Ultimate Guide to Safe, Secure Cashless Transactions w/ Maya

Cashless transactions might seem like a new concept, but it has actually been at play since the 17th century. This was when cheques started to become a more popular form of bills exchange in England. What truly paved the way for cashless transactions, however, was the invention of the credit card in the 1950s and the debit card in the 1960s.

The usage of these kinds of cards picked up in the 1990s and in the early 2000s, the concept of electronic banking started to gain ground. By the 2010s, digital payment methods were commonplace around the world. In the Philippines, it marked the rise of e-wallets.

Today, more and more Filipinos are adopting e-wallets—and thus, cashless transactions. Maya, for instance, has recorded a combined 8 million users in 2018 alone and is targeting a 40 million user-based by 2023.

It’s easy to see the appeal of e-wallets and the cashless lifestyle to Filipinos. For one, it’s extremely convenient. In a country troubled with traffic woes, going to payment centers or banks can take longer than necessary. Using an e-wallet like Maya can cut down travel time, which can go a long way towards improving productivity. You can even use the extra hours to rest or engage in a hobby.

Another benefit of going cashless is its speed. Apart from avoiding long queues, it’s also faster to simply get your phone to scan a QR code than to get your wallet and count bills. Of course, thanks to continuously evolving technology, cashless transactions are safer and more secure than ever.

That said, there are still many who haven’t fully maximized their Maya accounts. If you’re among them or if you want to discover how you can more fully embrace cashless transactions, below is a helpful guide.

Sending Money Digitally

One of the most-used features of Maya is the “Bank Transfer” feature, which makes it easier for millions of Filipinos to send and receive money. Sending money digitally is certainly more convenient and faster than going to bank branches, not to mention eco-friendly as well. That’s because you not only minimize travel, you also do away with multiple paper forms.

What’s great about Maya is that you can send and receive money in real time, whether or not you have a bank account. This means that embracing the cashless lifestyle is more accessible. Here are just a few ways that you can see it daily:

• Teaching Your Kids to Handle Money Responsibly. As they say, if you want kids to grow up with a certain habit, it’s best to start them young. This applies to almost everything, including saving money! Through the help of Maya, you can teach kids to handle money responsibly in a quick, safe, and even enjoyable manner.
• The Quick Homemakers' Guide to Successfully Budgeting for the Family. Budgeting is a challenging task, especially for heads of the family and/or breadwinners. Thankfully, Maya has several functions that can help make the responsibility feel a little lighter.
• 5 Quick and Easy Methods of Sending Money to Your Loved Ones. There are a lot of situations in which you’ll need to send money to your loved ones. It could be for paying utility bills, or perhaps to purchase medicines. Whatever the reason, Maya can help you send any amount in real-time.
• How to Lend Money to Other People Without Compromising Your Relationships. They say that lending money to a friend or family member can put a strain in your relationships. However, there’s a way to do this that won’t burn bridges and Maya can help in that regard.
• 5 Reasons Many Filipinos Continue to Patronize Remittance Centers. It’s true that many people are now using e-wallets like Maya, but what about those who can’t? One of the best options are remittance centers which are, incidentally, top-up and encashment partners of Maya.
• 6 Benefits of Sending and Receiving Money through Maya Center. What makes Maya stand out among other e-wallets is that it’s widely accessible. Those who don’t have bank accounts, for example, can turn to Maya Center in order to send money or encash their balance.
• 7 Ways to Support The Charities That Hold a Special Meaning for You. There are many ways in which you can show your support to charities and other non-profit organizations trying to do good in the world. One of them is donating money. Don’t worry if it’s only a “small” amount. When it comes to helping, no amount is too small.

Paying for Online Purchases

Another popular facet of cashless transactions is online shopping. Some people find cash on delivery convenient, but paying for your online purchases is actually more expedient. It’s faster and more secure, not to mention safer due to limited physical contact with the delivery personnel. Thus, to fully embrace the cashless lifestyle, it’s a good idea to use Maya for online shopping.

