reading the fine print

I think i've mentioned something about insurance on this blog before.  recently though, i received an offer to invest in a life insurance policy that will also invest mutual funds on my behalf.  anyway, i knew enough about pre-need industries to refrain from signing the policy on the spot.  here's what i learned after i took home the papers and did a bit of reading, as well as questioning my dad:

1. the life insurance individuals usually get is for accidental death.  so guess what? if you die from some sort of cancer, from giving birth, etc--you're not protected!!!  depending on the details of your policy, you might not even be covered if you were murdered! i currently hold an accident and hospitalization insurance; at least they offer something like 2.5% of the premium if i do get murdered, provided that it is proven that i didn't provoke my being so. good to know, huh?

2. the hospitalization that your insurance policy covers doesn't include pregnancies or psych illnesses, among others.  so if i have risky pregnancies, i won't be covered.  well, at least they do cover cancers and other illnesses in this part.

3.  take a look at the asterisks! the first one notes that even if you agreed to pay a certain amount for, say, 10 years, there is a possibility you would be required to keep contributing for longer, should the funds not perform well at the time.  so right now, i'm computing in my head that i will contribute a little under Php 200,000 for this certain offer that i got. but in truth, i could end up paying more!  my dad has availed of many insurance policies--he got one which he supposedly had to pay over 20 years but because the funds didn't mature or something enough, it was extended to 30 years :S  of course, let's hope that this won't happen.  because if it doesn't then you would have availed of a bargain. see, my annual accident and hospitalization insurance costs me around P 2,400.  but if i pay, say, P110,000 for life insurance with pension and live up to the age of 88, i would've been paying P1,700 a year for the same coverage. that means you saved P700 a year for 65 years.  and they would give you a little bit monthly when you retire (although it won't amount to the contributions you made)

4.  regarding the mutual funds and other stock thingies (sorry, i'm not familiar with the technical jargon), there is ABSOLUTELY NO guarantee.  so even if the proposal illustrates the 4%, 8%, 10% interest, there is a chance that your investment could go up--but it can also go down, really really low.  however, if providence is on your side, things could also go really well for you.  when a certain insurance company became public here in the country, they offered the clients the chance to become stockholders.  they did really well at the time, and my dad ended up earning a lot!  but if you haven't been living a rock in the last 5 years, you will also have heard of the recession and how many insurance companies have gone broke, leaving their clients broke-r.

5. investing in an insurance policy is exactly like investing in the stock market--only put out what you're willing to lose. 'cause baby, it might not come back to you.  however, sometimes calculated risks really do pay off big time.  

6.  think about your financial goals.  that P 20,000 a year could be used for insurance and mutual fund investments, yes.  but giving up that portion of your salary could also prevent you from attaining your other goals which would have otherwise helped you move up.  also, when you avail of these packages, you're also paying for agents to manage your money.  but if you think you can do a better job of it and make it grow more, then why put it there?  i have an uncle who is an incredibly savvy businessman.  he doesn't have insurance--he channels the money towards his businesses instead, and that's why he gets richer every day.

7.  live within your means.  sure, you can pay for insurance.  but remember, they won't cover you if you die of starvation from trying to save up for that annual fee.

8.  assess your needs and responsibilities.  does your work put you at risk of accidents more than the average person?  are you responsible for supporting anyone?  if you answered yes, then i think investing in a good life insurance policy would be advantageous.  if no, well, maybe faith is enough of an insurance/assurance.

so, it's completely up to you whatever you decide.  i only hope this serves to enlighten you a little bit more, as it did me, and i hope that whatever you choose does work out great for you in the end :D toodles!

an end and a beginning

so the year is about to end and i figured we had better give it a proper tribute on this site as well. hmm, i'm not sure if this will be a worthy end-of-the-year post but here goes!

i did my financial accounting voodoo yesterday. mind you, i never took an accounting subject so i kept it pretty simple and just added and subtracted a few digits.  the verdict?

i went overbudget!!! by around 3k. considering all my expenses and my income (sidelines included), i saved just a little little less than half of my salary.  oh well, i'm still learning, you know? and some people might say that i was unnecessarily generous at several occasions, which isn't entirely a terrible thing, right? i'll just need to compensate for that.

this coming year, my contract will end at my current place of employment.  i have 2 months of (somewhat) predictably stable income before i have to get a new job, a better one!  and having decided that the compensation does not solely determine what constitutes as a great job, i am facing the possibility of earning even less (read: minimum wage), especially should i choose to work for an NGO or the like.  and what does this mean, exactly? new New Year financial resolutions!

now, i'm not doing this to try to compensate for some guilt of overspending.  i admit that i did overspend a bit during the past year but, guess what, it was worth it in one way or another.  i either helped someone or learned a lesson as a result.  money well-spent, if you ask me.  but for this year, it's time to apply what i've learned and what i believe in.  i believe it is possible to live contentedly, even with very little.  and i also believe that you are never too poor to help someone out. 

this year, after having analyzed my every expense, i'm resolving to:

1. buy less clothes and shoes.  and if i do buy, they have to be practical needs.

