Ramadan Mubarak in Dubai

I should say, Eid Mubarak, since Ramadan is almost over on Thursday...

Goodbye 6 hours duty, hello again 8 hours duty....

For those who are not aware about Ramadan in Muslim country...

"Ramadan in Arabic is the 9th month of Islamic calendar, and the month wherein Quran (bible of Islamic religion)was revealed. Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan is one of the five Pillars of Islam".

To those living in GCC countries, everybody knows that during daytime, it is not allowed to eat in public as a sign of respect to those who are fasting. Moreover, most of the restaurants are closed and will only open at Ifthar (evening time) which is around 7:15pm. There will be a corresponding fines if the government authorities seen you from eating or drinking in public. Children are exempted of course but parents must be considerate of being seen in public.

Actually, if we will just study the Islamic religion, there are so many good things that really makes sense. This is why, i don't believe that those terrorists are really muslim because the real one and if a firm believer of Quran, they will never do such bad crimes.

Also, Ramadan is also about Charity, they call it "Zakat" in Arabic - to give a percentage of your income to the poor. Most of the UAE locals are generous, they always provide free food during Ifthar at the mosque and give money to the poor. It keeps me wonder why the world misunderstood the Muslims, they are good people.

Living in Dubai for quite more than a decade, the UAE Nationals i know are the most kind and generous.Perhaps, Muslims are getting generalized against other Arabs in GCC countries who misbehaved and the world forgot others who did good to people.

Anyway, for me, Ramadan may not be the best month of the year because it is also the hottest season. Overall, i still wish it is always Ramadan:)

Well, on the side note, since Ramadan is almost over i can have my morning coffee again at my desk and eat my "baon" or any "chichiria" :) I will just miss going home at 3pm.

Eid Mubarak to all my Muslim brothers!!! 

May Allah bless you more!!!!

The Pursuit of a Designer bag

Hey, it's been a while.

... and hey, please don't judge me! I know this is supposed to me my journey to financial freedom, but also about life :)

I am still a middle-aged woman, wishing to have at least 1 designer bag.

However, I didn't know that it is like the tag line of Pringles - "once you pop, you cannot stop!"  i hope not!

Though, inside my head, i have the tendency to be like that.

When i started investing, believe me, every single chance, you can see me reading all financial blogs or watching videos of "Pesos and Sense" from Episode 1 to 13.

Since then, i started from VUL of Sunlife, Stock market, Mutual Funds, UITF, and all including "alkansya" system and recently, buying lands from our province.

This is why, i feel like i deserve something nice. So tiring to keep on saving.... I have enough of an emergency fund. I didn't even touch my annual bonus and soon i will be receiving my airfare money. So, i decided to buy something that I've been lusting for a while...

Finally !!!

LV Speedy 30 Bandoulier in Damier Ebene

original packaging

personalized initial, yaay!

I would like to document everything starting from LV store until unboxing but as always, i feel ashamed to take a picture:) obviously a first time LV owner.

On the side note, i asked my husband first before buying this purse. He actually encouraged me to buy while i can. Besides, i have enough fund to buy and nothing to compromise. My husband is the sweetest! He just bought me an iphone 6 recently and i don't want him to spend again on me this year.

Back to the bag, ohhh, i am just excited to talk about it.. This is my first Louis Vuitton bag. But this is not my first designer bag because last year I bought a Fendi Tote bag - supposed to be LV Neverful but I changed my mind because it has no zipper and bought Fendi instead - Fendi Zucca Tote Medium Bag.

Actually, i've been researching for a while before finally decided to get the Speedy 30 Bandoulier in Damier Ebene. According to purse forum blogs, you have to plan your purchase of designer bags in order to avoid duplicate or unnecessary purchase, unless of course you have unlimited budget for a splurge.







For me, since i already have a nice Tote bag, i would like something that has a multiple use - for office, semi-formal gathering, travel, casual... Also, i want something that is classic and easy to maintain. Therefore, speedy 30B is the perfect choice for me.

However, i am getting worried that it is becoming an expensive habit... I don't care about purses before. I am more of a shoes' and clothes' person. But now, it seems like an addiction. Though, seems i am still normal because i only have one big purchase every year and take note IN CASH. Nothing less, nothing more.

