Tips on how to save money

1. Visualize your goal. Plans require a goal, and a financial plan is no exception. Be honest with yourself and identify what goal or goals you want to achieve in the future. Such goals may include getting out of debt, investing in a condominium unit, or establishing a retirement fund. Whatever your goal/s is/are, write it down to help you remember it.

2. Have a money notebook or file. If you are the pen-and-paper type of person, buy a nice notebook or journal. If you are high tech and prefer to go paperless, start with a spreadsheet on your computer. These files, whether on paper or electronic form, should contain your budget, a record of actual expenses, a list of your payables, and your payment plan for debts.

3. Write down your budget. Every person desiring to be financially secure should have a working budget which would set down the parameters of one's spending. Based on your income, make provision for savings (at least 10 percent), then allot the rest for your usual expenditure items. Put a spending limit on each expense item. Be guided by your budget throughout the month.

4. List down your expenses-everything, from candy to big-ticket purchases and bills. By listing down your expenditures, you will be able to compare your spending against your budget. If you are overspending, find out the reason and take steps to curb the habit.

5. Have a monthly spending limit. Put a monthly spending limit on your purchases. It should be an amount you can afford, taking into account your other budgeted expenses monthly. If you own a credit card, make sure you don't spend more than you can afford to pay. It is good to have a credit card as you will be able to purchase items even if you don't have the cash on hand as of the moment, but use it wisely.

6. If you are heavily in debt, stop spending. You may do so literally (some have done so) to stop yourself from further burying yourself in debt. Stick to the essentials, and forego luxuries from now, even small things like taking a taxi to work, when there are cheaper means of transportation available.

7. Shop in bulk for items you need regularly. Great bargains may be had at warehouse clubs or discount stores. If the number of items per bulk purchase is too much for your small household, split the purchase with a family member or friend.

8. Prepare for the future. Take out health insurance and life insurance, especially if you are the breadwinner of the family. This will protect your family from financial burden if you get sick or when you pass away.

9. Have a "money buddy." Ask your spouse or best friend to regularly check on your money habits and hold you accountable for your money makeover steps. By having someone check on you, chances are you will be more motivated to meet your goals.

10. Spend less. It's a simple rule that most people ignore. But it really works if you want to be financially secure. Before buying anything-that goes for literally anything, from grocery items to cars-compare prices. Choose the best quality at the lowest cost. Check the Internet or newspaper advertisements for prices of items you are interested to buy. And when you see a promotion, take advantage of it if it will bring you added benefits. Be a smart shopper.

These are only some money makeover tips you can easily do. Start doing them this week; don't delay. We wish you the best!

Source: Inquirer.net

How to register your new business

Your new business has to be registered with the appropriate government agencies. This should be considered, whenever possible, as the first steps in putting up a business.

So, for example if you want to go in retail business - retail is a broad term. If what you have is a sari-sari store, then you have to:

* Register your business name with the Department of Trade and Industry.
* Obtain a barangay clearance.
* Secure a Mayors Permit.
* Get a TIN from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (A lot of sari-sari stores do not bother, but getting one will save you a lot of trouble later).

There may be some variations in the registration process depending on the location and type of business so be sure to ask the relevant government offices. Below is a table showing the steps to take in registering your business whether it’s a sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation, and cooperative. We hope that this table will answer a number of your questions. Just click on the squares to view the requirements you need to get from each government agency given the type of your business.

Steps in Registering your Business with Government (Sole Proprietorship/Partnership)

Register your business name with the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) - www.dti.gov.ph
Register with the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) (Partnership only) - www.sec.gov.ph
Obtain the permit to do business from the local government unit (LGU)
Get a TIN for your business from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) - www.bir.gov.ph
Register your business & employees for social benefits with the Social Security System (SSS) - www.sss.gov.ph
Register with the Department of Labor & Employment (DOLE) if your business has five or more employees - www.dole.gov.ph

Even if you are a government employee, there is nothing that should prevent you from going into business — as long as you put in the time that is required by your office and you abide by the rules and regulations of your office.

As for record-keeping, the UP Institute for Small Scale Industries offers a course called Accounting for Non-Accountants. You can call them at (02) 928-7076 to 78 and ask for details.

