On budgeting, spending and saving

Being a mom brings out the practical side of me most of the time. Even when I was still single I would canvass first before buying, taking into consideration of course the quality. Mura nga, di naman mapakinabangan. Doing the groceries also gives me a chance to compare prices of products sold among different supermarkets. If I would pay less buying in bulk, I would buy in bulk. Magagamit din naman in the future e. Ganyan ako magbudget.

When I was a student I don’t care about the price kasi my parents supported my needs. Since Papa worked abroad for 16 years, laman kami ng duty free shop. Di ko naman sinabi na mayaman kami at lagi imported ang mga gamit namin (may local brands din noh!), our lives then were comfortable and convenient. Even then, my Mom would always remind me to be conscious of our spending because money is not grown on trees. Aminin niyo mga Mommies, sinasabi rin yan ng nanay ninyo sa inyo when you were younger. Words of wisdom yan ng mga Nanay e. And now I’m a mother, earning my own money and have a 5-year old son, bit by bit, we instill in him the values of handling money wisely.

Whenever inside a toy store our conversation always goes like this:

Wyeth: Mama, mahal ba to?

Me, looking at the price tag.

Mama: Yes…

Wyeth: E eto, Wan …hand…red? One hundred ba to? (He reads numbers na kasi :-))

Mama: Yan puede yan, lagay mo sa basket.

You see, we seldom buy him toys. If there are occasions like, birthday or Christmas, we buy him toys that he likes. Ewan ko ba, marunong pumili ng magagandang toys etong anak ko, meron syang mata sa magagandang bagay at lugar. Ituturo niya, pag tiningnan ko ang price, whoa! “Sa birthday mo na lang, beh or Christmas, ask Santa”. Ganun lang. Pag pumasok siya sa top three overall, medyo mahal na toy costing P300-P400. Kung high scores naman sa exams, toys amounting from P50-P100 or we treat him to Mcdo or Jollibee meal with toy.

Call me kuripot, but I think its wise spending. I don’t want me and my husband to spoil our child with material things. Mga lola niya at mga tita nya ang gumagawa nyan sa kanya, hehehehe.

Anyway, I know rin naman how to reward ourselves e. Come our bonuses, 70% goes to our savings, 30% goes to our luho na. At least di nakakaguilty kasi kahit papaano, we saved na and what we are spending is already excess of what we supposedly need for bills payments.

Kuripot bako mga Mommies? Seriously nga?

Encore: We are the World

This song is so classic. Originally made for Africa in the 80's due to famine that struck the continent. This was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Ritchie and produced by Quincy Jones.

In February 2010, again produced by Quincy Jones, a remake was made for the earthquake victims in Haiti, performed by over 80 artists like Justin Bieber, Adam Levine, Nicole of Pussycat Dolls, Will.I.Am, Jordin Sparks, T Pain, Snoop Dog, Wyclef Jean (who is from Haiti) to name a few. This was also used as the opening song in 2010 Olympics.

Everytime a calamity struck a country, this song always come to my mind. The words are very uplifting, inspiring us to help those in need and let them feel that they are not forgotten, that they are loved. Just read the lyrics below, swak na swak diba?

We Are The World 25 For Haiti

There comes a time
When we hear a certain call
When the world
Must come together as one

There are people dying
And it's time to lend a hand to life
The greatest gift of all

We can't go on
Pretending day by day
That someone, somehow
Will soon make a change
We are all a part of
God's great big family
And the truth, you know,
Love is all we need,

We are the world,
We are the children
We are the ones
Who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me

Send them your heart
So they'll know that someone cares
So their cries for help
Will not be in vain
We can't let them suffer
No, we cannot turn away
Right now they need
Our helping hand

Nou se mond la,
We are the children
We are the ones
Who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me

When you're down and out,
There seems no hope at all
But if you just believe
There's no way we can fall
Let us realize that a change
Can only come
When we stand together as one

We are the world,
We are the children
We are the ones
Who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me (x4)

We All Need Somebody
That we can lean on
When you wake up
Look around and see that
Your dreams gone
When the earthquakes
Would help you make it through the storm
When the floor breaks
A magic carpet to stand on
We are the world united
By love so strong
When the radio isn't on
You can hear this song
I got a light on the dark road
You're walking on
A sign posted to find
The dreams you thought was gone
Someone to help you move
The obstacles you stumbbled on
Someone to help you rebuild
After the rumbles gone
We are the world connected
By a common bond, LOVE
The whole planet singing along

PAPAYA
We are the world,
We are the children
We are the ones
Who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me

Everyday citizens,
Everybody pitching in
You say more love,
You say no more
You sensing more,
You sensing more love
You and I, you and I
Twelve days no water
Where's your will to live?
We'll amplify the love
And watch it multiply
Feeling like the world's end
We can make the world win
Like Katrina, Africa, Indonesia,
And now Haiti needs us They need us, they need us

We are the world,
We are the children
We are the ones
Who make a brighter day
So let's start giving (Nou se mond la)
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me

Ha, Ha, Ha Haiti
Ha, Ha, Ha Haiti
Ha, Ha, Ha Haiti
Ha, Ha, Ha Haiti

Help for our Visayan brothers

What I thought was an OA news about Signal No. 4 typhoon to hit Visayan islands last week turned out to be not OA at all. Never really knew the extent of the damage until Saturday morning when I was watching teleradyo in channel 26. Never had I imagined that an island full of establishments and residences, a city which is already booming and commercialized could receive such wrath from nature.