2. reuse and recycle even more.  that means more DIYs too, and more garage sales.

3. lessen my dependency on material objects.  even more garage sales then! and i'll be giving away "presents" to friends who want them, i guess :)

4. make my money work for me.  i'll be spending (both time and money), albeit still wisely, on three things: fostering relationships and helping those in need, further learning, pursuing my dream/mission

i'm really excited for the new year!!!! the possibilities will be even more exiting than they were in 2010, i just know it :D

btw, i made my first New Year/Bday/Dream purchase (yes, this will be placed in the 2011 report :P ) i sure hope to make the most out of this one.

Merry Christmas and a Happy Happy New Year to you all!

budget cut

on my way to work today, i noticed a tarpaulin hanging in front of the College of Pharmacy.  it read:

No to P1.3B UP Budget cut!

It got me to criticize once again the current administration and all the frustrating, almost laughably half-witted decisions they have been making, the most recent of which would be changing the Tourism slogan from WOW Philippines to Pilipinas Kay Ganda!  but then i decided it was unhealthy of me to do so.  after all, the more i think about how my own countrymen are trying to bring us down to the dumps, the more i might consider selling out my dreams and integrity just so i don't end up stuck in a country that's headed for the same state as Somalia.

So we focus on the idea of a budget cut itself.  now, i'm no economist.  in fact, the lesson i most remember back in Economy was that, in the Philippines, you could get something like a tax break for up to four of your children.  which means my dad gets tax deductions courtesy of me and my sisters, but not my younger brother (magastos talaga maging anak si Charlie).  But i digress.

Budget cuts are necessary, dear readers.  We're always advised to live within or even below our means; otherwise you'll end up in debt forever.  case in point: PH aka the Philippines.  i think, realistically speaking, the end of the world will come before we can pay off our debts and the interest it has incurred.  which is why it is important to stick to a budget.  just because our country can't do it, doesn't mean we have an excuse not to do so individually as well.  I'm no money guru and, admittedly, i still have trouble sticking to my budget every now and then (which is why my mom often calls me a hypocrite.  well, not to my face, but i know she thinks it).  But i do have some ideas nonetheless, which i try to live by. 

1) I try to estimate my annual income (make it a modest or low estimate, people!)

2) Then identify all the areas of my life that i spend on.  i try to think of my priorities and use that as a means to rationalize how big or small my budget for certain categories are.  of course, that's not always applicable.  like, i say looks don't matter that much but i still had some difficulty laying off the shoes.

3) I keep track of my expenses and revise my budget as necessary.  if I end up spending too much on clothes, i might compensate for that by cutting down on gifts (sorry friends!)

4) Evaluate if there is a need for a budget cut, or an increase in income, or both--then do something about it!!  ever since i was a kid, i've always tried to be creative so i can earn some spending money instead of merely complaining that i don't have enough.  it feels really good!  but at the same time, i'm slowly learning to live on less and just save the money i earn or use it for something that will help me or someone else (i.e. education, outreach)

So, my point is really that the Aquino Administration should not rely on budget cuts (imposed unfairly on sectors that need it most), but also do more to increase the GDP per capita of our country.  after all, you don't tell a poor family  who can only afford 1 fish a day to keep living on that for the rest of their lives!  everyone in the household can probably contribute to help increase that number, so why not do something? :D

am i an idiot?!

"Wise people live in wealth and luxury, but stupid people spend their money as fast as they get it."  --Proverbs 21:20 (TEV)

nagpaparinig sa akin ang Panginoon! haha. but seriously.  this past week, i've been acting like an animal cut loose from the zoo--shopping (almost) like there's no tomorrow.  It's almost Christmas and, instead of getting us gifts, Dad usually just gives us some spending money, on the condition that we spend it on apparel so we have something to wear during the holidays.

so, i bought a lot, trying to maximize my break from retail therapy fasting.  but afterwards i kind of felt sick and realized that i had somehow returned to my old ways.  even though i did try to think of what i could really use, i did get side tracked at times, and also bought some things which i'm sure would not last that long. 

so, for the next year, i have set some new shopping, or non-shopping, rules (after my Project 365):

1. DIY to death! and using existing materials first, rather than buying new fabrics, etc.  I'm not allowed to buy any more tops or yardage of fabric until i've completely exhausted all my existing resources (pieces i bought or stole from my mom's closet, telling myself i'd alter them to make like new)

2. stick to the list!  i'm going to write a very specific list of things that i can buy, and that's it.

3.  wait, then think.  i was very tempted to buy this pair of wedges at CMG on sale for P999. so sexy and seems versatile enough.  heaven knows i need variety in my shoe rack (they're all neutral, mostly black *sigh*).  but even though i relly wanted to buy those shoes, i've decided to put off buying footwear until i have a clearer picture of what i'll be doing next year, after my contract at UPM ends.  will i be going to school? will i be working for a broadcasting company or publication and, if so, will i be on the field or at the office?  will i be starting my travel show project with my friends?  will i be starting my own business?  will i be acting more (and in need of options for wardrobe)?

