ss_blog_claim=5555364cf3e98c39578eb4fbc35f307a ss_blog_claim=5555364cf3e98c39578eb4fbc35f307a

Monday, March 09, 2009

Happy Monday Everyone!

First of all...I'm fluttering by once again! LOL

Life has been on the edge...should I say extremes once again...

Work is killing me...making me spend so many hours...two Mondays ago I was forced to be at the office for 22 hours! So...do the math, and think how long do you think will it let me to recover the sleep I'm missing...when the days after that...were like 10-12 hours at work! Pffft!

Add to that other personal issues that need some sorting...and well, on a happy note, everything is going well now. I do get some minor bumps once in awhile but things are getting way better!

This post will really be a mixed nuts...with 2 posts dedicated to Fun Monday...yup, I signed up for last week and well, did not make it to hit publish button because of some urgent things at work...which asked me to get there like 3-4 hours earlier than usual!

Jo, my apologies, but well, better late than never!

Jo of Chocolate and Other Things was so sweet to host last week's Fun Monday! And guess what, her topic for this week? It's ALL about our Mom and/or Grandma! Isn't it nice to make one post for that great woman whom we all look up to?!

Okay, this one was supposed to be posted last week, but something came while I was making this post...so it took me another week to open my blog. /SIGH

Below is a photo of me and my Mom...this was take 2007, and was posted originally HERE. That's the photo I can grab last minute... ;)

Though unmotivated to blog for weeks now, Jo, made my fingers type today...because if anything that is about Mom, I'm on it! ALWAYS!



And since this post is quite late, yes, a week late, i'm just linking up to this POST. Because that is what my Mom to me, my super hero!

Now, for this week.s Fun Monday, our host is no other than the lovely Sayre Smiles! And her challenge this week is --

What are you and your family doing to deal with the current economic situation on a personal level? Obama's got a plan for the nation, but how do you/will you deal with your own economic stress?

This is quite interesting! I'm not from the US, but no one is immune from economic downturns...and well, my country? We are always on the downturn...ok, make that most of the time!

Though most people look at me and would say on of the many things I'm good at it spending...on the other hand, I deserve an award for holding off my spending since last quarter of 2008.

I, and IT Guy (since we share most of our finances...and yes, we're getting married!) have done the following;

We have successfully lowered our communication expense. For example, I used to spend Php 5-6k minimum on my cellphone bills...so that is excluding my land line bills. I have lowered it drastically...and it is giving me so much savings!

So how? Well, if there is a land line I use the land line...and I opt to text him now than do an out right call to ask if he gets my texts! I know I'm crazy...LOL

Less shopping for me. I am now planning more my purchase of shoes and clothes...so rather than shopping by impulse, it is now shopping by needs...and to be honest, I don't need much because I don't even get to wear some of the newly purchased clothes.

We have also saved on fuel since we are using the old car most of the time...and it is run by diesel...which is way cheaper!

We have slowly cut our spending on dining out...though I have to admit the past 2 weeks were just different..yet, we needed to spend more time together...because our work has been burning us out!

IT Guy installed a financial manager software and I have to tell you, it is really helping us a lot! It allows us to put in all income versus expenditures...the fixed, the recurring and the variables. I have to say...it is unplanned spending that always kill our budgets...because before we know it, money is gone...and we can't really trace it back. We started using the software December last year and I would say, it is really giving us more savings now.

Ah, also, most of our other incomes and allowances at work that are given to us through checks...automatically goes to our checking accounts...and once the money is there, it stays there...to cover recurring bills and become savings ultimately...because if we encash it, it does not get to stay long in our wallets!

We are also forcing ourselves to go into long term investment. So our other savings we put into that...plus, we allocate a certain percentage of our earnings to go into that. So in case, we screwed up our savings today...we still have something in the years to come.

Lastly, we take good care of ourselves! Because we can't afford to be sick in times like this...

* Not really an option to all, but I'm getting extra sources of income. :)

Please visit Sayre Smiles for more meaningful tips! ;)

There...hope I did not kill with you my 2 posts up there...and if you are still alive to this part, I hope you find the time to scroll down and read below.

