being jobless

quitting my job a few years ago took me awhile to do before finally doing it. the deciding factor was that i didn't like anymore what i was doing. there was no way my career was going somewhere up. in fact, there is no career at all. sheesh. really there is no bitterness here. i'm glad i was able to do it because it led me to the toughest but most rewarding job on earth which is motherhood.

being jobless-slash-unemployed-slash-non-earner has its downside which gets to me sometimes. i have no assurance that i'll have money (a.k.a salary) twice a month. so i have to watch my spending even the necessities. its scary especially when there's an emergency. i used to not worry about being hospitalized since the company i used to work for shoulders the employee's hospitalization 100%. i don't have those important benefits anymore. 

it really sucks sometimes, having no means and or security. like when i want to buy something for my husband or for the kids to surprise them. or like when i want to give to my parents. wala lng or simply to help them. or like when i want to buy christmas presents for family and friends. i can't just do that easily like i am expecting a bonus or even a salary every 15th and 30th of the month. not buying for myself is easy. i am not most girls who are into shopping. i am not hard to please and i have a generous husband :) i already know those things such as live simply, spend less, live within your means, you couldn't buy time, you can give yourself as a present,  pera lang yan,  etc. etc. blah blah. yup, i know, right?! it's really not about worrying what i will do with my time, it's about security and, i guess you can call it, financial freedom. and this is real.

for the past years, my husband's salary is the one supporting our finances. what i earn from the businesses have helped too. i want to help more. to put more food on the table. i hope that it will grow more.

how did we survive or how will we cope? i will rely on His grace and provisions.

no yaya update

its been more than a week with no yaya and my sanity is still intact. haha! it's not that hard, really. i just have to get away from the computer ;) for the past days, me and the girls have been spending a lot of time together. we read, play, dance, watch ben10 and megamind (over & over & over & over....), sing, write on the new white board, swim in the inflatable pool,  etc. i have a reliever who does the chores. i still do the cooking and giving teh girls a bath. the good thing about this aside from the time together is that we are in bed by 8pm. i ought to keep the schedule once school starts again in june.

the not so good part about it is that me and hubby can't go on a date night. plus of course, couldn't stay out too long when i do errands or visit the laundry shop.

so i was wondering, why i wasn't able to do it before? like spend most of my time with the kids? maybe because our schedule is different when there is school? or i depend too much on my yaya? or maybe becuase i worry too much on how to help husband financially? hay... if money wasn't really a problem....

whatever it is, i just vow to spend more time with my family. i'll worry next ;) or the best is, just leave all my worried to God and pray harder!

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!