Mumwrites

musings on this profound journey called motherhood + everything else in between

Home: Are You Too Busy to Clean? Use These 5 Tips!

People are living busier lives than ever before these days. They have all sorts of responsibilities, and when they go home from work, the responsibilities do not end. With all the work, parenting duties, community efforts, and other things that people these days are involved in, a lot of them do not have time to do the housecleaning that they want to get done. It’s an important part of making your home comfortable and livable, but it can also take too much time out of your busy schedule to get it done right.

What you may be missing are some shortcuts to cleaning faster, easier, and more effectively. There are ways to make your house look clean and still have time to get everything else done each day. Here are our top tips: [Read more…]

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Thankful Thursday: Of Giving + Gratitude

As the adage says, “for it is in giving that we receive.” And it is true. Notice how happier you feel when you were able to give to someone compared to when you are the one receiving? I guess giving expands our hearts and our joys and we ought to make a habit out of it. We do not really need to give material things, in fact, the simplest things make the most impact, if you ask me. Undivided time and attention for your children, affection and service for your partner, a homemade dish for your friend or neighbor, a simple “Thank you” for the attentive guard or sales staff. There are so many ways we can give to others and we do ourselves a great favor by doing so.

This week, I am ever grateful for: [Read more…]

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Pawning For A Cause + My Very First Sangla Experience

I never had a personal experience with pawning but I remember it clearly when my Mama would pawn whatever jewelry she and my Papa owned whenever we fall on hard times or her brood of five needs extra money for school projects and other expenses. In fact, there are a number of occasions when pawning helped make both ends meet for our big family with our Papa, an ordinary employee, as the only bread winner. Thankfully, now that I am a parent myself, there has never been any immediate financial need that would require me to pawn or get a loan.

It is true that there is a stigma surrounding pawning or what we call in our vernacular, pagsasangla, in our conservative Filipino culture. Some would speculate that you are probably neck-deep in debt or is simply too poor to opt for pawning. But in reality, and, in realization, as I just had my very first pawning experience, it is actually a very practical and wise way to get funds for emergency, for augmenting your inadequate budget, or, in my case, helping a charitable foundation, without resorting to getting a loan with big interests or borrowing from families and friends.

Pawning For A Cause

I have just tested firsthand how pawning can be practical, very reliable, and hassle-free.

I recently met with a mum blogger friend in an event and she mentioned about Hero Foundation, which she has supported numerous times being a military wife herself.

image from the Hero Foundation website, herofoundation.com.ph

According to their website, HERO or Help Educate and Rear Orphans is a non-stock and not-to-profit organization that provides “supplemental financial support for the AFP {Armed Forces of the Philippines} orphans. The support come in the form of stipends directly given to the families to help with the cost of books, uniform, meals, transportation, school supplies, and sometimes, even their tuition fees.”

Since December is almost upon us, I thought it would be a great idea to spread some Christmas cheer by donating to this foundation who helps educate and raise orphans of our fallen soldiers. I am certain that whatever amount I give will go a long way in providing for these children and in helping them have a brighter future. It is also some sort of a personal tradition to help and donate to causes and charities each year whenever I can, my own little way of sharing the blessings I continuously receive.

You can also help by sending your donations to:

BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES
Account Name: HERO Foundation, Inc.
Peso Account: SA # 0013-6263-32
US Dollar Account: SA # 003184-0434-31
Reference No.: Donors name or write ANONYMOUS

[Read more…]

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Money Matters: Where Are You In Your Financial Journey? {Quiz}

money talks, money matters, budget and finance, press release

Are you just getting started or already well on your way to financial security? Find out here!

Flexibility is great. Especially in money matters. You get to go your own way, pave your own path, and do what works for you {and shun what doesn’t!}. But too much of a good thing could be bad. So in order to take full advantage of the gift of flexibility, you need a little structure and some timeline. Take the quiz below to know where you are financially, so you can plan, protect, and proceed with your best life ever!

1. Where are you now in your career?

  • a. Starting out and getting experience/training
  • b. Seeking promotion or changing jobs to enhance career
  • c. Preparing for retirement

2. How much are you making now?

  • a. Your spending is still greater than your income
  • b. You regularly receive pay rises and salary increases
  • c. Your expenses have gone down and savings have started to build up

3. What are your biggest expenses?

  • a. Mortgage, car loans, and credit card debt
  • b. Utility expenses, children’s allowances, tuition fees
  • c. Retirement fund, medical expenses, real property taxes

4. What’s your current financial goal?

  • a. Travel abroad and pay off credit card debt
  • b. Save for children’s college education and buy your own home
  • c. Build your retirement fund and beat estate tax

5. What does a financially secure future mean to you?

  • a. Earn enough to do and buy what you want
  • b. Live comfortably (whims included!) with your family amidst house repairs and tuition fees
  • c. Have enough assets to live comfortably and still leave something to your heirs

6. What are you doing to make that future happen?

  • a. Saving up and developing new skills
  • b. Investing and finding other streams of income
  • c. Turning retirement savings and pensions into income

[Read more…]

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