buy buy love

This year, I'd like to be able to master a few things.

The titles may be pushing it, but since this is a seemingly-new-year-themed-entry it makes perfect sense :)

1. Choose your battles

I'd like to be able to say by the end of this year "I only acquire if I can afford it, it is of good quality, something I will utilise and would stand the test of time".

Well, there really wasn't anything that I acquired which I could not afford. I think emphasis must be made on the utilisation part.

Obviously, my tabo doesn't have to be branded. Or of superior quality. A tabo is a tabo. And well, I don't even have a tabo.

2. Don't sweat the small stuff

If I go to a jewelry store, resisting to buy is a breeze, because things cost a lot. But if I go to a clothing store, it is very easy for me to buy something, because the cost is (relatively) low.

Another shirt. Another dress.

What I failed to realise--actually, more on what I refused to acknowledge was that perhaps I was spending a lot on these small things that I could easily have had enough to get something that would give me more satisfaction had I said "No" those times.

Don't get me started on the law of diminishing returns.

3. Know when you are "in love" as opposed to being "in love with love"

Once upon a time, I saw a pink sweater that I liked but did not buy is since I felt I didn'tt want to spend that much. For a couple of weeks I constantly thought about it.

One day, I decided to get it, only to realise that it was gone.

It has been around 12 years since but I still think about it.

In reality, if I got it then it would probably sit in my closet right now. Waiting for a chance to be worn.

It seems like an opportunity loss to me because I perceive it as the one (sweater) that got away.

tools for fools

I know, I had written about this too many times. But today, I will write about it again.

I think I spend to much.

I am not close to bankruptcy or anything (thank God), but I somewhat feel that I could save... more.

I had recently revised my personal finances dashboard (V4 at the moment) adding some KPIs and WOW, the result was breath-taking. As in I couldn't breathe when I saw the figures.

I think I would be effective doing BI/Analytics! <-- This reminds me of a conversation I once had with a headhunter wherein he says "I need someone who can make something out of nothing", while I got what he was saying (and that "nothing" was not nothing but "meaningless"), my sarcastic brain screamed "MAGICIAN?!?!".

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Back to the topic.

The most significant enhancement on V3 was that it included accumulators. Each month, you can see the accumulated gap between your budget and actuals. More important, it showed you the year to date savings.

That was a game changer. Maybe not as much as I would have liked as I was wanting a miracle, but it did help.

In the past, last month was last month. Past is past. Every month, I had an opportunity to redeem myself. While I am sure that everyday is a chance to redeem oneself, the tracking did not give me a full picture of my performance. For example, if I had a GIANT purchase in January, come February when I moved tabs, the expense is out of my sight. I was someone freed from the... ummm, guilt. Maybe. Damage perhaps.

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In the past I had entries and budget (variable items) for the following:

Fixed Cost
- Rent
- Help Fees

Variable Cost
- Daily Meals
- Groceries
- Socials
- Train/Bus Card
- Cab
- Shopping

Then I have this "Others" section where I key in Insurance, Social Services, Income Tax, More Shopping (If I have anything in installment), Travel, etc. Basically, anything extra that I have to pay for that month.

The trouble with the general Others was that it seemed like a black hole. I didn't know how much were necessities (eg: Insurance, Taxes), versus well, more shopping (gasp). Worse was that there was no budget assigned to these entries.

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In V4, I had added a Categories Column for the "Other Expenses".

I had also put in accumulators.

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I honestly don't know how I will fare this year.

I do hope that my enhanced tool will help me manage my money better.

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I know, it is like buying an exercise machine hoping to lose weight.

No one needs to remind me!

genes jeans

I remember that as early as high school, I told my Mom that I got her body type and that it made buying jeans quite tough.

As you see, my Dad is tall and slim and taking after his physique would had been quite, a blessing.

My mom is very good natured and would laugh things off. She is quite a good sport.

When the will.i.am song came around, I literally thought about my Mom. I got it from my momma (plus my reckless abandon with salt and sugar)!

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A couple of days back, I was talking to my mom about make up. She said putting concealer actually highlights her eyebags, so she stops at foundation.

I took a good look at my Mom and realised that she looks really, really, really young. No one would be able to guess her age by looking at her.

(Not only does she look young, she is also full of energy!)

