Single Life's Moments #1

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Saving Tips #2: X Out Bills To Pay

Before anything else, this idea was inspired from being a patron of the site We Are Sole Sisters!

Nowadays, the only bills I have to pay is the house rent. My parents is living in a near province which is a three hour trip to my workplace. It is not a good and wise choice to live there - even though how much I want to be with them. So, I have to rent my own place near my office.

How did I do that?

Looking back, I have to pay for my internet bills, electricity, water bill, house rent. Plus the loans I took advantage in a snap. A splurge. Back then, I was a bigger fool not thinking a hundred times before doing something.

Now, no loans, no water bill, no internet bills. Again, only the house rent.

I look for a place to rent where the water and electricity bill is already included on the bill. Nice choice, isn't it? Plus, it is a house where I get to use the appliances so there is no need for me to buy my own appliances. In my room, I have my own tv (with a cable, beat that!), an electric fan, a built in cabinet, a king size bed and shower in the bathroom which is also inside my bedroom.

Little luxury, right?

Now, let's talk about the loans. Forget about your splurges. Pay your bills first. You have to do this neglection until you are done with your loan. That is what i did. My budget is so strict that I promise myself no more loans for me by the time I am done paying them.

Now, I am done. I get to buy my very first branded sandals after three years. Well, still on a sale section of the department store. But, it was a good purchase!

Internet bills? A 1,500 pesos bill for an internet bill is not really a good deal. I know how to do the technical troubleshooting of a dsl connection. I have been a technical support for so many years. These companies find it so very hard to admit that they are having maintenance or outage. Because they are afraid that the customers are going to ask for a rebate. In the last two years I have it (since 2008), I only get nothing but disconnections. Technicians will come on the day that you are in the office.

***If you are single with nobody living with you in your place, it is not practical to get that internet connection especially during the times of a tech visit.

So, I ended up disconnecting my internet connection and settling my bill. Because those technicians will tell you it is fixed and your bill will continue even if you have those downtime days. Not really practical.

Nowadays, I am using my prepaid internet connection. It maybe 1000 pesos monthly but I really do not need to worry about being asked to troubleshoot my computer. Again, nothing is wrong with my computer ---- it is your connection. So much for those DHCP release  and renew days! I do not really miss it!

You do not need a mobile plan as well, for geez sake! It is a big SPLURGE even right from the very start. You do not need to call everyday unless if it is company provided one. As long as it is not, take advantage of the unlimited surf or call. I am not a text or call person. I only text if i really need it. Call? I still text like can you please call me? ASAP? Making sure the other person also needs my call very badly. And what about CHIKATXT? If you still don't know that, GOOGLE it.

Now, you are seeing your savings or checking account getting fat ... nice, isn't it?

On Singles and Relationships

Saving Tip #1: 100 Pesos Challenge

This one depends on your daily expenses to and from work. Mine, I can do that at 50 pesos but that will be eliminating the food and making sure that you have a packed lunch. For me, I am not doing that yet because I do not know how to cook and I also do not want to always eat fried hotdog, egg or whatsoever at work - talk about being healthy. It is not. But I am getting my way there.

The trick is first, live a basic life. Second, stick to your basic expenses.

How do I do that?

You need food to eat, air to breathe and of course a dress to wear. Plus your footwear, of course. Then, there is the fare to and from work. Let us stop here. You've got the basic needs. What else do you need? For others, if ever they need a money in case of emergency. However, emergencies are not an everyday thing. So, why think about it? And please, always think positive.

I always make sure to eat in a food court near our office. There is a restaurant where I can already spend 60 pesos for my food. The food serves two viands: any viands and the other one is a veggie meal. So, you can choose another veggie meal, seafood or meaty foods. It comes with a drink. Enough for you not to choke for choosing a very cheap meal for the day.

I still have 40 pesos on my pocket, right?

From our village, I can spend 7 pesos to reach the trike station to get me to the office. well, near the office. But, I can walk my way to the trike station provided that I walk up early so I can afford to walk without being late. So, I saved 7 pesos. I still have 40 pesos, right?

From the trike station, I have to pay 9 pesos. Now, this is quite far so this is really part of the fare everyday. This is also my way to go back to the front of the village. Now, I only have 22 pesos.

Going back to the village, I can choose to ride another trike that will cost me 14 pesos or just walk. Why not a little form of exercise? Walking is good for you. Aside from the fact that it is an early evening walk. Between 6PM-7PM. Not bad and still not scary, right?

At the end of it, I saved 22 pesos everyday. I already saved 5,000 pesos more in a year. The next thing you need to do is to stick to this kind of lifestyle everyday.

What about the snacks?

