Some Things I get for Free

Who says things shouldn't come for free?  Who says every thing should have a price tag?

I love freebies. I love free tasting. I love going to trade fairs for free samples.  During college, we often wait for free admission movies at the UP Film Center. And even if I have no one to drag for some good Eigasai films, I still take the chance to watch. I love watching plays too. Free plays the most. Ron and I were able to snag 20 minutes of our time to wacth Serbis the other week beacause it was free. Free starbucks from the Brit bosses or the free meriendas during work huddles was a delight.

Ever since I came home, the freebies became different. It was purely related to the outcome of our business. I now enjoy gadgets wheneer we hit yearly targets. I got a laptop and a phone frome suppliers. I get gift certificates, perks of our purhases. I also get free BPI treats with the consistent use. And soon enough I could get a new gadget with the reward points I earn.

But above the free material stuff that I get, I am happy with the constant hugs and kisses given to me by my husband. The giggles of my nephew or his inquisitive look are priceless as well. The bonding moments I have with my brothers over food or volleyball is awesome. I wouldn't experience this now if I didn't choose to go home. So I may have sacrificed some freebies but I gained more than I could ask for.

Unemployed Entrepreneur

I am unemployed. My husband is unemployed.  And we enjoy the unemployed life.

We are NOT trying to look for a good paying job.  It was a decision we both made to stay unemployed, a couple of months before we tied the knot.  Ron has been grueling night hours at the BPO industry taking calls shift after shift.  After two visits to the hospital, I knew for a fact that life at the call center will take a toll on him. As for me, I came in terms with myself, accepting that I may be an Engineer, licensed at that, but I am not going to employ forever.  The corporate life offer fame, awards and opportunities in exchange for stress and poor health. So I finally took my retirement at age 29. I'd rather use my time and energy in more important things: my family and my future.

So how do we get by?

RAJI MART STORY
After I said goodbye to my career in Manila Water, I have built my first business venture.  This was not at all part of MY plan.  But it was God's way of laying his plans for me.  At the time when I was looking for work at my hometown, opportunity struck my family.  A big grocery is about to close and it was offered to my mother.  She is interested but she does not have the time.  I was the only bum kid at the household, so who else is given the responsibility but me.  Without any knowledge in business, I took the challenge. What I learned in my corporate life, I taught to my people.  We opened the grocery with it half full.  Money was scarce, as I was given a very limited budget.  But I told myself, one day, I will have my grocery full and I could leave it running with little supervision. Months later,  Raji Mart is one big key market player.

JCE STORY
Stabilizing Raji Mart, I entered Coke.  Half a year later, I hang up the red shirt. Leaving Coke was a decision, so easy for me to make.  I think, the Lord allowed the opportunity for me to realize that being in the manufacturing setting, or being employed for that matter is not His plan.  I was always tired.  I haven't gone to vacations.  I work 6 days a week.  I spend less time with my family.  Life sucks then.

After I left, I was bumming again.  Raji Mart became a routine. Looking for another venture and joining the Japanese Cake craze was the answer.   It was intended to help with Raji Mart's rent but it became full blast as we took advantage of the public's positive reception and put them in key locations. I thought, why not give the sole Jap Cake distributor some competition.  We made a hit.  Now we operate in 8 locations in Bacolod and Talisay and 3 more locations in Iloilo.  And we are not stopping from expanding.

-o0o-
Opportunities are many.  It is up to us to put our fingers into them and get a hold of them.  Struggles will be everywhere and it will hit you anytime.  But it is up to us if we want to saddle up and hold them with a tight rope.  Fear of failure will never go away.  But with the Lord's grace, a little risk, a prayer and loads of perseverance, we will reach our gold mine.

Being an Entrepreneur is more than a plan, or a choice.  IT is about letting God be your employer, because only He can make you one.

Tips on Bidding Foreclosed Properties with Unionbank

So after winning at the property bidding with Unionbank, I just feel obligated to share some tips I learned from the bidding. I will divide my tips into Before, During and After bidding.

Before Bidding

1. Do Due Diligence. This is a no-brainer tip. Acquiring a property involves money and of course we don't want to put to waste the money we earned with our sweat and blood.  Check at the location site and see for yourself what you are buying for. Know the topography and elevation of the area. you wouldn't want to have a property which is flood prone, it would take a toll on you in the future.

2. Check the copy of the title of the property at the local Registry of Deeds. Titles are a public property and you could request a photocopy with a fee. This is to check on the Encumbrances at the back of the title. Unfortunately, it take 2-3 working days before they release the copy.