4.  NEED versus want.

5.  prioritize! and make your money work for you.  so looking good would be nice and i might need it if i'm gonna act more.  but i might not need it as much as tuition for school.  i may not need it as much as children need schoolbooks.  i really need to remember what's most important in my life and how i can use my little wealth to accomplish my goals and to help others.

Today I Am

"But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ." (Phil 3:7-8)

I got this from a devotional email about a totally different topic (single blessedness), but i  think it can also be applied more literally. 

this last weekend, i got to do a lot of things, one of which was eat and just hang out with my huge family at Agno (yet again).  at one point, all the girls were talking about shoes--ate Aflie had just bought two pretty pairs of sandals for P 250 each at St. Francis--while ninang Elvie was showing off her nude pumps from Liliw.  of course, i got all excited at the great buys before remembering that i had more than 200 days to go.  I told my relatives about it and they all exclaimed that 365 days was a bit much to abstain from shopping (note that i cracked on the 119th day).

here at the office, i'm the only one without my own netbook/laptop which i think my boss and peers see as somewhat of a setback in case we have meetings, etc.  however, i personally relish this fact because i know that it isn't absolutely essential for me to have one yet, and people tend to take advantae if they know you have these things anyway.  if they want me to work on a machine during a conference, then they should provide me with means to do so.  am i being stubborn? probably.  but i work to live, not the other way around.  at least not with this career.  and i have better plans for that money than to do more of the work i don't really love doing in the first place anyway.  ok, ranting stops here.  but do you get my point?  half of the time, the people are unable to focus on the task at hand exactly because of their laptops, when it should be the other way around.

i think we really are too attached to material things these days.  we can't imagine not having or using our toys and gadgets.  before, i was immune to the FB crae, only checking my account once or twice a month--now i have to sign in daily.  and in the end, all we have are our toys, our accounts, but we're not really living the life we want to.  everything is done or made for the sake of having something to show your online friends! people die for things, others kill and sin for the same.  it's just not right.  what is happening to us?

this is motivating me to come up with some sort of pact that will help me better appreciate the simple joys that life brings, the intangible but oh-so essential things.  because, when i think about it, there are only two things i want in this world, and neither can be bought or paid for with currency--to have good and loving relationships with the people around me; and to do some good for this world.

speaking of simple joys, i would just LOVE to spend half a day lying on a field of flowers (kahit grass, papatulan ko na siguro), without worrying about anything or having to rush off to a meeting or to beat a deadline. i really need to find the time and place to do this.

whatever it takes

this girl is living my life!!! well, almost (i think my daughter and i will do other artsy fartsy stuff and not cook this much).  when am i gonna have the luxury of time (not to mention my own house in a serene neighborhood, and a husband and kids to match)?!? 

Martha's Vineyard photo taken from La Tartine Gourmande

anyway, i recently moved out...of the room i shared with two of my sisters. hahahaha. kala niyo kung ano, no?! if i had moved out of my parents' house, i assure you, i would've made a spectacle of it.  i think family members above the age of 20 should never be forced to reside in the same space for too long--unless you're trying to pool enough energy to create a nuclear explosion. 

so, i've been staying three nights at the guest room thus far.  never mind that the door has no lock and doesn't even close properly.  i'm not really after physical privacy or isolation, after all, although that tends to help one achieve some peace and quiet in her brain. it has been such a long time since i've had that, actually.  when i still stayed at the dorm, i could get that.  i could easily turn to face the wall while lying on the top bunk, and my roommates will respect my need for solitude.  here at home, trespassing is the name of the game.  i recall that there were times when i was in my lighter stages of sleeping when my mom would burst into the room asking about yet another trivial issue and, although i wish it weren't so, it has already become my instinct to answer her while half asleep.  so i do appreciate that the leash has been lengthened, albeit by a short amount.  beggars would do wise not to be too choosy.

you might be asking, "why didn't i transfer to the separate room sooner?"  well, i had considered that option countless times but refused to do so, even if my sisters' light night TV-watching caused me irreversible damage in the form of dark undereye circles.  i did this because i also didn't want to further increase the carbon footprint of the Martin household.  however, i have come to a decision that the situation deserved drastic measures.  but don't fret, dear Gaea!  i'm still doing my best to minimize the effect of my moving out on the deterioration of the earth and consumption of its resources.

for instance, whatever i can do downstairs, where the lights are already turned on, i do so before even entering my room.  and, i also only turn on the AC when i'm about to sleep, and make sure it goes off at 5am, even though i usually wake up at 630.  i also unplug all appliances when not in use.  what's good about being alone, though, is having no distractions--hence, i am able to finish whatever it is i'm doing, whether it's writing in my journal or editing Jovy's book, at a much more efficient pace.

