parsimonious

A.Word.A.Day
with Anu Garg

PRONUNCIATION:
(par-si-MO-nee-uhs)

MEANING:
adjective: Excessively sparing or frugal.

ETYMOLOGY:
From Middle English parcimony, from Latin parsimonia, from parcere (to spare). First recorded use: 1598.

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.

coming up

sorry about the complete lack of posts lately. been quite busy.  not too busy to be frugal, on the contrary in fact! just too busy to blog about it.  here's what you can expect soon:

my current projects:
since necessity is the root of all invention (or something like that), i came up with 3 new articles of clothing! the first is a modern white button-down which i turned blue, the second is a green maxi dress using fabric i already had (it's just practice for the blue one that i really intend on wearing but i'm writing it down here to make it look like i've been extra productive), and the third (my favorite) is a top inspired by an alexander mcqueen dress worn by drew barrymore.  i'm really excited to wear the last one! the first, i already have 2x, the 2nd, i can't figure out when to wear hahahha.

Christmas shopping:
so, as predicted, my dad is giving me a bit of shopping money for Christmas.  mukha na daw akong pulubi joke!  but i plan on using this wisely.  i've already spent almost a quarter of it (i'll show you on what), so i'll be listing the stuff i plan on getting too. 

Christmas gift ideas:
i didn't anticipate this, but i've all but used up my gift budget for the year--and it isn't even Christmas yet!  i have so many wonderful friends that i couldn't help but show them my appreciation earlier in the year.  so now i need to get creative (fast) for the yuletide season.

Wedding planning:
no, i am not not single anymore.  i'm referring to my ate but since i am helping her with the details, i figured i could post something about frugal weddings.  not that that's what my sister is gonna do--she can afford to go all out.  but i'm anticipating that i either won't have enough resources or won't want to spend that much on a grand event.  simple is good, but also difficult (especially when your family is as big as mine).  so we'll talk about tips and ideas on making it a fab and frugal affair all the same, without hurting anyone's feelings.

ate tin is getting married!!!!

i am so0o0ooooo excited! but i might have to wait for a year and a half more :( i can't wait to help with the planning and everything, to be a bridesmaid and, of course, to see the bride and groom. haaaaaaaaay!

anyway, she and i have been talking about wedding details all week long.  she showed me this great site which contains, among other things, this video of coco rocha.  note to self: get a really good wedding videographer.

Coco + James // Teaser from Americana Cinema on Vimeo.

project alert! hand painting on silk

as you know, i am a frustrated artist and am also hopelessly enamoured by the thought of wearable art.  i almost took up fashion design, you know? well, i would've tried out for it had my mother allowed me to but apparently there's something wrong about an honor student even contemplating a career in the arts.  anyway, enough with the ranting.  besides, i really am thankful that i didn't end up studying fashion--i enjoy it but i don't think my calling is in prettifying other people.  that's just for fun!

anyway, i have a new project in mind. several weeks ago, i dyed a blouse of mine just so i would have something "new" to wear (i'll write a post about it one of these days). a few days after that, i found myself buying a book on Shibori, which is this Japanese technique for dyeing or something. it's really cool and i cannot wait to try it out. something that i also definitely want to try is to hand paint silk scarves. i really love the watercolor effect, and it makes for great gifts too!



Waratah scarf

unfortunately, there really is a limited supply of materials here.  the only dyes i've actually seen are those powder Venus dye packs in National Book Store, which i used to dye my blouse.  but we don't have a lot of crafty stores here so i'm anticipating the difficulty in getting my hands on special silk dyes :(  i might try to experiment with the Venus dyes though, see how it goes.  i really want to try this out.

btw, if i ever get to France, i would just love to take a silk painting class.  if not, i'd settle for self-study.  i found several interesting tips online at wikihow and HGTV, among others. I also found some silk painting starter kits.  these dyes are darn expensive though!  I'm also trying to choose whether to go with dyes or paints. wee! i'm so excited for this project! wonder when i can finally get my hands dirty with this one? :D

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.