Here

 Oh hi there!

Yes. I came across my old blog. It was from MULTIPLY back in the days (like 2005?).

I am glad I came across this blog again. 

I am not sure what I am going to do?

Keep writing here?

Well, I could use another alter ego. 

Or should I say a different outlet?

End of May 2013 : My 2nd credit card is now ZERO balance!

whoop! whoop!!

As I got paid this Friday, May 31 2013, I also paid off my balance on one of my credit cards!

This means I have paid off 2 credit cards and only 3 more to go!!!

I am super excited for living debt free!!

My Style

I was not used to wear stripes - I always thought wearing stripes - especially horizontal stripes - would make you look wider.

So I never had (horizontal) stripes until...........

I started working at this clothing store, then I have learned to love it.

The other day, I went to ROSS and found this $18.99 stripes dress which happens to be one of the hot-for-this-season item. This is actually my 2nd stripes dress, the 1st one is more black with white stripes dress and this one is the other way around.

I combined the dress with flower statement necklace, red big belt and red cardigan.

I was going to wear my red shrug, but could not find it.

I think you can wear what ever color of cardi - match the necklace or contrast it!

My other choice color of cardi would be green or yellow.

Have fun with stripes!

How expensive is expensive?

In my previous post I wrote about recognizing our weakness when it comes to spending money.

Mine is shopping for clothes. I am still prone to clothes shopping till now I have learned to 'budget' my spending on clothes. Let's just say I have created my own standard of what is expensive and what is not.

So here's what my standard in buying clothes:

1.  Scarf - it goes on your neck, it does not really have any real function except for occasionally keeping your neck warm in cold weather. Therefore
- it can not be over $20 - I am sorry I can not buy $20 and still be 'naked' ;-)

2. Necklace - I make my own necklace with glass beads, semi-precious stone beads. No plastic whatsoever. So whenever I see a piece of jewelry - in my case a necklace and hair pins - I pay attention to
- the material - if they are made of plastic - I will not spend more than $10 for a simple necklace and no more than $20 for more sophisticated necklace.

if they are made of rhinestone or real crystal, then I may fall for maximum $30.
Again, they are accessories, after you buy one, you are still not completely dressed.

3. Dress - this is my biggest weakness. I love dresses!! I have several if this and that for dresses's shopping guide
- if it is branded - my favorite one is Calvin Klein - the maximum I can spend is $60. So if I find $25 for CK dress, most likely I surrender
- if it is not the famous brand , $15 is a great price, maximum will be $25

4. Tights  - I have learned the hard way, it does not really matter whether they are expensive >$20 or less, they will be ripped, caught on something and get bleached from shoes you are wearing.
So $10 is the highest I am willing to spend on tights.

5. Tops - less than $20

6. Skit - less than $20

7. Shoes - I have not found any comfortable shoes for me ever. Not Clarks, not Sofft, not Aerosoles, not Born, not Life Stride, not Merrel, not Naturalizer, not Allegria, not Dansko, not J41.  NOTHING.
So while I am still looking for those good brands, I will not spend more than $50 on shoes - expect for maybe boots, then $150 is maximum.


Set your standard low, and stick to it.

Do not buy anything that won't match with what you already have in your closet.

Do not always fall for bargain, someone once told me ' You can get broke from buying bargain!!"

Working in retail as your 2nd job?

Personally because I worked in retail before, I chose retail as my 2nd job.

If you are interested in finding a 2nd job in retail here's somethings you need to consider:

1. During holiday seasons, starting October - December, most retailers will require their employees to work extra hours and late. Late can means 11 pm or beyond.

If you do not mind that, then you will not have a problem.

If you feel you can work maximum till 11 pm but not after than, then..................

find a smaller retailers, where the managements usually do their own scheduling (instead of 'automated computer system) which means you are more likely able to negotiate your availability.


2. Most of the time, it will not pay you much. Now if you really want to get extra money from this 2nd job, choose the ones you have interest in but you can not afford or no need to spend on!

Maybe office supplies, electronics, fine jewelry, higher end boutiques, furniture. 

For instance, I worked in a shoes store before, and yeah..I ended up buying extra shoes while I worked there - not good right?

Where I work now, I LOVE the style but I can not afford to buy even with my employee discount!
And when I have the urge to buy, I really wait until it goes on extra extra sale and use my additional coupons on top of it.

Managing my paycheck...........

First of I am lucky to have a decent job with decent pay.

Now I am saying decent here it's not because I am not grateful, but I am merely saying I have had higher pay before and right now I get paid less, yet it's good enough for me to start paying my debt.

Since I work 2 jobs, I get paid pretty much every week, though one is less than the other.
My biggest paycheck is about $300 and my other one is only $50-80. :-)

I split my paycheck into 4 different accounts - therefore I know somehow someway, I am still saving.

