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ORGANIZE FINANCES before and after WORKING abroad

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You are probably already working abroad.  But you might still welcome a review of all the right things you did and know what you could do to correct mistakes of the past. For readers who have not yet left, this is the chance for you to get ready.

It has been my advocacy to concentrate on teaching financial literacy to income-earning Filipinos.  Fortunately or unfortunately, as an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW), you are in the majority of Filipinos earning substantial regular income.  I am quite blessed to have been and continue to be able to get to know many of your problems related to financial literacy up close.  It gives me a real sense of accomplishment to be able to assist you in understanding the need to save and to grow your savings so that you may be financially independent when you come back for good to our country.

In the first place, the reasons why you or at least most of OFWs leave their family and go abroad is a combination of the following and not necessarily in order:

1) Lack of appropriate jobs for you locally.  You might have had job opportunities in the Philippines but if you have technical capabilities, you could get a better paying job abroad.  The sense of accomplishment is also a very important part of your life.  If you lose that feeling, it can be very depressing and the nagging thought that you could have done better in life will haunt you till you grow old.

2) Want the experience and adventure abroad.  There is nothing wrong if you are not really there for the sense of accomplishment but for the thrill of being alone abroad and living a different life.  This is true especially if you are still young and single. Hopefully, you can combine work and pleasure.

3) Want for better pay.  I can’t say much more about this.  Everybody wants better pay whether in the country or outside.  I hope you carefully analyzed your net pay.  I hope you don’t fall into the group who thought they were getting higher pay in another country but cost of living and other expenses related to moving away actually gave them a net pay lower than what they would be receiving in the Philippines.

Based on my and the Colayco Foundation for Education (CFE) Team’s personal experience in dealing with OFWs, it seems that at most, only 10-20% would know how to manage and grow their money.  This same ratio probably applies as well to those who stay and work in the Philippines. Personal money management, or applied wealth management is not really taught in schools.  It’s only now that we are seeing our advocacy in promoting financial literacy (personal finance) being brought to schools. A group, which includes CFE is working on an institute to precisely educate teachers who teach finance and economics in investments and personal finance. One of the key and immediate objectives is to reverse the prevailing counter-productive mindset among the earning classes, i.e., the mindset of the “here and now”- the seeming drive to live their chosen lifestyle immediately at any expense up to and including borrowing beyond their means.

Pre-Departure Fundamentals

Before you even leave the country, first and foremost, you should have a personal financial goal.  You should know exactly:

1) How much you are worth today.  You need to make your Personal Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Personal Income & Expense Statements.

2) You should agree with your family left behind what their budget should be and be ready to send only that and no more. Your family should not be tempted to thinking that they can now spend as much as they want just because their OFW is earning in foreign currency.

3) Remember that in making that family budget, you should follow the formula INCOME-SAVINGS= EXPENSES.  It is important that you not only keep some money for your personal expenses abroad but also some savings for yourself

4) You should try your best to follow the 80-20 rule.  You should live within 80% of what you earn and save 20% of your income for your future capital.  If you can’t save 20%  you can start even with 1%.  You just have to get started and feel that winning experience. This will hopefully get you to develop that saving habit.

5) Learn what options you have for saving both here and abroad. You should not just send everything to your family and relatives.  In fact, it is better that you make arrangements for direct placements of your investments with financial institutions before you leave.  In your working country, on the other hand, you should find out the safe methods of keeping your savings.  If you feel confident about investing there over the long term with a reputable financial institution, you could do that.

Your whole end goal should be to come home “for good” with enough saved so that you can sustain a fairly comfortable financial life with your family.  These goals have to be quantified over specific time periods.  You need to monitor your progress and thus should regularly update your personal financial plan.

You might become so homesick and start believing that you have enough saved and that you can easily find a job or business when you come home.  You might start believing that what you have saved will tide you over until you find the job or business.  Unfortunately, many times this might not be a realistic assumption so be very careful

If you still need a job, you should be relatively sure you have that job before coming home for good. If you dream of getting into business, you should prepare for the business that you intend to get into.  You should prepare together with your family in identifying what business you will get into, thoroughly study the identified business and have a complete plan in how to set it up and start operations.  Ideally, the business should already be running even before you give up your job abroad. You can start to prepare for this by working on plans each time you come back for vacation.