Source: www.eyp.ph

Traditional Fruit Cake Recipe: Classic Christmas Cooking

Christmas is just a few days away, and many of us are thinking about food and menu for the much awaited Christmas Day. Maybe you are thinking what to prepare for the kids, and family, above is video that would show us how to make a Traditional Fruit Cake Recipe: Classic Christmas Cooking.

How to make embutido

Embutido is a Filipino style meatloaf that can be served either uncooked (as cold cuts) or lightly pan-fried and served with a variety of sauces. This is usually prepared and serve during special occasions such as birthdays, weddings, fiesta, noche buena, or even ordinary days.

Materials that you will need:

Steamer
Mixing bowl
Measuring cups and spoons
1 lb. ground pork
1/2 cup finely chopped carrots
1 cup (6 slices) finely chopped
(sweet or cooked) ham
3 tbsp. minced green bell pepper
3 tbsp. minced red bell pepper
1/3 cup sweet pickle relish
1/4 cup raisins
3 whole eggs
1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
A dash of liquid seasoning
Salt & pepper, to taste
1 tbsp. cornstarch
Slices (wedges) of hard boiled egg
Slices (wedges) of Vienna sausage
Aluminum foil, 10-inches-by-12-inches sizes

Procedure:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. In a bowl, combine all the food ingredients and mix until well blended.

3. Divide the mixture into portions, depending on how many you want to make.

4. Spread and flatten the mixture onto the center of each aluminum
foil.

5. Evenly divide the slices of hard boiled eggs and sausages so that each mixture gets an equal share. Place the slices at the center of each mixture.

6. Carefully roll the aluminum foil into a tightly packed log about 1 inch to 2 inches in diameter, sealing on both ends.

7. Place the wrapped embutido in a steamer and steam for an hour.

8. Let cool and slice it into rings to serve.

9. Freeze unused logs.

Growing Saluyot

Saluyut is not as popular as other vegetables, thus, its cultivation is limited. It is pan-tropic in distribution. It grows mostly in a clearing, on rice paddy banks and in open, low wet places near settlements.

In the Philippines, the tops are eaten as vegetable particularly by the Ilocanos. It is either cooked with bamboo shoots and fish or meat, or with other vegetables. It is an excellent source of iron, calcium and phosphorous.

The leaves are also used for medicine purposes. It is very effective for headaches. The fruits are used by the sino-Annamites as laxative and cure for inflammations and abscesses. The oil from the seeds is used to treat skin diseases.

Saluyut grows under a wide range of soil types both poor and rich, although soil with plenty of organic matter is ideal. Avoid sandy and porous soils under laid with stones and boulders.

It is usually planted in the beginning of the rainy season and during the months of May and June. In places where there is a uniform distribution of rainfall, like Southern Mindanao, it is planted anytime of the year.

Common Names/Local Names: Jute Mallow or Jews Mallow; Jute (English) Saluyot (Tagalog); Tugabang (Bisaya)

Botanical Description

Jute is an erect, grabrous, annual plant or shrub, growing up to 2 meters high. The leaves are ovate, laceolate, toothed margins. Flowers are solitary with yellow petals on the axils. The fruit is a capsule with many black seeds.

Adaptability

Jute or Saluyot is cultivated over a wide range of environments. The plants grow well under hot, wet in the lowland tropics. It is also responds especially to warm, humid weather and is often grown near riverbanks and waste places. Cold weather and severe periods of drought can kill the crop. A loam or silty-loam soil and plenty of organic matter is ideal. It tolerates soil pH of 4.5 to 8.0, but more extreme pH conditions will reduce the availability of iron in the soil.

It is a short day plant, hence, short production suffers because of flowering during the months of November to February.

Uses/Importance

Jute mallow, jews mallow or jute is famous for its sturdy natural fiber but there are cultivars that are cultivated as a leafy vegetable. The leaves are used fresh or dried. They can be stored after drying and used later on during periods of scarcity. The leaves become mucilagious when cooked, a trait of this crop, which highly appreciated.

Nutrient Value

The leaves of saluyot are rich source of iron, protein, calcium, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin,and folate.

Propagation

Propagation is through seeds. However, when germination is low, it can be overcome by soaking the seeds in hot water.

Preparing the field

Jute mallow is a small seeded plant, therefore, thorough land preparation is required to promote good growth and to minimize the cost of weeding. Plow and harrow and rotofill the field.