and what is the connection of all this rambling to the blog? well, moolah, of course. being the wannabe adult that i am, i'm bent on paying my parents for the extra electric consumption that will be caused by this step towards preserving my sanity, er...towards independence, i mean.  i'm praying to the heavens above that it doesn't set me back too much because i still have a lot of things to pay for too: future studies/projects/gadgets i'll be needing for said projects, sustenance, future independent living, and hwa rang do, among many others.  i realized that if i factor in the hwa rang do classes (a recent addition thanks to my choir-mate), the interior designer's fee that i offered to pay half of, and the additional lodging expenses, i will only have saved around 40% of my salary!  and i also realized that it's almost impossible for me to move out of the house on my current income alone.

but i'm not gonna let all these roadblocks stop me.  i think it is extremely important for myself to experience being fully self-supporting, no matter the heights i need to scale just to do so.  there are so many singles out there who don't contribute to the household and end up even burdening their old folks, and i don't want to be part of that group.  i remember asking some people why they hadn't moved out yet--almost all of whom answered that it was too magastos.  no offense you guys but, seriously? that is a lame-ass, selfish reason which i have no intention of using EVER.  my goal is to move out between the age of 25 and 28 and, unless, by some misfortune, my family needs me to stay at home (i.e. someone gets sick and i have to be the glorified katulong), i'm sticking to that goal no matter what. 

Photo Credit: Charlie Schuck/Getty Images

PS - what i do miss about sharing a room with my sisters are the spontaneous, giddy conversations.  admittedly, there have been less and less of those, but i still want that in my life.  maybe i'll have to visit the other room every now and then :D

PPS - i'm always on the hunt for future apartment options so if you have any suggestions, that would be super!  i don't mind flatmates either, as long as the space wasn't designed for hobbits.

Pampanga roadtrip part 1: recession depression

my dad, mom, brother, and i went to Pampanga yesterday.  it's been a while since we went out of town--excluding the biannual trips to Cauayan--perhaps because the three of them have been quite focused on Charlie's education the last few years.  anyway, we were supposed to have lunch at C, which is this authentic Italian restaurant that foodies and socialites galore like to visit.  if you're asking me whether my family and i can be categorized into either, well, i wouldn't know myself.  now, here's a note to all of you planning to have lunch at a specific place--make sure you find out what the operating hours are! as luck would have it, the restaurant opens at 5pm on Mondays.  we had to settle for lunch at the nearby Marquee mall instead. 

 

before we went to Marquee, we dropped by the Mimosa Golf Club in Clark, which my dad has shares of.  it had been a long time since we last stayed there; i still remember how my siblings and i eagerly anticipated summer, if only so we could stay for a night or two at one of the villas in Mimosa.  well, when we got there, i realized that the place had changed drastically since our last visit a decade ago.  gone are the pristine white walls of the villas, some of which are now left in various states of dilapidation and disrepair.  and find out later that the various pools near the villas have also been removed and the only swimming facility left is the one in the main hotel.  no more sight of the kids' playhouse where the best UFO catcher in the country was either (you get as many chances as you need to claim a prize).  my dad says that when Erap took over the reigns, blinded by greed, he mandated that the government take over the estate's casinos.  naturally, like everything else the government handles, the management of the casino went awry (probably thanks to the leeches) and shares plummeted from P1.8 M to P300,000 in a span of a year.  it wasn't even a year since my old man bought his share for P1.2 before this happened.  now, he's stuck paying dues every month, hoping that the stock will go up so he can sell it to someone else with, if not a profit or at cost then, at the least, minimal loss.  here's another note: unless you have tons of cash, don't invest in luxury stocks. (sorry, i don't know the exact term).  it's safer to invest in shares of companies supplying basic needs, although less risk also means less profit. it's really up to you though.

after the detour, we went to Marquee where we had lunch at the foodcourt, of all places! Lucia's sisig or something, which apparently is the specialty sisig in the place.  we had sisig, chicharong bulaklak (yumyum), adobong kangkong, ang liempong manok (the last one is from Bacolod Chicken Inasal though).  my mom kept teasing that my dad saved a huge amount at lunch today, so we pigged out all day to compensate for it.

dessert at FIC Summer Cafe: my mom had raspberry rapture, i had the chocolate mint chip ice cream with, weirdly enough, berries

 

Charlie and dad both had yogurt

before we went home, we ate at Cinnabon.  my parents had coffe mocha with the tiny tiny cinnamon rolls.  charlie and i had pecanbons--mine in caramel, his was chocolate.

later that day, ate cla treated us to dinner at Italianni's in the relatively new hangout place, Centris.  we also had yogurt at Tutti Frutti where, once again, my dad cooked up one of his many business intentions--this time, to open a self-serve yogurt place somewhere in Ateneo.  my sister and i are game for it (we'll quit our jobs), although i want more plain flavors i.e. greek, french vanilla, while they all want the fruity, outlandish ones.  i swear, my business idea will click better. hahahahaha.

shout out!

