When it rains, it pours. Yes! It's official, rainy days are here, and this is a perfect time to shop when discounts are pouring in allowing you to save by the bucketful.
Get ready to shop to your heart’s content at the most anticipated sale event of the year. Metro Creative Themes Inc. once again presents the MEGABRANDS & LIFESTYLE SALE happening this July 5, 6 and 7 at the Megatrade Hall 1, 5th level of SM Megamall Building B.
This 3-day midyear back-to-school sale will feature shoes, leather goods, athletic wear, bags, apparels, personal items, fashion and gadget accessories among others.
MEGABRANDS such as REEBOK, DIADORA, SKECHERS, PONY, SAUCONY, SPERRY, MERRELL, TRIUMPH, UMBRO are offering items with up to 70% discount.
But there’s more- CASE LOGIC, EUROPAK, PIERRE CARDIN, KEDS, GRENDHA, ITALIANOS, ROCKFORT are just some of the participating brands that will offer marked down items at prices that you can’t resist. What’s even more amazing is that ADMISSION is FREE!
With huge discounts on branded items and with major cards accepted, you have all the reasons to shop wisely at the Megabrands & Lifestyle Sale this weekend!
Megabrands & Lifestyle Sale
July 5, 6 and 7 (weekend)
Open from 11 am to 10 pm
Megatrade Hall 1 at SM Megamall B
FREE ADMISSION
For inquiries and more information please get in touch with MCT Inc. through Jonathan Roxas at 0917-5365473 or Vilma Baculot at 09171633597.
Follow Metro Creative Themes on Facebook for updates!
Introduction What is P2P Lending?
P2P lending, which stands for peer-to-peer lending, is also known as social lending. This is considered as a system that allows a borrower and a lender to administer direct loan processes. There are a number of P2P lending companies that offer numerous kinds of loan investing opportunities. Moreover, if you are planning to get involved with P2P lending, it is important that you understand the different risk profiles and return of each agreement.
Do note that P2P lending has processes that are quite different as compared to that of a bank loan. When you acquire a loan from a bank, the bank will use its own assets to process your request. This means that the deposits made into the customers’ accounts are used to fund the loan.
On the other hand, P2P lending allows borrowers to be matched directly with an investor through a lending platform. The investors can easily see and select which of the loans they want to fund. Most of the times, those who avail of a P2P loan would want to finance the operations of their small businesses or would want to borrow money for personal purposes.
There are a number of P2P lending platforms that are subjected to certain restrictions. Moreover, there are also P2P lending companies that are open to every individual who can meet the account minimums. There are also some who are only open to qualified purchasers and accredited investors. With that in mind, it is important to assess your current standing before choosing one of the many P2P lending companies that are available in the market.
Top P2P Lenders in the World
If you want to ensure that your lending process is secure, one tip would be to choose a well-known P2P company. Typically, these are those that have already gained the trust of both lenders and borrowers.
Here are some of the top P2P lenders in the world. You can very well check out their services and requirements to see if they are a good fit for you
Zopa was first founded in 2005. In fact, the whole process of P2P lending started with Zopa. Today, it is considered as one of the largest and oldest P2P lending company. What’s most surprising is that this company was one of those who have survived the 2008 Financial Crisis.
Zopa has about 75,000 active investors who have lent over an amount of £3 billion to its borrowers. One of the best things about Zopa is that it is easy to use considering the fact that it as only two simple investment choices – standard and ISA.
Rate Setter was established in October 2010. It is considered by most as one of the safest and most secure P2P lending platforms in the world. The investment options offered by Rate Setter are very basic. However, it is highly advisable that you acquire a watchful eye so that you can easily monitor the return rates.
Mintos is a huge loan aggregator. It offers numerous loan options that range from business, personal, property, and cars. Do note that these are underwritten through various European finance companies.
With Lending Club, an investor can easily acquire a dramatically high return. However, do note that there are a number of requirements to be fulfilled by an investor. When it comes to the Lending Club, always remember that the higher the risk, the higher the potential reward.
