Income expenditures and saving behaviors prior and amidst pandemic of the lower-middle-class earners in Indang, Cavite / by Bianca Marie T. Creus, Aira Ituralde, Diether E. Pagkaliwangan and Sunshine P. Raguine.

Thesis (Bachelor of Science in Business Management major in Financial Management) Cavite State University.

Includes bibliographical references.

College of Economics, Management and Development Studies (CEMDS).

CREUS, BIANCA MARIE T., ITURALDE, AIRA., PAGKALIWANGAN DIETHER E., RAGUINE SUNSHINE P. Income Expenditures and Saving Behaviors Prior and Amidst Pandemic of the Lower-Middle-Class Earners in Indang, Cavite. Undergraduate Thesis. Bachelor of Science in Business Management major in Financial Management. College of Economics, Management, and Development Studies, Cavite State University, Indang, Cavite. August 2022. Adviser: Ms. Princess Feliciano.

Millions of Filipinos have been affected by the pandemic, with many losing their jobs, businesses, and even loved ones. It had an unexpected impact on daily lives. One of the affected social classes was the lower middle class. They experienced financial hardship and needed to be cautious in their spending and saving practices, and prioritizing was one of the learning that may be acquired in this situation. The study aimed to determine the income expenditures and saving behaviors prior to and amidst the pandemic of the lower-middle-class earners in Indang, Cavite. Specifically, this study aimed to determine the sociodemographic profile of the lower- middle-class earners in Indang, Cavite in terms of age, sex, civil status, household size, employment status, occupation, salary range and type of housing ownership, the income expenditures prior to and amidst the pandemic in terms of cost of living, educational expense, health care expense, and debt payment, and the saving behaviors prior to and amidst pandemic of the lower-middle-class earners in terms of an emergency fund, retirement fund, and personal savings. It also aimed to determine if there is a significant difference in the income expenditures and saving behaviors prior to and amidst the pandemic of the lower-middle-class earners in Indang, Cavite. This paper made use of descriptive and comparative designs and quota sampling method to have 350 total participants using Google Forms. Results showed that the age ranging from 20 to 29 got the highest percentage of 43 percent. Female participants outnumbered the male participants by 26 percent. In terms of civil status, the highest number of participants were married, followed by the singles. The household size of four resulted in 29 percent, considering it the highest in its category. Employed participants outnumbered those self-employed, getting 94 percent of the result. In terms of occupation, 50 percent of the participants were considered professionals. The highest salary range was P20,000 to P29,000, and 57 percent of participants owned houses, while 43 percent were renting. Based on the findings, cost-of-living, educational expenses, and debt payment allotment of monthly income decreased amidst the pandemic, and only healthcare expenses increased due to the pandemic. Meanwhile, the cost-of-living, educational, and healthcare expenses prior to and amidst the pandemic of lower-middle-class earners in Indang, Cavite were highly significant or had a significant difference. Only the debt payment had no significance before and amidst the pandemic. On the other hand, the saving behaviors prior to and amidst the pandemic were good, which means the participants understood the importance of savings. They were practical, not lacking in willpower, and capable of providing for the uncertainties of life. Overall, there was no change in saving behaviors prior to and amidst the pandemic.

Submitted to the University Library 10/24/2022 T-9102