As of now, I am so happy and contented with my Speedy B, however again wishing to check Balenciaga city soon.. maybe... hehehe 

We'll see then. If i have a bucket list for my future, i also have a wish list for my rewards.

I always thank God for giving me so much blessings more than i deserved. God is good.

Are you happy in a Corporate World?

Opps, it's been a while again and it is becoming a habit of me posting once a month only.

As usual, so many alibis. Hopefully i will be better soon.

I've been stressed out at work lately because my partner at work was transferred to our sister company and i have no more support from my team.

Our 2 weeks Philippine vacation is still not approved. My husband got and mine is still doubtful. Fingers crossed and hopefully it will push through.

I've been working so hard - going home late on weekdays and coming to work few hours during Saturday. Really annoying but i will suffer more if i will not extend my hours at work.

Hey, i am not complaining! Still happy that i have a very challenging work with lots of benefits. However, sometime i feel that it is getting too much.

I am working for my family but not giving much time to them lately. I feel so blessed of having a very loving and understanding husband who is always there to comfort and helping me out at home chores.

This is one of the reason why i am trying to maximize my savings so that I don't have to work hard once my daughter started her high school.

I need 6 more years with a maximum of 10 years and i will stop working in a corporate world.

Oh well, that's how life is.

My parents didn't tell me that i have to start saving when i was in 20's or put up my own business to secure financial freedom at the earliest.

Gotta deal with it. My daughter is lucky 'coz everything is already planned for her and she have a mother who will guide her financially in every step of the way.

Corporate world seems so glamorous and fabulous but no one will tell you that there's so much crap to take or better yet leave the company.

Appraisals, promotions, increments, bonuses, politics…. 

Welcome to corporate world.

Still, I am happy that it is helping me to my ultimate goal in the future. 

Shopping Smart in time of Sale

Two more days and Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) is almost over. It is a one month festive celebration in Dubai starting 1st of Jan until end of January. 

Just 2 more days left and I just bought a 'Jordan' shoes for my nephew. Not a single item for me. Though today, I almost take home an Ipod nano with earphone, Beats by Dr. Dre. It was actually a good deal but as usual, i have to sleep on it and research more before i buy it.

Do i really need it? No! I just want to buy something for my birthday (in 2 weeks!). Actually i already bought a gift for me in advance 3 months ago:) So advanced right? T'was my first branded/designer bag and costs me almost PHP50K. But hey, no judgement here! I've been researching and dreaming of it for almost a year. So, what the heck! I want it. Period.

I know this blog is supposed to be about saving, investing and living. Sometimes we have to be balanced and enjoy the fruits of of our hard work. I've been working my ass off for more than a year living just 30% of my salary. I need to give in to my wants once in a while :)

Today, while i was looking around for the Ipod nano and just had a casual conversation with a "Pinoy" salesman who insists to take the good deal with Ipod + Beats' earphone.

Kabayan: Take it na ate, its a very good deal, imagine you can only buy the earphone for AED100 while the actual cost is AED484.

Me: I will think of it pa, i don't need it actually but i've been eyeing this for a long time.

Kabayan: Take it na, what is the use of working as OFW if we cannot buy what we like. Besides, you have credit card naman ata eh. I bought nga an iPad mini, sale kc.

Me: "Yes, i have, but a credit card doesn't mean you can buy it for free. I still have to pay for it. Saka you should buy only the things that you need not because it was on sale". Nag-lecture pa ang lola mo. Siguro, sabi ni kabayan to himself, Whatever!

To make the story short, i just said, i will think it over and also check around and then we'll see. Anyway, I still have 2 days to think. In the end, i went home empty handed.

Imagine, if all of our fellow OFW has this kind of mindset, no wonder that most of them will go home empty handed as well.

I just hope someday, they will be more literate about finances and be disciplined as a consumer. 

For me, I will just look forward the good things and comfort I will get once I reached my target certain age.

So for now, better to buy stocks as a gift to my future "me".

Happy weekend everyone.

Thank you 2014, Hello 2015!!!

It's been a while since my last blog. I cannot justify my laziness to post at least once a week because i have so much time wasted at FB. It should be one of my new year's resolution to minimize at least 5-10mins browsing only.

Anyways, so many things happened from the past few days..

