It was a simple and yet meaning holiday for us this year. But for moms like me, I still work during the holidays at home. Nevertheless, I still find myself lucky that I still have a job despite the pandemic and I was able to buy my family some gifts. How about you, moms? Did you get yourself a gift this year? Pandemic or not, we really should love ourselves more because if we’re not healthy, our families also suffer. I remember the time when I got a fever, my husband got tired of looking after the kids and as a result, he gets grumpy until he doesn’t have energy to play with them anymore. The kids were also constantly worried about my condition. They would go to the bedroom every now and then asking if I was feeling better.
Monday, December 28, 2020
Monday, December 21, 2020
Can I Afford to Buy a House?
Not really my ideal house, but it's close enough. Picture from Pixabay |
Yes, yes, I know. It's Christmas and buying a house is probably the last thing our minds right now. But I'm actually thinking in advance for next year or the next. I am middle-aged woman of 39 and yet I still don’t have a home on my own. I’m actually still living with my relatives and that’s quite normal in my country. But still, having a husband and kids of my own, I still yearn for a home that I can call our own home. It’s still different when you’re free to do what you want and there’s no eyes looking at you.
Sometimes I would look at houses in our area and I get inspired to get homes like theirs because theirs are so beautiful and they look cozy. But having the salary that I currently have right now which is way below minimum compared to US rates, I don’t think I can own a home any time soon. So I thought of having a job offering a higher salary. There was a time in life and probably even now, I still wonder what kind of job does it take for me to afford something like a house or a car. I initially thought maybe only high income jobs like doctors or only laywers can afford good houses.
So I looked in the internet on the keywords, “can I afford to buy a house.” I wound up at Investopia’s article about being ready to buy ahouse. There were two questions raised there; one is am I ready to buy a house and second is how much can I afford. The second question is the tricky and hard one. My answer to the first question is yes, but the second one is something I have to solve first.
So I searched again on tools on how to buy a house in my current salary. I came across an online mortgage calculator and I was fascinated by its simple features. There I placed the price of the dream house I wanted which is priced at $127,000. I pressed “calculate” and then voila! To be able to buy my dream house, I need to have a job that gives me an annual salary of $29,638, which is, sad to say, an executive position already in our country.
After giving it much thought, it’s either I educate myself again and get certified to get a high-paying job or stay in my current job and get a side job like blogging, writing, or sell some goods (e.g. buy and sell). According to an article from Bloomberg, we really need to set a strategy when buying a home. Aside from the selling price of the house, expect additional costs to be paid and location is also important because it will really affect our daily lifestyle including our daily costs, more specifically transportation costs. That’s something I’d have to discuss with my husband and probably he’d give me some insights to help me decide on what direction I should go to. Maybe if we combine our salaries, that could work also.
So are we ready? Yes. How much are we willing to pay for it? Definitely less than my ideal home, but it's still under discussion. The pandemic has really hit us hard financially and I know it's not the right time to find a home, or is it? Hopefully, I could post a future article that discusses on the step by step process we would undertake on buying a house so I can share with our experience.
Comments or suggestions? Let me know in the comments below.
Saturday, December 19, 2020
The Benefits of Retractable Window Screens
If you’ve been thinking about adding window screens to your home, you’re already headed in the right direction. These provide a handful of excellent benefits and will decrease the amount of heat that enters your home, thus helping cut down on your monthly energy bill! Have you ever heard of or seen retractable window screens? These are similar to traditional outdoor screens but are installed on the interior of the window. When you want to take advantage of open windows, simply pull these screens down. When you’re finished, slide them back up into the housing. Here are a few other benefits of retractable window screens that might be exactly what you’ve been looking for!
1. Cuts Down on Daytime Glare
Do you have windows that receive an uncomfortable amount of sunlight during the day? It can make rooms incredibly warm and difficult to be in for extended amounts of time. Maybe your living room heats up mid-afternoon, causing you to run your air conditioning all day long just to keep your home comfortable. This can get expensive! With retractable window screens, you can use them as needed to minimize both glare and unwanted heat. When the sun sets on your home, you can pull your window screens down to block out a large percentage of the heat. You’ll be able to enjoy rooms in a whole new way without the need to crank down your air conditioning. Once installed, you’ll notice a stark difference on your monthly energy bill!
2. Enhanced Indoor Privacy
Retractable window screens will allow you to have privacy whenever you’d like. Instead of outdoor window screens constantly blocking your view, you can enjoy a fully clear view when you’re in the room and then use your retractable screens to ward off outsiders looking in. They’re perfect for bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and virtually any other room in your home that strangers or curious neighbors could peer into. You will have visibility looking out, but those outside will be unable to see in.
