AMW Bulletin: Pay Now: Debit Cards

One thing that I can be proud of myself, is the way I handle my finances!  I remember owning my first supplementary credit card during senior high!  I had this card all throughout until I graduated College!  I never owe any bank anything as I always pay on time.


The Secret?
I treat my credit card as a Debit Card.  Meaning, I put aside the cash right after I swiped the card.

What's the point of using credit cards then if you pay upfront?
The fact that I don't need to bring cash and having a good credit standing.

The only complaint I could think of in situations like these,  I need to withdraw cash from the bank and set aside the money as payment for the credit card company.  (I actually have a small pink envelope were I put all my cash and sales receipts)

Let's not forget the long lines plus the hassle of carrying big amount of money is not safe at times like these!

That is why, when dear friends from OMD Digital, Chin and Cristel reached out to me and wanted to set a meeting for me to learn about the new Visa Debit Card, I really took time out of my busy schedule to meet up with them to understand the benefits of owning a Visa Debit Card because I know readers like YOU would appreciate this knowledge sharing as well!

It pays to live life to the fullest!  Spend your hard-earned cash on purchases you want and not by paying through debts!

Here are some key points I learned about the Visa Debit Cards ---

• Visa Debit Cards function exactly like any Visa card but they access funds from a checking or savings bank account and work like you were paying with cash!  It's like "buy now and pay now" scheme.
• With debit cards, you will need to have money in the bank to cover your purchases because the funds are immediately withdrawn from your checking or savings bank account and transferred into the account of the store or business where you completed the transaction.  This gives you the capacity to spend within the budget and keep you out of debt!

Benefits of Debit Cards ---

• Can be a valuable financial management tool for budgeting, monitoring funds on deposit and for keeping track of spending.
• Just like a credit card, it can be used to pay for purchases at various merchant locations like restaurants, gas stations, department stores and hotels.  
• Visa Debit Cards are accepted worldwide in more than 200 countries and territories especially online shopping!
• Visa Debit Cards allow access to foreign currency from ATMs around the world that carry the Visa logo.  Travel lovers out there, hear ye! hear ye!

 

• Debit cards are tied to the card holder's existing checking or savings account.  Meaning, no need to bring loads of cash, safe indeed!
• There are no monthly payments or debt accrued.
• Debit cards can be used in ATMs to withdraw cash just like an ATM card.  I was told the charging rate is lower than that of withdrawing from a credit card.
• Debit cards are perfect for students and young professionals who are just starting out, need the budget skills.

Tips on using Debit Cards (base on personal experiences) ---

• Always keep sales receipts as reference.  I never throw them away at least after 3 months.
• Remember to account for any bank fees that may apply.  It pays to ask before you purchase.
• Review statements carefully.  I do that on ALL my bills and computers or humans behind this aren't perfect, someone in someway can still make a mistake!  So please check your bills and contact the bank right away if you suspect a mistake.
• Always follow up with a confirmation letter for the bank, this would eliminate suspicions of identity theft.
• Last but not the least, if I may have to add, NEVER write down your passwords.  Try to keep your password as difficult as possible!  Change your passwords annually.

For more Visa's financial literacy materials.  You may visit www.practicalmoneyskills.com

I wish I've applied earlier, I was in Shanghai just last week and I was carrying around different currencies Peso, Dollar and Chinese Yuan (RMB) and I was getting paranoid each time someone bumps into me!  And guess what?  It's also an "in" thing to use Visa in Shanghai!  See the huge billboard? 

Thanks Cristel and Chin for this!  I am appreciate Visa Debit Cards more and I think I needed this more than anything else!  Saves me the time to go to ATM machines to withdraw!

I hope I was able to relay the things I learned out of the meeting!
I am in no way connected to the company, I personally use VISA and I love it!

Where to apply?

Visit BDO, Chinatrust Commercial Bank, Equicom Savings Bank, Inc., HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank, Sterling Bank of Asia and Unionbank.

Keep smilin'
Stay happy!

Travel Food Tripping at: Shanghai City

I am back!!! Bad timing, I woke up with throat ache and stuff nose!  I thought drowning myself with water would help but too late!  I guess it's the Flu Season in Shanghai plus the weird super hot and humid weather then the sudden pour!  Sad to say, I'm human, so I got sick! :(  

Well, Shanghai is a great place to food trip because there are variety of food available for almost all nationalities!  My first meal in Shanghai was with my brother and he recommended me this Vietnamese restaurant which I like!

Pho Sizzling

Weird name but it's located at Nanjing West Road near Marks & Spencer.  Located at the 2nd floor!  I wouldn't see this restaurant if it weren't for my brother! :)

Beef Noodle Soup

Beef noodle soup mixed with beef balls

My order!  I can't finish this up!