I got it from an email....

If you’re mad with someone , and nobody’s there to fix the situation… You fix it .

Maybe today, that person still wants to be your friend . And if u don’t, tomorrow can be too late .
If you’re in love with somebody , but that person doesn’t know tell her/him.

Maybe today, that person is also in love with you .

And if you don’t say it, tomorrow can be too late .
If you really want to kiss somebody kiss her/him.

Maybe that person wants a kiss from you, too . And if you don’t kiss her/him today, tomorrow can be too late
.

If you still love a person that you think has forgotten you…. tell her/him.
Maybe that person have always loved you. And if you don’t tell her/him today , tomorrow can be too late.
If you need a hug of a friend… ask her/him for it.

Maybe they need it more than you do. And if you don’t ask for it today
, tomorrow can be too late.
If you really have friends who you appreciate…. tell them.

Maybe they appreciate you as well. That if you don’t and they leave or go far away today , tomorrow can be too late.
If you love your parents, and never had the chance to show them… do it .

Maybe you have them there to show them how you feel. That if you don’t and they leave today , then tomorrow can be too late.


I'd like to thank anyone who emailed and wish me well! I'm fine...and I have temporarily put down my HNT...so no invite for people because the site is like dead for now...I hope to be back with HNT by next month!

Thanks to Sage and Autumn for all...and also to Vixen!

I wish everyone a FUN Monday!!!

16 comments:

Peter said...

That certainly covered some ground Mariposa, and all good stuff too.

Jan said...

Wow, great post. I'm glad you're doing well. Congrats on you and ITGuy getting married. (When is it?) Fabulous.

karisma said...

Wow what a lovely long post. Sounds like you are doing some serious saving all over the place. Thats great! Glad thinks are looking up for you now.

Jeanna said...

I hear ya, I always seem to be in an economic crunch myself.
I find shopping is helpful because it can be good exercise and it's the best way to scout out bargains and avoid impulse buying (because you know the layout and won't wonder around and see something you don't really need).

Hootin Anni said...

Here in America it's just the opposite....Diesel fuel is way more expensive that 'regular' gas.

Happy Fun monday.

Driftwood and Pumpkin said...

Wow! That is dedication...catching up from a mixed week. Congrats on the engagement! Oh, and all of those tips were great!

Richard said...

Great to have you back. I jsut restarted myself, after a long trip down a flight of stairs. I can't believe that no bones were broken.
can i get an invite to your other page???pretty please.. Boredsenior.

Sayre said...

I should check out one of those money-managers. Keeping track of what goes where really does help you keep on top of things.

Congratulations on the upcoming marriage!!! You guys are learning a lot of the lessons to keep a marriage healthy NOW rather than later (money is the #1 cause of divorce here!).

Karl said...

Good Afternoon Mariposa,

Good to see you back!

So...if I kiss that someone I really want to kiss and she has me arrested, will you post my bond?

Mike said...

Oh its so good to see your still around Mariposa, i was very worried!

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a good plan!

Hula Girl at Heart said...

Good ideas, especially that last one about taking care of yourself...something we often overlook in times of stress.

Momisodes said...

I just love that photo of you and mom :)
and BIG CONGRATS to you and ITguy!!!!

So excited for you! :)


Hope work starts to ease up for you a bit so you can rest.

Unknown said...

Aw yes, leave it to the IT Tech-man to install stuff to save money! My husband is an IT guy to, and we were able to connect the computer to our tv so we can now watch tv online and cancel our cable. Hey, a hundred bucks is a hundred bucks!

PS: Thanks for visiting my blog!

Sayre said...

No one else has volunteered for Fun Monday yet - so it's all yours!

I'll update my post to announce it.

Thanks!

Faye said...

Admire the way you and IT Guy are putting your heads together to use technology to manage your financial resources so effectively. You share my attitude that the secret to thriving in this economy is to decide what you really want to spend money on that would make you happy. Plus, sounds like you're really working quite hard as well so continue to take care of health. Your mother looks like a great mom--cute mother-daughter photo.