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Friday, July 28, 2017

Robinsons Place Iligan Opening + My Financial Situation

Hi,



Robinsons Place Iligan has their opening last July 26, 2017 in Iligan City, yup my city. I've been living in Iligan City since 1997 so I've been living in this city for almost 20 years already. My mom and I left my father's hometown in Samar, Leyte when my father died because my mom wanted to live near her relatives. I graduated my primary until tertiary in this city, I did not experienced living outside this city even though I am travelling to some places I like but this city is the city I can call my home.

Iligan City has only 2 big malls for now, we have Gaisano Mall City Iligan and now Robinsons Place Iligan. Our city is not that big when in comes to land area but I am proud to be an Iliganon. We are two hours away from Cagayan de Oro City which is more progressive than our city but if I were to choose to live in these cities I still choose my city. Because of the war situation now in Marawi City our security situation has been threatened. It's only been an hour or so that our city is from Marawi. During the war our city accepted refugees from the war and the residents of Iligan adjusted to our new residents. Our city is composed of 50-80% Christians (not really sure about the percentage) and 20% Muslims. Even though the city is not a 100% Christians residents there was never a discrimination from the two groups and we treat each other fairly despite the differences.

The Robinsons Place Iligan is only a few kilometers away from our home, we only ride a tricycle and a few hiking to go to this mall. This mall is much bigger than Gaisano Mall so most of the people now are visiting Robinsons. During the opening the opening guest artist is Daniel Matsunaga, sadly I was very far from him so I was not able to see his face clearly :( Me and my family visited the mall on its opening, we only took few pictures inside the mall.

My mother and lola.

Me at Daiso Japan. I really love Daiso Japan, when I go to Cagayan de Oro City I always go to this store.

Me, mom and lola.

Lola, My Cousin and his son, Mom.

Robinsons Place Iligan is a one stop shop of all the things you need, they have there Supermarket, Department Store, Movie World, Restos inside. When you think of it this mall is really a temptation for unnecessary spending, hehe. There prices of goods is also high compared to other small stores in the city. Right now I am planning not to spend so much time in going to this mall. I should resist the temptation to always go to this mall because actually when you are inside you will really be tempted to buy anything that is inside. 

My current financial situation right now is quite bad, I am two months deficit on my budget. My travel to Bohol last month was not even planned and I was not able to save in advance on that trip. For next month August I wanted to see to it that I will save for a travel fund. The worst part of my situation now is I have 0 emergency fund :( I still have my VUL paid automatically monthly, my long term healthcare which is KAISER, and my FAMI Equity Fund. My income monthly mostly goes to this, my breakdown is below:

VUL(AXA) - PHP 1522 (to be paid 10 years)
KAISER - PHP 2647 (to be paid for 7 years, right now I am paying it for 5 months already)
FAMI Equity Fund - PHP 2-5K per month

Do you think this is a wise decision for my finances? I am finding it hard to saved for my emergency fund because every time I saved 3 or 2k for my emergency fund I always touch it. I am putting my emergency fund in a cooperative instead in a bank or atm. So when I touch it, my emergency fund goes to zero again. Do you have any suggestions for me? I really need a help on this. And I noticed that we have a huge expenses on food. I gave my mom 7k per month for our food expenses and I noticed it was not enough for the 3 of us. I have a debt of PHP 2100 right now and will pay it next month. I don't really like to have a debt. I don't have a credit card and I am not planning to have. I have only one atm card where my payroll goes every month. Do you think I should open another bank account for my savings? I apologized I have so many questions on this post. My mind is really not in a good mood because of this financial problem I am having. I am hoping I can still go back on track next month. For unnecessary expenses, I don't always go out because I am working at home, during my pay day I treat my mother and lola twice a month only. I don't also buy new clothes every month, or make up because I don't wear make up, I only wear a powder and a lipstick every time I go out. I don't wear make up because I have an acne prone skin and I am sensitive to products that I don't normally use. I only spend on a facial cleanser, shampoo, conditioner, lotion and other needs for myself. I  have my tracking spreadsheet where I tally my everyday expenses but in the long run it was not effective, I get bored after a few months of doing it, I tried the envelope system and it did not work also. Right now I am doing my budget system on a notebook but I don't tally my expenses.

