The holiday season is almost here! For a lot of Filipinos, it is one of the most anticipated times of the year to spend with loved ones, eat good food, and be grateful for all the blessings they received.

As festivities start to gear up, it’s always good to remind yourself that celebrating doesn’t always have to equate to spending. Make the most of the budget you have and even earn extra to prepare for the upcoming new year by following these simple diskarte tips for the holidays.

Make a list and check it twice

Whether it’s buying gifts for the family or ingredients for the countless potlucks this season, always have a list in hand. This helps you be more organized when you shop, saving you time and energy instead of going in circles in the store or going back because you forgot something.

Having a list can also prevent you from splurging on unnecessary things and spending beyond your intended budget. In a Customer Barometer Report by Tala Philippines, it was found that seasonal expenses are among the financial challenges that Filipinos experience in a year.

Shop smarter

Don’t wait until the week of Christmas before you do your holiday shopping! This way, you’ll not only skip the long lines and heavy traffic but also have ample time to really put some thought into the gifts you’re planning to give. Plus, there are plenty of end-of-season and holiday sales in malls that you can take advantage of as early as now.

Online shopping is also a good alternative as long as you buy from legitimate stores and platforms. To make sure your purchases arrive on time, order in advance, especially if the items are from overseas. Don’t forget to use discount and free shipping vouchers available on your preferred shopping apps!

Be wary of scams

The holidays are all about giving and celebrating, but there are still some people out there who exploit this joyous season for their own benefit. They take advantage of the unsuspecting public through fake charities, bogus raffles and giveaways, phishing schemes, and more. Remember: if it’s too good to be true, it probably is!

As a rule of thumb, always verify the legitimacy of an organization or website before transacting with them. If you feel like you’ve been scammed, report it to the proper channels, such as the Tala Philippines support channel for suspected online loan scams and the Holiday Watch PH 2024 hotline 1326 for other online scams. You can also direct consumer complaints to the eGov Super App.

Reuse holiday decorations

Save up on holiday decorations and reduce waste by reusing last year’s ornaments or even making your own from materials you can find in your home. There’s no need to buy new ones each year—you just have to be creative and resourceful! Remember to clean and store your decorations properly after taking them down so they last longer.

Turn your hobbies into a business

The holiday season is the perfect time to transform your hobbies into a side business and earn additional cash. Are you a good cook or baker? Why not start a food business and sell food trays or pastries to your friends and neighbors for their parties? Handicrafts and anything homemade, like candles and soaps, are also in-demand gifts that you can easily make at home.

With enough passion and drive, your small venture may just take off and become an actual business even after the holidays!

If you need a trusted partner for the holidays, buo ang tiwala sa Tala. Consider applying for a loan from Tala to raise capital and build your dream business to wrap up the year.

Tala, the gift that keeps on giving

Tala, the world’s first fintech company for the Global Majority, has positively impacted the financial situation of its customers according to its 2024 Customer Barometer Report. Particularly, Tala’s financial services have helped them pay bills on time, manage daily expenses and pay for unexpected ones, and start a business, among others.

During the height of the pandemic, Hector, who used to work in an indoor playground, lost his job like many others. To continue supporting his family, he decided to start a business and applied for a loan from Tala to use as capital. He was able to establish a fruit stand from the initial amount he borrowed and expand it as his loan limit also grew by consistently paying his repayments on time.

“Tala is one of the things that pushed me to keep going. As my loan limit grew, we’re able to sell more things aside from fruits, including ulam, bags, accessories, and clothes. This really helped our family, and now we’re working harder to expand our business even more so we can finally buy our own home,” he said.

This holiday season, share the gift of flexible, convenient, and reliable financial services with your friends and family with Tala. Visit https://tala.co/app/invite to know more.

About Tala

Tala is a global technology company building the world’s most accessible financial services. Their financial services provide customers with flexible, convenient online credit to help support the unbanked and underserved population. Tala has given more than 40 million loans totaling more than 5 billion USD to more than 10 million people across three different continents. Customers have used Tala products to start and expand small businesses, manage day-to-day needs, and pursue their financial goals with confidence. Start your journey into financial freedom: https://tala.ph/borrow/.

For questions about legitimate digital lending platforms, visit gotala.co/help or interact through the official Tala app. Tala is operated by Tala Financing Philippines Inc., a licensed financing company with SEC Registration No. CS201710582 and Certificate of Authority No. 1132, and a registered operator of payment systems with OPS Registration No. OPSCOR-2023-0010. Always study the terms and conditions and the disclosure statement before proceeding with any loan transaction. Tala is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, with an email address at [email protected].