On Credit Cards and Debt...

Early on in our marriage my husband and I decided that we would not apply for any credit cards. We have heard so many horror stories on the high interest rates and the people that get buried in their debts afterwards. Oh we do have our moments where we just want to apply for a credit card right away so we can afford those cool gadgets that we see at the mall but we just said to ourselves that if we can’t afford to pay it in cash then we really cannot afford it and we don’t have the right to buy it. So that was what we did, we paid cash for all the furniture and appliances that we have in our house. We did a lot of not buying impulsively even if both of us were working then and we were glad because we were able to afford to move out of our parent’s house without incurring a single debt.
But I must admit that in this world we could not entirely survive without a credit card forever. I know there will come a time that we would need one especially when we need some cash for starting a business or some unfortunate event where we will need a huge amount of cash. Going into debt still gives me a shudder but I am glad there are companies out there who can help us manage our debt if the time ever comes.

Pizza, Pizza, and more Pizza...

I am constantly craving for pizza and my cravings don’t get realized because my son loves eating at Jollibee more and I do not think the prize is worth it for one family size pizza so I just give in to my son and repress my cravings. Today was different though and I said this is the last time I am going to say no to my cravings. I have heard about the Pizza Hut’s Palm card where they have a buy 1 get 1 promo for every pizza that you order. I always wanted to get one but never got around to getting it because I did not know how. Then I remember that all the things you need to know can be searched on the internet (duh, why didn’t I think of that before) so I checked out Pizza Hut’s website and was surprised when I saw that I can order their Palm Card online and through phone and have it delivered in 45 minutes. What’s more I can use the Palm Card right away. So I called their customer service and verified what I read online (I still couldn’t believe it), so when the rep said that I can indeed take advantage of it right away I ordered 1 family meat lover’s pizza. Was surprised when she asked me what kind of Pepsi I am going to order, she said I have to order it too so I can get the free pizza. When checked the 1.5 Pepsi costs P65! That’s a lot considering I can buy that in the grocery for like P45 (I’m not sure coz I’m not a soda fan), but what the heck my mind’s made up and my son and husband both love sodas so I proceeded with the order. So my first bill added up to P862 (they also have a service charge fee and tax) which was higher than I expected but there’s no wiping the joy in my face when the pizza and my palm card was delivered. The Palm card (P349) will expire in 6 months but it’s fine by me because it will cover the holidays (Christmas and New Year) and the birthdays of my son and husband. Now, we have more pizza than we could eat and oh here’s the best part – I don’t have to cook for lunch and dinner! We even have enough leftover for S to take as “baon” to his office. So if you are a pizza lover like me check out the palm card (pizza is free only if delivered and taken out, for dine it you only get 10% off). By the way, Shakey’s also have their own card, don’t know the name because for some reason I can’t access their website.

Cisco Certification...

If there is one thing I regret in my life it is not pushing for an IT related course when I was in college. Little did I know about the wonderful thing that is the computer and the internet and how it will affect our lives now. I honestly thought computers are just for typing a document and internet is just for searching for information. I certainly did not imagine that the internet as it is today will be a community consisting of people from all over the world and I would enjoy being a part of it and is now using it to earn for my family. How I wish I have some technical knowledge so I can keep up in this fast changing world.
When I first heard about about Cisco certification I honestly did not have a clue what it was all about but this website is such a wealth of information on anything Cisco related, from the courses you need to take, the modules in each course, to the career where it would lead that in no time I was well-informed. It even has personal stories of people who have taken the Cisco certification and how it helped open new opportunities for them. Upon checking the website further I learned that it does not only contain all the information you may need, it is user-friendly too. Anyone who wants to take the course can can register online and then attend class via their virtual classroom. There is of course a fee for it but if hey the skill you will learn is invaluable. This has definitely opened my eyes that there is still hope for me to learn something new that could lead to a better opportunities. I am sure even my husband would be excited to add this certification on his resume.

Picky eater...

Z is such a picky eater that I was afraid he is becoming malnourished already. Oh, he will eat the foods I serve all right but only in little portions. And he does not eat snacks too. Whenever I ask him what he wants to buy at the store he will only ask for a lollipop, if I suggest a biscuit or a cookie he will decline. I always wonder if my toddler does not get hungry at all because whenever I ask him he’ll tell me no he’s not hungry. Eating has been a constant battle between my toddler and lately I have been losing. It’s hard to make him eat what I think is the right portion for him every single day, three times a day. Now I am immune to our relatives saying Z is so thin, before it was a big deal for me but now I don’t care anymore. Why would I care when the pediatricians that we asked told us that Z has a normal weight for a child his age. But I still agree, he looks thin and his height makes him look thinner. And although defeated I have always wondered if I have not done the best I can to make him eat. I was contemplating his eating behavior, a child that doesn’t want snacks is really hard to believe. Then I realized when there is a biscuit in our drawer he would get it by himself and eat it without any prodding. And when the biscuits are all gone he would stop eating snacks all together, he would not ask for me to buy some more, he would just stop taking snacks altogether. So I had what they might call a lightbulb moment and when we had our next grocery shopping I made sure I bought lots of biscuits and cookies for Z. I bought different varieties – cupcakes, cookies, biscuits – so he will not have any excuse at all. Then I put it in an open box and positioned it conspicuously in the center of our living room where Z plays. And what do you think happened, yes Z was eating the snacks left and right. I don’t have to say anything too, he just grabs it sometimes 4 times a day or more and eat not only one but even two or more. It’s indeed a miracle for me who before can only make him eat one cupcake at the most and most days none at all. I am so happy my strategy worked. I am thinking of adding fruits in Z’s selection of snacks so he can get more vitamins in his system. Being parent is not that easy really. You have to be a detective and a problem solver and if you fail another person’s life would be affected. This may be small for others but it is a huge achievement for me. It reminded me that there is more than one way to solve a problem and sometimes the solution is staring at us in the face, we just have to stop for a while and think it through. I hope other parents who have the same problem learn from this or am I the only one who didn’t know?

Menu for Week 29...

Here’s what I’m going to cook for this week. Usually I have a hard time thinking what to cook and do my cooking at the very last minute so I hope this will help me prepare our meals on time.

Monday – Tuna Spaghetti
Tuesday – giniling (minced meat) with beans, potatoes, carrots,peas
Wednesday – chopsuey
Thursday – fried fish, pansit
Friday – sinigang
Saturday – adobo