In the last three articles, we talked about how to save on utilities. That is, (tip no. 4) – Get only the services that you need and use them wisely. We discussed about cable and telephone (land line). Now, let’s talk about Cellphones.
Kailangan n’yo ba ng mamahaling cellphone? Marami sa atin, hindi kailangan ang mamahaling cellphone. Kaya ang suggestion namin, kung hindi kaya o uutangin lang naman, bumili na lang ng mumurahing cellphone. Siguraduhin lang ninyo na may (at least) one year warranty para kung masira man ay pwedeng ayusin.
Sabi ng isa naming participant, “Ok lang po ang mamahaling cellphone, LIBRE naman sa plan ko.” Ang sagot namin, “Akala n’yo lang, libre.” Kung libre ‘yan, eh bakit naka lock-in for two years (or more) at bakit ang laki-laki ng binabayaran ninyo buwan-buwan? Marami kaming mga kaibigan na kumukuha ng P2,000-P5,000 monthly cellphone plan para daw makakuha ng libreng mamahaling cell phone. Ibig sabihin, nagbabayad sila ng mga P48,000 to P120,000 in two years para lang makakuha ng mamahaling cellphone. Sa aming pamilya, kinukuha namin ang pinakamurang plan (about P350 to P500 a month). May libreng phone na ito pero hindi kasing ganda ng mamahaling cellphone. Heto ang good news, halos lahat ng kayang gawin ng mamahaling cellphone ay kayang gawin ng libreng cellphone namin pero mababa lang ang aming binabayaran buwan-buwan. Kung heavy user kayo, ang suggestion namin ay kumuha na lang ng unlimited call and text sa lahat ng network for only P350 to P600 a month per plan. Sa ganitong paraan, pwede nang mag-call at mag-text all you can na hindi hihigit sa P2,000 a month ang gagastusin ninyo. Mayroon pa kayong tatlong cellphones. Sagot ng isa naming participant, “Ay naku, ang daming cellphone naman ang dala-dala ko.” Ang sagot namin d’yan, “No problem, mayroon namang dual sim phones.”
How to use your Cellphone properly
Magkano ang isang text message? Piso… per 160 characters, hindi per send. Naaalala pa ba ninyo ang mga sinaunang cellphones – Nokia 3210 or 5110? Kapag marami na kayong na type, dumarating sa point na humihinto at nauubusan na kayo ng space; kasi umabot na sa 160 characters limit. Kailangan n’yo nang magbawas ng character/s para magkasya ang message n’yo. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit nauso ang mga text ‘lingo’ o mga words na pinaikli. Pero ngayon, sa mga bagong units, kasya na kahit na isang nobela ang i-send n’yo (but still P1 per 160 characters pa rin ang charge). Napapansin pa ba ninyo na may nakalagay na “1 of 5” or “2 of 5”? Kung madalas kayong tumawag o mag-text (lalo na kung kayo ay may business o nasa sales and marketing), baka mas makatipid kayo kung nakalinya kaysa naka prepaid. Check the appropriate plans for your cellphone consumption.
Avoid chain texts. Noong high school pa kami, nauso ang mga chain letters, then chain e-mails. Kung paniniwalaan ninyo ang mga ito, nakakatakot kasi matindi ang mga banta – may masamang mangyayari sa inyo. Ngayon, ang uso ay chain text, “Send this to ten of your friends and you will get lucky.” Ang sure lang na lalaki ay ang cellphone bill n’yo. At the same time, don’t fall into text games. Kapag sumagot kayo rito, may bayad per send ‘yan. Mayroon pang mga scams. Nanalo ka daw ng kotse sa isang raffle pero you need to deposit a certain amount para sa processing ng mga papeles.
Avoid downloading ring tones and ring back tones na may bayad. Ito ‘yung may boses ng mga artista na sasagot sa inyo or instead of ordinary ring tones ay music ang maririnig. Hindi namin maintindihan kung bakit kailangan pang bumili ng mga tones na ito samantalang may mga built-in tones na naman ang mga cellphone units.
Next article, alamin ang iba pa pang tips on how to save on utilities!
(Excerpted from Vic and Avelynn Garcia’s book entitled “Kasusweldo pa lang ubos na?” available in National Bookstore, Powerbooks, Bestsellers, Fullybooked, OMF, PCBS, Praise and other leading bookstores nationwide. Also available in Unleash International Bookstore. For details, please contact 0922-UNLEASH(8653274) or 6640892, 6320148 local 8002-8003.)
Vic Garcia is currently the President and CEO of Unleash International Corporation, a high-tech, high-touch, high-impact training company whose main mission is to unleash the highest potential in people towards success, happiness, and significance through licensed and originally authored, world-class, high-impact training programs.
Vic has been in the business for more than 20 years and has gained the trust and confidence of countless organizations. He is also the author of the Unleash Workbook and Unleash Learning Systems. His area of competence varies from work and life improvement, financial management, leadership, system, productivity, teambuilding, and other specialized seminars that will unleash the highest potential in people. He served as a consultant and a management coach to a number of CEOs and leaders of different companies. He is often invited to different television and radio programs to share his expertise in unleashing the highest potential in people.
Learn and apply practical ways of effective financial management through easy and doable techniques when you follow this series weekly. Follow Vic & Avelynn Garcia on Twitter, @AvelynnGarcia. Also visit www.unleashinternational.com and Unleash International on Faceboook, www.facebook.com/unleashinternational.