• The Audiophile's Guide to Enjoying Music Wherever and Whenever. If you like listening to music, it’s a good idea to get a premium subscription to a streaming service. You can also use Maya to buy good quality headphones and speakers online for the ultimate listening experience.
• 4 Top Beauty Products and Kikay Kit Essentials to Buy Online. Do you have a kikay kit or are you still trying to figure out what to put in your new cosmetics pouch? No matter if you’re an old hat at make-up or a complete newbie, these products are must-haves. (And you can easily find them online!)
• Why You Should Shop Online for Your Household Essentials. There are so many things you can buy online that sometimes, it’s hard to decide which to buy. Let Maya help you on that regard: your home essentials should definitely be part of your online shopping list.
• 4 Innovations That Are Changing the Way Quick Service Restaurants Do Business. Cashless transactions are now becoming more and more common in quick service or fast food restaurants. Even better is that the trend is happening not just in-store but also for pick-up and delivery. In all situations, you can use your Maya account to pay. 
• 4 Ways to Upgrade Your Wardrobe without Breaking the Bank. There are plenty of ways to give your wardrobe an overhaul without spending too much. One way to do it is to check out online community marketplaces. You should also be patient and wait for online sales. No matter where you decide to shop, however, you can do it the easy way with Maya.
• 6 Unique and Unforgettable Gift Ideas to Give This Year. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we shop and give gifts. If you’re at a loss about what to give to someone important to you, you can take inspiration from the above-mentioned list.
• A Guide to Online Shopping Etiquette for Buyers. Besides ensuring that your Maya account has sufficient balance, there are other things you should remember when shopping online. One of the most important? Online shopping etiquette!
• 6 Tips for Getting the Best Value for Your Money When Shopping Online. Pinoys love a good bargain. However, due to the thousands of sellers online, it can be hard to find products that offer the best value for money. Don’t worry, though! Maya can help you figure it out.
• 5 of the Best Online Stores to Get New Appliances. Online shopping isn’t just for small items like home needs or clothes. It’s also for home appliances, both big and small. Let Maya help you find the most reliable stores to shop.
• 5 Ways to Update Your Home's Interior on a Budget. Updating your home’s aesthetics might seem expensive at first. However, with Maya and a little bit of diskarte, you can definitely give your home, sweet home a new look.
• 5 Steps to Creating the Best Life for Your Pet. For many pet owners, pets are more than just animals—they’re friends and family. Maya completely understands and appreciates this, and that’s why we have a few suggestions on how to give your furred, feathered, and finned companions the best life! 
• Online Delivery Services That Can Make Your Life Easier. One of the best things about e-commerce is the convenience it brings. Even better? You can buy practically anything online! Here are just a few online shops and services that can make things more convenient for you.

Doing Cashless In-Store Payments

Maya and cashless transactions aren’t limited to the digital space. You can also use it to make purchases and payments when you’re shopping the “old school” way. Below are just some of the ways you can go cashless in-store.

• 6 Fun and Unique Experiences You Can Enjoy with Your Loved Ones. As they say, you should invest not on material things but experiences. Here are some ideas to help you get started. As a bonus, you can do all of these with the help of Maya!
• 10 Things in Life You Absolutely Shouldn't Scrimp On. Maya fully supports your goals to save money. However, there are simply some things in life in which you shouldn’t always think about the most affordable options. These are just a few of the things that you should absolutely invest in.
• The Filipino Shopaholic's Guide to Enjoying Hassle-Free In-Store Shopping. Shopping can be a fun activity, but it can also be exhausting or even frustrating. There’s no need to worry, however, because Maya is here to help with some tips for a hassle-free, cashless shopping experience.
• 3 Tips for Ensuring a Safe and Comfortable Road Trip. Are you going on a road trip anytime soon? It’s a great activity to broaden your horizons, have fun, and experience the beauty of the Philippines. Of course, it’s best to be prepared for this kind of activity. Top up your Maya account for cashless convenience, along with these other tips!
• Grocery Shopping Made Easy with Cashless Payments. Grocery shopping can be a tedious task, but it can be made so much easier when you embrace the cashless life. Try it with Maya and experience the difference!
• 6 Pro-Tips for Maximizing Your Drive-Thru Experience. Safe, quick, and easy. Those are just a few of the prime benefits of getting drive-thru meals, especially during a pandemic. For an even smoother, safer experience, go cashless with Maya and follow these other tips.
• The Most Popular Fast Food Chains in the Philippines and Their Star Offerings. Filipinos love to eat. Problem is, not everyone has the time or energy to prepare home-cooked food. Enter: fast food chains that offer filling meals at affordable prices. Maya has prepared a list of some of the most popular ones among Pinoys and their best-selling meals for you to try.
• 6 of the Best Self-Care Activities to Enjoy This Year. Stress can either be good or bad. If you’re having too much of the latter, perhaps it’s time to take a break. Here are some suggestions that can help you feel refreshed and energized. Bonus: you can use Maya to pay for these self-care activities.  

