is this it?

once again, the Day Off Ladies Club met up last saturday and had a great time together, chit chatting over a sumptuous lunch at Cerchio, a new restaurant at scout limbaga street in QC. i was running late and so forgot to bring my camera with me. shucks.

surprisingly, there was a question thrown at me at that time which i also have been asking myself past couple of weeks. i was a bit taken aback hearing it out loud, more so in the honesty of my answer. the question was

"are you ok with your life now?"

and i answered slowly, yeees, sounding as if i was not so sure :) it's hard. it's different now. one aspect is that i feel kinda guilty for not  contributing financially in our household. i used to be employed and though my salary was just small, at least i was able to help my husband. i don't want for my husband alone to carry the load of working for the family. i don't want him to be pressured because he is the only one supporting our family. i feel helpless in this part.

i have also asked myself if this is it? shall i be a forever mother and wife? i know there is no changing the fact that i am a wife and mother. and i am so blessed to be those. but, will i be somebody else on the side? a good baker? a brilliant photographer? a cook? a successful businesswoman? little by little, i try whatever i feel like doing. as to when to go full blast on other things, and whether ill be good at it, well, only time can tell.

i was assured by my 'co-mothers' that i shouldn't be guilty. for one thing, God had really set our roles. and that parenting and being a stay at home mother is indeed very tough. they could attest to it. :) its so good to hang out with these girls! they are so true, and talks with sense!

can i just share that i recently read that

studies show that each commom interest between people brings about a 2% increase in life satisfaction.

anyway, going back, i know that i am capable. someday i can attach another title next to "mother and wife". for now, God wants me to devote most of my time to my supportive husband and charming girls.

financial learnings

2010 is about to end and it has been really tough for us especially on the financial side. the important thing is, we've learned and we are still standing. AND we have faith that God will see us through this.

oh, and did i say that these learnings had also cost us? sheesh. oh well. again, at least we've learned. let me put it into writing so we won't forget. hahaha!

when selling an item, learn to wait. give a time line before lowering the price. money down (fully paid) before giving it to the buyer even if its a relative or a trusted friend.     

never do business with MFB!

one won't really earn big by joining a bazaar. if you want to earn, make joining a bazaar a business. join regularly.

in a car accident, don't admit right away that it's your mistake. keep your cool. relax. get a police to assess the situation. 

when engaging into a new business, do not use your personal money especially if you just have enough. save some more or make a loan.

selling online could be somewhat difficult. one has to have a lot of network to be able to sell continously. buying items in another country and selling it here in the philippines is good. one just has to know the right products that will sell. if unsure, just try a few items first. otherwise, you'll be stuck with the products.

purchasing electronics in another country will cost less, true. but when shipped here, it will cost more because of taxes and customs dues. PLUS, when the unit gets defective, the authorized centers could repair it but it would also cost more since the parts had to be ordered abroad too.

 

don't own a credit card. period. :) if unavoidable, try to maintain just one (and only ONE) and keep the credit limit at a minimum. pay on time and in full.

 

it is ok to help other people. secure yourself and family first.

 

cheap items or buying items at a bragain does not really mean that it is of high quality. it is best to canvass and research. plus asking around helps too.

tithe. it will be an 'added expense', but base on experience, doing so will help you have enough resources for all of your expenses. honest!

God is amazing!

wishing & hoping

i wish that i could earn as much (or even more) as i used to when i was still employed. do i sound so materialistic? don't get me wrong. i know a lot would want to be in the position where i am right now--being a full time mom & housewife--and there's no regret having made that decision. i really just want to help out my husband with the finances around the house. we have bills & debts to pay. most of his salary & my not-so-big earnings go to paying it all off. i just wish that there's money left for us to enjoy it even more. like perhaps, short trips on a 3-day weekend or buying nice present for each other and for the kids or even helping out our family, hiring an extra help in the house, etc. things like that. things that will make us enjoy what we worked hard for. things that will make us forget for a while about payables. things that will help our lives a bit more comfortable.

well, just wishing and hoping. its free anyway :)