Work wise

• 43rd UAE National Day Parade on 29th December - annual celebration in Dubai sponsored by our company.
• Christmas party here and there
• Preparation for New Year's Eve (lighting of Fireworks at Burj Khalifa) - this year it will be grand because as you all know, Dubai always wanted to have the best of everything. I am just glad being part of the team lighting the Iconic Tallest Tower in the world.

• 

  My Downtown Dubai

  Personal/investing
• Got a new property but still have to pay until September 2015 
• Spend more than my budget this month because it is Christmas and so many dues to pay (insurance, real estate tax, fence for new lot, gifts, etc)
• I had a flu and colds for a week due to change of weather in Dubai. First time i used my insurance card and realized that i always have to pay AED75 (around Php900) for every check up. Though that is the only thing i have to pay 'coz everything is covered. Seems the insurance will pay around AED1000 (Php12000) for my doctor and medicines. Not so bad, though. Perhaps, it is the company's strategy not to misuse the card and sick leave:)
• My Fun fund is growing. I never imagined that it's been 10 months since i started my "alkansya".

Moving forward, 2014 has been a great year for me and my family. I have a lot of things to be grateful but the most important one is my parents and family. I am always thankful and blessed to have them  even though i am not always around them. I really hope that we will celebrate more new years ahead and wishing them to be healthy and happy until old age.

Happy New Year everyone!!!!

Please watch the live stream of Burj Khalifa NYE celebration.

http://www.mydubainewyear.com

Salary or Camaraderie?

Would you rather stay in a job with a good salary or because of good camaraderie among your colleagues?

I've been thinking this question while on my way home because I was so upset since my favorite colleague is leaving for good to her home country in Indonesia. 

I became so attached to her, perhaps I looked up to her how she handle and managed to be calm always despite of our busy schedule in our department.

She's kind, adorable, organized with her work, very approachable and so religious.

Ever since I started my new work, she was the one who always support and motivates me to keep going.

I was really saddened when she breaks out the news before I left for the day.

Back to my question..

For me, my main priority for accepting a job offer is because of the salary package and camaraderie comes second. Besides, I know myself that I can easily adjust to a new environment. It's just a matter of positive vibes.

However, in case of some circumstances that I may not be happy with the job because sometimes, there are really difficult people that you may encounter in the corporate world… of course, I will quit.

What is the use of receiving good salary if everyday coming to work is like a torture to you? Getting up in the morning and always planning to call in sick...

Still the answer depends on the situation. If you have dependents and responsibilities, I believed the answer would be the other way around. We, Filipinos are known for being martyr. We can always sacrifice and endure whatever are the circumstances just for our families.

However, since I started being debt free person, with few investments and emergency fund on hand, then I can decide to quit easily.

On the side note, it would be great if we can have both - good salary and good camaraderie.

True to its word, being financially free gives you freedom to be happy. Money is a powerful tool if we will just use it wisely. Wish I was able to know this when I was younger. 

Maybe, I am no longer an OFW living a simple life in our far away island in the Philippines.

Moving on, being frugal is a choice but at the same time, it has given me a choice, which later on makes me realized, I made the right choice :)

Excuse my rhymes. Kulang na lang Ladies Choice. Hahaha! I am not sure if it makes sense. I just want to share my day…

Good night peeps.

My Bucket List in 5 years

Time flies so fast.

It is almost 2 months left and welcome 2015. I have to review and revamp my Bucket List again.

So far, here's my priority list to achieve within 5 years!

• A 5-hectare rice field or "Palayan". 

• Best school for my daughter in Dubai. Gems Wellington it is!

• Trip to Japan, or Canada on 2017 as a 7th birthday gift to my daughter (year 2017)

I am trying to list more but I can't think of anything else. What is happening to me? I used to have an endless list always. Perhaps, I have practiced the simple way of living, being contented and be grateful for every blessings coming to my way.

However, aside from above mentioned bucket list, all i can wish is for the best of health of my parents and family. They are my joy and my life. No amount of wealth can replace my parents. How i wish i will be able to spend more time with them.

This is also my greatest motivation to acquire a 5 hectare property so that within 5 years time, I can go home and live simply with my family.

By that time, I hope i already completed my VUL, UITF, FAMI and COL for my retirement and educational fund of my daughter.

Aja!

Happy Wednesday everyone!