Planting

Jute mallow is planted either by direct seeding or transplanting. Direct seeding is used when seed is plenty, labor is limited and during the dry season when flooding is not a problem. Planting is done at the beginning of the rainy season (May-June). When there is uniform distribution of rainfall, like in Southern Mindanao, saluyot can be planted anytime of the year. The seeds are drilled uniformly 4 to 5 inches apart in furrows or at the rate of 5-6 kgs of seeds per hectare. For big scale planting and in open places, seeds are judiciously broadcast and lightly covered with fine soil by passing a wooden harrow.

Fertilizing

Jute mallow responds well to added fertilizer, especially nitrogen. A combination of both inorganic and organic fertilizers improves yield and maintains soil fertility. The rate of fertilizer application depends on soil fertility, soil type, fertilizer recovery rate, and soil organic matter. A soil test is highly recommended to determine the available N, P, and K.

Water Management

Jute mallow is sensitive to drought. Irrigating is critical after sowing or transplanting to ensure a good stand. At AVRDC, fields are furrow-irrigated every 10 days during the cool-dry season, and weekly during the hot-dry season. As a rule, plants should be irrigated if wilting occurs in midday. Irrigate thoroughly to develop a deep, healthy root system. Good drainage is essential for plant survival and growth. Provides drainage canals to facilitate quick drainage of excess water after heavy rains. Avoid over-irrigation since this leads to disease development and leaching of soil nutrients. Drip irrigation or micro-sprinkler irrigation is recommended in areas with limited water supply. If sprinkler irrigation must be used, avoid late evening irrigation to prevent foliar diseases.

Weed Management

Thorough land preparation is essential. Jute mallow, especially when direct-seeded, is slow to establish and vulnerable to competition from weeds.
Weed must not be allowed to crowd or overgrow the young plants. When plants are 20 to 25 cm tall, a wooden plow or cultivator is passed between the rows to hill-up, which can help to suppress the growth of weeds.

Pests and Disease Management

The foliage and shoot tips of jute mallow are susceptible to damage by insects and spider mites. Nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) cause stunting of plants. Pest damage is usually less severe in plantings that are well fertilized and rotated with other crops. Insect pests may be managed by covering beds with fine-mesh nylon netting.

Pesticides are useful for controlling pests when they cause significant damage. Choose a pesticide that targets the pest and avoid pesticides that kill beneficial organisms. Choose pesticides that last only for a short period. To avoid exposing consumers to pesticide residues, follow instructions for time intervals between spraying and harvesting.

Only a few diseases affect jute mallow. Damping-off caused by Rhizoctonia, Pythium or Phytophthora spp. occurs in seedbeds. These pathogens are managed through the use of raised beds, well-drained soils, and proper watering. Stem rot (Sclerotium rolfsii) is a common disease during the dry season, causing plants to wilt. Stem rot is managed by deep plowing, using raised beds, rotating crops, and allowing ample time for breakdown of green manure before planting.

Harvesting

Jute mallow is harvested 30-60 days after planting, depending on variety. Some varieties are sensitive to short daylength, causing them to bloom prematurely. These varieties should be harvested 20-40 days after planting, just before pods develop. Plants may be harvested once or several times. Once-over harvest is adapted for quick growing varieties. Whole plants (20-30 cm tall) are pulled from soil with roots, washed and tied in bundles. With multiple harvests, young leaves and shoots are picked every two to three weeks. New side shoots will develop and harvesting can be repeated three or four times. Frequent harvesting delays flowering and prolongs the harvest period. Jute mallow wilts rapidly after harvest. Harvest during the cooler time of day, such as early morning or late afternoon, and keep the produce cool and shaded.
Post-Harvest Handling

Jute mallow wilts rapidly, common practice in markets and shops is to sprinkle with water to keep its fresh appearance. If uprooted, the vegetables can be kept fresh for some days by putting it into basin with the roots in the water and sold in bunches or by weight.

Source: bpi.da.gov.ph

Franchising Goto King

Goto King is a leading fast food chain specializing in quality and affordable meals and merienda fare, both traditional and non traditional that Filipinos enjoy, with friendly, efficient service and clean, well lit outlets. It advocates the promotion of Filipino culture through the propagation of the high quality and standards of Filipino food production.