Settling Bills and Fees Digitally

A lot of Maya users often get the app for the bills payment function. It’s not a big surprise, considering that paying bills can be a time-consuming task. It’s not just the usual utility bills that you can pay with Maya, however. Below, you’ll see how much farther you can take cashless transactions when it comes to settling bills and fees. 

• The Freelancer’s Guide to Settling Government Dues Digitally. Being a freelancer doesn’t mean you’re excused from paying government contributions and taxes. Luckily, you can register for a lot of government numbers online. Even better, you can use Maya to digitally pay your contributions!
• 5 Good Reasons to Pay Bills and Fees Using Maya. If you still need a little more convincing to use Maya to pay your bills and fees, here’s a list of more reasons. Don’t get left behind and experience ultimate cashless convenience, too!
• 5 Types of Utility Payments You Can Settle with Maya. Are you wondering what kinds of utility bills you can pay the cashless way with Maya? The answer is: a whole lot of them! Here are just five among many.
• Hate Long Lines at Government Offices? There's a Better Way to Pay Your Dues! Some people don’t like going to government offices because of the long lines they have to endure. Luckily, Maya has partnerships with various agencies to extend cashless convenience to your government transactions.
• Take Care of School Tuition, Fees, and Baon with Maya. An e-wallet like Maya is a versatile tool that you can use in almost every aspect of life, including education. Here are just a few ways that parents and guardians can use Maya to easily support their children’s schooling and extra-curricular activities. 

Staying Connected with Mobile Load and Data Packages

Now more than ever, it’s important to stay connected and keep in touch with your loved ones. Not only will you be able to stay informed, but you can also help ease worries, reassure, and provide comfort through effective communication. All of these can be made possible by Maya, thanks to discounted mobile load and data packages that you can purchase directly from the app.

• 5 Indispensable Tools for Work from Home Warriors. The work from home or WFH set-up became the norm when the pandemic struck. For those who aren’t used to it, there are a lot of tools that can make things a lot easier.
• 5 Ideas to Spice Up Your Long-Distance Relationship. Distance means nothing to two people who are committed to staying in a relationship. Still, there are times when you might feel like you need a little something extra to keep things exciting. Here are some ideas from Maya.
• 8 Must-Have Gadgets for Filipinos Working from Home. Working from home can sometimes be more challenging than working in an office. To make things easier, you should invest in gadgets for efficiency and comfort.
• 5 Ways to Show Your Loved Ones You Care Even If You're Far Apart. Maintaining a long-distance relationship with your family, friends, and significant other takes a lot of work. Thanks to technology, however, the burden is somehow eased. Show your loved ones how much you care for them, despite the distance, with these ideas from Maya.
• How Filipinos Kept in Touch with their OFW Relatives Through The Years. One of the main “enemies” of OFWs is homesickness. Thankfully, this can be somewhat alleviated with video calls and chat apps. But what did OFWs use to keep in touch with their relatives back in the day, when there weren’t smartphones yet? Here’s a quick look.

Claiming Remittances and Money Transfers

A cashless lifestyle also extends to claiming remittances, paying loans, and the like. The good thing is that Maya has partnerships with reliable names in the industry to ensure that your money reaches the intended recipient.

• 7 Golden Rules to Follow When Borrowing Money from Loved Ones. Sometimes, money is tight and you have to borrow money from your friends or family members. This is not a bad thing, per se. Just remember to pay them back. Thankfully, there’s Maya for a hassle-free way to do that. Here are some more tips to prevent any strain in your relationships.

Receiving Aid from the Government

Slowly but surely, the Philippine government is adopting cashless technology like Maya not just to accept payments but also to extend their services to those in need. It’s an expedient solution, especially if the recipient isn’t always able to visit banks or government offices.

• Examples of How Maya Helped Government Agencies Disburse Aid and Funds to Filipinos in Need. There are various logistical challenges that can hinder the government in disbursing aid. Thanks to technology like Maya, some of these challenges can be overcome and people can receive help when they need it.

Buying Gaming Pins5 Good Reasons to Pay Bills and Fees Using Maya

Gaming is on the rise! E-sports, in particular, is gaining a lot of traction. Of course, there’s also a lot of casual gamers who play for fun. With Maya, gaming becomes even more exciting through in-game purchases and the chance to purchase more titles.

