Wonderful Saturday part 1

          Sorry, I haven't been able to write a post for a while because of my studies. We just finished our unit examinations in Philosophy, Economics and Principles of Teaching. Good thing its a multiple choice test but it's a 100 items exams plus it also has an additional essay examination, sakit pa rin sa ulo, huhuh. And because I was really busy with my studies I almost forgot my health issues especially my monitoring check up and ultrasound on my endemetriosis cyst.

          Last month I went to Philcare to have an annual check up. It was Saturday and I was checked up by a different ob gyne doctor. As she was reviewing my records, she noticed what was wriiten there was "probably endemetriosis cysts". So she suggested that I should have my ultrasound done & interpreted by other ob gyne in a different hospital so she will be sure what kind of cyst I have in my left ovary.

         So I went to San Juan de Dios this morning to have a transvi-ultrasound and immediately after it was done the result was given to us. The doctor said she saw nothing inside and there was no complex structure seen in my left ovary. I was really happy with the result but I will still need to show it to my ob gyne in Philcare. Oh I forgot to mention that my mother accompanied me there and it was her who was really nervous with the result, nanay talaga heheh. We were so thankful that God is really taking care of us so we went to the church inside the San Juan de Dios hospital before heading out.

        And because we were so happy with the result, I suggested we go to Glorietta to have our usual mother and daughter bonding activity - window shopping, hahah. Still the kuripot inside suggested that we first took our lunch in hospital's canteen before heading to Glorietta, para tipid di ba? We roamed around SM & Landmark and did out fitting and window shopping activity then afterwards I headed to school for our Saturday class and my mother went to market market to meet my brother.

        I went home around 8pm already, I was too tired that I didn't know that I already fell asleep as soon as I lay my back on my bed. I woke up at 5:30am today and thank God for this another wonderful new day. Despite of the financial difficulty I am experiencing these days I am really thankful to God for all the blessings he's been giving to us.


          My family, my work, my studies, my experiences and everything around me are all blessings. It's Sunday today, its time to give thanks to our Lord for all the blessing he gives to us :)

Have a great weekend!!!!

My One Peso Spending Rule

          When it comes to spending I have my own rule, my 1000 peso spending rule and my one peso spending rule that I will be posting today. In my 1000 peso spending, I only spend it on things that has reason & value. My second rule here is - I think of thousand reasons before buying so I usually end up not buying at all or buying the cheaper one instead.

          My one peso rule today will justify my reasons why I usually end up buying the cheaper ones. In one of the topic in our economics subject I had last week, the principle of least cost states that not all product with the lesser cost is economically wise to buy. On the other hand, the word "utilities" was also discussed to us and this will justify my one peso rule. Utilities means state or quality of being useful or the quality of goods & services that satisfy. So as long as the product satisfy my needs and its purpose then its okay to buy cheaper products. Sorry, this is a bit long & boring topic, just want to justify my spending actions.

          I'm not promoting that we should always buy the cheaper products but for people like me who belong to the class D society had no choice but to buy what we can only afford. "Nagpapakatotoo lang po ako, gumagastos ako ayon sa aking pinansyal na kakayanan at hindi ayon sa dinidikta ng lipunan." I had once read an article in Daily Bread before that says, "I asked for riches that I might be happy, I was given poverty that I might be wise." and because of this words I am proud to say that I have become wiser in buying products. I don't own a Nike or Adidas shoes but I'm contented with the P250 shoes I bought at C5 bangketa. I wanted to have a Victoria Secret cologne but I'm happier that I have a buy one take one Cherub Disney cologne that I bought at P 52.75 only. I don't have Levis pants or other branded clothes but I'm happier that I am wearing a comfortable P269.75 maong pants I bought at Landmark. I don't own an IPhone , instead I have two Myphone brand, one is more than 5years & the other one was more than 2 years already. My eyes were usually caught by the Ninewest bags displayed at Glorietta mall before but I'm proud to say that it has no effect on me now because I have a Melody bag I bought at P 280.00 more than five years ago at Market Market and I'm still using it today, "kaya pala sabi ni aling tindera noon - wag mo ng tawaran yan miss matibay ang Melody bag" and I have proven that it's true, " aparador kaya ang bigat ng bag ko, heheh."

