Spend Your 13th-Month Pay Wisely: 13 Smart Tips to Consider

Christmas is the most wonderful—and busiest—time of the year. You've got holiday shopping to do and celebrations to join. But before you get into all the holiday chaos, have you thought about what to do with your 13th-month pay?

Of course, you want to reward yourself with the latest gadget or luxury item for working so hard all year. You also want your family to enjoy a sumptuous holiday feast and receive awesome gifts from you. 

However, prioritize what matters. Learn how to spend your 13th-month pay wisely, so you can ensure your long-term financial well-being. After all, it's not every day that you get to receive a large sum of money—so make it count!

How to Spend 13th-Month Pay Wisely: 13 Practical Tips

Wondering what to do with your 13th-month pay? Get started with this list of ideas on where to spend and invest your government-mandated employee cash benefit.

Whatever your goal—retirement, a vacation, house renovation, or further education—you can use Singlife's VUL product, Protect Your Goals, as a better way to achieve and protect your goals. You can also access other life insurance products for protection against medical costs and income loss within the Singlife Plan and Protect App

✅ Start Investing

Got little to no debt? Thinking about how to spend your 13th-month pay wisely? Start investing! Or diversify your portfolio if you're already investing your money.

Beginner-friendly investments like UITFs and mutual funds are great sources of passive income, too, provided that you fund them regularly. Here are some good options to consider if you want to know where to invest your 13th-month pay:

• Mutual funds and Unit Investment Trust Funds (UITFs) - You can start investing in mutual funds or UITFs for as low as ₱1,000. If you're just starting out, you may choose to try both or one of these investments. 
• Stocks - If you want something more challenging with potentially higher returns, you can also start investing in stocks. It’s a high-risk, high-reward type of investment, so make sure you know how the stock market works.
• Pag-IBIG MP2 and SSS WISP Plus - These government-guaranteed savings programs also make ideal investments if you're looking for affordable and low-risk options. With Pag-IBIG MP2, for example, you can start investing for as low as ₱500.
• Real estate investments - How about investing in properties? One of the best 13th-month pay investments is putting your money in real estate assets. Sure, your bonus won’t cover all the expenses. But it should be enough to pay the down payment for a vacant lot or a rent-to-own condominium. You can lease it to tenants or business owners and earn money from rental payments.
• Variable unit-linked insurance - VUL combines life insurance and investment in one product. You get living and death benefits together with an investment component. Some can have disability benefits too, depending on the plan’s inclusion or if you'll add a rider. If you want a product that offers maximum fund growth, consider availing of Singlife's Protect Your Goals via the Singlife Plan & Protect App. By Year 10, you can get an estimated fund growth of 385,123 (withdrawable value with an annual premium of ₱25,000 at a 10% growth rate). Singlife's investment funds are managed by top investment managers in the country, ATRAM Trust and Metrobank. 

Read more: Live a Rich Life: This Netflix Show Tells You How

✅ Protect Your Loved Ones and Properties with Insurance

Insurance is one of the most important investments that you can make. It’s often overlooked by most Filipinos since it’s not an immediate need. But the universe is random and unfair—you never know when tragedy will strike. Thus, it's always best to prepare financially now for the future.

Thanks to your 13th-month pay, you can now afford to get the following types of insurance in the Philippines.

• Life insurance – Insure yourself and your loved ones so that surviving family members won't suffer financial setbacks when you pass on or get seriously ill. If you're looking for options, the Singlife Plan and Protect App has products that protect against income loss and high medical costs, and even those that help you save up for your goals.
• Car insurance – Your car also needs to be insured, so you won't have to cover all vehicle repair and medical expenses in the event of a car accident. 
• Home insurance – Getting your home insured provides financial protection against loss and damage to a residential property, either by human error or natural disasters.^[1]
• Health insurance – Although the Universal Healthcare Law^[2] ensures free health services for all Filipinos, it most likely won’t be enough to cover all medical costs when you get hospitalized. Instead, get extra coverage from private insurers. For instance, you can get additional insurance for your health and medical needs in just a few taps with the Singlife Plan & Protect App—no need to rely on financial advisors.

✅ Build or Increase Your Emergency Fund

What if you don’t want to spend your 13th-month pay on anything? That’s fine—you can build your emergency fund worth at least six months of your living expenses.

Don't know where to put your emergency fund? By simply cashing in and saving money via the Singlife Plan & Protect App’s Emergency Fund, you can enjoy guaranteed returns and instant life insurance coverage equivalent to 3x of your monthly income. 

To get started, all you need to do is download the app—so there’s really no excuse. It's one of the best examples of how to spend 13th-month pay wisely.

