Online banking has many advantages and most of them are categorized under the word convenience. Aside from paying bills online, you can also check your balance, reload your mobile phone, send money to others and pay purchases from online shops.

I already have a bank where I can do online banking like Unionbank EON Savings Account which provides a great convenience for bloggers because we are Paypal users. But I still decided to open one with BDO because there are some online sites like Multiply that prefers BPI and BDO as one of their mode of payments. And of course, I own a BDO Shop More Credit Card. Monitoring and paying it proves to be easy if they belong to the same financial company.

And to top of all reasons why I choose BDO, some of us blogging moms that belong to one group are talking about future investments for our children. Thus, BDO has investment products that are very affordable for work at home moms like us. We can save and invest easily.

This is my second savings account with BDO. The first one was opened in Bacolod City and is now already closed. This time, I am hoping for a longer and fruitful relationship with them. I hope and pray that they will become one of my efficient tools that can help me achieve my financial goals in life.

Are you interested in opening a BDO Savings Account? Here are some requirements in opening BDO savings account that you might want to prepare before going there:

• Php 5,000.00 initial deposit for Peso Passbook Savings Account (with or without ATM) or Php 2,000.00 initial deposit for Peso ATM (without passbook)
• Two (2) valid and recent IDs with your name and picture
• Two (2) photocopies of your ID (Passport, Driver’s license, PRC ID, NBI clearance, Police clearance, Postal ID, Voter’s ID, Barangay certification, GSIS e-Card, SSS ID, Philhealth card, Senior Citizen Card, OWWA ID, OFW ID, Seaman’s Book, Alien Certification of Registration/Immigrant Certificate of Registration, and other Government office IDs)
• Billing Statement and two (2) photocopies in order to verify your address (Electric bill, Telephone bill, Water bill, Credit Card bill, Cellphone bill etc.) For my case, I didn’t presented this one because I already used my Postal ID that proves my residence.
• Two (2) copies 1×1 latest ID picture

These requirements are basic in most banks especially when opening a Peso Savings Account. BDO is an ideal bank for those who are busy with work or during weekdays because they are open on Saturdays and even Sundays for mall-based banks. I opened mine on a Saturday in a stand-alone bank in our area.

Have about you guys? Do you have a BDO Savings Account? Do you like the convenience of online banking too?

Why am I all so excited in telling you about FICCO? Well, aside from the fact that FICCO is already a household name here in Cagayan de Oro City and the whole of Mindanao, this cooperative, in my own opinion, is the blogger-friendly. Not only for bloggers but for those people who are working at home online. They have a lot of financial products that a blogger could avail. With your share capital and savings account, you can avail of loans in times of emergency, vacation, medical, dental or even for business loans. In FICCO, from birth to death, they have it all. Aside from the loans, my favorite is the Mutual Aid Fund (MAF) because you can avail of a life insurance and hospital income benefit for a minimal cost. Well, not so big, but at least you have something you can count on when the time comes. And guess what, you can avail it for yourself, your spouse, children and parents if your single.

If you want to check for yourself, I suggest you call them and ask for their pre-membership seminar schedule and requirements. Then go there and invite your family and friends to the following address:

FICCO Makati Business Center
Tower B, 2nd Floor, Unit 23,
Palm Towers, St., Paul Road,
San Antonio Village, Makati City
Tel. No. 822-5091

FICCO Makati Business Center was officially opened last February 23, 2012 and was graced by Sen. Agapito “Butz” Aquino who is known as the “Father of Cooperatives” here in the Philippines.

What I failed to learn was about saving and making money grow. Every time I earn a profit, I spend it on candies or whatever things that pleases me that I can afford. I didn’t save. Every time I have money, I get impulsive – a one day millionaire they say. In short, I grew up learning how to make money and spend it the next day – a bad habit that I never knew would soon become my biggest problem as an adult woman.

So when I got married at an early age of 20, real problems started pouring in. I say real because having an exam the next day was one of my common problems when I was single and in college but when I got married, I started thinking about milk, clothing for our baby, future and many other things. And whatever money I was earning was never enough to supply what we needed and what I wanted.