One of the better ways to do this is to look into franchise businesses that fit your goal.  In some cases, Franchisors can provide active management of the business in the start-up year.  This way, you or his family member can be taught how to run the business on-the-job. There is no better way to prepare and train than going through this kind of hands-on training.

Typical Back-For-Good Situations

When you are finally home in the Philippines, you could be one of those who say they cannot adjust to the new life.  Most of the time, it is because you realize that what you have saved is not enough.  This is so because it usually is taking you longer to find a job or to think or put up a new business or maybe your lifestyle has just changed.  In this case, your only choice really, is to cut down on expenses drastically until you are able to settle down.

Those who have lived in the Philippines all their lives know that setting up businesses can lead to a lot of frustration especially since the choice of business should be dependent on the passion of the person, interest, size of market and sufficient funding.  To all the OFWs and those who want to be OFWs out there, always remember the saying that “The grass is always greener on the other side.”  Examine your options well whatever side you are in now before making important decisions to uproot yourselves and move overseas or to come back home.

Post Script

With today’s global financial crisis, the challenges are even more pronounced.  Economies of practically every country are melting down.  New investments are not happening and all are trying to conserve whatever cash and assets they have.  Worse, credit is very tight such that even ongoing good businesses are hard put to maintain, much less expand their operations. What is the bottom line of all this? Be practical. Hold on to your jobs for as long as possible.  Don’t rush into starting up new businesses.  The rule of the day is to conserve your assets and avoid risks.

Armand Bengco on Love and Money

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Money matters are important in loving relationships. Poor financial management is a big reason why couples break up and families fall apart. Being able to easily and comfortable discuss money, income and wealth matters with your partner and children may just save your marriage and family.

Develop ease and comfort in talking about money, income and wealth with your partner and your children. Couples and families should have quality conversations about money matters.

If you are in the dating and boyfriend/girlfriend stage, understand how your partner feels, views and manages his/her money. Does he or she buy things at a whim? Does he or she save regularly? Does he or she have insurance? And other things. You don’t need to know the specifics of how much he or she earns but just understand enough to see if you can work with his/her style of financial management in the long run.

Once you have decided to become life-long partners, are engaged or are in the early stages of your marriage, you can get into the specifics of who does what in managing your family’s finances.

Set your budgets as a couple. Be honest with each other especially regarding debt, acquisitions and any and all money transactions.

Work out between yourselves who will MANAGE and who will DECIDE on money-income-wealth matters. Share the responsibility for your financial future with your spouse. Come up with mutually agreed upon rules about spending limits. Decide on what you can agree on as “mine”, “yours”, or “ours”.

Part of communicating is agreeing on your immediate family’s goals – education, kind and cost of lifestyle, retirement, big ticket acquisitions, etc. As early as you can, start planning, saving and investing for these things.

If you have children, don’t wait till they are working till you discuss money with them. Once they start asking you for things they want to buy you can already introduce them to good money concepts. Take them with you when you go shopping, explain why you choose this brand of shampoo over the other brand.

Another important note about families in the Philippines – the EXTENDED FAMILY matters especially because we often extend our help to our families. Often, even after marriage, couples feel obligated to help out the family they were raised in, their parents and siblings and sometimes even cousins or even as far as the 2nd or 3rd degree of consanguinity. As Francisco J. Colayco often reminds; “you can not share what you do not have.”

So secure your immediate family first – the one you are raising with your partner. Agree on what and how much to share with parents; siblings, etc. Agree on why – what’s the purpose or the reason why you are giving financial help. By agreeing on these things beforehand you won’t have to keep secrets on how help was given. There is a thing called money infidelity too.

A family is like a corporation too. Corporations existence is to earn, make profit, grow and expand. Recently, CSR-corporate social responsibility or giving back to the community is becoming a part of corporate life and existence. The same is true for a family-earn, make profit, grow, expand and give back. Just remember – you cannot share what you don’t have.

