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To say that traffic in Manila is horrendous is an understatement. And one of my stresses is when I remember I need to buy something, an ingredient or an office supply, but the driver is out on an errand already. What pababalikin ko pa ba? Or when I send money and then something came up like the quotation didn’t include tax etc. Grrr! With the traffic, it’s not practical to have the driver drive back to the house to come back for the money! Waste of time and waste of gas!
So I had my driver open a Cash Card for himself. Since I have an online BDO account and they have a good number of ATM machines, he opened a BDO Cash Card. Cash Cards are basically re-loadable prepaid electronic debit cards. It is an ATM card that can be used to withdraw money and pay for shopping.
Unlike a regular deposit account, debit cards don’t have a maintaining balance. Maintaining balances will not usually work with the rate our drivers and kasambahays advance their salary, hehe panay penalty;-)
Once he got his BDO Cash Card, I enrolled his number in my online bank so I can transfer money to him anytime, even when I’m out of the country. Or when he goes home to the province and suddenly calls he is out of cash for his return trip back home. You know those stories …
If you don’t have a BDO account, I think most major banks would have a similar product. Just double check maintaining balances and charges. For example for BDO, each ATM inquiry is free while withdrawal is charged P2 so I add P2 when I deposit to the driver. If he is going to withdraw from a non-BDO ATM, balance inquiry is at P2 and withdrawal at P11/transaction. Minimum of P200/transaction.
I’m planning to get a Cash Card for the house also. You know for the times when the Gasul runs out and I’m out. Or when you are abroad and something that has to be paid comes up, it will help lessen the stress. And right now, busting those little stresses for a little pockets of peace is glorious!
Go Breathe,
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose. This post is not sponsored.