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PNP aims to teach cops’ financial literacy

PNP aims to teach cops’ financial literacy

The Philippine National Police encourages its personnel to be financial literate to avoid incurring excessive debts and be victimized by financial fraud schemes.

During the Financial Resiliency Empowerment Education (FREE) Seminar held in Police Regional Office 8, Palo Leyte on Monday, Sept. 30, Brig. Gen. Joselito Vera Cruz highlighted the need to train their personnel on how to manage their finances correctly and attain financial freedom.

financial literacy seminar
Photo: PNP

Despite our salary increase and directives, some continue to live in debts, because some do not know how to handle or manage their finances,” the PNP Finance Service Head said.

He added the PNP’s mission to deliver public service would be jeopardized if the personnel themselves are experiencing personal challenges, which includes financial problems.

Vera Cruz added the mishandled finances would lead to more problems if not appropriately addressed.

“It sometimes causes conflict among spouses, corruption, and malversation in the workplace – with some even resorting to illegal activities,” he said.

He cited that financial schemes have victimized some cops in Regions 10, 11, and 12.

Some become willing victims with the hope of bouncing back from debts because the investment groups promise 100 up to 400 percent interest after a month or two. Some also invest their salaries in these bogus financial institutions only [in finding] their hard-earned money disappear,” he lamented.

The official added that it is time to teach their personnel as the employees’ salary in the PNP is now in its 4th tranche – it was just increased this year.

Vera Cruz said they had signed a memorandum of agreement with other savings and loan associations. The agency likewise made a new salary loan deduction information system in the Finance Service to monitor the finances of its personnel.

“Dito iniiwasan natin na nag-iincur ng multiple loans. Real time, kapag nangutang sila sa isang financial institution, hindi na sila pwedeng mangutang sa iba unless kaya pa ng kanilang net take home pay,” he explained.

How to save like a pro?

Saving is one of the most significant parts of money-related planning. To begin dealing with your cash appropriately, you’ll need to make sense of the amount you need to spend and the amount you need to save. Shockingly, most people find saving money troublesome. Listed below is a couple of cash-saving tips:

1. Create a saving goal

Make your savings plan something achievable. Some good models are the Ipon Challenge – where you save a particular amount week after week, or the Php 50 Saving Challenge – where you consequently stash each Php 50 you get in your saving funds when you get it.

Image Courtesy of PESO SENSE

Try to start doing it. So we prescribe beginning with modest quantities at that point, sloping it up in the event that you can – as long as you don’t pass up on a single chance to save.

2. Search for smarter alternatives

Maybe you can’t work without your morning mug of coffee. But, do you truly need to purchase that Starbucks frappe? Less expensive options exist. If you need that caffeine help, purchase a 3-in-1 coffee mix – or mix your very own cup at home. You can even eat an apple, which has more caffeine than coffee and is healthier for sure!

Perhaps Friday evenings out are your thing. However, rather than spending too much on bar charges and extravagant beverages, you could rather welcome your friends over to your place and purchase drinks for everybody. You can have a decent time and be relaxed in your own turf.

3. Look out for sales

Are you itching to go for a vacation? Sit tight for plane ticket deals to catch the best deals and skip the tour packages. Arranging your own travel is less expensive and will enable you to travel anyplace you want in your own pacing.

4. Monitor the amount you’ve saved and spent

Knowing where your cash goes is imperative to understanding financial management. In case you’re doing it yourself, you can make a spreadsheet with your expenses.

You can likewise download various financial mobile applications in your smartphone, which will quickly enable you to track down your costs and investment funds. 

Consistently assessing your costs and saving funds will enable you to decide 1) what you have to cut your spendings and 2) how you can enhance your savings funds and consider how to make your cash work for you.

5. Open a savings account

Placing all your savings and spendings in your wallet is a catastrophe. Set aside your savings by placing them in your savings account. It’s much better if you have a separate account for your payroll and your savings.

6. Say goodbye to debt for good

Monthly payments are the greatest impediment to setting aside cash. That obligation denies you of your salary! So it’s about time you dispose of that obligation. The quickest method to satisfy the obligation is the snowball method. This is where you pay off your obligations all together from smallest to biggest. Sounds sort of exceptional, correct? Try not to stress about it; it’s more about behavioral changes. When your payments are cleared up, you can, at long last, use it to gain ground toward your saving plans.

financial money

Conclusion

You can stop the cycle of living paycheck per paycheck with a basic secret: Make a zero-based spending plan before the month starts. A financial limit is tied in with being deliberate. It causes you to make a plan so you can see where your cash is moving in discovering the amount you can really spare every month. Keep in mind that it truly doesn’t make a difference how much cash you make—it is important how you spend and set aside the cash you make.