What I Normally Eat on a Daily Basis

Part of being a minimalist is simplifying what I eat. I like predictability and I don't mind eating the same thing over and over again. It's natural for minimalist to go and explore the world of veganism, but I don't think I can do that. I love me some meat, man! I don't think I can ever let go of eating meat. 



Morning:

I start my morning with a  Kopiko Cafe Blanca. This fills me up until 9:30- 10:00 AM.

9:30-10:00 AM

I drink my Yogurt around this time. This fills me up until 12:00 noon.

LUNCH:


I usually eat ham and egg sandwich with lots of water for lunch.

Tip: Whole wheat bread fills me up really well more than the white bread. Though whole wheat is a bit expensive, I think it's worth it.

SNACKS:

A cup of salabat (ginger tea) and  a slice of bread with organic peanut butter.

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Dinner:

Rice, Chicken or Pork and Salad with a lots of water.

Friday Spending

As I said in my last post, I won't be buying much for this week since I hoarded food last weekend.

Here are the things I bought today:

Note: My brother ate the "Mi goreng" noodles I bought last time, which pissed me off a little bit because I was craving for it pa naman, so I just went ahead and bought a pack just in case my brother wants to cook some. 


Breakdown:

Indo Mie Fried Noodles (5 noodles/ pack)    Php 60 ( $1.20)
CDO Spiced Ham (250g)                       Php 48 ($.96)
CDO Danes Cheese                            Php 59  ($1.18)
Bench Face and Body Powder                  Php 16.75 ($ .34) Yep, gandang polbo at lip and cheek tint lang talaga ako)



I'm feeling under the weather right now, so I bought these:

Berroca (10 pcs.)                  Php 192.82 ($3.87)
Neozep Forte (Php 5.50 each ($.11 each)- Php 55 ($1.10) 10 capsules



I also sent Php 700 + Php 10 service charge (Palawan Express) to my mother.
I also sent Php 1,000 for my grandmother's 93rd birthday this February 2nd. I won't be going to my hometown this time because I'm saving for my European trip and it's my ex and cousin's wedding this February 4th so I want to save them and myself those awkward moments. ( I know, I know... why did they set their wedding on February and leap year pa naman. My cousin is clearly in a hurry!)


By the way, I also have Pag-ibig, Phil health and SSS na! I opened them lahat kanina so I'm super ecstatic about it. 

My Minimalist House

Last year was a year of "great declutter" for me. I got rid of tons of stuffs that my mother hoarded. Computer table, bookcases, broken umbrella, 5 broken electric fans, you name it, my mother kept it. It took me a long time to finally clean up my house. It was hard to let go of things, but I always tell myself that if I need it in the future, I know that I can afford to buy it. Abundance mentality, right?


My house is quite large for only two people. If you have been following my blog, you know how I ended up with a big house. It's a close book.... a dark chapter in my life and I don't want to mention it again. Though I like the space, I don't like keeping it clean. Becoming a minimalist surely helps me get on top of things. I can clean the whole house in less than 15 minutes because I have less things. The mental clarity minimalism brought to my life is priceless. 

Just a couch and a TV, which I rarely use

Counter top that isn't cluttered with things

Dinning room.
Look how cute Pepper is!

The Garage

Friday and Saturday Spending: SNR, White Gold, Ace Hardware, Wet Market

I didn't have classes this morning because of a scheduled power interruption in my area, so I went to the wet market. Oh my gosh, I couldn't believe how much I miss going there! I must have been a wet market vendor in my past life.

I didn't realize that there was a power interruption scheduled for today. Had I known , I wouldn't have gone to SNR yesterday. I might have gone over budget when it comes to my everyday food, but I was thinking that I will just buy things and freeze them. All the meat that I bought earlier would last me two months, I guess. I think the only things I need to buy for the coming weeks are lettuce and my yogurt drink, so I think I'm okay with that. I stocked up on meat and other essentials since I rarely go to the wet market nowadays and it's way cheaper there than SM and SNR.

