Nica on a Budget

P99 Foot Massage or Thai 1-Hr Body Massage at Nuat Thai Libis

2010-12-08T18:01:00.000-08:00

Time to bring out your wallet guys! It's the season for giving and Ensogo is giving us a great deal or the next 86 hour (about 3 days). For Only P99, you can have either a Nuat Thai Foot Massage or Thai Body Massage for 1 hour at Nuat Thai Libis. Both services are valuedat P250, so you get at least 60% savings!

You can purchase 6 vouchers at most and you can either use it yourself, or give it to friends and family this Christmas. You can get your massage anytime from December 15, 2010 to March 15, 2011., Just make sure that you make a reservation,especially on weekends and holidays. If you must cancel, do so a day before your appointment.

Nuat Thai Libis is open Monday to Sunday, from 12:00PM to 2:00AM. So you can avail it after work. Perfect for a relaxing date or bonding activity. So check out Ensogo!

Two More Web Sites That Can Save You Hundreds of Pesos

2010-12-01T18:42:00.000-08:00

In a previous post, I enumerated four web sites that can save you hundreds of pesos. These are Cash Cash Pinoy, Awesome.ph, Ensogo, and Buyanihan. I personally bought a very cheap hilot deal in Shui Spa from Awesome.ph and I am already excited about availing it.

I have discovered two new sites where you can get amazing deals. Check them out!

1. DealSpot -- Whether this operational, I have no idea. But it seems like it since the DealSpot Facebook Fan Page of the site already has 145 likes. I entered my email address so I can be alerted anytime new deals are offered on the site. Make sure you check out their Facebook page because they are running a contest. Just upload your photo and you might get a chance to win P1000 worth of loads, GCs, or cash prizes

2. Twangoo --This is very much like Ensogo. They have different for several major Pacific cities like Melbourne, Shanghai, Hong Kong and the Philippines. Visit the Twangoo Facebook Fan Page for deal updates.

Let me know how you find these sites and if you bought any deals from them!

My P100 Pink Dress

2010-11-30T22:36:00.000-08:00

My friend Andrea got married in December 2008. It looked like a grand event so I needed a new dress for the occasion. Since I am not one for buying expensive dresses, I patiently searched local ukay-ukay stores for a suitable dress. After three ukay-ukay stores, I found this pink dress, which I bought for P100.

Pardon the crappiness of the picture but I only used my camera phone to take it. Given the right body, this dress looks great. I just wished I had better body to go with this dress. When I wore it I just look fat!

Talk about not hiding you curves! FYI: I gained weight since this wedding and haven't been worn the dress again. But when I checked my weight yesterday, I found that I lost 16 pounds and I can fit on the dress again. But I am not wearing it until I have lost a few inches on my middle.

Getting the Most Out of Langka

2010-11-27T22:24:00.000-08:00

Langka (jackfruit) is easily found in public markets and even in the produce section of groceries. A friend who visited Tagaytay two weeks ago brought m some from the highlands along with three pieces of banana.

The thing with langka is that you have to eat it once you have opened the package so that you'll enjoy the sweetness and firmness of the fruit. Otherwise, you'll end up with soggy langka and you don't want that.

If you buy the whole jackfruit or the unshredded ones, you will get the seeds. Now, don't throw it away. You can still eat that and it tastes good, sorta like boiled highland legumes (remember Manny Pacquiao?). After getting all the seeds from this pack, I washed them thoroughly and cooked them with rice in my rice cooker. I got something to chew on while I was working. Healthier than roasted peanuts or chips! Saved me 6 pesos since I like snacking on Oishi's Patata when I work.

Shoebox Sandals for P150

2010-11-24T21:04:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday, after Gabby attended SM Muntinlupa's November Kiddie Bash, we went a little shopping. I broke my sandals and need a new pair, while she wants a new blouse. The thing I love about SM Muntinlupa is that they have sales all year round. I found these light, black sandals from Shoebox. Originally priced at P379, I got it for only P150.

I wore it the following day with my short black dress (ukay-ukay bought) when I fetched my client from the airport. I looked all dressed up, my client said. Which goes to prove my point: looking fashionably good does not have to cost you an arm and a leg.

I ask you now, when is the last time you bought a footwear from a mall that cost you P150? I would love to hear about this cheap find of yours so do leave a comment in the box below.