          Last month, I proudly announced again that I bought a P100 watch at Market Market tiangge store. My brother smiled, "ayos yan adidas pa tatak ha, he was teasing me actually, heheh." My casio watch stopped last August so I borrowed an old swatch watch from my mother and again it stopped after a month. Both batteries needs to be replaced but I have no time to go to the watch shop so when I pass through the tiangge stores I bought a new watch at P100 only. I bought it last September 12 and it is still working as of today. My mother said, "hay naku, tyempuhan lang kapag nakakuha ka ng palpak isang araw lang yan hihinto na" but luckily I am still wearing it today and it's been already one month & six days since I bought it plus it has an extra battery, hope it works too. I'm marking the dates again September 12, 2015 and it must last until December 10, 2015 - the 100th day from the day I bought it. That's where my one peso stands, just as long as it satisfies my needs & it's purpose, one peso per day is not bad at all.

         The casio watch I bought last December 2013 only lasted 1 year & eight months and that's equivalent to 608 days. Divide it to P 1,750 (my casio watch price) and it's value is P 2.88 per day. Though it's battery can replaced and it can be use again afterwards, but given a situation where time is valuable to me, I needed a temporary solution & that's my first reason.

My added reason here were situational and I call it "let it go situations" and the advantage of owning a cheaper products.

1. Nadukutan na ba kayo? I hope not but if yes, how does it feel if your iPhone was pickpocketed, "ang hirap mag let go di ba, paulit ulit na iisipin mo hanggang makabili ka ng bago, heheh? I've known someone who've experienced that kind of situation, "iyak talaga sya", kung mura lang cp, yung sim & contacts lang ang panghihinayangan mo, di ba?

2. Nahold up na ba kayo? I hope not again but if yes, how does it feel again? Others will say, "cellphone lang yan ibigay mo na kesa buhay mo ang kuhanin sa yo," Again, if your cellphone is a bit expensive, "ang hirap mag-let go di ba? My bestfriend once told us a story an about an incident where she gave her cp without resistance and we were all laughing as she narrated a story, "Na-hold up ako noon, hiningi ang cp at wallet ko, e umuulan, manong pakihawak tong payong ko kukunin ko lang cp at wallet ko sa bag. Pagkatapos ko ibigay ang cp at wallet ko, manong pahingi naman ng pamasahe lang, hindi ako makakauwi nito e, binigyan naman sya." As she was telling the story, we asked her "ano ba yung cp mo? Yung malaking Motorola, binigay ko na rin para mapalitan na yung cp ko pero ang kapal ng mukha nung holdaper tinext ko nag reply agad gamit pa rin yung sim ko". Move on agad sya di ba, heheh. Ang sakit ng tyan namin katatawa talaga."

3. Nabagsak na ba ang cp nyo? If you did, how does it feel? "Hindi ako maingat sa gamit, ilang beses ng nabagsak ang cp ko, good thing it's only a myphone brand and both my cp were still okay, but if it is an IPhone brand "iyak na ko nun, repair pa lang ang napakamahal na." Well, it happened to my brother few years ago.

4. Baha? My brother once told, "Ate, matibay kasi tong brand ng sapatos na to & isa to sa latest model, mura na to naka sale na. Okay ka lang 5k yan, sige ilusong natin sa baha yan, sa akin kahit masira oks lang 250 lang - P5k vs P250 kong sapatos, payag ka? Syempre hindi, 5k ito e. Walang maganda at mahal na sapatos sa bahang kalye. Again, its okay to buy cheap products just as long as it serves its purpose.

5. Nanakaw? My brother once had a pair of havaianas slippers. "Ate, matibay tong tsinelas ko, one year na kaya to. Sa kasamaang palad, nanakaw sa tapat ng bahay namin, bad trip yung kapatid ko. Sosyal na ang magnanakaw ngayon alam nila ang branded products. So I told him, ako 20 pesos lang slippers ko umabot rin ng one year pero hindi nanakaw. Dumaan yung pulubi, inabutan ko ng 5 pesos, nakita yung tsinelas ko, hiningi binigay ko. Nagpaalam na ng maayos sa akin, nakatulong pa ako, di ba?

6. Matibay daw? So he bought another havaianas, after two years napigtas naman pero hindi napudpod. So I told him, ako 50 pesos lang tsinelas ko umabot rin ng two years pero hindi napigtas napudpod nga lang." Seriously, there are brands that are not so expensive but has the same durability. I have a carribean slippers I bought 2 years ago at P 169.75 only, it's my favorite slippers & up to this day I still use it whenever I go to mall or even just to make errands at the store.

