Credit Card_Useful? or Scary?

A credit card is a payment card issued to users as a system of payment. It allows the cardholder to pay for goods and services based on the holder's promise to pay for them.

At first, I was hesitant to accept the offer of an agent who called me to apply for credit card. I have heard a lot of negative comments about having or owning a credit card. Most of them said, that once you have it you will be buried with tons of debts.  So, even though I am interested but I declined the offer because of the fear of the possibilities that the same odd situation might happen to me. I did not stop to ask anyone I know, especially those who are credit card subscribers about the advantages and disadvantages of possessing a credit card. Until I learned that having it is not really that scary if you will just use it wisely and responsively. It can help you and will do no harm if you are just a good payer. After I fully understand what credit card is, I re-apply and fortunately, it was approved.

For me, having a credit card is very useful.  I can use it in purchasing goods when I run out of money in my pocket and I can purchase ticket/s on emergencies.  I enjoy using it but I always remind myself to BE RESPONSIBLE! It doesn’t mean if you have it, you can just use it without thinking of the price to pay afterwards.  If you use it make sure that you can afford to pay for it on its due date to avoid interests and penalties.  Don’t just SWIPE and SWIPE and SWIPE if you know you are not capable of paying the amount because you will face the consequences of your action later on. That is the reason why some irresponsible credit card holders were buried with tons of debts and worst, being charged with cases. Spending too much than the actual income or savings can put you in an awkward situation.

Ways to avoid bigger bills:

1. Don’t be late in paying to avoid late payment charge. I pay my bill responsibly, usually 4 days before the due date with the TOTAL AMOUNT DUE coz you will be added a finance charge the next bill if you will just pay only the MINIMUM AMOUNT.  So, it’s better to pay the full obligation for the particular month.

2. Use only your credit card/s if needed.

3. Using the credit card is tempting especially if you’re in the stores, malls, appliance centers, so it’s better to leave your credit card at home safely. Put it in secret areas where no one knows beside you.

4. Schedule the date when is the right time to purchase or use the credit card.  Know your cut-off dates (refer to your Statement of Account).

     Example:  January 16 to February 15 due date is March 6
                       February 16 to March 15 due date is April 6

     Knowing this, you can have ample time to look for money to pay for your bill. Don’t swipe and swipe even if you’re overloaded on the particular month. Be responsible to avoid hassles.

Travel Tip: How to minimize baggage expenses

In order to minimize baggage expenses when you travel, you should know how many kilos of baggage you would like to bring or if you want to travel light (hand carry only/no checked baggage). If you have baggage that you need to check in, avail Prepaid Baggage offered by certain airlines like Cebu Pacific/TigerAirways and Zestair/AirAsia upon purchase of the ticket/s.

What is Prepaid Baggage?

Prepaid Baggage is a service offered by certain airlines like Zestair/AirAsia, Cebu Pacific/TigerAirways and Philippine Airlines wherein they allow passengers to pay their excess baggage in advance at cheaper price for passengers traveling both domestic and international. If you don’t have baggage you can choose “no checked baggage” which means you can just take 7kgs as hand-carry for domestic flights.

Why you need to avail Prepaid Baggage?

Because if you're going to pay your baggage at the airport upon check in less than 4 hours before the time of departure, you’ll going to pay P150 per 1 kilo for domestic flights.  Example, if you carry 15 kilos with you at the airport without availing prepaid baggage upon purchase of your ticket then you'll going to pay P2,250 (15 kgs x P150). But if you avail prepaid baggage upon purchase of your ticket, you will just pay P170.00 for 15kgs (Zestair/AirAsia) and P224 for 15kgs (Cebu Pacific/TigerAir). They also have other available standard rates for heavier baggages.

Note: You can still purchase prepaid baggage at the airport more than 4 hours before the time of departure.

Knowing how many kilograms of baggage you’ll going to bring on a travel is really indispensable and you can save a lot of money. If you purchase a ticket, you must avail a prepaid baggage, if there are things that you want to bring that needs to be checked in like for instance, dried fish or other smelly foods  and also, if you are sure that you'll be carrying more than 7 kilos. All you have to do is tell the ticketing agent that you want to avail a prepaid baggage.

There are still people who don't know about this specially those who are working abroad. That's why they spent a lot  of money for baggage fees at the airport when they come home.

BRICCIOLINE_Wheat Flour Cookies

Briccioline is a wheat flour cookies baked by Augustinian nuns using firewood in Tabalong, Dauis, Bohol. When I first tasted the cookies I liked the taste because it has moderate sweetness. It is delicious and crunchy. Its crunchiness adds the quality of the said cookies which you will enjoy every bite of it. Para sa akin hindi sya nakakasawang kainin.

Host (bread) being served during the Holy Eucharist by Catholic churches is made up of wheat flour. Augustinian Nuns made those hosts (bread) and formed into circles and the cuttings being left are the main ingredient of Briccioline. Instead of throwing it away, they made it into delicious cookies and they sell it to add funds for the congregation.

Augustinian nuns are the most ancient and continuous segment of the Roman Catholic Augustinian religious order under the canons of contemporary historical method. The Augustinian nuns, named after Saint Augustine of Hippo are several Roman Catholic enclosed monastic orders of women living according to a guide of religious life known as the Rule of St. Augustine.