4 Web Sites That Will Save You Hundreds of Pesos

2010-11-16T22:16:00.000-08:00

Who doesn't want to save money while your're shopping or enjoying a delicious meal? I know I do. Thankfully, some very enterprising Pinoys are filling this desire by setting up group buying sites that give consumers at most 90% discounts on products and services. They've got really amazing deals that won't make you feel guilty about swiping that plastic of yours, or clicking that Paypal Buy Now button. So, without further ado, here are 4 web sites that will save you hundreds of pesos just by shopping! Enjoy them!

1. Cash Cash Pinoy -- This was started by band of guys who decided to use Internet and Social media in Philippines to connect consumers to cool stuff. You can avail of great deals for as much as 90% off its original value.

2. Awesome.ph -- One of the new sites on the block, expect many more awesome deals from this site. I bought a Ventusa Hilot for only P24 in this site.

3. Ensogo Philippines -- When I first saw this site, I wonder what Ensogo means. Checking out the site's About Us page enlightened me on that one. It's an acronym for "Entertain, Social, and Go." Apparently, it has presence in Indonesia and Thailand, not only the Philippines.

4. Buyanihan -- Get the best deals in town for less than the original amount! So far, deals here are 50% off their regular price. Worth checking out if you live in the metro.

Check out these web sites now and enjoy great deals!

Can You Get a 30-Minute Ventosa Back Hilot Therapy for P24?

2010-11-03T16:25:00.001-07:00

YES!!!!

I just paid for mine (thank goodness the client paid!) through Paypal and I got this receipt to prove it.

I can't wait to avail this service. My shoulders and upper back is killing me and I think that this is just the right thing for it. I am also looking forward to getting that naturopathy consultation with Dr. Gerry Sy. I am so excited!!!

As you see from the receipt, I bought this from Awesome.ph. Awesome.PH is an online deal and group buying service of Awesome Deals Inc. The company is a collaboration among three of the most respected online brands in the Philippines:

Our Awesome Planet, one of the leading Food and Travel blogs in the Philippines
Boy Kuripot, the Ultimate Source of Deals, Promos and Contests in the Philippines, (I AM A BIG FAN OF HIS BLOG!) and
TopBlogs.com.ph, the Top blog directory in the Philippines.

So, if you want to get a lot of savings, I suggest you subscribe to Awesome.ph. All you need is an email address. HURRY!! You don't want to miss the deal.

P.S.

I just hope that they'd make this payable through Gcash or Smart Money for those people who don't have a credit card or a verified Paypal account. It would be so nice!

Watch Italian Movies for FREE

2010-10-19T11:45:00.000-07:00

A movie date need not be expensive. With so many foreign embassies promoting the films of their respective countries under the banner of "cultural sharing," you can literally have a movie date with your special someone or your friends for FREE for several days. And you can do it in classy malls, too. You only need money for your fare and your food. If you're really on a budget, then bring a sandwich and a bottle of juice with you. A 27 peso sweet and salty Kettle popcorn is all you need and you've got the perfect movie experience.

You can do this FREE movie date these October with Italian cinematic masterpieces.Cineplex is partnering with the Philippine Italian Association to bring to Filipino moviegoers 15 critically acclaimed Italian movies that will capture your minds and hearts. These will be screened at the Shang Cineplex Cinema 4 from October 21-26, 2010.

Here is a screening schedule:

October 20 (Wednesday)

OPENING NIGHT (by invitation only)

7:30 PM Three Men And A Leg

October 21 (Thursday)
1:30 PM If I Were You (1:40)
4:00 PM Hard Boiled Egg (1:40)
6:30 PM The Girl By The Lake (1:35)
9:00 PM Good Morning Heatache (1:33)

October 22 (Friday)
1:30 PM We Can Do That(1:51)
4:00 PM Ginger and Cinnamon (1:49)
6:30 PM Different From Whom (1:48)
9:00 PM Unsane (1:50)

October 23 (Saturday)
1:30 PM Almost Blue (1:35)
4:00 PM Ask Me If I'm Happy (1:40)
6:30 PM The Stendhal Syndrome (2:00)
9:00 PM Such Is Life (1:48)

October 24 (Sunday)
1:30 PM Night Before The Exams (1:40)
4:00 PM Unsane (1:50)
6:30 PM Ginger and Cinnamon (1:49)
9:00 PM Three Men And A Leg (1:40)

October 25 (Monday)
1:30 PM Good Morning Heatache (1:33)
4:00 PM The Stendhal Syndrome (2:00)
6:30 PM If I Were You (1:40)
9:00 PM Ask Me If I'm Happy (1:40)