3. Insect Prevention
If you’re constantly dealing with mosquitos, flies, gnats, and other pests, having open windows may seem like it’s simply not possible. Retractable window screens can make that possibility a reality! They do a great job of blocking out insects so you can enjoy the fresh air, sounds, and sights of your back or front yard. Essentially, these window screens help you take back control of how you use your windows!
4. Full, Clear View When Desired
Traditional outdoor screens are notorious for obscuring the view when looking out. You’ve probably looked out of a window and been met with unsightly screen blocking your full view. Luckily, there is a better choice! When you want a full and clear view of your backyard pool, garden, the kids playing, or whatever else, retractable window screens are very ideal. Slide them up and you’ll have a crystal clear view with no screen wire in the way. You get the best of both worlds with retractable window screens!
5. Long-Lasting in Comparison to Outdoor Screens
Because they aren’t designed for 24/7 use, retractable window screens will have a longer lifespan than traditional outdoor screens. They won’t be susceptible to the elements and are kept safe in the screen housing when not in use. Often times outdoor screens wear down after years of rain, wind, UV rays from the sun, and insect damage. You will end up replacing these much earlier than retractable screens. While they may seem more expensive up front, the convenience and longevity of retractable window screens makes them worthwhile!
If view, lifespan, convenience, and privacy are important must-haves in your search for window screens, retractable screens will be the right fit for you. Generally, they can be customized to complement your home and are easy to install without the need of a professional. Since these can be used all throughout your home, they can really make a huge difference in the comfort level, so everyone feels good (not hot and uncomfortable). If you’ve only had traditional outdoor window screens or never had them at all, retractable screens will be a total game changer! There when you need them, out of sight when you don’t. What’s not to love? Retractable window screens are worth the investment!
Tuesday, November 3, 2020
NOVUHAIR Petite Conversations with Cory Quirino
Sunday, November 1, 2020
Simple Health Tips You Can Do at Home
The COVID-19 pandemic has really put a halt to our normal lifestyle especially the gyms and other recreations. But even if there’s a pandemic, health-buff people are still finding ways to stay healthy despite the pandemic and most of their activities are held indoors. I admit I’m one of the lazy people around when it comes to exercise because after working, I wanted to simply just rest and sleep. But doing so makes me weak and I started to feel numbness on my arms and legs.
Saturday, October 31, 2020
NOVUHAIR Petite: Less is more
Friday, October 30, 2020
NOVUHAIR Celebrates 10.10
2020 marks the 10th successful year of NOVUHAIR in the Philippines and what a better way to celebrate this milestone by launching the NOVU VIP CLUB.
Thursday, October 29, 2020
5 Reasons Why Your Hair Might be Falling Out
Losing up to 100 strands of hair every day is normal. If your hair starts to shed more significant than usual, or if they do not grow back as they should, it can be a source of concern. Once the cause is detected, hair fall remedy or baldness cure for hair loss treatment can be easier.
Wednesday, October 28, 2020
FREE Extra NOVUHAIR Herbal Shampoo Exclusive at Watsons
Friday, October 23, 2020
Common Car Problems We Experienced from Our Car
We used to have a second-hand car and we were happy because it was our very first family car. I believe it was a Mazda Familia 323 2007 model. My husband was confident he could fix its issues because he used to be an auto mechanic. But there are just some things that even an mechanic couldn't fix by himself. There were plenty of times we needed to bring our car to a repair shop.
Thursday, October 15, 2020
Home Improvement: Benefits of Plants and Flowers in Your Home
Home improvements seems very popular nowadays especially during the pandemic since a lot of people spend most of their time at home. I, myself, am guilty of this because since I am working at home, naturally I would want my home to be pleasant and organized as possible. Amidst the booming of home improvements, house plants became a hit which is why house plants nowadays which explains the higher price.
House Plant Benefits
Photo from Pexels |
Flower Benefits
These are flowers I ordered online from a local florist for Mother's Day :) Flowers never fail to put a smile on your mom's face |
Cactus Benefits
I used to have a cactus at home (a zebra plant) and I placed it in the bathroom. Unfortunately, it died after 2 months because of over-watering so I’ll try to remember that I should probably water it once every 2 or 3 weeks only. That's one lesson for a beginner. Cactus, like other plants, have benefits, too! Aside from making you happy for taking care of a plant, it’s also a good plant of choice to improve air quality in your home. According to an article from Cactusway, “By having cacti plantsinside your house, you could reduce the amount of air impurities by over 50%. Indoor plants can also lower the amount of dust and bacterial buildup in your indoor spaces.” I have to admit after reading that statement, I started looking at cacti online and started browsing for prices (haha!).
I have only written the gist of the benefits of plants and flowers because it might take a whole novel just discussing their benefits. Let me just say that I’m happy that people nowadays are getting back to appreciating plants and flowers even more than ever before because our future is definitely brighter if we love our plants (and trees) more.