• 5 Fun Games You Can Play with Friends and Family over the Internet. As the saying goes: the more, the merrier! Don’t let distance and quarantine rules stop you from having with your family and friends. Check out these game suggestions from Maya.
• 6 Gaming Etiquette Rules Every Filipino Gamer Should Know About. It’s a sad fact that some gamers can get “toxic.” Maya enjoins everyone to follow gaming etiquette and not be part of the “Peenoise” crowd.
• 6 Reasons E-Sports Is the Future of Entertainment. For a lot of Filipinos, playing video games is more than just a hobby. It’s a legitimate form of competition that’s as thrilling as “traditional” sports. With the rise of e-sports in the country, it’s definitely the next big thing to watch out for.
• Online Gaming Terms You Need to Know if You're a Budding Gamer. Are you new to gaming? If so, you should know that you can purchase gaming pins through Maya. You should also be familiar with a few common terms so you won’t get lost during discussions with fellow gamers.
• 5 Awesome Mobile and Online Games to Play in 2021. There are endless games to play and it can be challenging to pick just one or two. If you need help deciding, Maya recommends these five titles to try.

Paying for Your Health Needs

As the age-old adage goes, health is wealth. This was underscored even more when the COVID-19 pandemic struck. The good thing is that with Maya, you can embrace the cashless lifestyle without taking for granted your health needs. 

• How to Use Maya to Pay for Health-Related Expenses. Health insurance, check-ups, maintenance medicines, first-aid supplies, emergency health funds. You can do all of these and more with your Maya app.
• 5 Signs That Online Medical Consultation Is the Right Option for You. COVID-19 brought a rise to e-consultation. However, there may be times when you might feel that an in-person doctor’s visit is the better choice. Here’s a guide to help you decide if online consults are better for you.
• 8 Reasons to Consult with a Medical Professional Online. For most individuals, a teleconsultation is usually better, especially during a pandemic. Technology has certainly made it easier, with the internet, video cameras, and e-wallets like Maya. E-consults are also safer. If you need more convincing, here are a few more reasons.

Receiving Online Payments

A lot of people use e-wallets to send and receive money for various purposes. What’s stopping you from using it as a payment hub for all your freelance jobs and other “sideline” projects?

• 5 Tips and Tricks for Selling at Your Very Own Bazaar. If you need a good side hustle, selling online and at bazaars is a viable option. However, you need to be wise about it to maximize profits. Here’s a quick list of helpful things you should know to get the most out of these opportunities.
• How to Make Some Extra Cash by Selling Your Pre-Loved Items Online. Don’t let your pre-loved items go to waste. Sell them online instead to make extra cash and make someone else happy! Maya shares some tips for effective online selling.
• Ways to Start Accepting Payment for Your Side Gigs. It doesn’t matter if your side gig is a way for you to make ends meet or to exercise your passions (or both). You deserve to get paid for it. Luckily, Maya makes this hassle-free for you!
• 6 Golden Rules to Follow When Selling Items Online. Selling items online is a good way to earn money. Some people have even made millions through it alone! However, before you start your own humble enterprise, you need to know the golden rules of online selling to really make it work.

Fundraising

When people think of Maya and e-wallets in general, they probably imagine two main functions: paying bills and sending money to banks electronically. The thing is, Maya is so much more than that. You can also use it for noble causes such as raising funds for those in need.

• How to Raise Funds for Causes You Believe In. Helping others doesn’t just benefit the receiver, but also the giver. The sense of fulfillment alone can make the effort worthwhile. If you’ve been wondering how you can donate and raise funds for different organizations to show your support, Maya has a few suggestions.
• Using Maya to Raise Funds for a Loved One in Need. Sometimes, the best way to help someone is to give them enough funds for paying bills and buying necessities. If you need some ideas on how to raise that money, check out this quick list from Maya.   
• Why Giving Is Important: 6 Reasons to Support a Cause You Believe In. As they say, sharing is caring. Moreover, giving isn’t only for other people’s benefit; it’s for yours, too! Now, with e-wallets like Maya, it’s easier than ever to do so.

As you can see, there are so many facets of life where you can enjoy cashless transactions. Even better, with the help of Maya, going cashless is now more accessible. Try it if you haven’t yet and see just how much it can change the way you conduct your transactions for the better!

Your blog post content here…