Everyday money: Philippines.

A take-home sheet for people at the session. Other countries: United States · United Kingdom · Canada · Australia · New Zealand · India.

Moraph for Good · Fluent

Everyday money: Philippines

Handout · moraph.org/commons/sessions/fluent/everyday-money

This sheet goes with the Everyday money session. It is general information, not advice about your own situation.

A budget that survives a real month

Write down what comes in and the date it arrives.
List the bills that can’t move, next to their due dates, and match each to a payday.
Add up the costs that don’t come every month, divide by 12, and set that aside monthly.
Check once a week, so a bad week can be fixed before the month is lost.

When income goes up and down

Plan on a lower month, not an average one.
Keep a holding pot and pay yourself a steady amount from it.
Pay housing, power, food and getting to work first, and call before you miss a payment.

Starting an emergency fund

Start small and make it automatic on payday.
Keep it separate from everyday spending, somewhere protected.
Use it for real emergencies, then refill it.

If the month doesn’t add up

Free, confidential help with bills and debt exists; see below.
Nobody needs to charge you to deal with your creditors or apply for help.
Ask companies about hardship plans before you fall behind.

In the Philippines

Free learning sessions. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas runs free learning sessions for groups, online or in person, if you reserve in advance. Its personal financial management topic covers saving and budgeting.
Keep savings in a bank. Only banks are allowed by law to accept deposits from the public. Regulators warn to be wary of unrealistically high interest rates or gifts offered for your deposit, and to keep proof of your deposits, such as passbooks and deposit slips, in a safe place.
Insured deposits. Since 15 March 2025, the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation insures deposits up to ₱1 million per depositor, per bank. Depositors don’t pay for deposit insurance, and PDIC’s e-Calculator estimates how much of your deposit is covered.
Where to ask. If you’re unsure whether an offer is a real bank deposit, you can ask the BSP Online Buddy (BOB) or PDIC’s Public Assistance Department, toll-free on 1-800-1-888-7342.

Official places to check:

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas: www.bsp.gov.ph/Pages/InclusiveFinance/LearningEvents.aspx
Financial Sector Forum (BSP, Insurance Commission, PDIC and SEC): www.bsp.gov.ph/Consumer%20Corner/1-FSF%20Advisory%20on%20Bank%20Deposits.pdf
Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation: www.pdic.gov.ph/mdic
Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation: www.pdic.gov.ph

More free official help in the Philippines: moraph.org/commons/help/financial-literacy/ph

General information, not advice about your own situation. Checked 20 October 2026. If an official source says something different, it is right. Free to copy and adapt. moraph.org/commons/sessions/fluent/everyday-money