Stop Planking, Start Plinking

Just when you think planking is cool and fun...

Perhaps you haven't heard of Plinking yet. 

Plink is Matchmove's innovative matching puzzle game. It is filled with exquisite and brightly colored pictures; easy-to-understand rules to get you quickly started; it cleverly combines the rules of matching games and puzzles to give the audience favorite a new luster!

The game is pretty much like the old school Pairs game which allows you to match two similar objects but unlike any other matching games, Plink actually has incorporated the fun of matching games with puzzles to give twist, socializing through the Friends and Chat features.

Socializing through Plink


Once logged in, you will be notified once other Plink users have sent you a Friend Request. You have the option to Accept or Reject the request but I suggest you choose the former.

Having friends on Plink has two main benefits. One is that you could easily socialize within the game - discuss about your latest achievements and of course, swap puzzles to help you complete your Jigsaw Puzzle! ;) 

While enjoying the game, you could actually use the Chat box and converse with your Plink friends or other players within your country or Globally. Now that's a fun way not only to gain Gold Coins but also to network or make friends with other Plink lovers.

Socializing within Plink would not be complete without your own customizable Profile. Below is a screenshot of my Profile on Plink which is pretty much like your Facebook Profile, only in purple ;) You have the option to update your status, view your number of friends, a Wall wherein friends and visitors alike could leave a shoutout and of course, your Recent Achievements.

Recent Achievements actually is my favorite as it showcase my milestone within the community and makes me want to become more active so I could get to achieve more rewards or badges.  Below is a list of some of the many Achievements that a Plink player could accumulate. 

Ready to Start Plinking? Here's How

So if you're excited to get started and start plinking, below is a step-by-step presentation on how to play the fun and exciting game. 

                             How to Play Plink - The Latest Craze in Town

 

Planking is so yesterday. So what are you waiting for? Stop planking or tarrying and start plinking! Much more fun and safer ;) Don't forget to connect with them on Facebook and Twitter too for latest updates of the game.

#ReaderAsks: Should I invest P5,000 of P25,000?

Question:

Should I invest P5,000 of P25,000?

Answer: 

When investing in the stock market, one of the several homeworks which you need to do is to determine your risk appetite whether you're a risk averse or risk taker type of person. Also, please do keep in mind that money that you invest shouldn't be your lifetime savings. You need to save a portion of your salary and make sure it's your spare fund or not the one that you would constantly or regularly need. Again, don't bet your whole life savings especially when you're just starting to invest and have little to no background of how the stock market works. 

When I started, I invested P 25,000 through Citiseconline since it's their minimum opening balance requirement. I wish I've put in much more since you couldn't really buy a lot of stocks with such fund. However, if you're just starting and wish to observe the trend of the market, do not bet your whole savings. So again, when you are just starting, you may want to invest P5,000 just to kick start your investing journey and you could do that through First Metro Investment Corporation, a subsidiary of Metro Bank. Research on a single company and focus on its future plans and current standing. It's hard to diversify when you have such a limited fund so it's best to focus on a single company and when you think you could manage to invest in more companies, that's the time when you could try adding more. 

If you are a risk taker, you may want to start investing with like P25,000 and check on various companies so if you are sure as to which do you wish to invest in, it's much easier to diversify. 

For other questions that were previously asked and answered, feel free to read other #ReaderAsks. 

#ReaderAsks: "How much percentage would I gain if I invest P25,000?"

Question: 
How much percentage would I gain if I invest P25,000?

Answer: 
Perhaps the most commonly asked question both from my blog readers and colleagues at work is that how much would they gain if they invest a certain amount of money in the stock market.

By the way, if you're a newbie wanting to invest in the stock market and wish to know the basics, here's my attempt to put together a resource which could hopefully help you get started.

When you're investing in the stock market, you can't really measure as to how much you will earn in three days, two weeks, or two months. The price of the stock you've invested in to varies depending on various factors such as the most recent news and developments about the company, rumors by tsupiteros (yes, they still affect stock prices at some point), and the fundamentals of the company so there's not really a way to tell you as to how much you will gain with a definite time frame because no matter how much one would forecast, there are still a lot of factors which could change the stock price of the company you've invested in. The stock market is a place that doesn't guarantee anything. However, you could lessen the risks by doing your homework of researching about the company and its plans, attending seminars so you could listen to seasoned traders and investors, always be on the look out for the latest updates about the company you've put your money in and it also helps to get in touch with fellow traders so you could exchange updates.

If you wish to read previous questions asked by other readers, feel free to go to my #ReaderAsks. 

How to Withdraw Money from PayPal to BDO Debit Card?

Question: 

How do I withdraw my money from Paypal to BDO (Banco de Oro)? How much is the withdrawal fee? How long does it take for the money to be transferred to my local bank account?

Answer: 
When you're done signing up for Paypal (here's a quick tutorial if you still haven't) and you wish to withdraw your funds in a bank in the Philippines, two of proven successful ways are through Union Bank's EON Card and through Banco de Oro (BDO) Debit Card. 

How to Withdraw your Paypal funds to Banco de Oro

In order for you to withdraw your money from Paypal to your BDO bank account or debit card, you need to add your bank account details. To do this, simply go to the My Account tab, Profile then Add/Edit Bank Account. You will then be require to provide the details such as the Country, Name on Account (make sure the name you provide matches that which is in your local bank account), Bank Name, Bank Code, Account Number and re-enter the latter.  Please note that you have to enter the 10-digit account number (which is the same with your online banking account if you have one with BDO) and not the 16-digit numbers which you could see in your ATM card.

 Below is a complete list of Paypal Bank Codes in the Philippines. For Banco de Oro, it is 010530667.

