How I Earned ₱18,000 Using GCash and Maya Investment Features

In today's digital age, earning extra income has become more accessible than ever, especially with the rise of digital financial platforms in the Philippines. Over the past year, I've been experimenting with various investment features offered by GCash and Maya, and I'm excited to share how I managed to earn ₱18,000 through strategic use of these platforms.

The Strategy That Changed Everything

My approach wasn't about get-rich-quick schemes or risky investments. Instead, I focused on three key areas:

• High-yield savings accounts - Using GCash GSave and Maya Savings Plus
• Low-risk investments - Government bonds and money market funds through GInvest
• Cashback optimization - Maximizing rewards from everyday transactions

GCash: My Primary Earnings Engine

GSave: The Foundation (₱8,500 earned)

I started by moving my emergency fund to GCash's GSave feature, which offers up to 2.5% annual interest. With an average balance of ₱150,000, this generated approximately ₱3,750 annually. But here's the kicker - I also used GSave for my daily expenses fund, constantly replenishing it and earning interest on money that would otherwise sit idle in my regular savings account.

The key was treating GSave like a high-yield checking account. Every payday, I'd transfer my monthly budget to GSave, earn interest while planning my expenses, then gradually use it throughout the month. This strategy alone added an extra ₱4,750 to my annual earnings.

GInvest: Growing My Wealth (₱6,200 earned)

Through GInvest, I allocated ₱50,000 across three different funds:

• ATRAM Total Return Peso Bond Fund (40% allocation) - 6.2% returns
• Philippine Stock Index Fund (35% allocation) - 8.1% returns
• Money Market Fund (25% allocation) - 3.8% returns

This diversified approach generated ₱6,200 in investment gains over the year, while maintaining a moderate risk profile.

Maya: The Perfect Complement (₱2,800 earned)

Maya's Savings Plus feature became my go-to for short-term savings goals. With its 3.5% annual interest rate, I used it for:

• Vacation fund - ₱30,000 average balance
• Gift fund for holidays - ₱20,000 average balance
• Equipment upgrade fund - ₱25,000 average balance

This generated approximately ₱2,800 in interest income throughout the year.

The Cashback Game: Extra ₱500

Both platforms offer various cashback and reward programs. By strategically using GCash for bill payments, online shopping, and Maya for dining and transportation, I earned an additional ₱500 in cashbacks and rewards throughout the year.

Key Lessons Learned

1. Consistency is crucial - Regular contributions to investment funds beat trying to time the market
2. Diversification works - Spreading investments across different asset classes reduced risk
3. High-yield savings matter - Even small interest rate differences compound significantly over time
4. Automation is your friend - Setting up automatic transfers ensured I stayed consistent

Looking Ahead: 2025 Goals

With the lessons learned from this year, I'm setting more ambitious goals for 2025. I plan to increase my investment contributions by 20% and explore additional platforms like Tonik Bank's high-yield savings and BPI's digital investment options.

The key takeaway? You don't need to be a finance expert or have huge amounts of capital to start earning passive income. With just a smartphone and the right strategy, anyone can begin building wealth using these accessible digital platforms.