7. Muntik mawala? My officemate once told a story she was laughing as she narrated, "Nahulog yung isang havaianas ko sa rails ng MRT tulakan kasi, hindi ko makuha kasi nasa baba at baka dumating ulit yung tren, siksikan pa naman. Kaya hinintay kong mag-alisan ang mga tao bago ko tumawag ng guard para kunin, hayun tuloy na-late ako. Kung di lang yun mahal ang havaianas ko iniwan ko na yun. Again, its hard to let go of things that has an expensive value, right? That's the reason why I prefer buying the cheaper brands.

8. Madaling Magsawa? I have an Ipod shuffle bought almost ten years ago & up to now it is still working. Apple brand kaya yun kaya hindi nasisira pero almost 6k din ang bili ko nun kaso naka stock na lang sa cabinet at hindi ko nagagamit ngayon. I know someone who had a bandolino shoes, ang tibay talaga kaso pinagsawaan ko na rin hanggang pinamigay na lang :) Financially wise? Yes it is wise to buy those products because of its durability. But for how long you plan to use a certain product, that is the question.


Whether its cheap or expensive just as long as it serves it purpose price won't matter. But still I only spend according to necessity & my financial capacity not according to the society, this is my principle in spending.

How about you? What's your principle in spending?


Just sharing again!
Be safe and Have a blessed weekend!!!!


"Blame Typhoon Lando for this long post, he is the reason why I'm in the mood of writing, love to stay inside my room with this kind of weather :)"

My Financial Goals Update

         Yes I am studying but that doesn't mean that I have taken for granted all the financial goals I have set this year. My goals are still posted on my wall and everyday I look at them so that I will be reminded of what I need to accomplish before 2015 ends.

          Last week, I received my midyear 13th month pay of P 6,156.00, this was suppose to be given last June but unfortunately our company is in financial crisis. Good thing they managed to collect a suffice amount for the company's expenses.They also gave us our partial salary for September 30 payroll and hopefully it will be completed next week. Yesterday, after our Saturday class in TUP I headed directly to Wealthbank to deposit 5k to my savings account and fill up a form authorizing the bank to automatically transfer 5k on my special savings account next week. I also deposited P 1,800 on my Wealthbank atm account so I can mark my #2 goal on my list.

          It was only last week that I was able to understand the whole context of my BPI Philam Life insurance. First, it has a cash value that continuously increases as years go by. Second, it is a whole life insurance so that means I am insured until I'm 100 years old, yeheey.........."abot pa kaya ako dun?". And lastly, I was also informed that I already have an almost 20k cash value in it, another "yeheey". Should I decide to terminate my insurance, I can get the cash value of my policy but then I have no plans of terminating it now. What's really good about it is that my cash value continually increases so if at the age of 60 or 70 years old I plan to terminate my policy, its cash value will be given back to me. I estimated that it will be more twice of the amount I have invested in it, hope I'm right with my calculation, "basta lalampas yun sa nahulog ko, panalo na ko nun". I have until February 2017 to finish it's eight year payment period.

          Speaking of cash value I also added it in my record, so as of today I can proudly say that I already reached my 200k target, that's the reason why my #9 goal is marked on my list. I've also made some revisions too that's the reason why there are some bold markings in it. My initial plan was to have a total 20k on my special savings account & additional 5k on my Soldivo fund. But I changed my plan, I decided to redirect my focus on my FAMI & Philequity mutual fund. I plan to have atleast 30k total amount invested on FAMI and on Philequity as well before the year ends. And if I still have some extra savings I will try to reach that 20k goal in my special savings account this December.

       Just two more goals to finish this year---reach 20k on wealthbank and 30k on FAMI & 30k on PEMI.!!!!!!! :)
  


Just sharing again!
Have a blessed weekend guys!
God bless.

I survived the first semester!

This is not a finance related post but let me just write this one to release the feeling that I have today.

Yes, I survived!
No exact single word can describe what I really feel today.
I am so happy that I was able to pass the six subjects (18 units) I enrolled three months ago.
I couldn't believe I was able to surpass the first semester of my back to school journey.

Would you imagine three months ago I was on the verge of giving up.
If it weren't from my classmate who has been my constant motivator I would have given up already.
If it weren't from my suking tricycle driver who said that I have nothing to lose I wouldn't enjoy my back to school journey.
If it weren't from the influence of my classmates who were so eager to pursue their studies I would have given up easily.
If it weren't from the support of my family, our company & friends here in net I wouldn't appreciate the value of education in my life.