I even admired how they prepared for it. But even the best preparation a city may have, if the storm as strong as Yolanda could hit a an island surrounded by the Pacific ocean, it would never withstand its strength.

It is already a given to pray, for it is the first thing that we could do and offer. But aside from that, this is the best time to do some spring cleaning and sort out those things that are still usable and donate it to the victims.

We could also donate to tv networks who are posting their bank details on how to deposit our donations. We can also volunteer to help in repacking relief goods.

However and whatever you do for the victims, counts a lot. As for us here at home, we are gathering again used clothes, towel, bed sheets and blankets. The company where hubby works is organizing a drive and were asking their employees to donate anything that could be useful to the victims.

Again, let us pray for our brothers. Let us help them in every way we can. They need us now.

Love Dessert Buffet 2

Here is part two of our dining experience in Love Dessert Buffet in Banawe.

Singkamas plus bagoong - pang tanggal ng umay.

Mango float, yema balls, food for the gods, empanada, champorado (inside the rice cooker)

Crepe station with 5 choices of fillings: strawberry, blueberry, apple, banana and peaches.

Big Scoop ice cream with your choice of toppings.

Ice blended drinks, milk tea, iced choco drink.

Halo halo Station. I did not taste this anymore though. Feeling ko kasi all halo halo just taste the same.

Dynamite - green sili with cheese wrapped in lumpia wrapper. I swear masarap siya, pantanggal ng suya. If you want to refresh your palate from all the sweets you've taken, eat a piece or two of dynamite and presto, wala na ang umay mo. Ako I've eaten like more than 10 pieces, sarap e. No its not at all spicy.

To cap off your dining experience, a cup of coffee or tea is also available. The price of P199 sulit na sulit na. Just don't expect mala hotel taste of the sweets. More of home made desserts. But in fairness, masarap siya and most of all very, very reasonable ang price. Eat and drink all you can, saan ka pa? Try niyo mga kapatid.

It is located along Banawe St. Kung galing ka sa E. Rodriguez, lagpas ng G. Roxas St. You just have to be alert, coz you will have the tendency to just pass by it kasi young signage nila, di mabasa yung name. Remember na lang ang landmark, it is beside Brunos barber shop. Here's their telephone number 239-0745. No reservations needed, they open at 11:00 am.

Love Dessert Buffet 1

My hubby and I are fond of trying new buffet restaurants.  I was researching on chinatown buffet in banawe when I came across Love Dessert Buffet. As its name suggest its a buffet which serves a variety of desserts, perfect for those who sooo love sweets and pastries.

For a price of P199 per head, sulit na sulit na. 

A variety of cakes and rolls. Sylavannas, sponge cake, and Mango float.

Mini mousse, choco mousse, choco crinkles, butter cookies.

More pictures in part 2 of our sweets buffet experience.

My Lemon Water

There is a thing going around in our office even in my hubby's office. Lemon water. We have been drinking it here in our office for 3 days already. Sarap siya, very refreshing, lasang tubig sa hotel. But aside from its taste and refresing aroma, there are other benefits that we get from lemons.

1. Rich in vitamin C , calcium, iron

2. Helps digestion

3. Flushes toxins from our body

4. Reduces anxiety and depression

5. Lowers the acidity level of our body

and most of all, 

6. It aids in weight loss. 

I like that. I'll include that now in my daily routine. 

Again, WELCOME to the blogging world!

I have started so many blogs in the past. Sad to say I haven't got the passion to continue those. The most number of posts I had were only nine and that was three years ago. It was never a serious thought so I just stopped and forgot about it. Until I read a young mother's blog, telling stories about her journey to motherhood and being an SAHM. Her stories make me laugh and I was always looking forward to her updates until I said, why shouldn't I return to blogging?

At present, I am working. I work in a financing company and I am a one-man department which stresses me everyday. That is why probably I never had the commitment to continue blogging.

But now blogs of different Mommies that I have read inspire me to start blogging again and share my life, views, rants, hobbies, ideas to other Mommies out there and at the same time learn something from them.

I am excited in meeting new friends online specially mothers like me whom I will be able to connect and share our everyday reflections about love, life and work.

I welcome myself to the blogging world! AGAIN!