Independent Outlet (Big)

Space Requirement : 76-150 sqm
Facilities : Large dining area; comfort rooms; air-conditioned environment.
Investment Required : Php 2.5M to 5M
Brief Description :

The Independent Outlet (Big) is the largest among the Goto King Store types and can accommodate larger crowds due to its more spacious dining area. Its captive market include regular commuters / motorists in a specified location like key intersections, mall interior and exterior spaces.

Goto King Independent Outlet (Small)

Space Requirement : 50-75 sqm
Facilities : Moderate size dining area; comfort rooms; air-conditioned environment.
Investment Required : P2M to P3M Php
Brief Description :

The Goto King Independent Outlet (Small) is a restaurant operation which can function either in or outside malls and other commercial stablishments. It offers the full menu line of Goto King and is well designed to accommodate dine-in crowds of up to 35 persons.

Goto King Food Court Outlet (Big)

Space Requirement : 20-40 sqm
Facilities : Common dining area; common comfort rooms; air-conditioned environment; gas and electrical provisions.
Investment Required : Php 1.8M to 2.5M
Brief Description :

The Goto King Food Court Outlet (Big) carries the full Goto King food line, from its rice porridge variants (Goto and Lugaw) to merienda, rice meals and desserts. Located within malls and shopping establishments, the Goto King food court outlet operates on mall hours. It may be located in any of the mall’s level, depending entirely on mall layout and design.

Food Court Big Outlet (Small)

Space Requirement : 11-19 sqm
Facilities : Common dining area; common comfort rooms; air-conditioned environment; gas and electrical provisions.
Investment Required : Php 1.5M to 1.8M
Brief Description :

Like the Food Court Big Outlet (Small) this version carries the full Goto King food line of merienda, rice meals and desserts as well as the same facilities and cooking provisions, but because of its size, it has limited serving capability. It can be located within malls and other shopping establishments and necessarily follows its operation hours.

Goto King Independent Kiosk (Independent)

Space Requirement : 15-30 sqm
Facilities : Air conditioned; utilizes seating and dining furniture.
Investment Required : P1.6M to P2M
Brief Description :

The Goto King Independent Kiosk (Independent) is the largest version of kiosk outlets. It can operate outside of malls and is considered as a small version of the Goto King restaurant (Independent store) because it can accommodate dine-in crowd and can offer more products which include a variety of rice meals (toppings and other rice combos).

Goto King Kiosk Outlets (Big)

Space Requirement : 11-15 sqm
Facilities : Common dining area; common comfort rooms; air-conditioned environment; gas and electrical provisions.
Investment Required : between Php 1M to 1.6M
Brief Description :

This second version of Goto King Kiosk Outlets (Big) is smaller that the Independent Kiosk and like it, is permanently located in its area. It caters to commuters, shoppers and generally, to the “on the move” crowd. It has no dine-in nor seating facilities but due to its space, can offer more food items than the Kiosk Small because it has the facilities to prepare such
items like rice toppings.

Goto King Kiosk Outlets (Small)

Space Requirement : 6-10 sqm
Facilities : Common dining area; common comfort rooms; air-conditioned environment; gas and electrical provisions.
Investment Required : Php 800M to 1.2M
Brief Description :

The smallest version of Goto King Kiosk Outlets (Small) is bigger than the Cart outlet though they are similar in terms of facilities and target the same “on the go” crowd.” Both are stand up counter operations but the Kiosk small can offer more merienda items than the Cart because of its facilities. And unlike the cart, it is permanent and may not be moved from one place to another.
Goto King Cart

Space Requirement : 4-6 sqm
Facilities : Stand-up counter operation; may utilize seating and dining furniture depending on the lessor’s discretion; may use electricity and/or gas for cooking; can be placed in either air-conditioned or non-air-conditioned environment.
Investment Required : Php 500-600K
Brief Description :

The Goto King Cart caters to people who are always ‘on the go’.They are customers who belong to the mobile and transient crowd. It can easily be located in areas where there are limited dining spaces like in mall sections (hallways, corridors, arcades, supermarkets, etc.), gas stations, convenience stores, bus terminals, schools and canteens. Whenever necessary, it is the only store type that can be physically transferred from one location to another since it does not form part of a permanent structure.

For more info :

Head Office Address:

159 Kamias Road Extension
Sikatuna, Quezon City, Philippines
Telephone Number: +63 922 32 06
Fax Number: 433 52 08
E-mail Addresses: admin@gotoking.com.ph
For specific information: Business and Franchise Development
bizdev@gotoking.com.ph