Obviously, she had eyebags as with people her age but there is NO DARKNESS under her eyes, at all! One can say that it is miraculous. Seriously.

She has pretty good skin too.

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My sister is a replica of my Mom.

I think I actually look older than her.

I think I look like them too, but like my brother, I am a mix of my parents.

(Let as not get started on how much I look like me brother... there are too many stories to write on that.)

I got my Mom's nose though.

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I'll send a message to my Mom later today to thank her for her genes. I'm sure she never took my jokes to heart, but it would be nice to be thanked for something totally unexpectedly.

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Jeans? My sister in law took care of that ;)

(h)old

I know I am getting old. And not because of my cholesterol or blood pressure—I’m quite lucky that way (for now).

I know because when the person sitting behind me in the plane started pushing my seat with what I could only assume to be his knees, I breathed deeply, relaxed more and thought this is more taxing to him that it is to me, there is no way he could keep it up till touchdown. True enough, he gave up after less than five minutes—five minutes that probably felt like forever to him.

I know because I have sleepless nights thinking about retirement—even when I’m not even middle age. Maybe this is not old age but paranoia, but this concern did not keep me up during my teens—or twenties.

I know because I’d rather stay home and hang out with my sister than go to the mall and people watch. I still like doing that, but I’d rather get to know the person my sister is becoming—a patient mother, devoted wife and a very mature woman while remaining a thoughtful daughter and kind and generous sister.

I know because I catch myself saying that’s too sweet not only to dessert, but also drinks.

I know because when going out of town, I had become interested in bringing back local produce.

I know because the term open house sounds fun to me.

I know because more and more, I want to spend time with my loved ones because I now truly recognise that nothing lasts forever.

targaryen?

From the first time I read George RR Martin, I've been fascinated by dragons. Once, even a dragon from a place much associated will the Iliad.

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I'm not sure if the Targaryen's sigil is to blame, but for roughly a decade now, I have had this thing for things--okay, jewelry than come in a 'form' or group of three.

Maybe I am forcing the connection. But as I am re-reading the books now, it makes perfect sense to blame the book for a recent um, undertaking.

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Now that I think about it, my thing for threes sort of started way back elementary days.

Confirmed. Forced connection.

When my sister wanted white gold charm bracelets, I wanted tri-colored ones.

When my sister wanted diamond hoop earrings, I wanted the tri-band hoops with matching intertwined ring.

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When the seven-days bangle became popular, I didn't really care for it.

I thought my best friend's three bangles were way cooler :)

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Fast forward to my late teens.

My sister wanted 10mm studs in white gold.

I wanted it in white, rose and yellow.

This actually makes me greedy (or a hoarder), rather than establish the three thing.

But I am writing about wanting and not actually having.

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The past couple of years, I find myself ogling at three strand necklaces.

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The interesting thing about three strand necklaces is that while these look great, like dragons, it entails hard work, patience and determination to keep and take care of them.

I have two three strand necklaces--both had given me much headache to have made and maintain. Not to mention that these are stubborn and would not stay put when worn around your neck. Not unlike dragons.

I would often complain to my mom and she would say, "why don't you sell them?", then I'd say "but they are mine". Again, reminiscent of Daenerys' stint with Drogon.

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Sometimes we give too much so we could have something we are slightly nuts about.

Just this morning, I told my Mom, "I seriously spent more than what this (one of the necklaces) is worth with all the hassle I had to go through". Then I quickly added, "I'm keeping".

every woman in the world (to me)

A sea of MAYBEs.I was talking to the person I'm with about the proverbial "one".

Not sure if I had written in the past that for me, "the one" is an expression only. A term to identify the best fit amongst the long list of candidates qualified to be with you. There isn't just one person you can be happy with. Most. That is the key word.

Anyways, that is another topic.

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What I was talking with the person I'm with was, what does "the one" mean to other people?

For me, the one is the person you love (or want) the most. Like the movies. Like references to "the one that got away".

Not whom you choose. It has nothing to do with choices. The heart wants what the heart wants.

I was somewhat surprised to realise that some people define it differently.

To them, "the one" is the person who chooses ( loves / want ) them the most.

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In a perfect world obviously, there is no point writing this entry because the one you choose is the person you love/want the most. And you, for him. Or her.

inventory

With shoes like these, it is easy to understand why one would perpetually stand in tip toes ;)