Christmas 2011

Merry Christmas!

I had been away for almost a month online to attend to various activities last month and even as the Holiday Season come.  Last November, I started working on some shopping and decorating my apartment to set the mode for Christmas. I made it simple decors I do not want to spend a lot. I got tired of working overtime just to have additional budget. Maintaining a bigger home costs more than when I was staying in a room good for only one person. The good thing about having a bigger apartment is I could decorate my house and has bigger space when my family members would visit.

Three Pairs of Shoes

Oh no… these are not my sandals and shoes. I cannot afford to have these wide arrays of footwear. I took this photo using my cell phone from one of the shelves inside a shopping mall in Ayala, Makati City. Secret… I am not telling the name of the store. I do not want the store to have a free ad in my blog. I could not use my camera, lest the security guard might confiscate it. That is the beauty of the new cell phone techno these days. As the TV ad says, cell phone is all in one. You carry one gadget and you could enjoy plenty of useful functions. You just have to have lots of patience to know all its features. To be honest I am not so keen on cell phones. Until now, I do not know yet all the features of my cell phone. The Wi-Fi feature is great but you have to wait for the not slow but very slow connection.

So, what about the shoes? Saturday afternoon last week the 20^th of Nov, I had a bonding time with my teenager niece and her best friend. The friend is a boy, so he is her boyfriend. I advanced my cash Christmas present to my niece thinking we will have more time to shop. I know she is not picky just very picky when it comes to items she would like to buy. Luckily her boyfriend is gifted with tons of patience. I just had to show them where to go. I sat at a couch nearby. I had to peek once in a while to check if a sales lady is already pulling her long hair. Good enough the well trained sales ladies entertained her well. When the sales ladies had their backs turned, I would tell my niece. When I shop I know exactly what to buy. She just smiled and said it is because she wanted the best deal.

I was at the mall at two in the afternoon. They arrived an hour late because of traffic jam. We ate lunch and snacks all at one time, before we got ready to shop. We were done with three pairs of shoes at eight in the evening. Her boyfriend had to take her home. She arrived at their house in Sta. Rosa Laguna City at eleven in the evening. It was a tiring day for three pairs of shoes. Yet, I am happy, my niece got so excited for the long hours of shopping. She sent me text message saying she will ask her brother to give her money for Christmas. We will do another round of shopping. Wish me luck folks. ☺

Mall Hopping

For a change, Last Sunday, 19^th of September I went to Ayala Malls in Makati City to window shop. I was lucky to pass by a boutique for ladies that displayed some ladies blouses on a fifty percent off the original price. I fitted a knitted blouse but the size and color I liked was no longer available. I settled for a black cotton blouse. I went to buy a fashion rubber sleepers remembering the one I am using at home needed to be changed. There are other blouses and clothes on fifty percent off the original price but they are still expensive. I took to the cashier two more t-shirt blouses that I could pair with my legging pants. I could wear them all, comfortably at work or when I go for a walk or mall hopping. Cashless shopping using my debit Master Card is very convenient. 

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I do not buy party clothes unless there is an occasion for it. I go with blouses and skirts or pants to economize on clothing. At least I could pair them interchangeably. The lady at the cahier had a wide grin when I told her I am to wear the rubber slippers and that to put my slip on sandals in the shopping bag. The rubber pair of slippers has about two inches heels. Despite the heels it is comfortable for long distance walking being so light. My next stop was on kitchen ware. I checked for the prices of a new water heater and oven toaster. I was advised by a sales lady of one of the malls. They will have kitchen ware discounted sale by mid October. I thought to myself October is too close. I could wait. 

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I do not know how long I had been hopping from one mall to another, taking quick visit to the fast food for lunch and snacks. I had fun and walking exercise. I came home almost late in the afternoon. I was physically exhausted but mentally unwind. I slept too long after a cool shower. ☺

Off to Work Today

Speaking of Christmas shopping, my apology to the daddies and mommies who do not want to think about the occasion yet, yes some of you are correct it is too early. However, the reason why I shop early is because of pre-Christmas discounted sales. I guess some of the malls in Manila are trying to dispose some of their stocks to replenish with new ones. Manufacturers instead of taking the items back. They sell the items at discounted price. I developed the technique of scouting for items that might go on sale. I checked on the original price of the items.

During mid night madness, it is how we call it here. Malls are open until twelve midnight during the sale. That is why it was called midnight madness. When the items go on sale I tried to check how much they are being marked down. I noticed mall owners had been wiser this time. They would only get few stocks and would reorder when needed. Before, I could buy books for as low as seventy percent mark down, now not all the books go on sale. If all of them do, only up to twenty percent off. Budgeting? Count me in, folks. Well, just being wise when it comes to spending.

Today, the 30^th of August is Philippines National Heroes Day, and therefore it is a holiday. No work for those that goes to the other offices at daytime. Not me, I got work. Call Centers do not have work Holiday. We do get additional pay though when we work on Philippines Holidays. I received a text message from our team captain at work that we have to render at least one hour overtime today. I replied okay, count me in. Hush! I do not want to frustrate him in exchange of my remaining vacation leave. I want him to approve the vacation leave at the latest next week. ☺