due to some unanticipated Facebook happenings, at least three more people are aware that this blog exists in cyberspace (i guess i should be happy but now i'm just feeling a bit queasy).  shout out to Jewel, Judy, and Marian!!!

anyway, i suddenly felt the urge to look at my posts and make sure i didn't write anything too stupid that can be used against me later on.  ok, so i actually need to indicate the photo credits because jewel caught me on that one. fiiiine!!!  i might even have to take my own photos. actually that's ok, i just find uploading the pics a real hassle.

also, i decided to write a bit about the things that i said i would.  these are just off the top of my tiny head and i'm pretty sure i'm still gonna miss some of them. here goes:

1) perfume:  last May 2010, i bought a bottle of perfume for the first time.  mind you, it's less than P2k, which i know is still cheap compared to other brands.  anyway, that was my first time ever (i don't even buy baby cologne although now i'm thinking i should've taken baby steps first), and what mostly convinced me to do such a thing was the Little Miss Desperate inside of me.  see, i have been told by several guys that perfume on a girl counts for extra points.  Kuya Amid was first drawn to Ate Deisen (who is now his wife) when he caught her scent as she passed by him while they were on the same boat.  my dad said that if i don't wear perfume, no guy would ever fall in love with me.  and Dudz said that even though it's not his priority, an alluring scent on a girl would be a real bonus. so, bumigay ako. haaay. kala ko pa naman feminista ako, pero napabili din ako ng pabango. darn! at wala pa rin nagkakagusto sa kin! in fairness, i still keep forgetting to put on perfume most days anyway. hahahaahha.

2) foundation:  ended up getting Ever Bilena's liquid foundation with SPF 15 in Oriental.  it's quite good, i think, although i don't really have much to compare it with.  i didn't need to mix it with other shades--it was quite a close match, thankfully.  i use a foundation brush to apply it, which i find really fun.  however, since we did filming on location and it was quite warm, i did get a bit sweaty and when i'd wipe my face, i could see that the foundation was coming off as well.  maybe i need to use primer? i don't know.  anyway, i'll try to find out one of these days, when i have an urgent need of doing so.

3) My Icon, My Hero: i didn't win. phooeeey!  but of course you know that already. i would've immediately told you and everyone within a 5km radius had the situation been the opposite. hahaha.  i just try to comfort myself with the thought that all those who did win were already accomplished writers anyway.  oh well, maybe next year, eh? darn though, i was really counting on that flat screen TV.

4) Pixie: actually, it's nearing the length of a bob right now.  and the ends are flying away in all directions! i can't wait to grow back my hair though. seriously.  there are a million styles i want to try.  and i wanna get my portrait/ headshot taken too.

5) my OC financial plan: it's late already.  somebody remind me to discuss it in my next post instead, ok?

6) the Root of Obesity: you know how i tend to judge people who overeat and call them selfish gluttons?  i'm really sorry about that.  i know that though it is true for a lot of cases, there is something much deeper underneath it all.  it could be a health thing (one of my closest friends has a thyroid problem which causes her to, among other things, gain weight).  it could also be psychiatric--there is a reason behind people overeating or overspending.  sometimes it's about wanting to take control of something in your life and, when everything else is out of our hands, we go to the things that we do have a say over.  i'll try not to stereotype and label people, promise! i'll really try.  i still think that these issues can be overcome by a realization that there are more important things than our own problems, but i also know that this is easier said than done.

that's it for now.  adios, amigos!

less is more (and a side comment on The Rider)

once again, i read a wonderful article yesterday about a couple who decided to wean themselves from most of their material possessions after having realized that they weren't taking much satisfaction and happiness from these.  i'm finding more and more of these stories during these times.  i especially enjoyed the one about people living in ridiculously small but adorable houses.

these days, we work our asses off just so we can afford that next new thing--whether it's yet another hi-tech gadget that you don't even really need, an incredibly wonderful pair of shoes that would just get ruined in the rain anyway, or even a lavish trip (which, more often than not, is wholly aimed at gaining extra bragging points on Facebook).  we're trying to plug this emptiness in our lives with as many possessions as we can.  but it ain't the right fix, so that giant hole is never truly covered and we end up wanting and wanting, buying and buying, trying to hide and camouflage all the things that are wrong in our lives.

they say that the consumers are wisening up, learning to really plan their purchases, discerning which ones will give them more value--not just in terms of money, but also in terms of the experiences they will gain through the purchases being made and the relationships being formed.  i say, this is still a tiny percentage of the population.  maybe it's because the financial meltdown hasn't made that much of a difference in our lives here in the Philippines (we were already messed up even before the 2008 recession).  maybe the problem needs a greater intervention.  i don't know.  i'm neither well-read in Psychology nor in Economics.

well, as you all know, i have my Project 365, right?  and the very existence of this blog is based on the belief that there are more important things in life than money; that you can be happy with less; that money should be used to bring joy and goodness to this earth and its inhabitants, rather than destroy it.  i'm really grateful for having read this article at a time when i'm itching to buy yet another pair of shoes (100 days down, 265 days to go) because it reaffirms my convictions.  even if it is hard to control the flight of the plastic card, i know it'll pay off in the long run.

