Save, Rattle, and Roll: 3 Financial Habits Haunting Filipino Wallets This Halloween

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Halloween brings out the spooky stories, but some of the scariest surprises don't come from horror films or haunted houses.

They creep into our everyday lives through overdue bills, unexpected expenses, and budgets that mysteriously disappear before the next payday.

As the year winds down, spending tends to increase. Data from Skyro, an SEC-registered fintech company, shows that financed purchases increased by 49% in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared with previous periods.

With bonuses, big sales, and holiday expenses just around the corner, the excitement of the season can quickly turn into a financial nightmare when habits go unchecked.

Here are three money monsters to watch out for, and how to beat them:

1. Add-to-Cart Aswang: Impulse Buying

The Add-to-Cart Aswang is lurking in your shopping apps, waiting to strike with flash sales, limited-time offers, and deals that seem too good to pass up.

These can pressure shoppers into making quick decisions. During major sale events, it becomes easy to fill a cart with items that were never part of the plan. Like the aswang, impulse spending often strikes late at night, one scroll at a time.

Before checking out, ask yourself whether the purchase is something you truly need or have been planning for. With the year coming to a close, there's nothing wrong with finally ticking off that long-awaited essential appliance or gadget from your wishlist.

The key is to be intentional with your purchases and make the most of deals that offer real savings, without getting carried away by impulse buys.

For larger planned purchases such as an appliance, gadget, or furniture, a Skyro Product Loan can spread payments over a longer period. Eligible customers may qualify for offers starting at 0% interest and ₱0 down, depending on the loan and promotion.

2. Multo ng Nakalimutang Bayarin: Missed Payments

Upcoming due dates rarely feel urgent until you miss them, leaving you with late fees, added interest, or a bigger bill the following month. These extra charges can put a strain on your cash flow and make it harder to stay on top of other expenses.

With more bills and holiday spending coming toward the end of the year, due dates can also become easier to overlook. Like ghosts from the past, missed payments have a way of coming back to haunt you.

List all your due dates for the month in one place, whether in your Notes app or a handy notebook, and set reminders so nothing slips through the cracks. Where possible, align payments with your paydays so you have enough time to prepare before bills arrive.

For purchases that need a little more breathing room, SkyroCredit, a reusable credit line that offers up to 45 days at 0% interest. This gives customers time to plan ahead and prepare for their payments, provided they pay the required amount in full by the due date. Plus, they can earn up to 30% cashback when paying via QR Ph wherever accepted.

3. Bahala Na Bakunawa: No Emergency Fund

For many families, a single unexpected expense, like a trip to the ER or a relative who needs help, is enough to derail set monthly budgets. Without savings set aside, many end up missing some bills or having to borrow from lenders with unclear terms. Like the bakunawa swallowing the moon, a single emergency can swallow an entire budget.

Start an emergency fund by setting aside small amounts, but strive to stay consistent. A fixed amount every payday, however small, should be kept separate from your spending money. If you receive a year-end bonus or your 13th-month pay, consider allocating some of it to your emergency fund.

When unexpected expenses arise and savings aren't enough, Skyro Cash Loan can provide eligible customers with access to additional funds of up to ₱250,000, with repayment terms of 3 to 18 months.

This Halloween, don't let bad money habits haunt your wallet long after the spooky season ends.

With Skyro, learn more ways to make everyday finance less scary and more manageable. Visit skyro.ph and follow their official social media platforms on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and TikTok.

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About Skyro

Skyro is a high-growth, digital-first fintech group delivering scalable, responsible financial access across high-potential emerging markets. Powered by proprietary data science, AI-driven credit decisioning, and alternative-data scoring, the company combines a mobile-native experience with modular fintech architecture to serve underserved client segments at scale.

As of 2026, Skyro has a registered user base of more than 7 million and a credit portfolio exceeding $200 million. The company's ambition is to become a leading full-spectrum financial services group across high-potential markets by combining capability proven at scale with a commitment to building each business around the needs of the market it serves.

https://www.skyro.io/skyro-story