It does not matter whether it's only $1 per week, IT IS STILL SAVING. 

I did changed the proportion recently, I had to sacrifice the savings and put more into my paying bills account. But again, I am still saving even though it's bit less than usual.

Every time I get paid, I have scheduled payment on my credit card as well.

I make sure I keep enough 'bumper' for my monthly fixed bills .

How do you manage your paycheck to pay your debt?

Where to save?

Everybody is talking about saving money and getting more money.

In reality, sometimes it's not as easy.

For instance, every time I read an article about saving money, it's always mentioned about 'bring your own lunch', no more coffee, don't go out.

Well, I have done all of those and I still feel I do not have extra money. And there were times in my life I thought "Darn. Does it mean I am out of ways to save money??

No!

I know exactly how you feel, but don't get discourage! I will let you teach you how to see things differently!

I call it SHIFTING YOUR THINKING.


First of, those tips are true, they will save you money!

I have done a little math for each of the tip.

Lunch :
These days, for a decent lunch, you need to spend at least $7.00 .

For me who work 3 times a week, that is $21 per week or 10% of my pay for that week is gone.

You may argue..'Ah..it's only $21 per week, not a big deal, BUT

That $21 you spend on lunch, you could have use to pay your bill.

The way I am thinking is like this :

That $21 per week can be used to pay the utility bill or my car lease bill.

So between buying lunch which many times do not really fit my taste and keeping my car with me, I choose the last one.

Each of us will have a different view, and it's OK, but I found out, if I could 'justify' my savings, more likely I would do it without a grudge!

No-more-debt journey

As today, March 16 2013 

I have a zero balance in one of my 5 credit cards.

4 more to go!!

I am broke therefore............

Where do I start?

Long story short, I have about $20k in debt that I have to tackle.
How did I get in debt?

Well, to be honest, part of it was caused by my shopping addict and part of it was caused by our family situation where my Hub lost his job in recession 2010 and we had to move 4 times across country because of the job.

I have not yet contacting any debt counseling institution, mainly because I am inspired by Anna and her vanishing debt story.

Just to be fair, I think I need to let you all know about source of income we're getting and our situation, so that you can decide whether my way will work for your situation.

1. We are family of 3 - a child in early grades in elementary school

2. My Hub works full time job, pays pretty good - his income is for rents, his bills, and our bills

3. I work 2 jobs, both part time, in financial institution and in a retail. One pay slightly more than the other. I get paid every 2 weeks on both jobs - which ends up getting paid once a week.

4. We have 2 cars, we cable.

5. Our bills (excluding credit card bills) are : utility in our current place, rent, utility in our house which is rented by someone else, cable, car insurances, car leases, daycare

6. My bills are : credit card bills : 3 of them (of total $20k), car lease $105/mth, car insurance $55/mth, gas $50/month - yes you read it right, I have a smart car, the gas tank is only 8.5 gallon, student loan $1750, prepaid phone $15 per month.

So I have to admit, I consider myself lucky because I have a partner which means there are 2 source of income coming in in our household.

So my income pretty much for myself.

This is what I have been doing so far

1. Admit your weakness : is it going out? movies? trips? clothes? shoes? eating out?
Mine is well, yes..shopping for clothes. I can curb my addict on shoes, handbags etc, but most of the time fail on clothes.

2. What is your source of weakness? and how to eliminate your weakness?
I have severals:

When I didn't work, I tend to get bored and when my Husband came home, I demanded to go 'window shopping' which ended up real shopping. So I knew I have to work!

I used to work in a department where I could got AWESOME deal! and it's hard not to buy.
When I started hunting for a 2nd job, I chose a store where I could hardly buy a single thing in the store!

I also have a tendency of getting 'excited' in new place, we lived in a small town before and when we 1st moved to a much bigger town, I got shopping euphoria!

So again, when I looked for a job, I make sure my workplace location is safe from the shopping places.
My current workplace now is actually next to a mall -which is bad, BUT can be good at the same time, as I can go there everyday, and this makes me bored of looking at the same stuffs again and again.

.........................................to be continued

Neither poor nor rich

I am very grateful that my Son loves tofu.

So tonight I fix this easy cheap meal for all of us

1. Half pack of extra firm tofu $1.59

2. Handful of sugar snap peas (from a bag of $2.99)

3. Handful of bean sprout (a huge bag of $2.99)

4. Handful of carrots cut diagonally (a huge bag from Costco)

5. 2 cloves of garlic, shallots

6. 1 package of Yakisoba Noodle - you can use regular spaghetti noodle ($1.00 a box)

Voila!

Our meal has 3 color of veggies, protein and grain!

I am neither rich nor poor

I do not have a heart to go to a nail salon and have my nails done.