Nonetheless, the interest rates of Lending Club are safe and its fixed-income investments are sitting generally at below 1%. There is a 25$ minimum investment with an average return of 5.06% up to 8.74%.
Prosper P2P Lending has been around for over 13 years. Thus, you can guarantee that lending and borrowing money from them is safe and legit. In addition, Prosper has also been BBB accredited with an A+ rating for the last 7 years.
What are the Risks of P2P Lending?
Despite ensuring that the company is a legitimate P2P lending firm, it is always crucial that you understand the risks present in the process of P2P lending itself.
The borrower doesn’t pay
This is one of the most common and obvious risks in lending money. When a borrower does not pay, it could mean that you have lost the money you invested in that loan. Thus, it is important to look for a platform that guarantees safety features like a Buyback Guarantee.
Buyback guarantees mean that the loan originator, which is the P2P lending firm, will buy the loan from you. You will get the accrued interest in addition to the principal amount. With this safety feature, you get some kind of protection in exchange for a premium.
The value of the collateral went down
For those who invest in loans that are secured by collateral, the loan-to-value is crucial. This is the ratio between the loan amount and the market value of the collateral. Remember, loans that are at least 70% or less of the collateral value is deemed secure.
The loan originator or platform goes out of business
Another common risk that may arise with P2P lending is when the loan originator or the P2P lending company goes out of business. This is why it is important that you pay attention to the company history of a P2P platform.
How to Reduce the Risks in P2P Lending
With all of these risks present in a typical P2P lending transaction, you may start to wonder if there are certain ways to avoid it. When it comes to lending, risks will always be present. The best way that you can get the most out of a P2P lending transaction is to reduce the chances of it ever happening; here’s how!
Understand the P2P platform that you are using
Do not go overboard and lend your entire savings on one P2P platform
Split your money among different P2P platforms
Choose the borrower wisely and perform proper research
Stay invested and be cautious
Step-by-Step Process of P2P Lending
Step 1: Ask yourself if you have money to invest
Of course, you have to ask yourself if you have enough money to start investing in P2P platforms. This is why one of the most common advice given to those who wish to invest in these transactions is to only invest an amount of your savings or income.
Step 2: Choose a P2P platform of your choice
Ever since the launch of Zopa, there have been a number of P2P platforms in Europe and America. Each of these platforms offers various services at different rates. As a lender, you have to understand what each platform offers, so you can effectively choose which among them is the perfect fit for you.
Step 3: Learn how the P2P platform works
The first two steps are self-explanatory. To guarantee that your P2P lending experience is a success, you only have to perform proper research and ensure that you understand how the P2P platform of your choice works.
Once you have chosen a P2P platform, here are the possible succeeding steps to be followed. Of course, these would vary depending on what platform you choose.
Send the necessary documents as part of your signing up process.
Make an initial deposit in order to have your account be activated and approved.
Make a small initial investment to test the waters.
Withdraw a small number of your earnings to test the withdrawal process and ensure that the P2P platform is a legit firm.
Explore and learn about different loan types offered by the P2P platform.
The older you get, the more you begin to appreciate your parents' sacrifices and hard work. As an adult, you start to see all the different ways that your parents have looked after the family, most of them unacknowledged. With a better appreciation of all, they've done to look after you in their youth, it's doubly important now to help them relax and enjoy their retirement years. If you've been thinking about giving back to your parents, then take a look at the list below to find out how you can help your parents' retirement be happy and worry-free.
Start Taking Care of Expenses
Whether you're a young adult starting their first job, or a parent starting your own family, one way to help your own parents start off their retirement on the right foot is by helping out with extra expenses. These can include footing the gas or grocery bill once in a while, or if they live with you, taking the burden of utilities and rent off their shoulders. Doing this will not only show that you're able to stand on your own two feet without them but will help ease the burden on their pension and savings as well.
