Sunday, October 30, 2011

cat humor #2

Are you satisfied lately?

Photo Credits: Not mine!




It's been a long time since I had that kind of satisfaction. Hopefully, it will come by.

More funny caption? You might also like:

Cat humor #1
No Pun Intended

Cat humor #1

Photo Credit: not mine!

Cutest evil cat I've ever seen

Saturday, October 29, 2011

money saving

EASY MONEY SAVING TIPS FOR NON-WORKING MOMS

Living in a household where only one person brings home the bacon is hard. Especially if the income is you are trying to budget is just right enough for what you basically need. This is where money saving ideas start to kick in.

In order for me to save money from my partners take-home pay. I have to scrimp and save, and if the need arises, bend the money double if possible. Budgeting is tricky if you have a baby to feed.

I have tried searching any money saving tips and advice online, or in magazines. There are many materials on money saving and the web offers wide resources of saving money tips but what I am going to share here are the tried and tested methods that works well.

Easy Money Saving Tips

1. Create a "THINGS TO BUY" list - I know it sounds overrated and such but this is an effective way of staying on the budget when you are out there picking your groceries.

Way back when I didn't create any grocery list, I was always overboard with our expenses. My partner loves choosing his own goodies and that can get way out of hand if you don't assign a particular budget for snacks. It saved me a few hundred bucks (that's from our money currency) just by doing the grocery list every month. That way I keep track of the things I need to buy and how much my partner needs to spend for his goodies.

2. Set aside a small percentage for savings - You can set aside any amount that works for you. For us, I save about five percent (5%) from the total amount of my partner's take home pay. How much is left will be budgeted for the things we need for the next two weeks. Money saving for me has never been easier.

3. Anticipate the medical expenses - Living in a country where not everyone is insured, (Luckily my son is under his father's medicare) I save small amounts of cash for medical expenses. This is for emergency purposes. Having cash for laboratory clinics, over the counter medicines.

4. Indulge yourself - Come on, we all have our spur of the moment, "OMG, I want to watch that movie!" or "I want to buy that book". In a tight budget, it doesn't hurt to put away small amounts of cash. When moments like this arise, you can indulge yourself without feeling guilty.

5. Look for bargains -  I am an avid book reader, and I read them as fast as I bought them. But buying books is expensive. What I do is to wait for it to be available in bargain shops and bookstores and buy them in a cheap price. It doesn't matter if it's not new, paperback or hardbound, they can be available in mint condition. If you are lucky, you can even get them in their new look.

This is also applicable for clothing and other items. When I pick my clothes, I go for quality buys that would last for a few years, pretty generic brands. I don't care much about the labels, people will see how you wear them and not look at the label at the back.

6. Save your pocket change - If you can afford this 'luxury', take the time to put away all your coins accumulated from your grocery. Put them in a jar or any container of your choice. I did this for a year, saving away all the coins and before Christmas, I already saved enough for us to go book ourselves into a vacation spot in our locality.

That might sound exaggerated but you won't believe how this money saving technique can help you save enough cash by the end of the year. If you can wait that much.

7. Control your impulse - Sure, we do have that at times. We get to see this items that are cute or nice but we don't actually need and we end up buying them only to realize we don't really need them. If you see something that urges you to buy. Go around the store or get out. If you still want to buy it after a few hours then go ahead.

The list could go on and on here. We all have ideas and experience in money saving tips, but to put that into practice requires solid iron discipline.

You can save and scrimp and practice any tips or follow techniques that suits you well. All I can say is that, this worked for me, it can work for you too.

Friday, October 28, 2011

no PUN intended


just got to share!

What are you grateful for?

Photo Credit: not mine!
Let me count the ways...

