by Eric Serate
How many of you… or maybe a better question is… how many times have you received spam text messages or calls from banks enticing you to avail of low interest loans from them?
Sa Philippine market ngayon, maraming perang umiikot at ang mga financial institutions ay talagang agresibong nagtutulak ng mga instrumento katulad ng pautang para mapalago nila ang perang ito.
Good debts and bad debts
Although technically, the authors agree that there is such a thing as good debt (i.e. carefully calculated debt for purposes of business expansion), karamihan sa ating mga kababayan ay walang discipline sa pagbabayad ng utang at kadalasan pa, ang mga utang ay para sa mga non-essentials o hindi naman importante. Ang pangungutang, sa ganitong mga kaso, ay mortal sin.
Even business loans can accumulate rather than improve the financial condition of a company if one is not careful. In 1997, many companies who borrowed money in dollars ended up paying twice as much and, as a result, many of these enterprises went bankrupt.
Losing money is bad enough. But losing money with the added obligation of paying a debt plus interest is worse.
Needs vs wants
The availability of various debt facilities like credit cards, installment plans, etc. fuels the temptation to spend on things that we cannot afford. More so on things we actually do not need!
However, it is important to note that the need for things is really relative. Ang cellphone sa ibang sitwasyon ay talagang pangangailangan. Pero kung sasabay ka lang sa uso para lang maipagmayabang at masabi na “IN” ka ay gastos or utang lang ang katapat nito.
Debt can keep you from achieving your financial goals, it can give you sleepless nights and other health problems, it can even also ruin relationships and marriages.
In reality, however, even if we try to save and budget, unexpected business or personal emergencies can force us into debt. When this happens, it is best to consult a debt counselor or a financial adviser who can suggest specific ways and means on how this financial burden can be eased or eliminated.
Pero para sa ating mga kababayan na ang bawat sentimo ay tinapatan ng hirap at pawis para kitain, tandaan nyo na lang na BAWAL MANGUTANG! ‘Pag may pangangailangan na kaya pa namang gawan ng paraaan, gawin muna lahat ng makakaya kaysa unahin kaagad ang mangutang.
Set up an emergency fund
Palaging alalahanin na kung mahigpit ang budget at hindi naman kailangan (want vs need) ang isang bagay na nakita sa mall, ay huwag na itong bilihin at mag-impok na lang muna at gumawa ng emergency fund.
Ang emergency fund ay nakatabing pera na katumbas ng tatlo hanggang anim na buwang gastusin ng pamilya or ng indibidwal. Sa halip na gastusin ang pera, idagdag na lang sa emergency fund. Dito ka na rin dumukot kung talagang may pangangailangan na hindi maiwasang gastusan.
Another point is, when we borrow money, it comes with interest. In most cases when these loans do not come from legitimate institutions, they come together with rates that are ridiculously high. Pinapayaman lang natin yung mga nagpapahiram ng pera!
Keep this in mind – mas aasenso ang Pilipino kung iiwas sa pag-utang.