Official List of PayPal Philippines Bank Codes

BANK NAME	BANK CODE
ALLIED BANKING CORP	010320013
AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND	010700015
ASIA UNITED BANK	011020011
BANGKO SENTRAL NG PILIPINAS	010030015
BANGKOK BANK	010670019
BANK OF AMERICA	010120019
BANK OF CHINA	011140014
BANK OF TOKYO	010460012
BANCO DE ORO (& EQUITABLE PCI BANK)	010530667
BANK OF COMMERCE	010440016
BANK OF THE PHIL ISLANDS (BPI)	010040018
CHINA BANKING CORP	010100013
CHINA TRUST COMML BANK	010690015
CITIBANK N.A.	010070017
DEVT BANK OF THE PHILS (DBP)	010590018
DEUTSCHE BANK	010650013
EAST WEST BANK	010620014
EXPORT & INDUSTRY BANK	010860010
FUJI BANK	010640010
HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANK (HSBC)	010060014
INTL COMML BANK OF CHINA	010560019
INTL EXCHANGE BANK	010680012
JP MORGAN CHASE BANK	010720011
KOREA EXCHANGE BANK	010710018
INTL NEDERLAND BANK	010660016
LANDBANK OF THE PHILS	010350025
MAYBANK OF THE PHILS	010220016
METROPOLITAN BANK & TRUST CO	010269996
PHIL BANK OF COMMUNICATION	010110016
PHIL TRUST COMPANY	010090039
PHIL NATIONAL BANK (PNB)	010080010
PRUDENTIAL BANK	010150018
PHIL VETERANS BANK	010330016
RIZAL COMML BANKING CORP (RCBC)	010280014
SECURITY BANK & TRUST CO	010140015
STANDARD CHARTERED BANK	010050011
UNITED COCONUT PLANTERS BANK	010299995
UNION BANK OF THE PHILS (UBP)	010419995
UNITED OVERSEAS BANK	010270189

Once done adding your bank details, go to My Account tab, Withdraw and click on the option Withdraw funds to your bank account. The second option which is to Withdraw funds to your card is used when withdrawing your funds to your Union Bank's EON card. 

Type in the amount you wish to withdraw and since the option says Banco de Oro (Philippines), simply press Continue. 

How much does it cost? How long does it for the fund to be transferred?

If you choose to Withdraw funds to your bank account (Banco de Oro), withdrawals from  P7,000.00 PHP or more is free of charge while a fee of P50.00 will be automatically deducted for for P6,999.99 PHP or less withdrawal. It takes 2-4 business days (without holidays) for the money to be successfully transferred. 

However, if you're going to Withdraw funds to your card, it would take 5-7 business days before the money is reflected to your local bank account (EON Card or Credit Card) and a fee of P250.00 PHP will be deducted. 

Successful Withdrawal from my Paypal Account to my Local Bank Account

Below is a screenshot of how I was able to successfully withdraw my funds from Paypal to Banco de Oro. There will also an email which will be sent to your email associated with your Paypal to notify you of the completion of the transaction. Happy freelancing and withdrawing! ;)

15 Frugal Tips to Save Money from my Ilocana Mom

Ilocanos are known to be frugal. They're like to local version of Chinese people whose religion is to save money for the rainy days. Moms frugality has helped me turn my P100 to 100,000 and she's a perfect example of someone knows what she wants and how to control them - not the other way around.

Below are 15 frugal ways of living that I learned from my Ilocana mom.

1. Buy only what you need

Mom believes that you can survive by getting only what you need while those you like will only complicate life whether you get them or not. 

2. Don't keep a wallet

Never in my whole life did I see my mom with a wallet. She believes that once you lose your wallet with all your fortunes on it (identification documents, money, cards, etc), you will lose them all at once. It's like letting someone who finds it winning a lottery in a heartbeat. 

3. Buy shorts with deep pockets

Since my mom doesn't have a wallet, she likes to buy shorts with really deep pockets. Deep enough for coins and a few bills that she would need when she buys the grocery or her fare but not too deep to take with her all her savings.

4. Prioritize needs before wants

When I ask for something from my mom, she would always ask me if  I really need it. When I couldn't provide her with the right answer, she couldn't provide me with the item. 

5. Don't eat in fastfood stores

Fastfood stores don't make you healthy. You only make the franchisee's pockets healthy. 

6. Love vegetables

No, you don't have to be a vegetarian. You just need to be a self disciplinarian.

7. Don't go branded

Carry the clothes you wear, not the other way around.

8. Take short, quick local vacations

We all love to take vacations but if you love your life, why would you want a vacation away from it? 

9. Eat before you go to the mall

Malls were designed to be wide to exhaust you and thefastfoods were designed to be to the "rescue". Go back to rule number 5.

10. Window shopping before you actually go shopping

Chances are, once you get tired walking and and looking at what you want to buy, you would realize that you don't really need to buy it. Try window shopping for like the whole day and once you get tired and go home, you will learn that satisfying your stomach is much more urgent than satisfying the whim for a pair of new shoes.

11. Don't be ashamed to walk

Those who don't pay their fare are the ones who should be ashamed.

12. Don't stress yourself to learn how to use a cellphone

People will still contact you anyway. As in any way. 

13. Eat on time. Don't eat too much.

No extra meals. No extra expenses.

14. Save P1 per day

How many days in a week, in a month, in a year? One peso per day may sound ridiculous today but  one day you'd be surprise once you break that piggy bank after several years of faithfully filling it daily.

15. Have more goals and fewer likes

Focus on the things that you wish to achieve rather than the ones you wish to have.

My mom has faithfully lived those frugal ways to save and her ways may seem impossible for some but her ways have helped us to do what seems to be impossible - to turn the P100 to P100,000 in 10 steps.

How about you? Are you living the frugality is sexy lifestyle?