I am grateful ...
...that I am alive today and well
...for my son who is healthy
...for being blessed with a wonderful, loving partner
...for being able to appreciate my son more as we bond
...for the people who comes in our lives when we need them 
...for the wonderful family that surrounds us
...for the joys we experienced daily
...for the roof over our heads
...for the friends we meet 
...for being able to survive whatever task was handed out by our Maker for the day
...for being able to stand-up to what is right and remain grounded
...for being able to lead by example a just life

the list could go on and on. But what I really want to say is, THANK YOU for all these opportunities that I have to experience every day. I don't need all the material things in order for me to be grateful about my life. A loving partner, a healthy baby, a happy family, what is more to ask? The money? They're just that. Money. That's just the icing on the cake. 
How about you? What are you grateful for today?

Thursday, October 27, 2011

when you feel lost

Photo Credit goes to whoever created this (Thanks!)
I found this quote in Facebook the other day, and surprisingly I found this to be enlightening. It made me stop what I was doing and thought about what it really meant.

Most of my life I have sort of felt lost. I can't find a purpose in my life. Even after every beating from life itself, I just couldn't figure it out. Yet, there it was, the answer was staring at me in the face.

How could I feel so lost when I have never moved away to begin with? Why was I looking for myself? The life I have lived makes me ME.

A tough life I could say, but this kind of life molded me into a strong person inside out. Sure, I have my moments of weaknesses and doubts but hey, I still emerged victorious from whatever battle life has thrown my way. I wouldn't have my life any other way. If I would live again, I would still choose ME, no skipping, no cheating, I would walk the path I walked (hopefully that time I would choose a WISER one!)

I know it's hard, but I have to move on to another chapter. I feel that I am ready to grow more, to be molded again, to learn. Until I become what the Maker wants of me, I will never quit.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

random thoughts

I've been thinking about a lot of confusing thoughts since they run around my head at the same time. I need to write them one by one, maybe that way I'll get rid of them creating traffic inside my head. Who knows, if piece by piece they are all blogged down, it will clear my head and maybe, just maybe I can focus again.

One thought at a time; and funny how things work out when you need a sign for things to work with you, I stumbled into this, it says:



... and you know what? I agree that Mr. Never Give Up is right. For a while now, I am under a dark weather, but I've been through worst storms than this and I came out all right. So, this is just another stumbling block that I need to figure out how to get out of.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Early morning food craving

Brrr..cold inside my room,  stomach growling, I'm craving for a hot noodle soup that would in fact satiate my hunger right now. I want Mr. Ramyun's noodles. I'm too tired to walk there today, maybe I'll just dream about it and get to eat it later....





                                 Photo Courtesy of Lovethatkimchi.com


just add the kimchi, ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!! God, I'm so hungry.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Bitchiness and Honesty


                               Photo Courtesy of somebody else (honestly people, I just copied it in FB)


Now, I don't know how many times my love for sarcasm and all out bitchiness got me in trouble. I can tell you, I've lost count.

The most recent incident that I've been too candid, it got me into serious trouble. By serious, I meant it turned my life upside down.

Some people just couldn't accept the fact that you can say anything straight upfront. Once bitched slapped, they are going to take it out on you. Declare an all out war without thinking of the consequence it's going to cost you, or your kid for that matter (for me, the stakes were high against my kid), and what's painful about that? She's family to my kid and partner.

For all that bitchiness in me, it had gone out and took a turn when it happened. I don't know how or what I did that I decided to make my mouth shut. No smartass retort, no witty comebacks, not a grunt. But I cried, tears were wasted I tell you.

What came to mind was this:












It seemed a smart move, but the thing that suffered the worst blow? My ego. It wasn't just bruised. It was shattered. I don't know if this kind of thing is just temporary, I can't say I'm just temporarily pissed. For now, I can't forgive her.

For the kind of person that I am, it is hard or should I say ridiculous to hold back my tongue and not lash out my anger for the kind of attack I was given. But I held up my end. It wasn't for me, it was for my son, partner and his family. You know the saying, "If you can't say something nice..."..Yeah, if I allowed my anger to get the best of me, the family that I am talking about will no longer be living in peace.

Seriously, some people should learn that it is better for someone to be honest and be a bitch about it rather than all sweet and hypocrite upfront but stabs you in the back.

Me? I don't mind if you don't like me and show it. I appreciate honesty. And if you can stand up to me? That's great! I will respect you more that way.

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