Frugal Living

One of the things that disgust me when I was still living in the city was the fact that telemarketers somehow got hold of our house number and we often get unsolicited calls for insurance and someone trying to get me to claim some discounted insurance and some prize…

B e w a r e.

The phone has been a known instrument for swindlers. Although phone solicitations are legitimate, there are no easy ways in verifying the people soliciting or even getting pertinent information from you over the phone.

Here are some of the tricksters using the mighty landline.

Fraudulent Telemarketers

These are people who usually promises you prizes and offers you discount over the phone. Using a friendly voice, they will ask for your credit card number with the intent to extort information from you. They might even use high pressure tactics to get you to purchase some merchandise over the phone. Later, you might find that you were billed for something and never receive the product you paid for.

Fake Orders for Magazine Subscriptions

People pretending to sell subscriptions and may “offer” extremely low prices which is only available if you order using your credit card. Again, terms like “verification,” “identification,” or “process” will be used to try to get you to reveal your credit card number. Once you give it, the con artist will use your number to place fake orders.

Investment Frauds

Be wary of accepting calls from scrupulous scammers masquerading as telemarketers. These are scams that may involve selling of coins, precious metals and including insurance.

Credit Card Offers Scam

This type of fraud begins when someone calls your home, and they often identifies themselves as someone from your bank. They would offer you lower interest rates with the intent to getting personal information from you.

W o r d s o f C a u t i o n

• Never get involved in a deal where you are asked to turn money over to a stranger. You might as well ignore emails from Mr. So and So from a Certain Bank anywhere in the world telling you that you have won something. To protect yourself ask for written information on products or services before ordering them.
• Never give out your credit card number on the phone unless you made the call to place an order or to make a donation.
• If you get any suspicious call from your bank, tell the person obtaining information from you to drop the call and you can verify the call from your own bank yourself.

Have you received any unscrupulous offer over the phone? Share them with me by making a comment or email me at frugal.pinoy@gmail.com

1

I did not get to save any dime this week. For one, my electric bill has increased P400. And I am wondering if the malfunctioning fridge might be the culprit. Any take on that?

2

I intend to cut our expense on snacks and junk food.

3

I am also taking Ramit Sethi’s suggestion on calling one day of the week off from spending. Since we live in rural Mindanao, a two day break from spending is possible.

I am calling Friday and Saturday a no spending day.

4

I have opened an emergency fund account in BPI. The intent and the need to save is higher now. Happens more to people who have no passive income.

5

I have opened another 2 savings account for my children. This is monumental, because my oldest daughter is starting to learn how to save and control her spending.

6

My daughter asked for corned beef the other day and I found out that I have no more potatoes to cook to go with it. I checked my cupboard and found 4 pieces of yam. I peeled the yam, and tossed it with the corned beef and viola! The dish tasted way better than corned beef and potatoes…

Savings? Certainly.

A kilo of yam in rural Mindanao is P15.00, while a kilo of potato cost over P50.00.

Ka-ching!

Kamote tasted way better than potatoes.

Do you have other frugal tips? Share it with me, by posting a comment below…

Like you, I am feeling the pinch of recession and noticed how quickly prices has gone up in my favorite store, Makro. I have quickly tried my best to psyche myself into my saving mode, than the spending mode.

So, here are 3 Quick Ways to Avoid Unnecessary Spending

Do not take your children to the grocery unless they are my mine.

There is no doubt that bringing children in the mall or anywhere else where candies, toys and even school supplies are for sale can be stressful to a parent trying to stick on a budget. If your children are like mine, you can definitely take the kids inside the store. Since they are used to seeing me use the “list” all the time every time it’s grocery time. Anything NOT on the list is NON-NEGOTIABLE. Here are other helpful tips in succeeding in budget shopping.

When walking around the neighborhood, do not take your purse.

When you live in a rural area like me where everybody knows everybody, it can be a pain to walk around the neighborhood without being tempted to buy something. In my neighborhood, I have neighbors selling me kakanins, longganisa, everything from Avon, shoes from Natasha, you get the drill, eh? So, one of the tricks I have learned is either you walk like you are going somewhere important, that is if the neighborhood Avon Lady stops you… or you can always say you are broke, which I know doesn’t work since they can still coerce you into getting something for “installments.” Or, just walk around your house if you feel the urge to stretch your legs. That’s better then buying something you really do not need.

Only pay in Cash– Always.

I am big with Debit Cards. Unlike credit cards, they are great since you only get to spend what you have.

Stick with your Budget.

Whenevermy children and I are in town for our monthly check up and grocery shopping, everything we do is mapped out. This is great so as we already know where we are going; what things needed to be bought; and if we had to take lunch or snack, which place to have snacks; When you have a strict itinerary, this will help you avoid unnecessary spendings. Not to mention that since you are time bound, there should absolutely no time to wander around the mall. Since the children are not tempted by those Barbie and Bratz toys, there is no need to fend them off, since you ar busily carting them off to the next destination.

Do you have other cool shopping ideas? Please share them with me by posting a comment below or send me an email at: frugal.pinoy@gmail.com