Conversations about money with loved ones don’t have to be difficult or embarrassing. They don’t have to be often or take a lot of time but it should be honest and objective. Involve as little emotion as possible – sabi nga “Maski masaya, hindi dodoble ang pera. Magalit man, hindi mababawasan ang utang.” Respect your partner’s opinions and suggestions and think rationally.

Oh and just a last tip! Avoid talking about personal finances during meals and in your bedroom – use those situations to build meaningful relationships with your partner and family.


Edited by Guita Gopalan

Bakit Bagong Negosyo Na Lang Lagi?

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Sir:

Tumatanggap ako ng Php10,000.00 kada buwan pero laging akong nagkaka-deficit.

Paano ako makakapagsimula ng magandang negosyo? Sana po’y mapayuhan ninyo ako.

Salamat,

Jojo

Ang aking sagot:

Si Jojo ay may planong umaasa sa himala. Mukhang iniisip ni Jojo na maiiwasan ang deficit kapag nagkaroon na ng magandang hanapbuhay. Pero sa totoo lang, hindi ka makakagawa ng magandang negosyo kung may deficit spending ka. Kaya, ang unang hakbang ay wakasan ang deficit spending at magsimulang mag-ipon. Tandaan and unang Utos tungo sa pinansiyal na kalayaan: “Bayaran mo muna ang sarili mo” (“Pay yourself first”). Ang formula nito ay: INCOME – SAVINGS = EXPENSES. Hindi ka magkakaroon ng deficit kung susundin mo ang formula na ito, dahil ang gagastusin mo lamang ay ang perang matitira matapos mong itabi ang iyong SAVINGS… ang siyang mismong binayad mo para sa iyong kinabukasan.

Nakakasabik isipin na magsisimula ka ng bagong negosyo. Mainam na manatiling positibo ang pananaw, at hugutan ng inspirasyon ang mga kuwento ng mga matatagumpay na negosyo. Naiisip mong ikaw rin ay tiyak na magtatagumpay. Siyempre, maaari kang magtagumpay. Pero kailangang maunawaan mong may panganib ang pagsisimula ng negosyo. Ayon sa statistics, mas konti pa sa 20% ang nagtatagumpay matapos ang limang taon. Kailangang maging handa na dumanas ng maraming pagsubok bago magtagumpay. Bukod pa riyan, hindi ka maaaring magnegosyo nang walang kapital.

Habang pinag-iipunan mo ang iyong kapital, maaaring may mga nabili kang bagay sa pamamagitan ng cash o credit. Kailangan mong malaman ang tumpak na halaga ng iyong assets at liabilities (SAL and PIES). Kumonsulta sa Pera Palaguin Workbook. Pagkatapos nito, gumawa ng ng financial plan. Kung may utang ka, lalo na iyong utang sa credit card, gumawa ng paraan na makaalis sa pagkakautang. Ngunit maaaring huwag munang bayaran ang utang na iyon kung ginagamit ang mga utang na iyon sa mga kabuhayan na  kumikita ng mas mataas sa halaga ng interes ng mga utang.

Isang mahalagang paalala: Upang tumaas ang chansa ng tagumpay, pagtuunan ang mga negosyong talagang nauunawaan mo. Ituon ang negosyo sa iyong interes, kakayahan at talento. Huwag umasa sa kakayahan ng iba. Kung may ideya ka na ng isang negosyo, pag-aralan iyon sa lalong madaling panahon. Maaari kang pumasok sa mga pormal na klase, o di kaya’y matuto sa ilalim ng isang eksperto sa isang katulad na negosyo. Kung mas bata ka, mas malaki ang chansang mahanap mo ang direksyon na angkop sa iyo.

Samantala, maaari kang mag-invest upang lumago ang iyong pera. Sumulat sa info@colaycofoundation.com upang makakuha ng mga pagpipilian.

