By July, many Filipinos find themselves taking a second look at their finances. The optimism of New Year’s resolutions has faded, replaced by school expenses, household bills, and the rising cost of everyday essentials.
Long before building successful businesses and becoming among the country’s most recognizable online personalities, the couple lived in a rented home and carefully stretched every peso they earned. Those early experiences, they say, continue to shape the way they handle money today.
Drawing from that journey, Cong and Viy are sharing practical budgeting advice through UnionDigital Bank’s “Usapang Diskarte” campaign, encouraging Filipinos to adopt the “Kaya Mo” mindset — the belief that building better financial habits starts with small, consistent decisions rather than dramatic lifestyle changes.
The campaign also builds on the couple’s “Team Payaman“ philosophy, which has long encouraged hard work, entrepreneurship, and helping others grow alongside you.
Cong and Viy share practical money lessons
One lesson the couple says has stayed with them is learning to separate wants from needs.
Cong admitted that when their income first started growing, he often wanted to buy things on impulse. Viy, however, became the voice of restraint, reminding him to ask whether a purchase was truly necessary.
“Dati, ‘pag may nakita akong magandang gamit, gusto ko bilhin agad, lalo na nung nagsisimula pa lang kaming kumita. Pero si Viy talaga yung preno ko,eh.Lagi niyang sinasabi sa akin, ‘Cong, kailangan ba talaga natin ‘yan o porma lang?” Cong said.
Now that they’re raising children, he said those conversations have become even more important, with many spending decisions weighed against family needs or long-term savings.
Content creatorsCong TV and Viy Cortez
Another lesson came from running multiple businesses.
Viy, who manages several ventures including a cosmetics brand and food franchises, said one practice that has helped them avoid financial confusion is keeping household and business finances separate.
“Kahit mag-asawa kami, pagdating sa negosyo, may kanya-kanya kaming budget na binabantayan,” she said. “Mahirap kasi kapag kinuha mo yung pambayad sa supplier mula sa pambili ng grocery sa bahay. Dapat bawat piso, may sariling lagayan.”
Parenthood has also reshaped the couple’s financial priorities. For Viy, building an emergency fund is no longer simply about saving money but about ensuring the family has a safety net when unexpected expenses arise.
The couple also credits much of the “Team Payaman” culture to surrounding themselves with people who encourage responsible financial decisions instead of unnecessary spending.
Cong said the group’s name has never been about becoming wealthy alone but about creating opportunities together and sharing practical “diskarte” that can help others improve their financial situation.
Small financial habits can lead to lasting security
The lessons Cong and Viy have learned over the years now form the foundation of UnionDigital Bank’s “Usapang Diskarte” initiative, a financial literacy campaign that encourages Filipinos to revisit their finances midway through the year and have more open conversations about money with their families, partners, and even friends.
Drawing from the couple’s own experiences, the campaign highlights simple but practical habits that can help build financial discipline over time.
These include reviewing spending over the past six months, keeping personal and business finances separate for those with side hustles, building an emergency fund, and surrounding yourself with people who encourage responsible financial decisions instead of unnecessary spending.
Cong said that philosophy has always been at the heart of “Team Payaman.”
“Kaya nga natin tinawag na ‘Team Payaman’ kasi walang iwanan. Hindi masaya maging mayaman nang nag-iisa. Pero para maging ‘payaman’ ang buong barkada, dapat open din kayo mag-usap tungkol sa diskarte sa pera. Kung puro gastos lang ang alam ng tropa mo, mahihirapan ka talaga mag-ipon. Dapat tulungan kayo mag-level up,” he said.
For UnionDigital Bank, those everyday habits reflect its “Kaya Mo” mindset — the idea that financial progress is built through consistent, achievable actions rather than overnight success.
For Cong and Viy, however, the message goes beyond budgeting.
“Team Payaman,” they say, has never been just about earning more money. It’s about helping one another make better financial decisions, sharing practical diskarte, and believing that lasting financial security is built one smart choice at a time.
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