3. Prepare your show money. At Unionbank, bidder has to prepare Php20,000 per property he wishes to bid. This money will be collected when the bidder won the property. Other banks will require you to have manager's check of do a deposit before bidding. Always inquire with the nearest bank of their show money requirements as this may be one reason that others get disqualified during biddings.

During Bidding

1. Don't be late. Bidding usually starts on time. And bidding on a property takes only minutes. You wouldn't want to miss on the opportunity of acquiring the prime lots. When we attended the bid, the bidding only took 20 minutes. While we were filling up forms, another couple arrived to bid (they were after Priority Lot #1 as well). yet the bidding was over. If they have come, they might have won our property as the guy partner was a foreigner.

2.  Do Computations while Bidding. Compute for the total price and price per sqm of the property you are auctioning. Foreclosed properties are usually of lower value, and we are after that opportunity. But as bidding continues and prices climbs, it is good to check the price per sqm to check if the value is still viable.

After Bidding

1. Read the contract. So you have won, Congratulation! But you are not fully committed to the property unless you signed the contract. READ it. If you are ammenable to the terms written in the contract, sign it.

2. Know your capacity to pay.  The bank will offer you the term of payment. You could have it as short as 3 months or as long as 10 years. The longer the term the higher the interest. 

*Note, Unionbank does not allow the use or any improvements in the property unless it is fully paid, so unless we fully pay, we can't build our home. This is one of their terms which is beneficial to know when you read contracts.

3. Submit other requirements. The bank will require other requirements like IDs and other documents they wish you to sign. As for Unionbank, we were required to submit post-dated checks based on the payment schedule.

4. Follow the payment schedule. If you want to avoid penalties for late payments, follow their schedule. Fund your checking account to ensure that the checks you submitted have funds. This does not only avoid you from bank penalties but also an estafa case.

I hope you guys, got a thing or two from these tips. If you happen to join a property bidding, share your experience in comments below.

Happy investing everyone!

Our first bidding experience

Ron and I attended the bidding of foreclosed properties listed at Unionbank at Business Inn today. We are about to get married and planning where to build our love nest is in the bag. We are eyeing for 2 possible properties listed for bidding.

Note that a week before today, we have visited the site and we found that among the 6 properties listed in the same area, we like these two lots because of:

1. Lot size. The priority lot #1 is 600 sqm while priority lot #2 is 450 sqm. I think these are lot sizes spacious enough for me to have my garden.

2. Elevation. Among the lots listed both lots are unlikely to be flooded because it was away from the nearby stream. As you all now,  water would naturally flow to a body of water nearby.

3. Proximity. What I like most of these two lots is that it is close to the main road of the subdivision. As a matter of fact, Priority Lot #1 is alonh the main road of the subdivision.

Among others, we really want to acquire a lot in the said subdivision because the price per sqm is only at 1300Php. Comparing to other subdivisions, lots are already sky rocketing at 2000Php (minimum) while others could go as high as Php 7000 per square meter.

When we arrived at the venue, another couple was there as our competitor. The bidding officer waited for another 15minutes before starting to wait for other bidders to arriv but there was nobody else.

Funny about this bidding is that, both parties are after the same properties. I guess the other couple also did their due diligence. They auctioned property #2 first. We are fighting neck to neck with it while i was computing the price per sqm on the side. When the total property value reached a million we stopped and the other couple won.

I thought all the while that since they already got a property, they will no longer bid for Property #1 (600sqm). But we thought wrong. They once again bid against us. But good thing when the property value reached 930,000, they stopped bidding, saying they can't afford the monthly payments of two properties considering that the values have changed already. So we won the property.

Amidst the increase, I still think that we got a good deal at approximately 1500Php per sqm.  

So yeah, we are property owners now! Of course, after we finished off with our payments. 

Success by Henry Sy

“There is no such thing as overnight success or easy money. If you fail, do not be discouraged; try again. When you do well, do not change your ways. Success is not just good luck: it is a combination of hard work, good credit standing, opportunity, readiness and timing. Success will not last if you do not take care of it.”  - Henry Sy

Henry Sy is the richest Filipino in the Philippines as to this writing and is an inspiration.  He is a true story of rags to riches.  

BPI gives 3% rebate to EPS users

One of my strategies in building my millions is maximizing what my bank could offer me.  Discounts and rebates equals savings which could add up to my purchasing power or my future retirement fund.  Discounts and rebates are usually small but for me, every peso counts.

Just recently, BPI announces that with using your ATM card, one could get 3% rebate with his purchase as long as it is of minimum of 2000Php.  In using their Easy Payment System (EPS), you could actually purchase without cash.  IT is like using your ATM card as a debit card. 