My initial solution to the problem was finding work but my salary was not enough. Then I started doing small businesses and other extra income opportunities but instead of making money, I end up in debt. So I started looking for a job with a higher salary but eventually as children grow so as their needs. So, in short, it was never enough and eventually, I got tired of making ends meet. But still I have no choice but to continue doing what I know – make money.

When I was in my late 20’s, I started contemplating about my life. What is wrong? And why the things I do are never enough to make me debt-free or even just provide the best for my children! Why?! And then I realized that there must be something I have missed out or failed to understand. So I started thinking, evaluating, reading and learning… my formula to financial success is lacking. Yes, I know how to make money but I don’t know anything about money management. I was financially doomed! I was flanking in personal finance!

But just like I said in my post on my blog at Pinay Mommy Online, it is never too late. I am 32 now and I am still learning. Bad habits die hard. Since my financial realization about a few years ago, I have failed so many times. I tried saving but failed. I have also been an impulsive buyer and what is worst, I always try to justify my buys which I know some of them are right but most of them are unnecessary. (Sounds familiar?)

Anyway, this year is THE YEAR. The year to start. I want to improve myself. I have been very lenient over the years since my realizations. This year will be the year of drastic measures. I need to apply what I have learned and put them into action. This is the year I will start to improve myself and score high in Personal Finance. This year is the year I will plan again and plot my financial goals. This is the year of financial improvement!! This blog will be my witness!!

So, have you experienced Financial Realizations too? Did you improved financially since it happened? Share your experience.

First, I am going to address the question you have in your mind right now – “What happened to Pink Piggy?” or “Kamusta na si Pink Piggy?” or “Did you opened it on the day she should be opened?” To answer all your questions, here is what happened to The Pink Piggy…

Around June 2011, I have made a promise that I will open Pink Piggy on November or December of the same year in preparation for the Second Grand Eyeball for PMC or for our Christmas Dinner but what really happened was we opened Pink Piggy earlier than expected. We opened her somewhere in the middle of July. Nope, I didn’t use the amount unnecessarily but I deposited it as a SHARE CAPITAL to FICCO, a local cooperative here in our place. I believe that pursuing an active account at our local cooperative will go a long way for my family – it can really help us in the future.

First Community Cooperative (FICCO) has a lot of financial products to offer to its members. Some of the products I am really interested in are their housing loan, car loan and even the regular loans which can help fund a small business depending on your share capital.

Since I was a probationary member last year, I was only allowed to avail few financial products and one of them was loan against deposit (LAD) which I availed last November 2011 when my family and I went to Manila. I used the opportunity to build up my credibility in the cooperative. You get a higher member rating if you avail of their loan products and pay on time.

As months passed, my share capital has grown in figure. Not as big as the other members but enough to say that I haven’t reached this kind of amount before in terms of savings because I always end up withdrawing rather than building up. Good thing about FICCO, you can’t withdraw your share capital, only the money under your savings account which I only have around one thousand pesos. I don’t deposit much on my savings account. I am more religious in depositing on my share capital. Even though I won’t be able to withdraw it, I am sure in the future it will benefit me in many ways.

The question is – shall I continue this blog now that Pink Piggy is already gone? The answer is YES! Because I still have a Pink Piggy. I bought a new one last year. Much bigger than that of the first which means a bigger coin bank to fill!!

Late last week, I already received numerous calls from one of my creditors. They say my payment was not enough so I should make up for it. Good thing I was able to produce 500 pesos but still I have to face a bigger amount next month and to think, work is not that much lately.

Anyway, I am still praying for a probable answer to our financial needs. I am selling some stuff that I owned which is very precious to me. If positive result will come to this, I will be able to pay off all major debts that I have especially with the credit card companies. So I am earnestly praying for God’s will for this.

Anyway, my Pink Piggy 2011 is set to be opened prior to the next Pinay Mommies Community Grand Eyeball on November 22, 2011 or for our Family Christmas Noche Buena this December 2011. So, I will try my best not to open the pink piggy prior to the said the date! Wish me luck!

Now that I have this blog, would you like to follow? Would you like to read the adventures of a SAHM pursuing a life of thriftiness and financial freedom? If so… don’t forget to follow using Google Friend Connect or subscribe via email. It would sure make this adventure fun if we have you all on board!!

As for thriftiness and financial freedom, we need more than luck for that!!