It's very tempting, but the idea of spending $20-$35 on my nails while I can buy some meat and veggies with same amount of money, I choose groceries.

Maybe I am poor, and even if I am, it's OK. 

My nails can be plain, but our meal must be colorful.

It's my life I am living

Abraham's 1st Drawing

Abraham’s first word is CAR. He has been in love with wheels ever since he was about 6 months old. Whenever he saw wheels he would always point at them and tried to make them go round.

Now, as part of 3-year old developments, he’s into coloring and ‘drawing’ things.

 And this is his first car that he drew himself! No help from Mom or Dad at all!!

 

ME and My Son

We were bored eating turkey for the past several days, so we decided to eat out. We tried this new restaurant downtown, since I was craving for 'red meat' (no bird please!!).

Before taking order, the Server were asking Abraham some questions such as 'How old are you' , 'What's your name?' and Abraham answered all the questions correctly. (sometimes Ab deliberately gives wrong answer..such as 'Gong Ging' or 'Goo Goo Gaa Gaa' for 'What's your name question etc).

Then the Server asked 'Should I take your order now?' (I was pretty sure her question this time was meant for the adults)

Before Me or My Hub answered, Abraham answered her first and firmly ' I want french fries!' .......

(The Server was pretty impressed by Abraham, since she has a 2-year-old too but she said Abraham is way well spoken than hers!)

8 things why you should NOT ask 'When are you gonna have another baby?'

1. It's really not of anyone's business!
2. OK, so it's basa basi, well, but it's BASI! try to be more creative in asking question to other people.
3. What if the couple you asked were having health problems, that they actually really wanted to have another baby, but they cant?? what do you think the question gonna make them feel??
4. What if the couple you asked were  having domestic problem, like one of them was abusive and the other was struggling how to take care her/himself and the kid?? what do you think the question gonna make them feel?
5. What if the couple you asked were having financial problem, that for everyday life they almost couldnt afford anything? that they might even have to get their kid being adopted? are you going to donate some money to them??
6. What if the current child the couple had was having challenge, that they had to concentrate in raising him/her?
7. Would you feel better if every couple you ask to have another baby, follow your 'advice' and DO have another kids but all the kids were abandoned? not being taking care of because the parents simple couldnt handle more than 1 kid?
8. What if the couple you asked were not good parents, that their only kid was never in a good care. Does having another kid will make them better parents???

Ask those questions to yourself before you ask other person the 'Q'

Days @ Work : when you do things wholeheartedly...good things will come to you..

Today I worked full shift and it was crazy! Customers over customers and there were only 2 of us in the department.
Then when the store almost close, I was just about to ring customer, my Co, called me 'Suri, come here'
I turned to her puzzled, wondering why she needed me, cause I didnt think I helped the customer ( I didnt see the customer, I just assumed he was gonna buy something).
'What's up?' I asked.
'Here. He wanted you to have this." she answered and pointed on something.
'Want me what??' I replied more puzzled. I looked where she pointed and there it was, a box of chocolate, still confused...I obliviously said 'No, it's not mine...
'No, no' said my Co, 'This is for you, from him!'
Then I looked up to see who the customer was, I did recognized him, he was the son of the customer I helped yesterday with suit..
Turned out that they left the cellphone at the store yesterday while shopping and now the Son came to pick up the cellphone and at the same time brought this box of chocolate for me!
I was speechless, all I could say was 'Hi. How r u?This is for me???'
He answered 'Yes, that's from My Dad, he thought you shoud have it cause you were so nice and really helpful yesterday.'
I felt my jaw dropped...it was really sweet of them to think about me and decided to give me a box of chocolate!
I was so happy and thank the Son (& The Dad) for the suprised lil gift!
So..that day, eventhough I felt my feet were gonna fell out of me cause I've been continously running here and there helping customer, having the box of chocolate in my handbag reminded me that some customers came home and felt really happy for my assistance!!
( Dear Mr. Wayne somewhere in Bozeman, thank you for the chocolate, you made my day wonderful!!)

Seri 'Hidup di Amrik' #53 : about marriage and babies...

There 2 things that REALLY REALLY suprised me about American, even until now.
For some reasons, in my mind I have always thought that American in general will get marry later and have less babies (than Indonesian for instance)
Maybe because the images of US that I am familiar of are big cities, career-oriented people, expensive living cost etc etc.
So, when I learnt that a lot of American actually got married when they are 23, I was 'shocked'
And my reaction is always .......puzzled...????
Most of the time I cant help myself looking at the person (especially if I know them) and wondering to myself...'R U sure? You're still young!! Get career! Have fun! Gee..you're brave!' etc etc etc..
Every single time, I heard someone is getting married in such young age, I am still 'astound' even until now...
That's my 1st astonishment...
The 2nd is about # of children in the family.
Again, my images about American is always 'modern family, 2 children, both working parents' (why? dont know!)
This perspective is even 'stronger', especially after living here, I learnt how tough it is where you have to take care everything yourself, unlike in Indonesia-where a family can afford to have 1 or more baby sitters and maids.
I feel I really cant have more than 1 child if I have to do everything myself..so very likely other women would feel the same way...
But I was wrong!
I've seen a lot of women with an 'army' (more than 2 kids!) doing groceries store without any man around! And it's not just one time! A lot of time! Not just that, these women also able to take all the kids to different kind of activities here and there...
Wuiiihhh!! 2 thumbs up for those women!
And these women are BULE!!!!