I use EPS in doing my grocery, in eat outs or paying my phone bills and often than not, I end up buying 2000Php worth of goods or even more.  So the 60Php (or more) rebate everytime I spend, is a trickle to my glass of millions.

The maximum rebate BPI gives is 600Php or paying 20000Php for a purchase in a single receipt.  I want to note that the spending should be for necessities and not just on the whim.  Just a tip, subdivide your purchase into different transaction receipts if your total is over 20000Php so you could have more rebates.

To claim your rebate, send a SMS with the following format MX ON EPS-REBATE (space) Card Number/Transaction Date (MMDDYYYY)/Transaction Amount and send to 2800 for Globe/Touch Mobile, 216 for Smart/Talk N' Text or 2288 for Sun Cellular.  Promo period is from March 15 - May 31, 2013 and you could redeem until to July 31, 2013.

Location, Location, Location

You may find this post as a cliché. But the right location is one factor you must consider in putting up your business for it to be successful.

IF you have a site found, equip yourself with these areas of concern.

Foot Traffic. How much passersby go to that site? Passersby, are potential customers. If a population frequents your site, they would be your customers in the future.

Competition. Research on the big and small players in your area. What is the advantage of your location? Is the site overpopulated with the same business as you wanted? It also helps if you are the only business in the area catering to such need. You could actually monopolize the market.

Accessibility to Transportation. Is there a terminal nearby for customers? Does the public transport go by your site? You wouldn't want your customers hire a taxi or a tricycle just to go to your store just to get what they need. And most of all, customers don't want to haul their bought goods from your place to the nearest street where there is public transport. You want your business to be convenient as possible to your customers.

Demography. Is your site located in a posh subdivision? In a public market? A mall or a school? Knowing these helps you understand the type of customers you will have, likewise their purchasing power.

Location plays big in a business especially for those who are still starting. Being in the right place gives you an edge. Get seen with just being there in the best location.

I am a Businesswoman

I have started a business just after I came home from Singapore.  It was timely because I was bumming around and I was desperate of finding my interest of what I really want to do.

I opened a grocery last June although I have no background with business nor have I taken business subjects in College. My experience is limited. I used to sell flowers every Sunday to Church goers when I was small when my mom was still growing roses and anthoriums. I opened my online shop with multiply a few years back. But that's about it.  So who would thought I would take on the challenge of opening business as complicated as a grocery?

But I didn't jump into the opportunity right away. I researched and consulted with friends who were in the business. I searched and read through websites regarding my project. I absorbed every info I could get to equip me with a new battle.

So I decided to open this blog to share with you some learnings I have gained over the past nine months.  I am not yet an expert and I am continuously learning. Join me in my journey.

I am now an entrepreneur. I AM NOW A BUSINESSWOMAN

Debt Capacity UP

I got a surprise from BPI today.  My credit limit is now increased 30++% more.  This is my second increase in the 3 years that I have my BPI Credit Card.  Being a good payer and with no outstanding balance since I acquired my credit card, I am constantly rewarded with an increase. 

But more purchasing power means a bigger hole of debt if and if I don't have the discipline with my purchases. But Oohh! I could just imagine the gadgets and the numerous tickets I could buy with my new credit limit now... hehehe!!!

Oyster Mushroom For Sale

We are selling good quality edible oyster mushrooms in 100 g and 200 g. Kindly Contact Mel Tyrone Tribaco (034) 4951648 for your orders.  This is based in Talisay City, Negros Occidental.  



Benefits of Oyster Mushroom
Oyster mushrooms are nutricious and delicious. It is rich is Vit. B Complex, C and protein. Calcium, phosphorous and iron content in oyster mushrooms is twice the amount in beef, pork and chicken. Vitamin B3 in oyster mushrooms is 5-10 times higher as compared to any other vegetable.

For individuals who have problems in cholesterol, this could reduce your cholesterol level. It is good for those with hypertension, obesity and diabetes, because it can form part of diet for it is low in sodium, potassium, starch, fat and calorific value.

Oyster mushrooms can be a nutritious daily diet for people of all ages.

Php 30 for 100g

Php 60 for 200g

For Sale: Human Nature Products

Hi Everyone,

I am selling organic beauty products from Human Nature.  All organic and chemical free!!!

Human Nature products are produced by Gandang Kalikasan.  It employs GK (Gawad Kalinga) residents working on their Organic Farm in a GK community in Bulacan.  With its principles of Pro Philippines, Pro Poor, and Pro Environment, each Human Nature product provides prosperity to the Philippines through a sustainable livelihood to our poor brothers, protecting the environment while enhancing the inner beauty of each Filipino.



I have posted the products at my mulitply site: www.regist3r3d.multiply.com.  Hope I could hear from you regarding your orders.

Thanks!