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Posted by Mommy Woobie on June 18th, 2008 in Mommy Thoughts

I know I’m blaming work for my current weight, but man, did sitting in front of the PC 90% of the time during the greater part of the last decade contribute to the ‘mommy bulge’? You bet it did. Time to maximize time and let’s do some dieting!

Every day i write down why I am giving up a job that pays the bills, but keeps me glued to the monitor most of the time. Then I think hard on my current priorities and I get over the fear of not getting the regular paycheck. It’s time to get a life doing what I love: being with my family, managing my time well, earning through my writing skills…. and sleeping. The reason I ate a lot during the night is because I couldn’t afford to sleep too long. Now, I’m adjusting to sleeping normally again, and hopefully regain my ideal weight.

Now that I’m a freelancer, one of my projects is to start exercising again. And I don’t just mean crunches and little squats when i feel like it. I mean running, protein bars, some anoretix meds maybe. That last one’s on hold until I get a stream of steady clients though.

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Posted by Mommy Woobie on June 18th, 2008 in Mom Entrepreneur

Have you seen the sheer volume of internet cafes near schools? This computer rentals business must be lucrative eh? It’s a business that’s not going to die, as others have predicted in the past. This is because the internet is booming and so far, even barely 10-year-olds are being sent to the internet by their teachers for research!

Investing on a computer business was in my mind when I quit. After all, the hubby and I do LAN at home so we’re used to the nuances of setting up a network of PCs. Maybe I could spend my time working on my PC while minding the shop

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Posted by Mommy Woobie on June 11th, 2008 in Mommy Thoughts

Now, why is it that I’m posting about my Christmas wishes as early as now?
It’s funny how it feels to be free lancing after years and years of being a corporate drone. The big difference between a free lancer and a regular employee is that the latter can afford to Christmas shop with the healthy Christmas bonus that will arrive on December, while the former has to plan way ahead to be able to afford a self-given Christmas gift.

Going back to the self-given gifts, I am liking what I see in this Sector watches site. See, there are watches and there are Watches. I was always so disoriented without one on my wrist. Hmmnn, I think I’ll get one for the hubby too. I’m a fan of tandem wardrobes, while he isn’t, but maybe matching accessories will do.

The road ahead isn’t easy, but my faith is strong, and my desire to maximize my time as a mom during the stage when my child needs me the most will push me through this. I am blessed with a supportive family, and a wonderful partner and son. I have all that I need. Money is just a bonus.

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Posted by Mommy Woobie on June 8th, 2008 in Mommy Thoughts

Starting a new life this month. New life means I left my job and am now freelancing. I’ve never had another formal job, and I was doing the job I left since I graduated. Almost a decade of experience in content writing, who knows where this change will lead me? Frankly, I’m more excited than ever.

One financial resource I have always had are credit cards. Through the years, it’s always been a resource that I found useful. If not for the sometimes unreasonably high interests, it will be the perfect resource for the credit-wise girl.

I just learned of credit card companies that offer 0 APR balance transfers. I’ve been thinking of managing all my credit card transactions in one account, and by this no fee balance transfers, I could save a lot on the interest rates that I could incur under a program with no such offer.

It’s a little difficult if the annual interest is high. While I could be tempted to use it with thoughts that monthly interest rates are low anyway, these pile up, and the total for the year is actually higher than I can handle. During the year, carrying a balance on a high interest credit card will result in much more interest charges, so that the amount will equal a 2-month paycheck or more.

I am more wary of offers now, about rebates and gift checks, I always look at the long term. Interest rate is the first thing I look at in an offer, because in my experience, any other offer is not worth it if the interest rate is too high.

Now about balance transfers , by simply transferring a high balance to a credit card that is on 0% APR balance transfer, the money used to pay the interest rate can be saved and used for other things, i.e. to pay the existing credit card debt. Once the 0% APR balance transfer period expires, transfering the balance to another credit card offering a 0% APR is the best move. There is a good credit score to maintain, but that is easy enough, as long as I keep my perspective with handling my credit, as I have so far.

Taking advantage of a 0 balance transfer will definitely save money. As I receive my last paycheck, I am sure to be thinking more of my credit score, credit balances, and interest rates. This is only the start. The purchases will have to be more thought out and offers for credit limit expansions looked into more deeply.

With so many options available, there truly is no reason to continue paying interest on our credit card balances. All I need is good credit standing and about 5 minutes to compare credit card balance transfer programs.

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Posted by Mommy Woobie on June 7th, 2008 in Family Quirks, Mommy Alert

School time is when parents shine the most. When we were growing up, our parents would be awake at 5 am preparing breakfast, waking us up (several times) and putting on school clothes to those who are still very sleepy. I don’t know how they do it.

My dad will be very alert on the breakfast table with his usual coach stance telling us that today is going to be the best day, and that we will learn so much. I remember listening through half of it then letting my mind wander to recess and dismissal as early as 6:30 am. That I managed to graduate with honors is something that I attribute to my dad’s early morning pep talk. I really think the “You can do this! You just have to get the gist of the lesson then you study at home” that he said over and over again hypnotized my barely awake mind into doing it every day of my school life.

What else could parents do for their kids during the school days? One unique suggestion would be to buy a bus, a small one, and be the carpool service for neighborhood kids. School bus service is expensive, and having a small service of your own could benefit your community as well as your school kids. Particularly now that the bad elements are around trying to get to Filipino kids to steal their organs.

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