GETTING OUT OF CREDIT CARD DEBT

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Please help! I am deep in debt with my credit card from last Christmas’ spending spree. I know I should pay everything in full, as the experts usually suggest. But I owe the credit card company nearly P70,000 now (accumulated also from before Christmas), and my salary of P20,000 a month can’t possibly pay for it. How can I save the situation?

Yes, it is right to pay everything in full immediately.  Credit card debt is the most expensive debt of all.  If you do not pay the entire amount immediately, the worst is still to come in terms of interest and penalties.  You can check our Mr. Colayco’s book “Making Money Work for You” to understand the method of how credit card interest and penalties are computed.

– You are wrong though that your salary cannot pay for your debt.  Perhaps, not immediately but with the right strategy, you can do it.

– Cut up your credit card immediately.  Under no circumstances should you use it especially when you still have a balance to pay.  Any purchase that you make today will be included in the basis for computing the interest and penalties.

– Talk personally to the representative of the Credit Card company to negotiate for the immediate stop of the penalties and the lowering of the interest rates.  Understand all the options you have from them.

– Pay for any purchase only in cash henceforth.  “No cash, no purchase” should be your new motto.

– Make a list of all your assets and liabilities, no matter how insignificant you feel they are.  Perhaps, you will find some things that you can sell.  Believe me, every peso to pay off your credit card debt will count.

– Make a very strict budget of your “Needs” to understand exactly how much of your salary you can use to pay for it.  You cannot even consider any “Wants.”

– Look for a relative or a friend who will lend you the money to pay for it.  You can even pay your relative or friend a high interest rate of say, 18% and it will be still be lower than what the credit card company or a financing company will charge you for a personal loan.

Remember that you got into this debt because of the wrong attitude about money management.  You have to understand yourself more fully on this matter.  Each person is different and if you need a financial coach particularly on this matter, write info@colaycofoundation.com.  You may also check our website for our seminar schedules.  Visit www.colaycofoundation.com.

Gaano Dapat Kalaki Ang Ating Ipon? At Bakit?

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Ito ang ilan sa mga tanong na laging ko naririnig at sasagutin ko ito sa pinakasimpleng paraan.

Una sa lahat, kailangang gumawa ng personal financial plan upang malaman kung gaano kalaki ang kailangang ipunin. Kailangang linawin kung ano ang halaga (o amount) na nais makamit sa mga espesipikong panahon sa hinaharap (o specific times in the future), at kung saan gagamitin (o purpose). Maaaring matutunan kung paano ito gawin sa tulong ng aking mga libro at ng aming website: www.colaycofoundation.com .

Kadalasan, kailangan mo ng medium-term at long-term na financial goals. Halimbawa, kailangan mong makaipon ng tiyak na halaga para sa mga gastusing karaniwang mahalaga sa tao. Kailangan mo ring magplano ng isang timetable kung saan nakasaad kung gaano katagal maiipon ang hinahangad na halaga. Para sa mga karaniwang income-earner, ito ang karaniwang taon na kailangan upang maipundar ang:

1.) Ang iyong personal emergency fund (ang kita sa loob ng anim buwan): 5 taon na pag-iipon.

2.) Edukasyon ng mga anak: 10-15 taon na pag-iipon

3.) Downpayment para sa sariling bahay: 10-20 taon na pag-iipon

4.) Retirement Fund: 30-40 taon na pag-iipon

Kapag may tiyak na financial goals at nakaplanong panahon ng pagpupundar (o investment time-horizon), malalaman kung ano 1.) ang kinakailangan taunang paglago ng ipon, 2.) at ang halaga ng pera na kailangang ipunin at ipuhunan nang walang palya.

Sa oras ng sakuna, maaring maubos ang ipon at kakailanganing magsimula muli. Ngunit ayon sa aking pakikipanayam sa mga tao, mukhang mas madaling makabangon mula sa sakuna iyong mga taong matagal nang sanay sa pag-iipon. Bukod pa riyan, nagising sila sa katotohanan na maari pala silang mabuhay nang kontento kahit wala na ang mga dating luho at pinagkakagastusan. Dahil dito, mas madali sa kanilang magtipid, mag-ipon, at makabangon –  nangmas mabilis – kaysa sa iyong mga hindi pa natutong magtipid. Hindi ito madaling matutunan ngunit kayang-kaya ito!