Thursday, September 3, 2020
Shapewear for Working Moms
I have been working at home for years now even before the pandemic happened and that means I sit down on a chair for long hours during the day. Now this kind of lifestyle negatively affects my body and one of the things that I get to notice is that my belly and thighs are getting bigger, as well as back pains.
Now, I’ve tried buying ergonomic chairs to support my back and it really helped. But still, my belly and my thighs feel like they’re getting bigger every day and my skin on those areas are being stretched. That’s the time I searched for something that could help remedy the problem (aside from exercise).
In a post from Eyes on Manila blog discussing shapewear and its benefits to plus-size women, it was discussed how it helps curve the body nicely while wearing a dress. But I didn’t realize at that time that we can actually use body shaping lingerie while we work or in my case, when I work from home. I can look for some best shapewear for the tummy and since I also plan on controlling my diet, it wouldn’t hurt if I also start with some waist and thigh trainer also so they can be "trained" stay hopefully in shape even if I’m sitting down.
Among the best shapewear for tummy items or the ones that “trains the tummy”, I really like the picture on the left because I think I can simply wear a long t-shirt and just wear this since underneath since it already has shorts included. I just had to make sure to choose the black one so it may look like I’m just wearing cycling shorts.
Here are some neat features of the product from their website:
- One plastic bone on each side of the waist to prevent curling;
- Three layers are on the abdomen, two-layer mesh fabric, and one lining;
- Hook-and-eye crotch closure for convenience to go to the bathroom;
- The lining is a moisture-wicking breathable fabric, suitable for summer;
- There are removable, adjustable and soft restricted stretch elastic straps;
- Butt enhancing design can lift your hips and create charming curves;
- The shorts trim adopts the epoxy design to prevent the body shaper from sliding up.
Safety Measures in Using Shapewears
Now, keep in mind that the shapewears are not recommended for extended periods of time (e.g. 8 hours a day , every day), so once I get some shapewears for myself, I plan on using them probably 3-4 hours every Tuesday – Thursday- Saturday only. So since I really want a shapewear product to work, it’s best to know what the best Shapellx shapewear there is in the market so you can get best results and maximum comfort.
Monday, July 27, 2020
Calculating My Travel Budget
Determining Your Goal
Find a Calculator
Savings Goal Calculator |
Savings Goal Results |
Final Question: Can I Do It?
Saturday, July 18, 2020
The New Normal Due to COVID19
Wearing Mask
Curfews
No Talking in Trains
The Start of Distance Learning
Monday, July 13, 2020
An Intro to Contracts
Saturday, July 4, 2020
All About Sales Tax Nexus
What is Sales Tax Nexus
- - Personnel
- - Having an office
- - Having a warehouse
- - Storing inventory
- - Having an affiliate
Is Vat the same as Sales Tax?
What Triggers the Tax Administration Requirement?
Monday, June 22, 2020
Investing in Real Estate
Sunday, June 21, 2020
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Tuesday, May 26, 2020
Using Snus May Help You Quit Smoking
All About Snus
They may look like tea bags, but these pieces of snus are actually designed to give users a tobacco hit without having to light up. |
History of Snus
According to Wikipedia, in the 16th century, snuff (pulverized tobacco), the precursor of snus (moist snuff), was introduced to France by French diplomat Jean Nicot, who worked at the court of King Henry II of France. He recommended snuff to Catherine de' Medici as a migraine remedy. When she became a regular user of snuff, it became a fashion among the court and upper-class citizens of France, especially among females, as it was deemed more socially acceptable than other forms of tobacco.Will You Use It?
Snus is available online so basically anybody can purchase it except residents of Europe because it's currently banned there. But since vape is no longer available in our area, I think snus can be a step to help people stop smoking. I mean snus still does have its side effects since it is still tobacco, but if it can help you stop smoking then it's a good alternative until the user can finally stop using tobacco altogether. Maybe using it in moderation is a good way to go.Monday, May 25, 2020
Quality Online Class and Tutorial During Quarantine
Here is a sample math problem that was posted and its answer. There's only one answer posted, but if you need more than one, then you need to register to access the multitude of answers available. |
What if Your Question is Not Asked Yet?
What if I'm having Difficulty With a Subject or a Series of Problems?
SAT Prep Math Live stream Tutorial with Janine |
Sunday, March 15, 2020
Lyle Advisors Can Help You Settle Debt Faster
Planning about your finances is really quite a challenge according to almost all the TED talks I've listened to. There's no question about it. Paying off your marriage expenses, paying off your rent, credit cards, and your children’s enrollment fees may be your financial summary during your 20s or even 30s. During your 40s, you get to think more long term it often features growing responsibilities and ever-competing priorities. Your parents are older, your mortgage is still on foot, children’s education costs are growing, and though retirement may seem a distant reality, planning for that reality becomes an important consideration.