October 26 (Tuesday)
1:30 PM The Girl By Lake (1:35)
4:00 PM The Feast (1:42)
6:30 PM Such Is Life (1:48)
9:00 PM Almost Blue (1:35)

For other inquiries, please contact 633-7851 loc.113 or log on to www.shangrila-plaza.com

Fish Tinola on a Budget

2010-10-05T13:08:00.000-07:00

For every home maker out there, one of the greatest challenges is to cook a dish that is cheap yet nutritious. That's why I am so glad that a friend shared a basic fish tinola recipe, which I brilliantly call Winona's Fish Tinola! (My friend's name is Winona). She says that fish tinola is a staple dish in Visayan homes and they prepare it almost daily. I think the Tagalog equivalent would be Pesang isda but I am not sure. So, if you quote me on that, I am going to deny it.

Now, how do you cook these? It's really very simple and can be cooked in a rice cooker if you don't have any cooking equipment like I do.

Ingredients and how much I paid for them

Maya-maya - P25. I bought the belly part. You must be wondering why this maya maya is so cheap. Well, it's a poser maya-maya. They're flooding the markets like crazy and since this is the first time I cooked this, I opted to use cheap fish so it won't be such a waste of money if it becomes a catastrophic culinary experiment.
2 pieces tomatoes for P5
1 medium sized red onion for P2
Spring onion for P5
Small ginger for P5
Kangkong for P5

How to Prepare:

Bring the water, tomatoes, onions, spring onions, and ginger to a boil. Put in the fish and the kangkong for about 5 to 10 minutes. Make sure the fish isn't overcooked.

Caution: Don't put all the ginger in. Just a small piece of it.
Tip: You can use pechay instead of kangkong. Or, you can totally forget about putting any green leafy vegetable in there.

Total cost of the dish is just P47 and it is more than enough for two already. Even if you use the real maya maya, i don't think your cost will go over a hundred pesos.

Swift Juicy Corned Beef in Pouch

2010-08-20T00:18:00.000-07:00

Since moving to our own place in August, Gabby and I have been preoccupied with finding the best ready-to-eat corned beef. We've tried several and for us, the winner is Swift's Juicy Corned Beed in a Pouch.

Retailed at around Php23-24 in groceries and supermarkets, all you have to do is submerge this foil in hot water for 3 minutes then you can eat it. What I do is I wash the entire thing then put it in the rice cooker when the rice is almost cooked. That way I don't have to heat water. Such a lot of savings!

Both me and Gabby likes to eat this with Cheezwiz rice. Yes, that's correct. We put a spoonful Cheezwiz on newly cooked rice to add more flavor to it.

Inviting All Budget Bloggers to Join BC Bloggers 4

2010-08-18T03:50:00.000-07:00

For all fellow budget bloggers out there, BC Bloggers 4 is now accepting members. This blogger network is good for creating quality backlinks to your blog, which we all know to be important if you want to get a Google Page Ranking.

Just check out the following posts for the full instructions on how to join this blogging network.

GREEN YOGA MAT

2010-08-03T04:45:00.000-07:00

I officially moved houses last August 1 and so did my mom and my sister. My sister borrowed my yoga mat so she and her live in partner have something to use as a picnic mat for the time being. Since I'd be attending Tai Chi classes in SM Muntinlupa for free every Saturday, I need to buy one. I bought this light green yoga mat from NOVO for only 120 pesos. Its's super cheap. Cheaper my blue mat which cost me 300 pesos before!!!

Say hooray for CHINA for producing cheap, quality products!

Cheap Notebooks

2010-07-17T10:58:00.000-07:00

June always brings forth a lot of expenses. From enrollment fees to school uniforms to school supplies, wallets and savings accounts really get stretched during this month. Fortunately, I saved at least a hundred pesos by buying cheap writing notebooks for Gabby.

I bought 8 writing notebooks for only 52 pesos in our public market here in San Pedro, Laguna. They were old stocks and sold for 13 pesos before. To dispose of the lot, the seller halved the price. A really sweet deal!

Win Anna Sui Love EDT, MAC Pigment and Mini OPI Polish!!!