SAVINGS BA ANG SSS, PHILHEALTH AT PAG-IBIG CONTRIBUTIONS MO?

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And sagot ay OO.

Tuwing nagbabayad sa PhilHealth, para ka na ring nag-iipon dahil ang iyong kontribusyon ay ang iyong medical insurance premium. Dahil dito, naiibsan ang iyong gastusing medikal kapag nagpagamot kapag na-confine sa ospital. Importante na malaman ang mga dokumento na hinihingi ng ospital upang kilalanin nila ang iyong PhilHealth coverage. Siguraduhin rin na isumite agad ang mga dokumento isang araw bago mag-check-out. Kung hindi, maaring matagalan pa bago makapag-check-out. Tandaan na bawat oras na inilagi sa ospital ay nagpapalaki ng gastusin kaya’t siguraduhing makakalabas kaagad sa oras na pumayag ang doktor. Ang kanilang website ay www.philhealth.gov.ph .

Tuwing nagbabayad sa Pag-ibig, binibigyan mo ng pagkakataon ang sarili na magkaroon ng sariling bahay sa mas mababang halaga. Maraming mga real estate developers ang may kasunduan sa Pag-ibig kaya’t ang iyong loan para sa bahay ay agarang ihahain sa Pag-ibig, kung nasa ayos ang iyong mga dokumento.  Ang interest rates ng Pag-ibig ay nasa 6% para sa mga loans hanggang P400,000, 7% para sa mga loans sa pagitan ng P400,000 at P750,000, at 10.5% naman para sa mga loans sa pagitan ng P750,000 at 2 milyong piso. Maaring mag-alok ng in-house loan facilities (o sariling sistema ng pautang) ang ilang developers habang ang iyong Pag-ibig loan ay inaayos pa lamang. Intindihin nang maigi ang mga patakaran ng Pag-ibig dahil kapag hindi naaprubahan ang Pag-ibig loan, baka mapilitan kang tumungo sa in-house loan facilities ng mga developer o kaya’y sa mga commercial loan facilities (gaya ng mga bangko)… ngunit parehong mas mahal ang dalawang ito kaysa sa Pag-ibig. Ang website ng Pag-ibig ay www.pagibigfund.gov.ph.

Tuwing nagbabayad ka sa Social Security System o SSS, unti-unti kang naghahanda para sa iyong pagreretiro. Bukod pa riyan, nagbibigay ang SSS ng salary, emergency, calamity loans pati na rin ng loans para sa pabahay at negosyo. Maaari ring makinabang sa mga benepisyo para sa karamdaman, pagbubuntis, kapansanan, kamatayan, at libing. Ang website ng SSS ay www.sss.gov.ph.

Mahalagang kunin ang mga sertipiko o katibayan ng mga kontribusyon sa Philhealth, Pag-ibig, at SSS. Dahil kapag bumitiw ka sa iyong kumpanya, maaring hindi mo ito mapakinabangan sa panahon ng pangangailangan. Nagbibigay ang mga kumpanya ng mga sertipiko at kailangan mo iyong itago kasama ang mga mahahalagang dokumento.

Hindi Maipagpatuloy Ang Paghuhulog

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May nagtanong tungkol sa suliranin ng ating mga kababayan tungkol sa pabahay. Ano ang dahilan kung bakit marami ang hindi nakapagbabayad ng buwanang hulog o amortization?

Mayroong ilang kadahilanan na sa aking palagay ay sanhi ng pagkabigo ng iba na maipagpatuloy ang pagbabayad ng hulog sa biniling ari-arian.

Una, hindi talaga nila kayang bayaran ang biniling ari-arian. Hindi nila marahil lubusang naunawaan at pinag-aralan ang kakaharaping pagbabayad na nakapaloob sa pinirmahang kontrata. Posibleng may pera silang pambayad ng downpayment pero hindi nila naisip ang tunay na gastusin para sa mga dokumento, buwis at interes. Anumang pagbabayad nang hulugan o installment ay isang transaksiyon ng pangungutang. At anumang utang ay tiyak na may patong na interes.