Read more: 5 Financial Management Apps to Help You Stay on Top of Your Finances

✅ Build Your Retirement Fund

The idea of saving up for your retirement may seem too far off, but it doesn't mean you should postpone preparing for your long-term future until you're approaching your golden years.

Now that you have extra cash thanks to your 13th-month pay, set aside an amount for your retirement fund. Specifically, you can get started by opening a Personal Equity and Retirement Account (PERA) with a bank that offers such a product in the Philippines. Your future self will thank you for it.

You can also start building your retirement fund via Singlife. Invest your 13th-month pay in Protect Your Goals and watch your money grow! Through the aforementioned Emergency Fund, you can get up to 5% in earnings every year.

✅ Spend on Travel and Leisure

What to do with your 13th-month pay this year? Spending on experiences such as travel may not have a tangible financial return, but its benefits to your physical and mental well-being are priceless.

Out of all the 13th-month pay investments on this list, traveling alone or with family and friends will bring the most fulfillment. Explore the world, experience new things, and create new memories that will last a lifetime. 

✅ Renovate Your Home

Home improvement is one of the most popular ways to spend 13th month wisely in the Philippines. Use the cash to pay for home upgrades, such as replacing old wires and sockets and adding or expanding rooms, to improve your home's appearance, function, and safety.

✅ Enroll in Online Courses

Invest in yourself! Take this opportunity to enroll in a course and upskill yourself. In doing so, you improve your chances of a promotion or make yourself more attractive in the job market. 

Although you can take free online courses, you may also want to pay for those that will hone your skills and help you discover your hidden potential. Moreover, these paid online courses always come with a certificate that serves as your proof of completion. 

✅ Learn a New Skill or Start a New Hobby

Along with advancing your education, you can also improve your skills or acquire new know-how. Doing so can help you achieve your career goals or secure your chances to further your career. 

Why not sign up for a graphic design course? How about a soap-making class or a candle-making workshop? A new skill or hobby means an opportunity to expand your professional network and find new potential sources of income. 

✅ Start or Grow Your Business

If you have an entrepreneurial mindset, why don't you use your 13th-month pay to fund your own small business?

You’ve probably played with the idea before but lacked the capital. Now’s the right time to do so. There are many small business ideas that you can start with low capital—all you have to do is strategize.

✅ Pay Off Your Debts

Having peace of mind that you don't owe anyone money is simply one of the best gifts you can give yourself this holiday season. By paying off your debts, you can finally have a debt-free and worry-free future. 

You don’t need to spend all your 13th-month pay to settle all your debts, though. Start by knowing how much you owe and pay off the loans with the biggest charges and fees first. Loans with the highest interest rates^[3] are the most expensive.

You can pay down your debts by repaying a portion of the principal balance, so it will be easier and faster for you to pay them off later.

✅ Pamper Yourself

You’ve worked so hard the entire year. If you still don’t know how to spend your 13th-month pay wisely, you can probably start with self-care. You deserve it!

Take advantage of credit card promos offering huge discounts and perks. For instance, you can book a discounted staycation or a spa session with your credit card. Use your 13th-month pay to settle your credit card bill after availing of the promo. 

✅ Look After Your Family's Well-Being

We work hard for our loved ones, and our family always comes first. So if you’re wondering how to spend 13th-month pay wisely, then think about the chance to make your family feel special. Why not give your parents, siblings, or spouse the things they deserve?

If they need urgent medical care, pay for their routine check-ups and medicines. Do your younger siblings want to go shopping? Now’s the perfect time to be the Santa Claus of the family.

Again, making your loved ones feel extra special helps strengthen your bonds and relationships, which is good for your overall well-being.

✅ Share Your Blessings

Christmas is the season of giving, and what better way to celebrate it than sharing your blessings? Sharing can be done even in small ways. One small thoughtful act can mean a lot to someone. 

You don’t need to organize a huge charity event for this purpose. Why not prepare a few packs of holiday goodies for underprivileged children, the riders who deliver your goods, or the security and maintenance personnel in your neighborhood? 

Or you can set aside an amount for donation to our kababayans who have lost their homes and livelihoods to destructive typhoons this year.

Final Thoughts

Knowing how to spend your 13th-month pay wisely will lend a more special meaning to the holiday season. Focus on the more important things that secure your future rather than merely satisfying shopping urges that bring only momentary happiness. Make sure to use this extra money on more useful and worthwhile things. 

Sources:

• ^[1] Property insurance: Protection at all costs (Inquirer.net, 2019)
• ^[2] Universal Health Care Act 
• ^[3] Why It's Best to Pay Your Highest Interest Rate Credit Cards First (The Balance, 2021)

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