this weekend, i will start sorting my clothes and shoes and bags yet again.  i'll be donating them to a friend's garage sale, the proceeds of which will be used to pay for the expenses incurred due to her dad's funeral.  my under-used and under-appreciated belongings will be better off there, helping a family get back on its feet after the death of its patriarch.  i plan on slowly cleaning out my wardrobe until i have 100 or less items in it (excluding underwear though).  maybe i could organize a garage sale on September too, to get rid of all the stuff we have in our aunt's store.  we'll use the proceeds for our room's renovation :)  or a really good cause--maybe sustainable education or livelihood, a library, or even an arts program for the youth--which i have yet to find (please help me with this one, if you can).

it all comes down to this: will it make you truly happy?

**on a side note (totally unrelated), i saw a female driving a motorbike today.  she had a scarf under her helmet, probably to keep her hair nice, and she was wearing 4-inch heels!!! gawd! how did she do it? no idea.  but it got me thinking, if i can't buy a car, would i rather continue commuting or get a motorbike instead (provided that i knew how to ride one--i can't even ride a bike)?? what would you choose?

spending on what matters

whoa, it's been a while since a serious post on this site, huh? i've been so busy that writing about frugality has completely left my mind.  although this is so, i like to think that i managed to maintain my xprodigal philosophy amidst the chaos.

that being said, i must admit that i've spent so much in the recent month! huhuhu.  but i am proud to say, nevertheless, that all those expenses more or less were on things and events that really matter to me and my goal.  i think there are many types of frugality--one of which is really just about spending as little money as possible, but the other being about watching what you spend on and only shelling out on things that really matter to you.

for me, what matters right now is helping other people (and not just spoonfeeding them, but helping them help themselves), spending time with my family and friends and letting them know i care about them, and achieving my dream and mission of spreading His word through art.  so when it's a really good cause that i know will go a long way, when it's a little something something that will enable me to have quality bonding time with my loved ones, or when it's for my artistic/evangelistic pursuits, that's when i spend.  because that is the entire purpose of money anyway--not to be stored in a bank to earn interest or used to buy stocks in the market.  it's not even to buy a perfect pair of comfortable yet oh-so-beautiful shoes.  simply put, money is just supposed to make this world a better place.

so, what matters to you?!?  and how can your wad of cash benefit this universe?

buy a water bottle!

no, not the disposable one, silly.  i was reading an article on yahoo about how this woman saved so much by going green and i was immediately drawn to it because usually, when we think green or environment-friendly, we assume it will cost us more.  but in the long run, going green actually lets us save more money, save our lives (or rather live healthier), and save the planet. yay!!!

i think the key is to do it one step at a time, and start with things we can really committ to.  for example, even if i'd like to go green at home, i can't really control that because i still live with my parents and siblings.  i've been contemplating becoming a vegetarian for some time now (i really feel sorry for the animals too) but haven't gone through with it because i know it would drive my mom berserk with additional stress.  bt there are things i can do (and have already started doing)--some of which, though not all, also allow me to save money along the way.

1. as much as possible, i bring my own shopping bag to the grocery.  i only buy a few items every now and then for my personal consumption at the office.  since the supermarket is so close to my workplace, i also sometimes just carry the stuff that i buy when i forget to bring my own bag. yay!  (i think i'll do a tutorial on how to make your own shopping bags soon)

2. i bring my own lunch.  obviously, this saves me money coz i don't usually have to buy food when we have leftovers at home.  aside from that, i use reusable containers and tiny stainless steel cutlery to minimie waste from packaging had i gotten takeout.  when i go to the carinderia to buy additional food, like a serving of veggies, they usually use so much plastic when packing the food, so i also try to minimize waste and plastic use by sharing plastic bas with my co-workers.

3. this week, i shall buy a water bottle.  i've been thinking of getting an SIGG bottle but i'm not quite sure yet coz it is a tad expensive.  but i have realized that it's better to carry my own supply of water with me should i get thirsty, rather than buy water in a disposable plastic bottle.  this will not only lessen waste (think of how many bottled waters you usually consume in a year), but will also improve my health (dangerous toxins from the plastic. aack!).  but really the best part of it all, and i only found out about this recently, is the fact that you're making a statement.  nobody should sell or charge for water because it is a right of all human beings; the companies who claim these water sources are depriving millions of safe and clean water.  therefore, we really need to make a stand! and i'm not sure how long or how many people it will take, but the important thing is we do our part to help the cause.

this is the water bottle that i want, btw.  but it's not available in the country :(  i'll just settle for one that's available here. go local, right?!

if you're interested to find out more, here's an article on the trouble of bottled water. good read!

btw, animal lovers out there! did you know...?

