3 Moves to Keep School Expenses in Check All Year Round

The school year is in full swing, and the first wave of expenses has passed. But school costs don’t just disappear, and with household bills and everyday expenses in general, smart strategies need to be paired with reliable financial tools.

Here’s how to stay on top of tuition payments, endless school supply shopping, and even everyday baon without feeling too much of a pinch:

• Beat the ‘FOMO’ trap

New ‘must-have’ items can emerge on social media and can create a feeling of ‘Fear of Missing Out.’ While some trends and hacks can be helpful and fun, prioritize functionality and durability over fleeting trends. Before buying, ask yourself: Do my kids genuinely need this for learning, or am I just feeling pressured to get it?

• Make use of free public learning resources

Learning can be exciting when it extends beyond the classroom walls, but you don’t have to spend a fortune to give your child new experiences. Several museums in Metro Manila offer free admission, including the National Museum of Fine Arts, the National Museum of Anthropology, and the National Museum of Natural History. In need of a distraction-free environment for homework and research? Check out public libraries, such as the Quezon City Public Library and the National Library of the Philippines, as an alternative to cafes.

• Explore financial tools and maximize promos

When everything happens all at once and you feel overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to tap into reliable digital financial tools to stretch your budget and help you manage your expenses. GCash offers ways to make school expenses more manageable. If you’re eligible, you can use GCredit, a credit line of up to PHP 50,000, which you can use to ease expenses for school supplies and gear. For bigger purchases, GGives provides an installment option of up to PHP 125,000, making essential upgrades like gadgets, electronics, or even tuition fees, lighter on your pocket with up to 24 months to pay.

Apple Preferred 0.9% GGives Interest Rate Promo

Savvy parents know not just the best gear for their kids, but especially how to get the at the best price. Pay for your in-store Apple product purchases with GGives and enjoy a special 0.9% interest when you choose 12 or 24-month installment plans at participating merchants.

This promo is valid with a minimum spend of PHP 15,000 from June 2 to September 12, 2025 at Power Mac Center, The Loop, Beyond the Box, Digital Walker, Open Source by Beyond The Box, Abenson, and ElectroWorld and Automatic Center.

Special freebies and discounts are also up for grabs when you use GGives. Get free Marshall Major headphones when you purchase select iPad or Mac/MacBook Models or get a free Marshall Willen speaker when you purchase an iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Max or iPhone 16 Pro 16e at Beyond the Box, Digital Walker, and Open Source by Beyond the Box. You can also score a free power bank when you purchase an Apple product from Abenson and get discounts of up to 23% on select Apple products at Power Mac Center and The Loop.

GGives promo is open to GCash users with an active GGives account, who choose GGives as their payment option for their Apple product purchase in-store, and select either 12 months or 24 months to pay.

GCredit Promo

Still need to buy additional school supplies? Use GCredit to buy them now and pay later. A minimum purchase of PHP 500 using GCredit from September 1 to September 30, 2025, at National Book Store, SM Store, or Robinsons Department Store gives you the chance to be one of the 10 lucky parents to win PHP 50,000 in GCash credits—perfect as additional budget for school!

To join the raffle, you must be an eligible GCredit user under CIMB bank with an active GCredit account and use GCredit for school-related transactions in the above-mentioned participating merchants. Every qualifying transaction earns you one e-raffle entry. GCash will draw the winners by September and notify them via official GCash channels and email and/or SMS.

Access GCredit and GGives through your GCash dashboard or find them under “Borrow.” No GCash yet? Download the GCash App on the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or Huawei App Gallery.