 

Seri 'Hidup di Amrik' #53 : about marriage and babies...

There 2 things that REALLY REALLY suprised me about American, even until now.

For some reasons, in my mind I have always thought that American in general will get marry later and have less babies (than Indonesian for instance)

Maybe because the images of US that I am familiar of are big cities, career-oriented people, expensive living cost etc etc.

So, when I learnt that a lot of American actually got married when they are 23, I was 'shocked'

And my reaction is always .......puzzled...????

Most of the time I cant help myself looking at the person (especially if I know them) and wondering to myself...'R U sure? You're still young!! Get career! Have fun! Gee..you're brave!' etc etc etc..

Every single time, I heard someone is getting married in such young age, I am still 'astound' even until now...

That's my 1st astonishment...

The 2nd is about # of children in the family.

Again, my images about American is always 'modern family, 2 children, both working parents' (why? dont know!)

This perspective is even 'stronger', especially after living here, I learnt how tough it is where you have to take care everything yourself, unlike in Indonesia-where a family can afford to have 1 or more baby sitters and maids.

I feel I really cant have more than 1 child if I have to do everything myself..so very likely other women would feel the same way...

But I was wrong!

I've seen a lot of women with an 'army' (more than 2 kids!) doing groceries store without any man around! And it's not just one time! A lot of time! Not just that, these women also able to take all the kids to different kind of activities here and there...

Wuiiihhh!! 2 thumbs up for those women!

And these women are BULE!!!!

 

  

 

The Gerber's Story

Sometime in 2006, after July, before October, I enrolled Abraham in Gerber Organic Contest online. The picture I chose was when he was about 6 months old. He was just crawling then.

Just before I left Indonesia, I received a notice stating that Abraham has won the contest, and that I should wait for further notice. When I was in Indonesia, I had my Hub to send me the paper works from Gerber to sign and return as part of the procedure before Gerber announced the Winner online.

On December 2006, just couple of weeks after We got back from Indonesia, Gerber's representative and their Photographer came to do photo shooting for Abraham. It was taken place in Holiday Inn Express in town.

In 2007, we finally can see the announcement online about the contest...

Gerber promised his picture would be in Organic Rice Box in Spring 2007. Spring passed, Summer passed, Fall was back, still no product found on the market. My patience evaporated. I tried calling Gerber, but nobody seemed to know what's going on. I even called Gerber's HQ in NY and left about 1000 messages, unanswered....

I was preparing a letter to be mailed to NY Post or any other newspaper about the case, when finally someone from Gerber called!! It was already 2008!

She finally found out the problem, promised us to get things straightened up.

March 2008, Gerber sent us some goodies and the copy of the pictures during the photo shooting...

Gerber said, they would still use Ab's pic and it should be in Gerber's Organic product, and it's expected to be out in the market on Fall 2008.

Then finally, today, November 11 2008, a UPS guy came carrying a huge box in front of our door. And here it is...........

 

It feels that We couldnt be any happier!!

It is a Gerber Organic Product- 6 pack of baby first food, assorted fruit and vegetables.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hari-hari di Tempat Kerja : Setahun sudah Saya bekerja!!

Yap! 11 November ini Saya genap satu tahun bekerja di M. Diawali dari Pekerja Musiman, sekarang Saya termasuk Pekerja Inti (core) paruh waktu di bagian Pria.

Hasilnya?

Alhamdulillah...

Bisa nabung untuk Ab besar nanti, untuk biaya prasekolah Ab, dan untuk Saya sendiri.

Punya uang untuk beli pernak pernah untuk diri sendiri....

(bad sides : my closet is now full of black clothes!!, more shoes, more handbags!!)

Kepikiran tahun depan mau 'istirahat' dulu, karena ternyata pekerjaan ini cukup 'melelahkan' batin....

What do u think has happened?

This is our front door. This was the way My Hub looked at it when he came home from work today. Me and Ab were inside the house.

Do you see anything wrong on the pic?
Perhaps this pic would give you clearer view...


Hint :
(In the afternoon Me and Ab went out to do groceries shopping and played in the park for abit. Both Me and My Hub carry our own house key and car key.)