Checking Up On Their Pension Fund
Speaking of savings, one other way to help your parents prepare for their retirement is by checking up on their pension fund. According to news site Rappler, most Filipinos aren't adequately prepared for their retirement. Make sure your parents are on top of their finances by checking up on whether their SSS contributions, real estate taxes, and other payments are all up to date. Even the smallest bit helps, and once they stop working they'll be able to breathe a sigh of relief.
Keep An Eye Out for Their Health
Old age brings aches and pains, but they aren't just limited to the body. With rising medical expenses, your parents might be more anxious about paying the bills on their hospital visits and doctor check-ups. Help them avoid the stress of digging into their savings ahead of time by picking out a health insurance plan that meets their needs at affordable prices. An example of this is Paramount Direct's PrimeCare Cash Plan, which is a health insurance plan for seniors with affordable premiums that will ease your parents' burdens. This way, they can enjoy their retirement years without having to struggle with medical bills.
Ease the Change
Retirement brings with it more than just financial or health considerations. Making the leap from working a 9 to 5 every day to not having to go to work can be a big adjustment for many people. Studies show that retirement can be a depression risk, so it's important to be there for your parents as they make this transition. Help fill their days with hobbies, conversation, and activities so that the change isn't as jarring, and you can be sure that they'll remember this gesture for years to come.
As a makeup lover, I am always in search of what's new in the market but of course, there are things that I always put into consideration: first, it should be affordable. Let's be real, our hobby is not as affordable as many people expected. Some people would even spend thousands for a beauty product but in my case, I always look for products that suit my budget. Second, it supposed to have a good performance and won't damage my face in any way. Of course, that's one of the most common things we look for in a product.
Althea Korea which has been my personal assistant for my everyday K-Beauty needs is down again with another affordable yet amazing products that won't only suit everyone's style, budget but also our needs.
Introducing- A'Bloom which is the first ever Althea Korea's beauty tool and masks. In this line, they do have 3 products that suit our needs for makeup and skincare.
First on the list will be their facemask which I'm absolutely excited for. It comes in four variants: Nourishing Avocado Mask, Anti Blemish Peach Mask, Moisturizing Watermelon Mask, and Brightening Lemon Lime Mask.
Don't worry I'll be making a separate post for my insights about their amazing product.
But their masks are made with 100% Natural Eucalyptus Sheet which is perfect for moisture charge and has an excellent adherence. It is also eco-friendly which no optical brightener, formaldehyde and heavy metal that gives your skin comfort and amazing texture.
Their face masks passed the non-irritation test and KFDA Approved so there's no need to worry about allergic reactions since they are safe to use even to those who have sensitive skin.
Do you know what's more interesting in this product? It's price. Guys, it's only 20 pesos per piece and only 180 pesos for 10 pcs. SEE! THIS IS SO AFFORDABLE. I'm so excited to try this for myself and share it with you.
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Second would be another product that would suit our skincare needs - BHA Blackhead Blaster
We all hate blackheads and whiteheads, right? And most of the products in the market that removes them are too painful, I remember whenever I use nose strips, I literally cry my eyes out in order for me to remove the tape and that usually depends on the product and how sticky this is. Sometimes, they would just hurt you but not 'harvest' the black or whiteheads which is awful.
but in this case, in BHA Blackhead Blaster, they offer NO PAIN black and whitehead removal.3>
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This is so amazing because it can achieve a clearer nose in just 1 minute and since this product is gentle on the skin, it will not irritate our sensitive skin. And what's better, it can be used to scrub your elbows or heels to make it whiter.
For its price of 200 pesos, I'm very much excited to see how this product works for my face. I may also include the experience of my bubba since he has more black and whiteheads than me and for me, I might use it on my ankles and elbows to achieve much smoother skin.
Lastly which is the one that I'm more excited for- they MERINGUE PUFFS.
