It's Time to Simplify

I have a new buddy:

Because these days, I don't go anywhere without my UNIONBANK Platinum MasterCard. It's pretty much the card Dada, Nana and I use for most of our expenses. Sorry na lang to our old, no evident benefit, credit cards.

From buying groceries, and stuff for the house...

To dining out...

To paying bills, it's the card we choose.

A huge come on is the fact that we get a 1.5% cash rebate every time our cards get swiped. That's instant cash back that I can credit back to my card, to offset our expenses. Which, is so much better than racking up credit card points that I don't even get to use.

But more than that, it has made my life so much simpler. Let me tell you how:

1) It's straightforward. There's no messing with your head with this one. You see, not all cash back cards are created equal. This card is a game changer. 

There are NO CAPS. If you spend Php1,000, you know you get Php15. If you spend Php1,000,000 you know you get Php10,500. You get the cash back you've earned from spending, no ifs and buts. 

That said, there are NO CONDITIONS. There's no need to do a minimum spend on certain spending categories just to earn cash back.

More important, there is NO EXPIRY date on your cash back amount. You can accumulate it for as long as you like, if you like.

2) I use it to shop safely online. Online shopping has allowed me to save on time, precious time. 

I don't have to do emergency runs to the grocery to buy disposable diapers. When I am alerted by Nana that stocks are running low, I just order a pack online at Cudsly.com, and I get it the next day. Imagine the time I saved from having to shower, dressing up, getting stuck in traffic, lining up, and all that.

Let me tell you, this card is so safe to use online, that when I used it to buy at Cudsly.com and net-a-porter.com, I was contacted both times by UNIONBANK, asking me to confirm my purchase.

Talk about peace of mind.

3) I delegate tasks via supplementary cards. I applied for supplementary cards for Dada and Nana. This allows me to earn cash back every time they swipe the cards, and also frees up my time to spend extra hours at home with the kids, focus on work, and all the other things I have to attend to.

As much as I enjoy shopping, yes, even for groceries, I've empowered Nana to do those unscheduled grocery runs, to accompany the driver for when he needs to put gas in the cars, to run to Mercury Drug or Watson's when we're in need of medicines or National Bookstore when we need supplies. Again, saving me precious time.

Because goodness knows I have no more time to kill. The concept of "killing time" escapes me now. "Free Time", what's that?

Gone are the days when I could read a book in one seating, stroll the mall aimlessly, have quiet time with a cup of tea, or goodness, even just have three minutes without at least one child calling out, if not wailing for me while I'm in the shower, or worse, sitting on the toilet. I swear, with the way my kids treat me when I'm in the bathroom, it's like I'm committing a crime. Bawal na bawal!

That's why anything that makes my life easier, I'm game. At the rate things are progressing, with my time being consumed by the needs of the family, errands, deadlines that I need to be on top of, work and everything else that need to be done ora mismo, I seriously need tools to keep things on track, and the UNIONBANK Platinum Mastercard allows me to do just that. It will help you too, as it has helped me and my friend Kris, aka OC Mom in Manila, promise.

To apply for your UNIONBANK Platinum MasterCard:

- Fill out an online application form from http://unionbankph.com/personal/credit-cards/apply-now
- Download application form and fax it to (02) 636-6256
- Visit your nearest UnionBank branch. For the branch nearest you, click HERE.

For more about this card, click HERE or call their Customer Service Hotline at +632 8418600 or Domestic Toll Free 1-800-1888-2277. 

P.S. Next on my "to simplify" list, is a brilliant suggestion by Ana Delgado of UNIONBANK to get EON Debit Cards for the household staff. This makes salary pay-outs so much easier and safer. It is also more financially sound for the staff to have their money go straight to the bank. The EON Card also allows them to use the card for purchases, and transfer money to a relative's bank account, whatever bank it may be.

P.P.S. Watch Kris, Eliza and I on Karrot's show, Live Love Lolz, where we hash out how we've simplified our life, our shopping life, with the UNIONBANK Platinum MasterCard.

Citi Rewards!

A week before I gave birth, Aneth, who I used to work with at Citibank, sent me this yummy package of goodies from Marks & Spencer (I ate the caramel mini-bites before I could take this photo haha), plus an e-Plus movie card, along with a hand-written note:

Turns out, this was just but a feel of how it's like to be a Citibank Rewards cardholder. The Citibank Rewards card, which was only launched in July, is the new credit card that features instant rewards available to cardholders throughout the year and is set to be a new benchmark for loyalty programs in the market. 

Citi Country Officer Sanjiv Vohra (from right), MasterCard Vice- President for Marketing and Member Relations Judith Dayrit, Citibank Consumer Business Manager Sergio Zanatti and Citibank Credit Payment Products Director Bea Tan

From year round free movie passes to generous shopping rebates and waived annual fees, Citibank Rewards cardholders can expect instant rewards.

For example, with this card, you get a free P100 movie pass for a minimum single-receipt purchase of P2,500 anywhere. And this applies whether you shop locally, online or abroad.

Plus, redemption is easy peasy! No more vouchers, charge slips or forms to fill out. Just present your credit card at their partner merchants and claim your treat.

How easy? Well, to redeem movie passes, card members just need to swipe the card at participating cinemas, and they can see how many movie passes they can redeem*.

Cardholders are also entitled to:

- generous 5% rebates when shopping at Aldo, Aldo Accessories, Celio, Charles & Keith, Giordano, Marks & Spencer, Nike Park, Pedro, Runnr, Toby’s, Topshop, Topman, Urban Athletics and Zara. 

- as much as 3% at The Landmark Department Store, Metro Department Store, Rustan’s Department Store and SM Department Store 

- and 1% rebate for all other department stores. Cardmembers can use the rebates in denomination of P100 to pay for their next purchase at the participating merchants and these DO NOT expire. 

The new card also waives annual fees for principal cardholders who spend at least P20,000 per month, or P240,000 within their year of membership. In addition, their first three supplementary cardmembers are free when they each make purchases at least six times every membership year. 

Now, isn't this the ultimate rewards card for regular movie-goers and frequent shoppers? Makes me want to switch cards from our regular card to the Citibank Rewards card na!

*The P100 movie passes are credited to their accounts three business days after the purchase and are valid for 30 days. Up to two movie passes can be redeemed per day in Cash & Carry Cinema, Eastwood Cinemas, Festival Cinema, Greenhills Promenade, Greenhills Theatre Mall, Robinsons Movieworld, SM Cinema and Walter Mart Cinemas.