random money matters

went to a HUGE wedding last weekend-- rumors abound that the decorations for the reception area alone amounted to half a mil already! ridunkulous, right?  but it was a really wonderful night and i truly wish the newlyweds a happy and equally amazing marriage. anyway, during the reception, my relatives in the same age group got talking about independence and marriage, specifically our age deadlines for both.  i want to be out of the house between 25 to 28 y/o--i've recently been feeling quite down, to be honest, and think that i really need to discover who I am and be the person I want to be, regardless of how other people around me are.  and i somehow feel that i can do this best by living on my own, acting the way i want to, instead of always reacting to the situations i encounter.  i also need to make something of myself and feel that living on my own will help me do that, if only so i won't have to tiredly keep explaining the choices i make.

anyway, back to topic.  i'm 22 and a half now, which means i've got about 2.5 - 5.5 years to save a ton of loot, if i am to ever live on my own (btw, normally, marriage is another option--sharing the bill with a husband would be nice haha--but i don't want to make any predictions and jinx my chances.  to be honest, the romantic future is looking a bit bleak right now.  okay, self-pity ends here). 

ideally, when i'm on my own, i should still manage to keep saving instead of having it all go to rent and survival expenses.  how, you ask? at this rate, i don't know either! haha. but i've read a few things in the past that did get me thinking.

one is to let your money work for you too.  apparently, this is one thing that the rich do.  instead of spending on something that won't contribute to your wealth (like a signature bag) or, worse, that will even subtract from it (like a fancy car), you need to put your money in a place where it will work hard to make you richer. haha. so you can use it to further a biz, invest in stocks, or even earn in a bank.  i told our maid this last night and she suddenly got the idea of buying a pig instead of a TV.  that's the spirit!

another one is a quote i just read from the King, Elvis, himself.  "Sharing money is what gives it its value."  'nuff said.

here's another beautiful quote from Henry David Thoreau (whose works i should start reading, btw): "Goodness is the only investment that never fails."

and with that, i bid y'all adieu, at least for now.  i hope these ramblings get you thinking and adjusting your lives the way they're starting to do mine :) feel free to share your favorite quotes about wealth on this post.

Beauty tips that won't cost you a thing

ound some great tips on various sites and compiled them here. hope you like!

1. Exfoliate (but don't overdo it!) to slough off those dead skin cells faster.  i exfoliate 1-2x a week using Artistry exfoliating scrub. it cost like P1.5k but you only use a little bit and it's meant to last really long.  my sister and i have been sharing the tube for 2yrs now! that's like P375 per person per year on a really good product.

2. Steam your face once a week! it stimulates the blood circulation to your face and helps clean it. Steps: Clean your face. Fill a bowl with hot, steaming water. Lean over the bowl for 10 minutes with your face a foot above the water, and drape a towel over your head to create a tent.  Rinse face with lukewarm water, and follow with a facial mask then finish with toner.  i actually don't do this often but resolve to do so from now on; maybe it will help me keep my hands from pricking my zits and popping the blackheads.

3. Get physical!! when your blood gets pumping, a flush occurs on your cheeks naturally. it also keeps you feeling fit, strong, and happy! (remember Elle Woods' endorphins?) i'm planning to really go through with my workout wednesdays. i went jogging for 15 minutes last week, preceded and followed by stretches and lunges.  i also did a few (literally few) push-ups and crunches.  i WILL do the same today.  i also want to try to enter a ballet class, if my budget permits. hope it works out!

4. Sleep and destress.  apparently, the body works harder to renew your skin cells or something when you sleep. so, the next time your mom gets mad at you for oversleeping, just tell her you're doing it for your skin! haha. just kidding. 7-8 hours will do for every night, while it's also important to take a few minutes for yourself when you're feeling stressed to avoid it showing on your face. creases and furrowed brows are expensive to repair so might as well just prevent it.

5. Eat healthy! a well-balanced diet is good for both the inside and outside of your body. check this out!

6. Do good!  doing something for other people, especially the less fortunate or perhaps a very important cause, always brings about a different glow.  trust me, the most beautiful people i know don't have perfect skin or bone structure, and some of them are always dressed in just a shirt and jeans.  but their beauty radiates from within, and you can really sense that whenever you're around them.  my greatest aspiration is to be beautiful in this way too.  for some ideas, contact me or check out Hands On Manila.

to end, i would like to leave you with a poem often quoted by the most beautiful woman who ever walked upon this earth (my personal opinion):

For attractive lips
speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes
seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure
share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair
let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day.
For poise
walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.
People
even more than things
have to be restored
renewed
revived
reclaimed
and redeemed
never throw out anyone.
Remember,
if you ever need a helping hand,
you will find one at the end of each of your arms.
As you grow older
you will discover that you have two hands
one for helping yourself
and the other for helping others.
-Sam Levinson

Sources:
http://shine.yahoo.com/event/makeover/8-natural-no-make-up-necessary-ways-to-look-and-feel-glowingly-gorgeous-1361806/#photoViewer=2
http://shine.yahoo.com/event/makeover/what-to-eat-for-gorgeous-glowing-skin-1268136/#photoViewer=1

musings after a week of P365, my Outfit of the Day, and Roman Holiday

it's been a week since project 365 and, so far, i'm still doing fine.  my hands are itching to shop and swipe that credit card though haha.

i'm realizing that, although there are things that i do need but don't have, most of the things necessary for me to actually survive are already in my possession--i just haven't been making the most out of them.  i'm afraid the rapid modernization of society has turned me into one lazy-ass femme and, like so many people out there, i have been content to buy,buy,buy instead of working hard to accomplish or acquire something.  i do hope that, by the end of this project, i would've learned to maximize all the resources and gifts that i have.  it would be such a waste if i didn't.  not a waste of 365 days of penny-pinching but, rather, a waste of blessings and talent and time, even.  after all, we weren't born to simply survive and be couch potatoes, right?