Hinayaan nilang makumbinse sila na lubha nilang kailangan ng sariling bahay na kung tutuusin ay hindi pa nila kayang bilhin. Ang totoo, may mga kamag-anak na nagsasamantala para makatira nang libre lalo na kung ang bumili ng bahay ay nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa.

Maaaring bigla silang nawalan ng hanap-buhay at wala nang regular na kita para maipagpatuloy ang pagbabayad o di kaya ay nagkaroon ng malubhang sakit na kinailangang pagkagastusan ang pagpapagamot.

Umasa silang matapos makabayad ng paunang hulog (downpayment) ay magagawa nilang paupahan ang bahay o ipagbili ito nang may tubo bago pa man dumating ang panahon ng buwanang paghuhulog.

Binili nila ang bahay kahit pa ang kanilang pamilya ay nanatili pa ring nakatira sa kasalukuyang tirahan. Siguro ay nakalimutan nila na ang tinitirhan nilang bahay ay mangangailangan din ng pagkukunpuni at pagmamantine na makakaapekto sa kanilang budget.

Ang isang panghabambuhay na pangarap ang pagkakaroon ng sariling bahay. Tunay ngang maganda ang pagnanais na makamit ito lalo na sa mga wala pang sariling tirahan. Ngunit dapat ay maging responsable ang sinumang nagbabalak na abutin ang pangarap na ito. Mayroon din hindi nakukuntento. May sarili nang bahay ay gusto pa ng mas malaki at mas maganda. Bagama’t walang masama rito, dapat ay masusing pag-aralan ang lahat ng aspeto.

Sinumang hindi makapagbabayad ng buwanang hulog ay mapapatawan ng multa at karagdagang interes maliban pa sa regular na interes nito.  Hindi magtatagal ay lolobo ang pagkakautang hanggang sa hindi na ito kayang bayaran.

Sa mga taong nasa ganito nang sitwasyon, huwag agad susuko at pag-aralan ang problema. Kuwentahin kung kaya mong habulin at bayaran ang mga naipong monthly amortization na di nahulugan. Subukang makipagnegosasyon sa developer kung maaari nilang alisin ang ipinataw na multa at dagdag na interes. Humanap din ng mga posibleng bibili ng bahay kahit pa sa mas mababang halaga. Mas mainam na ito kaysa mabalewala ang lahat na naunang ibinayad.

Basics of Investing Webinar for Free

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Kapatiran sa Kasaganaan Service & Multi-Purpose Cooperative (KsKCoop) and Colayco Foundation for Education, Inc. (CFE), in partnership with  First Metro Securities Brokerage Corporation (FirstMetroSec) and ProFora Media Solutions, Inc. present BASICS OF INVESTING WEBINAR on October 28, 2011, 6pm to 8pm (Philippine Time). This seminar on the web is for FREE.

Speaker:  Mr. Armand Q. Bengco
Executive Director, Colayco Foundation for Education, Inc. and
General Manager, Kapatiran sa Kasaganaan Service & Multi-Purpose Cooperative

Click here to register:  https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/885834158

Description:

Investments with fixed and guaranteed returns?
Investments that are insured?
Investments that grew 20% the past 5 years?
Investment that grew over 60% last year, 2010?

In this webinar, we will answer the what, where, when, why and how of investing.  The most common consideration of an individual in investing is the “KITA” (return or yield).  But there are 3 things to consider when you are investing.  Of equal importance to “KITA” are RISK/SAFETY and LIQUIDITY.

We will try to make the concepts simple and easy to understand.  Join this webinar and ask your family and friends to join you in attending this webinar.

