Paper bags, how do you reuse them?

I usually end up with a lot of paper bags from fast food and convenience store purchases. It's becoming the norm to dispose them by just throwing them in the rubbish bin.

These are paper afterall, and is definitely better than plastic in terms of decomposing.

I've realized that Sari-Sari stores can use this in lieu of plastic bags. Saves them money too. So, if you know any Sari-sari stores, you might want to suggest this. You can also help them out by saving those paper bags yourself, even better if you can ask your officemates to pitch in.

I am currently doing this. I've asked a few colleagues to give me their paper bags so I can give it to a nearby Sari-sari store for reuse. ^_^
I give them all the paper bags I have on a weekly basis.

So how cool is that? Plus one for the environment.

A New Way of Budgeting....

I cannot remember a time when I was not saving. I've done it throughout elementary school, highschool and college. But there's something about earning my own money that makes it harder for me to save up.

I think one of the hindrances is that I know I have my own money to spend.

As an experiment, starting today I've decided to give myself a 2000 peso weekly allowance in 100 peso bills. The idea is when I spend for food, I pull out a 100, for transportation another 100. Anything left over from those 100's will be saved in an piggy bank. This would limit my spending to a max of 300 pesos per day. At the end of the week, anything I've saved in my piggy bank would be money I can spend anywhere I want. Or I could also wait a couple of months before emptying the piggy bank.

This is just a means to limit my everyday spending. I don't really budget but I more or less allot a certain percentage of my income to savings via BDO's EIP program. (Which I will be talking about that in a separate post.)

Tell me what you think? I'll give this a try for a couple of months and see how it goes.

-Maria

Sample sizes, are you using them?

I have a lot of sample sizes from my purchases of full sized items. The good thing about this is they give you a variety of their other products to have an idea if these would be products that you would be using in the future. Plus these are FREE!!! Who wouldn't love them. ^_^ I used to have a whole drawer full of these.

Also a great way to use these would be for travelling. The sizes are perfect for your carry-on.

Usually, a sachet of cleanser would last me 3 to 4 days. I think this is also nice to give away to friends and family.

To read more on the reviews of beauty products, visit my other blog that deals solely with that.
www.beyoutifulmaria.blogspot.com

Credit Card Promos July 2015

BDO
Promo Period: May 18, 2015 – July 18, 2015
Claim until: September 18,2015


Minimum Spend           Threat
Php 3,000                       100 GC from Pizza Hut 


BPI
Promo Period: July 1, 2015 – September 30, 2015
Claim until: November 30,2015

Minimum Spend           Threat
Php 3,000                       various food item from Jollibee and Red Ribbon

Php12,000                      various food item from Jollibee and Red Ribbon

Php 25,000                     various food item from Jollibee and Red Ribbon


Standard Chartered 
Promo Period: May 7, 2015 – July 31, 2015
Claim until: September 30,2015

Minimum Spend           Threat
Php 1,500                       food item from Mrs. Fields

Php 2,500                       food item from Kenny Rogers

Php 3,000                       food item from Seattle's Best
.                                      food item from Cupcakes

Php 5,000                      100 GC National Bookstore
                                       100 SM Gift Pass
                                       food item from Mrs. Fields

                                       one bowling game (SM Bowling)

                                       one planetarium show (Exploreum)

Php 8,000                      food item from Kenny Rogers
                                      food item from Seattle's Best

Php 10,000                    SM Skating Rink
                                       Exploreum
  

Minimalism

I've been trying to "minimize" my life for the past months, And boy is it hard.

But what is minimalism? A lot of people may think about white walls, sparse furniture and open spaces. Well, minimalism IS that but it can also mean what you want it to mean. You can be as broad or as precise with it as you want.

For me, minimalism is a thought, an idea that perhaps there is more to life than material possessions,
I've realized that making my life simple not only brings me more happiness, more time, more money and more clarity to think about the important things in my life.

I was watching TED Talks when I realized that, that is what is missing in my life. I've attached the following video from TED Talks and these are the same ones that inspired me to take action with my life. I hope you might also have the time to watch this and keep an open mind.

Thank you,
Maria