The second day, I  went for full day meeting/work, I just had sandwich for lunch and for dinner, met up with my brother again to go back to my favorite curry house, COCO Curry!  I ordered the exact dish I ordered 3 years ago.  Pork Chop Curry!  I died and went to Curry Heaven!

Felt guilty as my brother is coughing like mad so he did not order anything spicy and opted for Chicken Salad instead.

Each table, you'll see a jar of this crunchy vegetable (sorry, I wasn't able to ask what kind of vegetable), I love putting this on top of my Curry Rice!

And I finished my first Happy Lemon Pudding Milk Tea (for this trip) coz I had seconds!  *laughs*  I personally liked the taste of Happy Lemon in Shanghai better than here in Manila!  The taste is just right and there's no bitter taste at all!  And the best?   Pudding is abundant!  I can bite pudding all the way until I finished the drink!

On the third day, I went to work again so I wasn't able to do anything exciting!  Had simple sandwich for lunch then went out with my dear friend for dinner at a restaurant called Element Fresh, located at Ritz-Carlton Hotel!  Very posh!  A lot of foreigners like it here!  We actually waited for at least 10 minutes for our table!

I was feeling a bit too tired so I went healthy instead, ordered Classic Cobb.

It was a hearty portion of grilled chicken breast, cheddar cheese, avocado, tomato, hardboiled egg, bacon and onion all chopped into good size served on a bed of crispy lettuce and pita bread!  Dressing on the side was 1000 Dressing :)

Ok, first 3 days, I've been eating non-Chinese food!  Hey, I'm in Shanghai!  I want Chinese food!  Well, I'll talk more about my food experiences in Shanghai on my part 2 report!  :)  Watch out for it!

I'm seriously thankful I got sick on my last day, I won't be able to survive all the walking I did when I'm feeling this way! 

Normal blogging will be back!   More reviews and information coming up soon! :)

Keep smilin'
Stay happy!

Travel Report: Shanghai Shopping for Clothes

Dear AMW Readers, by the time you're reading this, I'm on my way to the airport goingg back to Manila!  I can't wait!  Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the trip as I have a dearest brother who accompanied me for lunch and dinner and constantly messages me to make sure I don't get lost!  Traveling and walking around on my own is not so bad!  I guess I'm used to it and it was nice reminiscing those days when I used to live alone.

Okay, let meet get back to my travel report! I must have been a good girl to be here when almost everything's on sale!  Marks & Spencer, GAP, H&M, Uniqlo, Bossini, Esprit, G2000 etc... these international clothing brands are on Season Changing Sale!  It goes from 50%-80% off!  Nice huh?  Plus the fact that the weather is quite warm here so it's all summer clothes!  Perfect for Manila weather!

First night, I've checked out Marks & Spencer....

Bought something!  *laughs*  

Starting here, all the photos are from mobile phone, sorry but it's all ninja shots so the angle isn't that great!  Photo-taking is not allowed...shoot me!  (Thinking twice, nah, just forgive me!) :P

I do like Marks & Spencer here in Shanghai, they have more clothing and shoe choices.

Another favorite of mine, I think I entered this store 3 times!  I do wish H&M will come to Manila.  I bought some for gifts.  It helps that they were on sale too! 

Belts, scarves and accessories

Nice mannequin display! 

Bags

Cute hair accessories

Esprit store
Quite huge in Hong Kong, also huge in China!
Can you see the Final Sale sign?

Bossini!
FTW!  They have SMURF shirts and I Love them!  Too cute!

Jessica
Quite famous here in China and Hong Kong for their girly outfit!

Devil Nut
I'm not really familiar with this brand but I find their store and merchandise too cute!

Also on sale, GAP store, I like the quality of GAP shirts and I found a great great deal!  Imagine the price of 350+rmb shirt costs 48rmb!  Great buy, but I'm just lucky it has the size I want!  And it's one piece left!

American Eagle Outfitters

I haven't seen anything I like plus they're quite pricey!

The best sale store G2000!  Aside from the 50-80% discount, you get additional 10% off if you buy 2 items, 20% off for 3 items and above!  I was told that this one at Nanjing Xi Lu is an outlet store.

Do not expect fashionable items though, this store is great for basic office wear.  I like that the quality is also good.  Would you believe everything here is even cheaper as compared to Hong Kong?  I am so happy because I was able to purchase 2 pocket Shirt for my dad!  I've searched high and low for this design! (FYI: None in Hong Kong, can't find them in Korea, so I guess it's Shanghai!)

Also found a cute store who sells random cute stuff, including hair accessories!

More accessories

I nearly went crazy!