Hoping that next month I can still go back on track on my finances. Thank you for reading this post, if you have any suggestions on my questions feel free to comment. I really do love to see any comment on my post :)

Till next time.

Cheers,


Saturday, July 15, 2017

Life Update July 2017

Hi,

How are you? It's been a while that I was not able to update this blog. I've been with so many things that make me so busy, physically, emotionally and spiritually. My last post was on the month of January where I wrote about my investment with FAMI and I am happy about the growth of my investment now.

Last January I am struggling with my work.  My boss decreased my salary and it does affect my finances as a whole, yes  it can pay my bills in full but my other needs cannot anymore be met. So I decided to apply to different job postings again but unfortunately I was not very lucky. Then what I did, I contacted my friend Diane who is also working online and ask a favor if she can refer me to her boss and apply in their company, the reply was 50/50 chance but I did not loss hope and I waited for few weeks for me to get hired, luckily I pass the probation period and was hired full time after that. Thank God I did not loss hope, I prayed and prayed for it and God answered my prayer :) , sometimes when we have a prayer that is not answered directly by God, we usually give up and loss hope but for me you shouldn't, persevere and keep the faith.

I am already 29 years old by now :) I am proud of my age, hehe. I became 29th last June 4th.


By now, I am happily single, contented and happy :) , most of them ask me why I am still single and not yet married? Well, I just answer them that "maybe it's not yet time for me to get married, lol, haha". I will honestly tell you here that my ex contacted me last February, well it did not turn out well and thanking God it did not happen that we get back together again, he is now in Jeddah working and fulfilling his dream, I just wish him well. I now believe in this line "Whatever happen never ever get back again with your ex". That past relationship I had has so many ups and downs, the cheating and betrayal was the worst of that relationship. I am thanking God all the time that he saved me not only once but twice from that relationship. I thought that love was enough for a relationship to work but it takes more than that, it takes a lot of courage, risk and hard work. My single season now is the season full of peace and happiness because I realized that I have my friends and family who loves me a lot, more than I can ever imagined :) When we are in a relationship, our focus was on our significant other most of the time and we forget that we have friends and family who loved us more than a lover can do, so please don't neglect your friends and family while you are in a relationship.

I've attended a wedding also last May 20th, it was my cousin Melvin who got married, all our relatives are expecting that I will be the next in line after him,lol! Let's pray for that, haha. There is always a miracle when we believe, hehe. See our photo together below. I am his made of honor.


The whole summer I was very busy with his wedding preparation and my job, so I was not able to have a summer vacation. So I was exhausted and wanted to travel even for just a few days. And it did happen, yay! My friend Irene contacted me on Facebook and she ask me if I wanted to go with her including with her friends to go to Bohol for a short getaway and my answer was a big YES! I hurriedly pack my things and ask for a vacation leave from my boss and he said yes, yehey! I am so happy I can finally get out from my comfort zone, haha. I am working at home so a short trip like this is needed so that I can relax and replenish my motivation to work hard. 

Then June 24th we went to Bohol via Trans Asia and stayed in Alona Bamboo House, Panglao, Bohol for 3 days and went home on 28th. It was a short trip but it was a memorable and jam pack adventure for me and my friends.

Our photos below are the evidences, hehe:

At the famous Chocolate Hills of Bohol.

And also a famous tarsier of Bohol.
Riding a small boat going to a fish sanctuary of Balicasag Island and watching the sea turtle.

The whole group plus our tour guide Sir Jonathan. Visiting a coin collector with his incredible coin collections.
Visiting the farm with the biggest Python but he is dead already last 2012, what we saw is his descendant,aw I don't know how to say "anak" haha
At the Butterfly farm, look at that wings, hehe.

At the Virgin Island, unluckily we arrived there during high tide so we cannot see the sand formation of the island.
And now the last but not the least, our extreme adventure was when we ride the ATV, it was around PHP450 per person for about 1 and half hour of ride. It was really worth the price.

My solo picture at the back of the chocolate hill sitting with my ATV :) yay a very happy lady!Hehe

Well so that's it. I just wanted to share about my experienced :) It was a happy and memorable experienced for me over all. Thank You God for all these blessings and opportunities. Till my next travel adventure and post on this blog. 

Cheers,