Here are the things I bought at SNR yesterday:

BREAKDOWN:

Lettuce (Unit Price Php 199.95/kg ($4))= Php 56.79 ($1.14)

Porkchop (Unit Price Php 182.95/kg ($3.66) Php 154.41 ($3.09)

TH Yogurt (1 pack contains 4 pcs. Php 62.95/pack)= Php 125.9 ($2.52)

Gardenia Whole Wheat Bread = Php 72 ($1.44)

Rug (BOGO Php 399.95 $ 8)= Php 799.9 ($16)

Note: I went back to SNR, even though I still have a lot of supplies because of those rugs.  I have been using bath rugs for my stairs and I thought that I should upgrade. I think I got a good deal. I also grabbed some yogurt, though I  still have five packs in my fridge. I think I won't be going back to SNR for a while.

What I bought at Ace Hardware:

Breakdown:

Goodboy Dog Food 5kg = Php 280 ($5.60)

Mr. Muscle Stick On Bathroom deodorizer = Php 59.75 ($1.20)

Note: Pepper is so picky when it comes to food so I constantly change her food. I still have SNR dog food, but I had to buy this dog food so I can switch it for her every now and then.The Mr. Muscle Stick on Bathroom deodorizer is "love" for me. I love the lavender scent and I only found one stock available at Ace Hardware. I think it's not available at SM Hypermarket. I actually bought four more at La Nueva today since they are few pesos cheaper there. I figured that since I always use them, why not buy more.

Things I bought at White Gold:

Breakdown:

Dog leash  ( Original price is Php  219 ($4.38)) Php 197.10 ( I got 10 percent discount because I'm a member.)

Bread  (Original price is Php 28 ($.56)) Php 16 ($.32)  ( I got 40 percent off because it was 30 minutes before their closing time.)

What I got at SM:

Breakdown:

Value 12 Rolls Bathroom Tissue Php 82. 50 ($ 1.65)

Baby Wipes Php 99.75 ($ 2)

Mi Goreng Noodles (Php 12.50 each ($.25) Php 25 

Kopiko Cafe Blanca Php 63.50 ($1.27) Note: 10 pcs

Note: Baby Wipes are for Stark and Pepper. I always wipe their paws after they go out and before entering the house. The noodles I bought was just to satisfy my cravings,so I only bought 2. I also bought more Kopiko Cafe Blanca at La Nueva because it's way cheaper there.

Instead of eating out, I just opted to buy this:

Php 50 ($1)

La Nueva:

La Nueva's prices are cheaper than regular grocery stores because they are some kind of a wholesale store, so I decided to just buy the essentials, things I know that I'm going to need and use:

Breakdown:

Kopiko Cafe Blanca  (30 pcs Php 168/pack ($3.36/pack)) Php 336 - 2 packs

Happy Sanitary Pads ( 8 pcs. Php 13.15/pack ($.26/pack) ) Php 52.60 -4 packs

Sisters Pantyliners (20 pcs. Php 16.25/pack ($.33/pack) ) Php 32.50- 2 packs

Brown Sugar  (1/2 kilo) Php 18.50 ($.37)

Cooking Oil (1/2 kilo) Php 27 ($.54)

Downy Antibac (370g) Php 56.95 ($1.14)

Mr. Muscle Stick-on Lavender (Php 54/pack ($1.08) Php 216 - 4 packs

Virginia Porkshop:

Bones (On sale Php 56/kilo ($1.12) Php 68.88 (For Stark and Pepper)

Porkchop (Php 164/ kilo ($3.28)) Php 221.07

Peanuts: Php 10 ($.20)

Kakanin: Php 20 for 5 pcs. ($.40 for 5 pcs.)

Eggs:

Php 6.25 each ($.13) = Php 75 one dozen ($1.50/dozen)

For my garden:

Scallion Php5 ($.10)

Onion Php 5 ($.10)

For my little garden:

Screen Php 97 per meter ($1.94 per meter)

Note:  I have a little garden on my rooftop but Pepper always eat my veggies that I planted, so I decided to buy this. 

Random Pictures:

When you have inside dogs, you need a lot of rugs to keep their mud and water at bay.