It is part of my grocery to buy snacks that I can bring in the office everyday. A bread or crackers will do. A 3-in-one coffee or any drink as your additional everyday survival is allowed.

Is it still bad?

Any other excuses?

What do you think?

Single and Deserving

The Lone Traveler

Being single does not always mean being a solo traveler. Well .. sometimes. For me, it is most of the times. I love the impromptu planning and the excitement that goes a long with it. You know that traveling is a haven but the planning part can be hell. If you really want it, the planning can take months before the execution.

For me, why not think and go to the first place that came to your mind. It could be the feeling of I want it the first time I read about it. Why not that? There's no rules in traveling - much more on traveling alone.

Being a single traveler means:

• Get to see the places you want
• Go to it without thinking --- geez I'll be alone!
• More selfies!
• More nature shots
• No second voice telling you this is where I wanna go and not where you wanna go
• Talk about new and fresh things you and your companions used to talk about
• Meeting new acquaintances (and maybe soon-to-be life long friends!)
• Tell your tales while others are also longing to have your courage to travel alone
• Speaking of courage, you are developing a lot more courage than others
• A good way to practice your individuality
• A perfect way to develop your coping mechanism
• Nice area to learn something new
• Indulge on new experiences
• Live a more stress free life! 

Being single should not stop you from going to places you want to go to just because you are alone. Learn to explore your individuality. Take the road less traveled and you'll see amazing things just like I do.

On Saving and Earning

I've been preoccupied with a lot of things since i had my long awaited freedom. It wasn't until recently that I chanced upon an article that I knew I had to share with everybody who is into 'living alone' mode like me.
Budgeting is the worst headache you need to encounter as soon as your salary day comes. Everybody, who's not rich, knows this. But, it can also be your best weapon to survive before your next salary day comes.
We heard a lot of saving tips from our favorite online forums or magazine but this one I read recently really is 'The One' -- at least for me. Well, I think it is because that is what I have been doing for the past over 6 months and fortunately, it was working for me.
Here it is:
(To credit the original column of this (and not be accused of plagiarism - LOL!) you can read the entire article here: http://ph.she.yahoo.com/money-saving-tips-grandparents-214659212.html )

Live Within Your Means. Living within your means is something easily said and a lot harder to follow. To do it, it is just a question of making a budget and spending less than what you earn (net after taxes). The main thing is to focus on your needs, not your wants, because it is easy to let our impulse spending get out of control. In addition, our grandparents certainly knew how to avoid lifestyle inflation. If you have already lived happily with a set amount of money before, why change now? You will not really miss the extra income if you do not get used to it and it is a lot more satisfying to see your retirement account grow. "Use it up, Wear it out, Make it Do or Do Without"This rather catchy phrase was used quite a number of times during the Great Depression and is the perfect counterpart to the word 'frugal.'

Use it up. As a society that enjoys stockpiling, trying different things and always being dazzled by the next new must-have, it can be hard to shut out all the marketing noise. However, if you've stockpiled a whole range of products such as shampoos, use up your stash before trying a new brand or going out to buy yet another 10 on sale. Wear it outThe best example of this would be an automobile purchase. When you buy a car, buy it until it is absolutely worn out and destined for recycling at the junk heap. Don't fall into the trap of wanting a new car every 3 years just to keep up with the Joneses.

Make it Do.What you have may not be perfect, but if it is able to do the job with a little coaxing, don't bother buying anything. For instance, let's say you run out of your favorite brand of ketchup in the house, but you have an old generic bottle that has been sitting around for a while that you don't really like. Make it do by adding flavorings such as spices to change what you don't like about it. Do WithoutIf you simply have nothing that is usable, find a creative way to do use something else. Perhaps you ran out of that commercial fertilizer for your plants. Why not try making your own at home by using egg shells, which are full of calcium, or your old coffee grounds? It would certainly help the environment. Cook at HomeDuring the Great Depression, eating out was a rare treat. Today, it has turned from a treat to a routine habit, as seen in 2011 where 40.6% of American food budgets in general was spent on eating food away from home. If you must go to a restaurant, at least cut back on how frequently you go. Ask for water rather than an overpriced alcoholic beverage.

Free ThingsThere's no need to feel like staying at home is a punishment rather than a treat. Our grandparents were just trying to keep food on the table and didn't have the luxury of big-box malls to shop at. It can be nice to wind down and relax rather than always being on the go. Find free things to do like playing a sport with your friends, trying a new recipe at home, taking a book out of a library, or learning a new skill such as a new language that could potentially increase your earning income in the future.

The Bottom LineBeing frugal doesn't mean being cheap, it means being smart with how you spend your money so you are able to save more for your future. After all, you spent a lot of time earning it. Our grandparents know best.