A very merry Christmas starts now

or more than 1.8 million Filipino civil servants, a very merry Christmas has started today, November 15. This is because they have already received their 14th-month pay, more popularly known as “Christmas Bonus” equivalent to a one-month salary and the P5,000 Cash Gift. Of course, most people will allot these for Christmas gifts and buy their kids clothes and shoes to wear on Christmas and

New Year’s Day. Some will also be purchasing that cellphone or appliance they have wanted to buy for so long. But, financial advisers indeed have some advice on how to spend our “financial blessing” in the smartest way possible.

So, here are some ideas on how to invest this money wisely:

1. Savings account

This is the most usual way of keeping your money safe from spending, however, you may also consider other ways for your money to yield higher interests and dividends such as the Modified Pag-ibig II or MP2. Active Pag-ibig members or Former PAGIBIG Fund Members with source of monthly income and/or Pensioners, regardless of age, with at least an equivalent of 24 monthly savings can avail the voluntary savings program to save more and earn higher dividends than the regular PAG-IBIG Savings Program.

2. Invest in a property or real estate.

If you want a passive income, investing your bonus on a property and putting it up for rental is a good way to multiply your money after some years.

3. Invest in stocks, retail bonds, government, or corporate bonds.

If you have no idea about this, it is ideal to ask advice from those who are experts in this matter for you to know the best way to invest your money.

4. Put up your “travel” fund.

If you want to visit and travel to different places across the country or the globe, it is also advisable to add your bonus to your travel funds. In this way, you will be able to save up money intended only for your vacations and leisure trips.

5. Do charity work.

You may also choose to do charitable activities using your bonus or a portion of it by choosing your beneficiaries. It doesn’t;t have to be a grandstanding activity. As they say, the amount of donation does not really matter but the intention and the act itself of helping others. After all, the Christmas season is about giving and sharing.

And so, to all my fellow public servants, let us spend our money wisely. Let us not be hasty in spending our year-end bonus so that we will not be emty-handed comes December 25 and the days and months after.*