I have been using this rug for my stairs for the longest time. I know, it's obviously a bath rug

The morning crowd before La Nueva opened. The earlier you get, the earlier you get out.
The line is hell if you  go there late.

40 percent off all bread at White Gold. Their Spanish bread is delish

Income and Expenses (January 1-15)

This is how much I earned  from January 1-15:

My Income- Expenses: (January 1-15)

Note: I had an extra income of Php 1, 250 from my little side business. I added it on top of Php 9,327.60

I already paid PLDT, water and electricity bills so I think I would be taking home half of my income. I only need to buy grocery and I still have a lot of food to finish, so I think I won't be spending much in this category. 

I would post a detailed explanation of my spending by the end of the month. 

Friday Spending: Usual Food I Buy ( SNR), BILLS, NSO, Etc.

I usually am off from work Wednesday and Friday, so those days are allocated for grocery shopping, paying bills and all the errands you can think of.

Yep, I haven't been going to the wet market lately because I really love the yogurt drink that can only be found at SNR, so I just go to SNR and buy everything there.


Here are the usual food I buy:

Breakdown:

Adobo Cut Chicken ( 119.95 per kilo) = Php 188.80 ($3.79)(Dinner. Good for one week)
Bounty Large Egss 12 pcs             = Php 88.95  ($ 1.79)( Ham and Egg sandwiches for lunch)
Gardenia Wheat Bread                 = Php 72 ($1.45)
TH Yogurt 4 packs (62. 95/pack)      = Php 251.8 ($5.05) (Good for two weeks)
Arla Gouda Slices                    = Php 122.95  ($2.45)(For my sandwich)


Note: I still have ham for my sandwiches. It was given to me by my friend for Christmas.




Random Things:

ADVANTIX (For Stark and Pepper Anti-Flea meds)  Php 360 each ($6.42) = Php 720
Wall Hook (Japan Home Center)     = Php 66 ($1.32)
Cocolicious Virgin Coconut Oil (Kultura)   250 ml = Php 199. 75 ($4)
Oil Burner (SM)                 = Php 60 ($1.20)
Scentchips 40 G (100 grams)    scented candles   = Php 299.75 ($6)

Note: I ran out of Human Nature Sunflower oil. I have been using it for a year (Yes, it took me a year to finish the biggest bottle) so I'd like to switch to another oil as my main moisturizer. I'm crossing my fingers that this won't break me out.




Bills:


MECO (from November 25-December 26, 2016 ) Php 1,528 ($30)
MCWD (November to December 2016 )          Php 184 + Php 3 service charge = Php 187 ($3.75)

I also requested my NSO at SM, Cebu. Php 140 ($2.81)

Instead of eating out, I grabbed some turons for snacks, which cost Php 15 each ($.30) = Php 30 . By the way, this taste delish!

Hand-washing Clothes

Yes, I don't own a washing machine, but there are times that I would really like to have one. Most of the time,  I'm okay with not owning one.


Aside from  saving electricity and saving water, here are some of the reasons why not owning a washing machine suits me really well:

• I have become very conscious with what I'm wearing, how I wear my clothes and how I used them.

•  It's so easy to just take off your clothes and just put them in the hamper. Since I don't have washing machine, I do the "smell test". If it passes the test, then I can reuse them.

• I don't own much in terms of clothes. I don't shop much since it's hard to find an eco-friendly shops in Cebu. I don't support fast-fashion and I have become a full-pledge minimalist. You should see how empty my house is. I got rid of so much stuffs and I'm very happy with it.
  
  

Goal 2017: Saving for a European Trip

Ahhhhhh!  I got myself some concert tickets for Guns N' Roses and Aerosmith! Ayeee!!!


Both concerts will be held in June ( one in Paris and one in Spain) so I'm trying to challenge myself to save up for it and I promised that  I wouldn't touch my savings.

I still need to go through visa and stuffs like that, though.

It's still a long road ahead, but I would take you with me as I go through the process of saving up for this trip, visa processing and anything in between (just like how I took you guys with me on my journey from my OFW days to my 'pinas for good moment). I just hope that I will be consistent with the updates.

Until next time!

By the way, mag to-two years na ako sa 'pinas in a few days!