Their puffs come in two sizes - Giant and the Baby size, both of these puffs last to 1.5x than their initial size and can be used both damp and dry. What's better about this product is that they are latex-free and doesn't contain toxic materials which suit well for the sensitive skin. 3>
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<3 p="">This product is suitable for makeup beginners since this is much easier to use compared to other makeup tools. It provides a flawless finish and can be used not only for your base but also for your skincare as well. 3>
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<3 p="">For the price of 140 pesos for 3-piece Small Meringue Puffs and 100 for a Giant Meringue Puffs, I'm very excited to try this out since this is the first time to find a good brand who offers a very affordable product that suits well for our skin. 3>
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<3 p="">A'Bloom is available on Althea Korea website. Check the link here.3>
Summer is finally here and we all know what that means - summer vacation and abundant leisure time. Summer is the season kids tend to stay at home and apart from endless games and movie time, they also indulge themselves by eating cold treats or do summer foods that they would surely love.
Although summer can be a perfect time to eat whatever you want to reward yourself after the entire school year or working hard, of course, we still want to achieve good health. And with Beko Philippines, they ensure to help us to live healthier and assist us to figure out the possible ways to achieve a healthier and more hydrated lifestyle this season.
The abundance of fruits and veggies
There are plenty of in-season fruits during the summer like Avocado, Pineapple, Mango, Watermelon, Coconut, and Banana. Satisfy your sweet cravings with these instead of eating chocolates, cakes, or doughnuts. You can also try making fruit smoothies and add in some vegetables like spinach, which is a healthy way to beat the heat this season. Perfect for outdoor activities
Summer is arguably one of our favorite seasons—and for good reasons. Since the days are longer, the season is the perfect time to do outdoor activities like swimming or hiking.
Doing physical activities or exercise not only help reduce the risk of diseases like type 2 diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease but also presents immediate and long-term health benefits to the body.
You can get your kids involved in cooking
The school year will either be out or winding down this summer, which leaves your kids plenty of time to engage in activities. Why not take this opportunity to get them involved in the kitchen?
It not only makes for a good bonding moment but also helps your kids veer away from making unhealthy food choices like junk food and sweets. This is important since health often takes a back seat during this season since it is a time when families often go on vacations.
While cooking with the family is a great way to spend time during the summer, it is important to note that the hot weather can cause food to spoil quickly. In fact, leaving them out for too long at room temperature can cause bacteria or viruses to grow to dangerous levels. To avoid food spoilage, consider using RCNT415E50VZWB, a 14.6cuft, Top Mount No Frost, Dual Cooling Inverter Refrigerator.
The refrigerator has an EverFresh+® technology, which is perfect for those diet-delayers. It allows unconsumed fruit and vegetables to sit comfortably in a special crisper compartment for up to 30 days.
The RCNT415E50VZWB also comes with a Beko ProSmart™ Inverter Compressor so you can open the door of the fridge for a good nose inside, as well as to adapt and create fewer temperature variations to cool your food quickly.
Meanwhile, its NeoFrost™ dual cooling technology helps to maintain high humidity in the fridge, while keeping the freezer dry, frozen and frost-free. Coupled with two times faster cooling, this system retains moisture for longer it. And, with two separate fans, there are no nasty odor transfers between the fridge and freezer compartments. Its Beko Active Fresh Blue Light™ technology, on the other hand, protects vitamin C intensity in vegetables and keep the natural flavors and nutritional elements in your healthy food intact.
Lastly, Its IonGuard® technology helps remove odors in your fridge by circulating negative ions that neutralize bacteria and particles that cause odors.
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Behind the Blog
I’m Mona 💛 Wife, mom of two (Edmund & Aia), virtual assistant, and storyteller. The M Word began as the voice of a single woman searching for hope — today, it has grown into a space for empowerment, love, family, and soulful living. With my husband Jerico, our kids, and our quirky little family of pets, life is never short of inspiration. Here, I share pieces of our everyday journey, lessons from my work, and stories that spark hope and joy. 🌸 Let’s connect: mhownai@gmail.com