing beats the feeling of being secure and safe, no matter what happens, especially when some situations can make all our money disappear at once. Your financial security blanket need not to be money IMHO, it's something that you can depend or fall back on. It can be a business idea, a skill, or an investment that you can easily sell when a rainy day comes.

Becoming debt free is a great achievement and once you've reached this goal, the next step is to set aside some money or other assets that can give you that warm and fuzzy feeling. Keep your eyes always open for opportunities and don't be like the horses looking only at one direction, in our case, looking only at one source of income. Be creative with your financial plans and discover as many security blankets as possible, it will give you more courage to explore high risk but high yielding investments, professions, and businesses in the future too, because win or lose, you'll always have that soft, comfortable blankie to fall back on.

Good night everybody!

Mother of 7 shares her story on how she got out of debt and gained financial independence

noreply@blogger.com (suzaku_lace) — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 08:51:00 +0000

More than ever, with today's economic status and inflation rate, it's important for Pinays to learn how to save and gain support for their financial endeavors.

Dine Racoma, a mother of seven, used to pay loans with loans but now, she is helping Filipinos find more satisfying jobs and inspire them to become financially independent through her famous blog.

Based on her interview in MoneySense, it was through hard work and a lot of sacrifice that she improved her financial situation. Most of all, she has found her passion in writing and this has made her retirement even more enjoyable and worthwhile. Today she helps her kababayans discover work from home opportunities (which i know a lot of pinays are looking for) and enjoy better quality time with the family while earning.

Her story is indeed an inspiration for many pinays including me, it is Pinay Money Maker's pleasure to get her permission to post about her story and blog. Visit her at The D Spot today and experience pinay "mommy" power!

Blogging for Money Seminar on Nov. 24

noreply@blogger.com (suzaku_lace) — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 02:19:00 +0000

Seminars make people like you and me use free time wisely. Next Saturday, November 24 at the Podium, The Blogging for Money Seminar will be held. I haven't registered but it's 1,500 pesos for an 8-hour session with money making blogger, Mr. Able Olandres.

Last week I came across smorty.com, I registered one of my blogs but Pinay Money Maker was declined to join because there are not that many pages yet :( Smorty lets you incorporate sponsored links in your blog posts and you'll earn a minimum of $6 for each. Not bad eh? I can't say if it's real YET because when i try to access their site to check if some of my posts were approved, their site is always down and i haven't experienced payment YET. But maybe you can try it or i'll post it here if ever it turns out real and profitable.

Next Saturday can be a good venue to learn other alternatives on how to make money out of blogs, if this is one of your hobbies. You can check out the details of the seminar here.

How to Spend this Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (suzaku_lace) — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 11:20:00 +0000

Dinner time, my little sister shared with us her plan to go Christmas gift shopping next Saturday. She says she doesn't want to go to tiangges or bazaars and refuses to give gifts from there, instead, she will get gifts from the mall. There is no right or wrong venues for Christmas shopping but, we can get wise on how we should spend this Christmas.

Here are some Christmas Shopping Tips:

1. Give to share and not to impress - keep this mantra in mind, it is better to give a suitable and well-thought of gift rather than an expensive one that doesn't feel "personalized". Take for instance, expensive looking and branded soaps and lotions that come in baskets. They look impressive when you have them in tow on Christmas Party and under the Christmas tree, but really, soaps and lotions are hard to use especially when the person already has a preferred brand or has sensitive skin. Just an example :)

2. Set a budget - as early as today, think of how much you CAN spend this Christmas for gifts, as a whole, and not per person. Of course there are persons you'd like to give a special gift to, so just sketch out his/her percentage of your Christmas fund, say 25% of the total budget.

3. Make a list out of the budget - now that you have a budget, you can now list possible gifts that will fit in it. Maybe you can allocate amounts too per person and imagine the many things that you can afford. Keep an open mind and open your eyes. Restricted budget should not restrict your creativity! Last year, my mom's favorite gift out of everything was a pair of slippers worth 99 pesos.

4. Schedule Christmas Shopping - don't start gift shopping out of boredom or stress. Prepare for it and do not forget your list. It is okay to look, Christmas shopping should be fun! but do not go over your list and your budget.

5. Opt for recycled materials and forget about gift wraps - when i say recycled materials it includes: newspapers, pages from your old magazines, gift wraps from last year, or old plastic bags and paper bags. Don't be afraid to recycle, be afraid of global warming and make this your special Christmas gift to Earth.

These are just 5 tips but i am sure you'll come up with more. Christmas should be happy time and not the time to wallow because you don't have so much to spend. Merry Christmas!

Where does your salary go?

noreply@blogger.com (suzaku_lace) — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 06:09:00 +0000

Getting ahead in terms of finances doesn't necessarily mean that you have to have a fat paycheck. Having lesser salary than your friends who've managed to save is not an excuse for not saving at all. This week i have been blog hopping around to see where Filipinas mostly put their money on, many are disappointed that all their salaries seem to disappear at once.

Here's a rough estimate of our top expenditures:

1. Food - you may think food is cheap but with all the tempting cafes sprouting about and posh restaurants that promise a better eating environment, we can't help but pay more to enjoy more. A hectic working day sometimes really deserve a fancy dinner to get you going.

2. Trinkets/Accessories - because we love mall hopping, we also don't want to leave empty handed. This is the next money vacuum out there. It includes bracelets, cellphone accessories, hair accessories, and beauty products.

3. Clothes and shoes - need i say more?

4. Family - empowered women serve as breadwinners to some families and they continue to help out their parents with bills, hospital expenses, etc.

The list goes on but I can only manage to write until the fourth one. How do we get around these expenses? Maybe, we should put ourselves in number one. Paying yourself first, no matter how small, think P100 pesos for every week, is not a bad idea.

Also, the next time you go to the mall, have a list of things YOU NEED to buy. Better, send your sister to buy it for you instead so you won't arrive with more than you need.

When it comes to food, we are actually paying for the right to eat in a certain environment, quiet, with the right blend of people, and maybe some music. How about scheduling a once a week dinner with friends? Just to avoid spur of the moment dinners and you can also look forward to this day when a stressful one hits you on the head. Tip: always look at the bottom of the menu if service charge and vat are included/excluded.

Family is always our priority, explore options of putting up a small business for your parents so they can depend on a regular stream of income, no matter how small it is, it will help.

Try this: On your next payday, try to list down EVERYTHING that you spend. from there you will discover useless purchases that you can scrap out soon so you can end up having more.

Some weekend discoveries on how to increase blog traffic

noreply@blogger.com (suzaku_lace) — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 03:25:00 +0000

It's a long weekend and what's better to do than surf and learn from internet almighty? I have been tweaking and submitting this young blog to directories in the hopes of getting more audience. Last week, i was very ecstatic that Pinay Money Maker ranks first for the keywords pinay and money in Google. I know it's not that great an achievement but it's encouraging!

Who doesn't want more blog traffic and earn at the same time? Try submitting your blogs to these directories so you can up your searchability:

I also found out about BlogRush today. When you sign up, your blog will be displayed across similar blogs across cyberspace. You'll have to install their widget in your blog. Click here BlogRush to sign up.

Pinay Money Maker was declined haha because it doesn't have enough posts yet :(