Category Archives: Saving

How to Eat at a Buffet

Buffet? Where?

Have you been to a buffet and ate till you can’t breathe nor stand up?

I bet you did.

2014.September.Lenovo

There are however ways on how to eat smartly at a buffet:

  • Sit as far away from the food as possible
  • Position yourself that you are not in direct eye contact with the delectable food offerings
  • Look at the options and see which you think you have not eaten enough of and get these for your consumption.
  • Avoid fattening foods
  • Avoid the raw food especially if you do not have the  stomach for these
  • Lunch time is the best time to go because you still have time to burn the food you ate
  • Choose the food that are more expensive than you can normally afford.  Of course it doesn’t mean these are more delicious but since these may be above your price range, you now have a chance to “feast” on these
  • Slow and Steady will make you be able to have more
  • Be well hydrated.Take small sips of the drinks you have
  • Get food in small portions to avoid feeling full and regretting not being able to eat some food on the buffet table

This article does not tell you to eat less at a buffet, it merely tells you how you can make the most of your buffet experience.

Price Watch: Glad Press ‘n Seal

Two weeks ago when we needed to buy groceries, our favorite supermarket had lines of people that go till between the aisles. The husband decided to go to a nearby supermarket for the immediate supplies (read: food to be cooked) we need.

I didn’t want to but between choosing to cook nothing versus buying there, the lack of food won over my resolve to not buy from that supermarket. Why? because being a price watcher, I know that their prices are outrageous.

Here is a sample:

Price Watch: Glad Press n' Seal

Glad Press ‘n Seal price:

Top Photo Php167.75 from SM Hypermarket, Quirino Highway/Tandang Sora Quezon City

Bottom Photo: Php 143.00 from Cherry Foodarama Congressional Avenue Quezon City

Small Businesses

Based on my observation, there are some people who usually do not look highly on people who own and run a “small business”. Those who usually do are the ones who go to a fancy office wearing fancy clothes and getting their salaries via the ATM. On the other hand, they grapple with traffic on the road, face-off at the MRT/LRT during rush hours and constantly tugging between having to buy that new pair of fashionable shoes versus just paying the latest credit card bill first.

Those with small businesses however, are not any different from the corporate slaves. They too have their shares of struggles: too little time to do other matters because all the time available is spent tending the small business and making it big later on, headache-inducing tasks of balancing business-related matters, and a host of others things that may curb the enthusiasm to continue what is being done and just give everything up.

Here are a few small business ideas that can mean a good ROI if handled properly, meaning using the right approach, the proper timing, the proper venue and the right attitude:

  • meat processing like tocino, longganisa, relleno, products but make sure that you passed the proper health inspection licenses
  • carinderia or food delivery for offices if you love cooking
  • massage and nail spa places
  • specialized stationery and other paper-related crafts
  • sewing special request clothes, especially in the time where cosplay is “in”
  • souvenir thingamajigs
  • flower arrangements
  • party needs

There are a lot more small business ideas out there, just be sure you attend the proper training, get the proper licenses and certificates and put your heart in what you want to accomplish and you are good to start.

Avoid Being a Victim of Electronic Pickpocketing

Last night’s news about a man whose ATM card was just with him but had a big amount withdrawn from said account was something that looks like it was a clip from a movie.

But it wasn’t, it was real.

He was a victim of electronic pickpocketing.

Highly unlikely that people with ATM cards and credit cards can be victims of such high-tech crime but it can happen. There are a few precautions one can do to avoid being a victim:

  • cover the ATM’s keypad with your hand when you withdraw money
  • in establishments where you give your card to the staff for payment like in restaurants, do go to the cashier so that you can see how they handle your credit/debit card. You don’t want the staff to jot down your card details. They may not be the one doing the electronic theft, but they may give these information to others.
  • use RIFD blocking products for contactless cards to avoid having your card details read by the gadgets that are made to do just that

In every way, always be careful with your things.

Goodies in a Jar

DIY Christmas Gift: Goodies in a Jar

Goodies in a Jar

Inside:

  • nuts
  • candy coated chocolate chips
  • raisins
  • mini marshmallows

In some of the jars I put together, I also put baked goodies and Oreo cookies.

You too can put other delectable goodies as well.