Outline of Basics of Investing

– Basic Rules in Investing
– Keys in Investing
– Types of Investments
– Investment Clock
– Different Investment Strategies

Please take note that after you register in this webinar thru https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/885834158,  you will receive an email with a link.  At least a day before, you will also receive a reminder about the webinar.  To join the webinar, you don’t need a username or a password.  All you need is to click the link and an application will automatically be loaded.  Please make sure you have a fast Internet connection.  Just wait until the application is downloaded completely and it will lead you to a chatbox and another window where you can view the powerpoint presentation.  In case you encounter problems, please email webinar@colaycofoundation.com or you may communicate with us thru Francisco Colayco’s Facebook.  We highly suggest that you enter the room at least 20 minutes before the specified time.

For more information visit http://www.colaycofoundation1.com/free-basics-of-investing-webinar-on-oct-28/.  Or you may email webinar@colaycofoundation.com.

Ang Kuwento ni Eva na Lubog sa Utang (Part 3)

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Nang habulin na ng mga bangko si Eva dahil sa kanyang mga utang, hindi siya nangamba dahil alam niya makababayad siya mula sa kita ng kanyang negosyo. Ngunit nagkaroon siya ng panibagong problema. Nagsimula nang maghinala at magsuspetsa ang kanyang asawa kung saan napupunta ang kita ng negosyo. Nagpasiya si Eva na bumili ng lote sa pamamagitang ng pangungutang sa isang kaibigan sa interes na 4% kada buwan. Balak niyang magtayo ng apartment na paupahan ngunit wala na siyang sapat na pondo para ipatayo ito. Pumasok siya sa isang kumplikadong plano sa pagbuo ng pondong kailangan niya. Nanghiram si Eva ng pera mula sa kanyang mga pauupahin sa gagawing apartment. Nagbigay naman ang mga ito nang walang interes sa kasunduang ipauupa niya ang apartment sa kanila nang libre sa loob ng isang taon.

Napag-alaman ng mga nauna nating binanggit na taong nangutang kay Eva ang kanyang ginawa . Kinumbinse siya ang mga ito na muli silang tulungan at nangakong magbabayad sa kanya kapag sila ay kumita. At gaya ng dati, para bang na-hypnotize ng mga ito si Eva at pumayag naman siyang tulungan ang mga ito. Masyadong kumplikado ang kuwento ni Eva at puputulin ko na sa puntong ito dahil ang kasalukuyan niyang problema ay wala nang kaugnayan sa mga tinatalakay nating detalye.

Sumulat sa akin si Eva upang hingin ang aking tulong na makakuha siya ng isang malakihang utang para mabayaran ang lahat ng kanyang pagkakautang nang hindi nalalaman ng kanyang asawa. Ikinalulungkot kong wala akong maisip na paraan para makahiram siya ng pondo kung hindi ipagbibigay-alam sa asawa ang kanyang gagawin. Hindi ko pa rin maunawaan kung paano siya nakakautang sa bangko gamit na kolateral ang kanilang bahay at lupa na hindi hinihingi ang pagsang-ayon ng kanyang mister. Labag ito sa batas. Lahat ng pautang sa mag-asawa ay kailangang pirmahan at aprubahan ng mister at maybahay.

Ano ang mga aral na matututunan sa mahabang kuwentong ito ni Eva?

1). Una, hindi mo maaaring maibahagi ang anumang bagay na wala ka. Gustong makatulong ni Eva sa kanyang mga kaibigan hanggang sa puntong isakripisyo niya ang kinabukasan niya at ng kanyang pamilya.

2). Usapang pangpamilya ang pera. Itinago ni Eva sa kanyang asawa at mga anak ang lahat ng kanyang mga transaksiyon. Hindi ito mainam lalo pa at nalagay sa alanganin ang kanyang pamilya dahil sa kanyang mga desisyon.

3). Ang kasakiman ay nagtutulak sa ating kumilos nang pabigla-bigla at walang pag-iingat. Dapat ay naging kuntento na si Eva sa kanyang kinikita at hindi na pumasok sa mga negosyo at transaksiyong walang katiyakan.

4). Pag-aralang tanggapin ang pagkatalo at humanap ng paraan para makaangat muli. Ang pamumuhunan sa isang hindi kumikitang negosyo ay “pagtatapon at pagsasayang ng salapi.”