Shopping for clothes isn't my number 1 priority when I arrived Shanghai, I am just lucky its the sale season so I bought most of them for gifts!  When it comes to international brands (cosmetics, skincare, clothing), everything is more expensive in China so try to come here without the focus on shopping, you may be disappointed!  

Let's not forget, travel isn't fun without food adventure!  I'll blog about it soon! :)

Keep smilin'

Stay happy

Eureka Moment: Daiso Eyebrow Shaver

Happy Friday everyone!  I will be going back to Manila soon!  I can't wait!  I am really wondering why China is THIS BIG!  A simple walk from one place to another can always turn into a marathon!  hahaha  It was raining so hard in the afternoon, I guess I  get the taste of mini "typhoon" from Manila!  

Before I left for Shanghai, I want to keep my brows neat and clean as I believe its one of my stronger feature - full brows! :)  I went to Daiso once again to find my previous Eureka Moment on Eyebrow Shavers and guess what?  It's GONE!  So I'm off to find another one that works!

EUREKA MOMENT!

When it comes to brow shavers, I prefer the short ones as it is easier to control and I get to remove hairs in smaller areas rather than one HUGE area!  I actually like this better than the previous one I bought!  The quality of the blade is a tad bit better!  How do I know?  The previous brow shaves I've tried can only clean both brows approximately 3 times then I need to change them as the blade gets dull!  With this, I've been using this more than 5 times and so far, so good!

For a price of Php85.00 (approx $1.97) a pack?  Worth it!

Where do you purchase your brow shavers?
How much do they cost?

Keep smilin'

Stay happy!

AMW Reviews: The Face Shop Lovely ME:EX Nail Polish remover

I ran out of all my favorite nail polish removers which I bought in Korea.  I am not complaining, it was 9months worth of nail polish remover supply!  

Because I've been so happy with the performance on ALL Korean Branded polish remover, I've decided to continue using one and this one's from The Face Shop as I haven't been back to any Etude House or even Tony Moly stores at the moment! 

They use to have this in pink and blue variant, can't seem to find the blue one!  The company probably decided to just sell one and PINK is the winner I guess in terms of sales!

The Face Shop Lovely ME:EX Nail Polish Remover says ---

AMW says ---

Pros

• It's packaging is actually effective enough for the nail polish remover not to evaporate when not in use.

• Removes regular polish quite easily.
• Smells great, it does not irritate my nose.
• Inexpensive, a little is enough.  One cotton pad can clean at least 3-4 nails (considering I have nail art)
• Available locally, you can easily find The Face Shop stores inside malls.
• Does not dry out my nails or cuticle.
• No white 'film' visible as compared to drying nail polish removers.

Cons

• Not really a con but I prefer to have these in bigger size so I can refill it to this small packaging.  It saves the environment as well!

Overall
A wonderful alternative to expensive brands!  The Face Shop Lovely ME:Ex Nail Polish remover works and its not so pricey!  The cheaper ones can really dry out my nails and cuticles!

Tips

• Use cotton pad instead of cotton balls.
• For glitters or polish that are quite dark and hard to remove, leave the cotton pad on top of your nails for at least 30seconds before you gently massage to effectively remove the polish.
• Always make sure to close the cap tight.  
• You can transfer the polish into an Acetone  Pump which is mess free and leak proof!
• Store in cool, dry place.
• Even if this polish remover smells good, try not to inhale much of this scent as its still chemical.
• After removing polish, I prefer to gently wipe my nails with damp cloth to remove excess chemical left on nails.  I am not washing my hands as it may create bubble once you apply polish.

Will I repurchase?
Yes! I just did!

To whom do I recommend this to?

Nail Polish lovers out there who wants to try different shades of polish!  A gentle kind of nail polish remover also helps your nails by not stripping its layer.

Where to purchase and how much?
At The Face Shop stores for Php95.00 (approx $2.00).

Most of the nail polish removers in Korea costs around Php80.00 (less than $2.00), yes, its more inexpensive but there's no point going to Korea and pay for expensive plane fare just for these.  I think the local rate is priced quite reasonably!  This is my to-go polish remover for now while I am still in search for "bigger packaged" polish removers!

Anyone tried Tony Moly, Etude House's and This one?
Which one is better for you?
I've tried Tony Moly's and I think they work just the same!

Oh, I'm still in Shanghai and trying "hard" to sleep.  I'm not used to sleeping in a hard bed!  *laughs*  I know its good for my posture but I'm too old for "posture correction"!  hahaha  Internet connection is still SUPER bad but thank goodness for drafts and all I need to do is type in the words even without photos showing up here!

Another update....why does China have to be THIS BIG???  My legs are in pain from all the walking! :)  I'm staying positive, I'm going back home with SEXY LEGS *winks*

Miss you all!
Keep smilin'
Stay happy!