Parent Chat

I'm just curious since two from my family are planning to church wed on 2011 and 2012, but still they're deciding on what date. Some considerations were taken;

*Not to marry on Feb kasi mahal ang flowers dahil valentine's month.

*Especially not on June as a lot of women want to become June brides, venues, catering, hotels, etc. are at prime.

*Not on January dahil marami ang nagpapakasal rin, sharing the same thought, "starting the year right"

ano do you think moms?

 

Basahin sa Smart Parenting:
Hirap Makaipon? 5 Nanay-Approved Money Hacks
Click HERE.

---

I always read tips and advices on saving, with the global recession who would not want to save a peso for that additional money you can set aside for more practical use in the future.

I believe in living comfortably within our means of course, and that making our children live their lives happily and fully. Thus, an extra recourse to dining out, a toy or a movie doesn't bother me at all as long as it goes within our everyday rules on discipline. No, I am not 'kuripot' it’s just that I would like to be practical on some things and 'splurge' on others that are more viable.

I would like to know more and learn on ways how other moms save and add up to my present saving secrets/ tips/ techniques.

Here are some of mine:

DINING OUT:

1. In fast foods, if you are not particular with cold drinks, try ordering ‘drinks without ice’ since its already cold freshly out from the vacuum dispenser, or be particular at least on serving your drink with less ice. Meaning at least it would not come, half-filled with ice making your drink a cold-cola or juice flavored water.

2. My family used to order a 4- 5 servings of extra rice to go with the chicken meals. And extra rice cost P15 na and yet mas maputi pa ang rice na sinasaing ko dito sa house. So what I did, everytime my family wants to eat in a nearby McDo or Jollibee, dala ako ng baong rice and cold mineral. Therefore saving us money to buy other side dishes/ meals.

3. For the sobrang food, we always have it taken out. Kung di na kakainin at least share them to those kids on streets.

FOOD:

1. On food, I don’t really save, but for the leftovers I see to it they are well-stocked. I do not invest on expensive plastic wares, I find them space consuming. Therefore, my kitchen mate for this, is a roll of cling wrap. I always see to it, that left-overs are kept clean, kahit sa loob ng ref para next time na i-serve ko almost as freshly cooked pa rin or isasahog sa next meal ulam.

GROCERIES:

1. I buy by bulk for a whole month’s use especially when there is a sale or freebies to go with my main purchase, but of course I consider the manufacturing/ expiration dates. There is certain toothpaste that has a freebie of a small tube to go with the family sized tube, thus saving you a P25-P30 for the extra tube. Same with a brand of shampoo my hubby is using may freebie small bottle of the same shampoo.

CLOTHES:

1. kids', this too I buy in bulk. I keep a shortlist of their needs on the important pieces of clothes like pants and shorts, which I prefer to buy yong may mga adjust-san sa sides ng pants/ shorts (brands like gap and guess have this), polos and shirts I buy nalang whenever there is of fancy but on sale, especially on my favorite brands hehe, pm me mga mommies marami akong alam!), my philosophy here is that, since my kids outgrow their clothes almost every month, yong mga damit hindi naluluma, therefore, pwede pang mapakinabangan ng iba and hindi mahirap i-‘let go’ kasi hindi rin naman kasi ganun kamahal.

Here are some of the places I frequent for kids clothes;
GUESS Harrizon Plaza, laging sale dito.
SM Quiapo, the clearance outlet of all sm dept. stores.
SM Manila, during sales esp. polo and bossini brands

Share yours' naman para we get to learn other means of saving. 

---

Naka-relate ka ba? Mag post ng katanungan o payo dito
Reply to join this discussion.

Basahin sa Smart Parenting. Click this to read full article.
Childproof Your Marriage Para sa Matibay Na Pagsasama

photo by JANELLE JOY VIRAY ROBLEDO

---

When couples were still childless it is easy to plan out-of-town trips, dinners for two, movies, or any spontaneous, random interesting activity that comes to mind. But when children are already in the family, these activities came to rarity.

Like us, before the children came we love to go on movie marathon and hopping from one movie house to another, or dining out anywhere we take our fancy, (the most memorable one for me, was when we ate the orange egg sa kalye, kasi we were curious how it tasted and we end up having diarrhea, yes both of us  ). Those simple things that reminds us how it felt falling in love with each other at the very first, never actually caring for other things but us.

And now after three kids, our bonding moments got better though a lot simpler.

Things/ activities I like doing with him:

1. coffee during midnight, when everybody's asleep only the two of us left to reminisce, plan, or discuss..
2. shopping. I love shopping with hubby, not just because he gets to pay my purchases but we love to explore the mall for unique, hard to find items, or good buys.
3. taking a bath. yup with my fats and all..we love to talk about the day's happenings..
4. watch a movie. he likes tagalog romance movie (uu, tapos ookrayin ko lang siya), me naman horror (tatakutin ako, gugulatin) but we get to enjoy each other's company though not the movie.

I cherish and look forward to these bonding moments alone with him. When times turn awry, it helps us renew or recharge ourselves by knowing we have each other and the kids.

and how about you?

PS. took me to Mario's the following week after the orange egg episode.

---

Naka-relate ka ba? Basahin ang latest comment tungkol dito o mag Reply para makapagpost ng katanungan o payo.