I’ve always been a segurista.

I am never without an umbrella. The thought of traipsing all over the city in a pantsuit, oops, wet pantsuit, was never appealing to me. That or have a driver at my beck and call —-

then again, an umbrella is much more doable.

I am never without stocks of candles, instant food, batteries and flashlights. The rainy season in this country almost always translate to floods and brownouts.

I can probably go on with no TV but not without light. Or sustenance.

My OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) starts to kick in every time June starts. Rains and floods can be inconvenient, but their effects are a real pain. It is in these times that I begin inspecting my house’s ceilings for possible leaks as well as electric connections in danger of being damaged by rains.

What is my point, you ask? In a chitchat with friends over dinner last Friday, I realized that no matter how much effort you put into preparing, there are things you just can’t prepare for overnight. It was enough to throw me in into a fit of panic.

You see, my friend Anya recently got married. As they have slowly been easing into the cozy comfort of married life, my friend got pregnant and is now nearly the mother of a baby boy. She started talking about the expected expenses of having a kid. So I nonchalantly asked where she intended to send the baby to school. Since the dad was an Atenean, she said, the kid would have to go there, too.

Me: Would you need to sell everything by then when Siopito [my nickname for her little boy] goes to school

Anya chucked me a brochure with a charming kid’s face on it.

Anya: No, silly. We have a plan.

Me: How do you plan for something like that? Do you now how much tuition fees increase every year?!

Anya: Well, I came across Sun MaxiLink Bright, a real life-saver. First, It provides life insurance protection so at least my baby is secure no matter what happens to me,. then, it enhances my money’s growth potential so by the time Siopito has to go to school, I would have accumulated funds to cover his education

Me: [Here is the part where I sink in to a state of panic.] Gosh! I only have a number of years before I myself settle down and have a kid of my own to send to school! Is it too late for me?

Anya: When you finally have a kid of your own, you too can save for his college education through Sun MaxiLink Bright. It’s payable for as short as at least five years…so, no, it’s really not too late for you.

Me: [sighs] But it’s never too early to start either, right? Since I’m bent on having my own baby anyway, I might as well get a Sun MaxiLink Bright myself! And right away, too!

Now I know what the word segurista really means. Ultimately, it’s really about preparing for rainy days (literally and figuratively).

Unfortunately, a lot.

Knowing that my little Jeio will be starting school soon, I naturally searched the web for pre-school tuition fee rates. Just looking at the P30,000 – P60,000 range per year was enough to give me an anxiety attack! Imagine my shock when I searched further and saw that college tuition costs as much as P45,000 a semester today if I want to send him to that school in Katipunan. I wonder how much it would be when we enroll him in college 13 years from now? Not to mention the cost of books, food and transportation allowance, plus other miscellaneous school requirements. Hay!

And yet, even with all the information, I know that when the time comes, I would gladly and willingly send him to the best school that I can afford. Why? Because I am inclined to believe that sending him to a good school would mean better opportunities for him in the future and that education is still the greatest form of pamana (legacy) that I could leave him with.

So, to all parents out there, here’s a little advice that might help you:

1. The sooner you start saving, the better.

I’ve come to the conclusion that Jeio’s college education will probably be one of the most costly in our family’s expenses. So, while I still have time, I have already started to prepare for it by saving regularly.

2. Evaluate other options for education funding.

Aside from praying fervently that Jeio will be granted a scholarship, I’ve discovered that there are a variety of financial products that can help us save for his education. Besides providing far better earnings than savings accounts and time deposits, these financial products are very convenient and affordable.

3. Entrust your money only to a stable financial institution.

I’ve seen and heard of companies closing shop during the recent financial crisis. Find out more about the history and financial performance of a company and ask friends about their own experiences.

Need help saving for your child’s education?

Drop by any Sun Life Office nationwide. I dropped by one in Makati where a free consultation introduced me to Sun MaxiLink Bright. Just for visiting, they gave me a chance to win P100,000! No purchase needed!

What are you waiting for?