It’s so expensive to have a place renovated these days. I will be having my bathroom renovated. I want ceramic tiles on the lower walls of the bathroom. I also want a new bathtub installed. Can you imagine how much that simple renovation will cost me? Half of my paycheck! Whew!

When you live in the city, this is one of the things you should be prepared of. High cost of labor. And high cost of materials. You can find discounted prices but sometimes, it’s better to shell out a bit more if it will guarantee you high-quality materials, right?

I am off to the hardware store later. I want to be able to have my corner at home fixed. I also want to put a good lighting above my corner so my eyes will stop hurting from the harsh light I currently have. I have to get a lot of things in my long list including toggle switches. I must not forget it because my dad needs one.

Truth be told, I love running errands when I do have time. I just don’t like it that I am sometimes being harassed to do it right away. I want to do it on my own time.

It’s really ridiculous how unpredictable life can be. One minute you are well and fine, the next you can be involved in a life-threatening situation. You just can’t be sure of what the future holds for you. Or me. That’s why a whole life insurance is necessary. If you still don’t have one, go ahead and get a policy. Make sure your love ones will have something to rely on should something happen to you.

When my best friend’s mom passed away, he was worried that he couldn’t afford the burial. But you know what? His mom was well-prepared for death. She got a burial plan. She had several life insurances taken out and my best friend’s the beneficiary. My best friend was even surprised that several people approached him to tell him about it. It was a really kind way of saying goodbye to her son.

I am an impulsive buyer. When I see something that I think will look good on any of my siblings or for H, I buy it. Even when I know they have other accessories of the same kind at home. It’s one of my bad habits but one that I get benefits from sometimes. Like this lovely headband. H and I love it!

Happy (Mellow Yellow) Monday!

The marketing department is abuzz with the arrival of the corporate holiday cards that they asked the purchasing department to order for them. Cards will be sent out as early as 2nd to 3rd week of November to business associates, clients, and valued patrons who are outside the city. Just to be sure that it will arrive either on Christmas Day or a week before it.

The company chairman was displeased with the marketing department last year for sending out the corporate holiday cards late, arriving on the recipient’s doorstep well after Christmas… on the second week of January if I remember correctly. So you bet the marketing department head is making sure every card arrives on time this year. Lest they suffer the wrath of the chairman once again.

I worked for two call center companies here in the city. I had no idea that the company I applied for in 2004 was actually a call center. I know that it was a large multinational corporation but that’s it. Then I was told about how big the company was. The finance director who interviewed me regaled me with stories about the company, it’s executives including the founder and chairman, where the headquarters are and even talked call center talk about agents, number of seats, T1, ecommerce fulfillment, telecoms cost, infrastructure and more.

I stayed for more than two years with them. I loved the company and the work itself. I hated the office politics and the endless hours of work. Just imagine going on an 18-hour work day for weeks without end. That really killed the love I had for the job. Then, briefly, I tried working for a small call center company. It was nothing compared to the first one and I would have stayed on except that a greater opportunity knocked on my door. I opened the door and let the opportunity in.

Do you know how you can start spending smart? I do! Start with the very basic. Alter your expenses by scrapping the wants and focusing more on the needs. For example, your usually expensive prescription glasses can now be slashed by a significant amount. You can now buy $ 8 Rx eyeglasses!

Those are my favorite high fashion eyeglasses! No need to spend more than what you should to get stylish and fierce! Go to ZenniOptical.com now to get a lovely pair that your eyes need.

EXIT SIGNS. Let me tell you what these signs did for my friend and her co-workers…

My friend, Georgie, is working for a small auditing firm. Their office is located at a low-rise building in the congested part of the city. It is okay with her because even if their location may seem prone to danger, she was able to prove that their building is equipped with safety tools for emergencies.

You see, a building that is two structures away caught fire. Naturally, every one panicked! They are at the top most floor and in the middle of a review for a big client. Luckily, some of Georgie’s co-workers from different departments attended the fire drill that occurred a week before the fire. So they know that the way out of the building was through those lighted exit signs. The electricity was cut off and the elevator was stopped from functioning.

Can you imagine what kind of chaos erupted if it weren’t for the exit sign that guided a lot of them out? Georgie was able to bring down her laptop and all her working papers for her various clients. All because she knows the nearest exit sign and was able to use it wisely.

I didn’t even know that he’d look good in a tuxedo!

That’s what my friend shrieked at my ear when we saw an old schoolmate. I know that time changes a lot of people. Not just in looks but also in dispositions in life. The guy we were talking about was one of the class clowns. He used to have this smirk on his face all the time, seemingly daring everyone to call him out for his unruly behavior. But when we saw him, it seems like he matured quite nicely, no longer smirking but smiling pleasantly and is very decent-looking.

How time flies!