Looking back as I recall the fears that I had when I first entered the school campus, I was really hesitant to pursue this goal. All the fears that I felt when I deliver my reports in front of the class, all the stress that I had working while studying, sometimes undecided as to which field needs to be prioritized, all the efforts I made just to complete our projects & assignments, and the pressure I had when I took the final exams, praying and hoping to pass the subject as I reach the end of the term. All the hardwork finally paid off as our professor handed over to us our classcards last week.

It's very fulfilling to see the grades written on the classcards because I know that it all came from my hardships. Oh, I love all the grades written on it, "mataas o mababa basta nakapasa, ayos na - dugo't pawis ko lahat un", heheh. But regardless of whatever grades I received, what is important to me is that I've learned a lot. I've learned from my professors. I've learned from my classmates. Lastly, I've learned to value and appreciate my work today. I used to complain a lot on my job but after all the experiences that our professors shared to us I realized that their job are much more difficult than mine. It would take a lot of passion and dedication to embrace that kind of profession. Inspite of the difficulties, the reward is priceless, seeing all the fruits of their hardwork in molding the future generations of our country come into reality as they encounter a lot of their students become successful in their own field. I salute all the teachers out there.

After that three month back to school journey I decided to continue what I have started.
Yesterday I just finished enrolling for the second semester.
I have enrolled 21 units, two minor subjects were added because it is mandated.
I still have a stage fright & still have that nervous feeling when I do my reportings and demo teachings but I think my life is more enjoyable and challenging today. "Sarap kaya ng buhay estudyante." The proof is seen in my other blog -"Lakbay aral".

As what my classmate always say to me at the end of the class,
"Always ask for the divine enablement and you will be able to surpass all the difficulties in life."
Afterall, that is what your name "Grace" means.



Just sharing my experiences!
Have a blessed weekend!

Just the Basics

If you have read some of my posts, you can easily describe me as a pessimistic and worrier person. I worry a lot especially if it concerns about my future and my family. I guess that attitude was molded by my past experiences when I was a kid. Really thankful that I didnot quit studying & that I have a psychology related subject called Child & Adolescence that helped me a lot to understand myself & the people around me as well.
I used to panic and worry before but now I have become more aware on the positive things around me rather than the negative situation I have. I have learned to appreciate more what God has given me and understand his purpose on everything.
Now since this is a financial blog, I have shared my previous post on hep hep hooray which I accidentally deleted, huhuh , it's about our salary went half and last month we received nothing.
Yes, "wala po kaming sahod" last month, just the completion of our August 15th salary were given to us. Good thing, I still have a secondary source of income from the rent I receive every month from my brother who is renting my little room beside our house for P 3,000.00. After a week P 1,000.00 was given to us as our partial salary plus some side income of 650.00. So instead of panicking again, I apply my own basic rule, spend only on the basics, just the basic needs.

        Last July 31, I only received a P2,000 salary plus my secondary source of P 3,000 which gives me a sum of P 5,000 total income. How did I spend it? - I bought 1 sack of rice (1,950.00), 16 pcs of eggs (65.00), & groceries (550.00). I paid my half share utility bills @ home - Meralco, water & Pldt 1,300) & deposited 1,000 on Philequity.
        Last August 28, I only spent P 1,600 on utility bills, 500 on groceries, 16 pcs of eggs (65.00) to fill the egg section of our refrigerator, 600 on lpg gas, 1,400 on life insurance & 1,000 on Philequity. Good thing we still have a stock of rice in our storage, we don't pay house rent anymore, my mother has a separate budget for ulam from my brother and I have an extra emergency back up on my savings account.

        Rice, foods, utility bills & monthly rents are inevitable. Just as a I prioritize rice (basic food) & eggs (just for backup/we are seven in our family) & utility bills before I spend on other things the same rule I also use in paying my life insurance & monthly top up on mutual fund because I know & I feel that they are part of my basic needs. That if I don't prepare my future today I might end up being a homeless and hopeless again.
        Spend on the basics & plan your future only then you will see the real essence of saving & investing today.
        I know that God will always help us get through our problems but then let us not forget that it is our obligation to prepare for ourselves first - spend wisely, invest early & save regularly.



Just sharing my experience!
Have a blessed weekend!