51 weeks to go!!

today's outfit consists of:

- a blue and gray striped shirt bought for $4 at Forever21

- a navy pencil skirt which i made  from scratch myself (first project at FIP)

- white plastic chain headband worn as necklace from H&M

- a gold and white chain charm bracelet from tita Portia which i redesigned a bit to reflect my values (the components are: a heart, a cross, a book, a video camera, and other trinkets)

- my silver cross ring, of course

- beige (are these beige?) loafers from Matthews @ CMG for P2,499

**note that the newest thing i'm wearing is almost a year old. yay!

btw, i was finally able to watch Roman Holiday, which won for Audrey Hepburn her first Oscar (in her first lead role too, mind you).  i had wanted to see it for the longest time now, not only because i love love love Audrey, but also because i needed to do some research on 1950s fashion in preparation for a wedding i'm attending.  (thank goodness for surf the channel!) anyway, i've realized that i really want to be like her.  the grace, the poise, the intellect, the kindness that she epitomizes. that's the type of person i want to be like.  i don't need to be extremely fashionable or trendy; nor do i need or want to be the center of attention.  i just want to be a good person.

Values as true wealth

i read a wonderful article about Warren Buffett's son, Peter, discussing the greatest gift his father (one of the richest men in the world) ave him.  hint: it ain't money.  it was the way they raised him and the values they taught him.

- his parents didn't give him everything he wanted, even though they could have
- they showed him the different situations other people were in
- they encouraged him to find and pursue his own passion, rather than insisting he follow in his father's footsteps
- they taught him to take pride in his own accomplishments, rather than depending on those of his father's to give him a sense of self-respect
- they taught him the importance of iving back to the world

"Economic prosperity may come and go; that's just how it is," he writes in the book. "But values are the steady currency that earn us the all-important rewards."

deadlines

sorry for the total lack of posts lately; i'm afraid i'm caught between several deadlines right now (and a few more last week):

1) i'm writing a summary matrix of the health agenda of the presidential candidates. we really need to finish asap so we can release it in time for people to actually read it and use it to help them decide on the vote on May 10

2) entries to literary contests.  i've given up on the Carlos Palanca one for now.  the deadline is tomorrow and, aside from the fact that i've only written 1 1/2 pages of the short story i planned on submitting, there are also some papers that need to be notarized, sent thru post, etc.  on the bright side, there's still hope for the Philippine Star "My Icon, My Hero" essay contest.  770 words down, 430 more to go.  it's also due tomorrow but, thanks to the internet, i think i can (and should) make it.

wish me luck!!

smart and savvy

sorry for the lack of posts! lately, i've been preoccupied with work.  besides, our internet connection at the office has been terrible the past few weeks.  the links i entered in my previous posts weren't even saved!

before we start, let's have a short quiz! (ok, i just had a vision of my 5 or so readers turning off their monitors at this instant).

anwer this: which piggybank are you?

"broken and trying to patch the situation up with a too-small band-aid" piggybank?

recession piggy-bank?

ICU piggybank?

or would you like to be this one, all shiny and well-fed?

see, i read a great article earlier today about How to be a Savvy Cheapskate. now don't be alarmed by the word "cheapskate"! we'll try to use that less often on this site to disassociate ourselves from the negative connotation. from now on, we are smart and savvy spenders, not cheapskates. repeat after me. "I am a smart and savvy spender." there, that was good! that wasn't so hard, was it?

the article is basically about something i'm also trying to emphasize here on my site: if you want to save more, it's not just about getting more for less and cutting coupons; it's about a lifestyle change. it's asking yourself "Do I really need this?" rather than "Do I want this?", and being happier and more content in the end.

to add to the author's tips, i'd like to suggest that you write down your financial goals and also write down your assets or whatever the term is for what you currently have in you piggybank. this way, you can set realistic goals and also help yourself figure out how much you need to earn, and how much you can afford to spend, towards reaching your goal of becoming independent or supporting your family, or paying for your own education, or whatever.

i gotta tell you, i am so excited about this whole project! ok, so maybe only three people have read my blog so far. that's alright!! we can all help each other become more fulfilled with our lives. and that's enough for me. til next time!! i'll post a sample of my very OC financial plan on this site soon to help the visualization process. toodles!!