Christmas 2009

It has been tradition for the family to spend Christmas afternoon in a hotel. This year we checked-in at the Legend Villas in Mandaluyong.

After mass, we packed the kids and left the house at 11am for our Christmas rendezvous. Traffic was a breeze and so we had plenty of extra time before check in.

My eldest constant prodding paid off and my husband and myself found ourselves strolling Fun Ranch! My eldest loves car racing and there happens to be one at Fun Ranch, so you might have as well guessed that the cart race ride was our first stop.












Meanwhile, my 16months old toddler contented himself with the various video and boothgames next door.











(ofcourse he is just make believing, he is scoring points against bad guys)














A few more rides and 1ooo bucks less my husband's pocket after, we left Fun Ranch and had lunch at the nearby Max's Tiendesitas. We all had our fill, except for my toddler, who was busy moving up and down the stairs of Max...and well experimenting with his spoon!













We reached the Legend Villas around 230, freshened a bit and headed for the Robinsons Pioneer, which happened to be just a block away from the hotel.

My toddler son on the otherhand had his own freshening up, checking out every nook in the room. We had a family room, with 4 single beds, a ref, tv, cable, phone, wifi, dinner table and a 3 way tb.










(I dont know whats in there, but, he cant seem to have enough of this side of the room!)












The kids had swell fun at the hotel. We were up early the following day. Had breakfast at 7am. By 8am, the kids, well including their papa, were trying out the pool and the jaccuzzi. The weather was cold, so they ended hogging the jaccuzzi.






A very good bonding time indeed!!!

Addicted to Cards

Save for some, where reason for card debt is an emergency (family beinghospitalized, etc.) or lost source of income...
For most of us the culprit for card indebtedness is the big "S". Let's face it shopping is addicting. And credit cards come in handy if you don't have cash with you. Unfortunately for some its too late in the card swiping game before they get to realize that they are actually spending more than what they can afford to pay after. Thus you end paying only the minimum amount and the outstanding balance is charged a whopping interest of 3% (that is 36% annualy), plus so many other charges – many of which you've only heard of now.

Here's some tip on card usage:
(1) Know your budget and DO NOT spend outside your budget.
(2) Maintain only two cards (the 2nd card is an emergency card). Onecard is enough. Cards are temptations, if its in your wallet, you are more likely than not to use it (even if you don't need to). Trust me it is difficult to balance multiple cards in your wallet.
(3) Mind your due dates and pay on time. Card centers have grace periods of 3-5 days, but if your payment gets posted after the grace periodyou are charged an additional for late payment.(4) Get the most out of your card – charge your utilities to your cardand earn rewards.
(5) Do not do – CASH ADVANCE. For cash advances you are charged with a cash advance fee right away and it is still part of your outstanding (meaning part pa din into ng papatawan ng interest, so double whammy).
(6) If possible pay in full. Isipin palagi na sayang ang interest (If your outstanding is P10,000, for an interest of 3% that is P300 already. So if you pay P400, effectively you have only paid for the interest).
(7) Learn to read the fine prints and the asterisk "*". There is always an added condition for freebies.

For those who have read this posting way too late... you can try asking your card issuer for an account restructure. In restructuring the interest may be lowered or waived, other charges may also be waived. Tell the card issuer, you have so many cards and you fear you might not be able to settle everything thats you why you want to pay them, but can only manage so and so amount... some issuers will be willing to waive the other charges (not the principal though).

I have not heard of anyone who was put in prison for not paying his loan,except if you issue a check that bounces that would be estafa. Otherwise, you would just be asked to issue a promissory letter, "promising to pay". If you do not have a means to pay they can't force you out of your home nor confiscate your belongings (unless the issuer is able to prove that themoney used to buy your stuffs were charged from your card).

Ensure to pay of your dues. Credit card companies has an association thatshares bad records and the bad record also gets reported to the Bankers Association of the Philippines . The record stays there forever, unlessyou settle fully the total amount due, our name is still there but with notation that you have settled already. This would affect your credit rating and it would be difficult to get a loan from a Bank (not sure if SSS/GSIS also gets access to these reports) when you need one. Bad records would may also harm your employability. Good companies before hiring people checks on their candidates credit rating/record. Moreover, if you have plans of migrating/working abroad, your bad credit rating may also surface.

In summary, use your card wisely!

Pains of House Building

House CONSTRUCTION is such a big word. Not to mention EXPENSIVE.We
have been planning since like ages and with two kids (ages 1 and 5) in tow, it
better be soon.

We lived in a 4BR bungalow type house owned by my parents, who migrated abroad and left us the house. It is an old house. I was barely six (6) years old when we moved there. I recall that we were one of the first houses in the
village and that the road was not even paved, when we first moved in.You can just imagine the toll left on an old house by Millenio and Ondoy! We just had to rebuild!

(this old house)

Finally on January 3, 2010, with our amassed strength, we got a bank loan (in addition to our savings) and started building our "dream house".

SOME TIPS ON HOUSE CONSTRUCTION (FROM PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE):

(1) Be sure you have the house titles in order, especially if you have plans of applying for a mortgage.
(2) Depending on the total cost of your dream home, you need to have at least P100,000 to P200,000 to ensure continued construction. Release of loan for construction is staggered and the bank will not release until your contractor is able to deliver the needed percentage of completion.

(3) Even if you are getting a loan from a bank, you would still be shelling out the cost of MRI, CARI, Fire Insurance, documentary stamps and registration. For a P3M loan this would cost you an additional P50K. This does not include the building permit and other permits you need settled with city hall.

(4) Do on line research. It would give you an idea on whats efficient, comfortable and nice to look at.

(5) Try applying Feng Shui to your designs. I heard that the value of the house appreciates when feng shuied!
(6) If you want to get rid yourself of the trouble... less ofcourse the additional expense, hire yourself a contractor! This what we did. Hire somebody you know! Otherwise get referrals.
(7) Even with a trusted contractor, be involved in selecting the flooring, roofing and the house colors (interior and exterior).
(8) You need additional permits to move in. Yup, "gastos ulit".
(9) Finally, if you think you are done with the "gastos". Think again! With a beautiful house... you would need fine sets of furnitures and appliances.

Some pictures from our new home :)
(The Masters' Bedroom)

(The Masters' Bathroom)

(terrace)

(1st floor, sala-dining-kitchen area)