5). Pinakahuli, matutunang sumagot ng “HINDI.”

Ang Kuwento ni Eva na Lubog sa Utang (Part 2)

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Nagpautang si Eva nang may patong na 5% interes kada buwan sa mga taong hindi nagsipagbayad sa kanya. Ini-refer niya ang mga ito sa isa pang nagpapautang na nagpatong naman ng 6% interes kada buwan at itinalaga pa si Eva bilang guarantor ng mga pautang na ito. Sumang-ayon si Eva sa ganito dahil inakala niyang ito ang paraan para siya mabayaran ng mga nangutang sa kanya. Sa kasamaang palad, walang bumalik para magbayad.

Natural lamang na si Eva ang pagbayarin sa mga pagkakautang dahil siya ang tumatayong guarantor ng mga ito. Dahil isa siyang mabuting tao at ayaw niyang sirain ang kasunduan sa kanyang paggagarantiya sa pautang, binayaran ni Eva ang mga salaping ipinahiram ng mga nagpautang.

Paano siya nakakuha ng pondong magagamit sa pagbabayad? Isinanla ni Eva ang ilan sa kanyang mga ari-arian sa interes na 2.5% kada buwan para lamang makapagbayad sa kompromiso. Napag-isip-isip niya na mas mababa ang 2.5% buwang interes kaysa 6% kada buwan na ipinapataw sa kanya bilang guarantor ng mga pautang.

Di nagtagal, nakaisip ng paraan ang kanyang mga pinautang upang kumita para makapagbayad ng pagkakautang sa kanya. Nakiusap sila kay Eva na kung maaari ay tulungan silang makapagnegosyo nang may tiyak at malakihang kita. Hindi maunawaan ni Eva kung bakit siya nagpadala sa mga pakiusap sa kanya. Sadya sigurong maunawain si Eva, may “pusong mamon” at nakatuon ang pansin sa posibilidad na makapaningil ng kanyang mga pautang sa kahit anong paraan. Dahil dito, hindi nakatanggi si Eva at muling pinahiram ng pera ang mga ito. Nangutang siya sa isang bangko at ginawa pa niyang kolateral ang kanyang bahay. Ayon kay Eva, nagsimula naman siya sa kanyang negosyo sa pamamagitan ng pangungutang sa bangko gamit na kolateral ang bahay niya. Umunlad naman siya sa ganitong paraan at nagawa niyang bayaran ang mga naunang utang niya sa bangko. Umasa siyang magiging ganito rin ang kapalaran ng kanyang mga tinutulungang mangutang.

Ngunit hindi ganito ang nangyari. Hindi naging matagumpay sa distribution business ang kanyang mga pinautang. Hindi kumita ang mga ito at hindi siya magawang bayaran. Nakapanlulumo pang malaman na inilagay niya ang negosyo sa pangalan ng mga nangutang sa kanya kasama na ang isang blankong deed of sale sa kanya. Nasa pangalan ni Eva ang mga utang sa bangko pero ang negosyo ay nasa pangalan ng mga mangungutang. Nakapatong pa sa kanyang balikat ang pagbabayad ng buwanang amortization sa bangko dahil ayaw niyang masira ang kanyang pangalan at credit rating. Malakas ang loob niyang manghiram sa bangko dahil alam niyang kumikita ang kanyang negosyo.

Tama lamang na mapag-isip-isip ni Eva kung saan siya nagkamali – malambot ang kanyang puso at laging gustong makatulong sa ibang tao. Walang masama sa pagtulong. Ngunit dapat din niyang maisip na “hindi mo maibabahagi sa iba ang anumang bagay na wala ka.” Dahil kung magpapatuloy ang ganitong kaluwagan sa pagpapautang, darating ang panahong siya mismo ay babagsak at hindi na niya magagawang makatulong sa iba. Sa pagnanais niyang tumulong, hindi na niya inisip ang sarili niyang kapakanan. Malalaman natin ang mangyayari kay Eva sa susunod pang artikulo.