2010-07-15T20:51:00.000-07:00

Hey you guys! I have another contest alert! This one is from Pinkish Pie (and she has a very pink Blogger blog!) and she is giving away Anna Sui Love EDT, MAC Pigment and Mini OPI Polis to celebrate having 330 followers. Here's a complete list of what you can win:

* Anna Sui Love EDT 30ml
* M.A.C. Pigment in Bell Bottom Blue
* O.P.I. Mini Nail Lacquer 3.75 ml

And a bunch of samples:

* SkinFood Salmon Brightening Eye Serum
* SkinFood Black Raspberry Eye Cream
* SkinFood Rice Mask Wash Off
* Idylle EDT by Guerlain fragrance
* Guerlain issima Midnight Secret Late Night Recovery Treatment (not pictured)

How do you get that? All you have to do is be a follower, comment on her contest page, and repost the contest in your blog. Easy, isn't it? So go to this contest post:

Budget Tinola

2010-07-10T13:53:00.000-07:00

MISSION: Cook Tinola for Under 100

I am not a good cook. It's not because I don't know how, but I don't have the passion for it. But I like cooking tinola because my daughter loves it and it's one of the few dishes that I can cook without hearing a negative comment from my siblings. Lol.

So last Sunday I made tinola for Lunch for under a 100 pesos. I bought half a kilo chicken for 65 pesos, a Knorr chicken cube for 5 pesos, and Magic Sarap for 3 pesos. I already have garlic and onions at home so I didn't buy those; I estimate them for about 5 pesos. The ginger I bought for 5 pesos and I used sayote instead of green papaya. Two pieces of sayote cost me 15 pesos. I didn't use dahon ng sili and used malunggay leaves instead, which I got for free from the neighbor. All in all the total cost of that dish is 93 pesos!

MISSION: ACCOMPLISHED

Free Lunch at Basilio's Courtesy of Hit a Bargain!

2010-07-05T23:09:00.000-07:00

I consider this year very lucky for me in terms of contests. I've won three online contests so far and got to enjoy really good food because of it. Yesterday I got an email from Hit A Bargain that I won a free Exquisite Lunch at Basilio's! I was like WOW! Many thanks to the people behind Hit A Bargain and Basilio's! I am sure going to enjoy eating the Seafood Chowder with Grilled Dory Fish, Tomato Rice and Cheese Fonduta!

I wasn't sure I'd win this contest since I've read some other entries and they are very good. I guess I just got lucky again this time! Hopefully I will win more contests from Hit A Bargain and I suggest that you guys join their contests, too. It's a fun and simple way of enjoying the good life without spending money except for your fare when claiming prizes! That's life on a budget!

For more information on Basilio's menu and special offers, check out their web site here.

Cats in Manila

2010-06-26T05:45:00.000-07:00

The Broadway musical "Cats" is showing in Manila in the months of August and July. It will be staged at the CCP Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo. Check out the show dates below.

Show Dates:

SAT July 24 Matinee
SAT July 24 Evening
SUN July 25 Matinee
SUN July 25 EveningTUE July 27 Evening
WED July 28 Evening
THU July 29 Evening
FRI July 30 Evening
SAT July 31 Matinee
SAT July 31 Evening
SUN August 1 Matinee
SUN August 1 EveningTUE August 3 Evening
WED August 4 Evening
THU August 5 Evening
FRI August 6 Evening
SAT August 7 Matinee
SAT August 7 Evening
SUN August 8 Matinee
SUN August 8 EveningTUE August 10 EveningWED August 11 EveningTHU August 12 Evening
FRI August 13 Evening
SAT August 14 MatineeTicket Prices:MatineeSAT (3:00pm)
SUN (2:30pm)
PhP7000 PhP5000 PhP3500 PhP2000 PhP1000EveningsTUE, WED, THU (8:00pm)
SUN (7:30pm)
PhP6000 PhP4500 PhP3000 PhP1500 PhP750EveningsFRI, SAT (8:00pm)
PhP7000 PhP5000 PhP3500 PhP2000 Php1000
SAT August 14 Evening
SUN August 15 Matinee
SUN August 15 Evening

Tickets are available at all Ticketworld outlets.

Visit Cats in Manila Facebook page (http://facebook.com/catsinmanila) and Tumbler page (http://catsinmanila.tumblr.com ) for more details and updates.

Life on a budget

2010-06-14T16:39:00.000-07:00

My family is best described as working class. We live from paycheck to paycheck. It has been this way ever since I can remember. But I still consider us fortunate than most. We have a roof over our heads and eats two square meals a day with a snack in between, thanks to me. My mom, on her good days, treats us to feasts once in a while. All in all, I would classify us as lower middle class.

However, when you are earning money and you are in the company of friends who has lots of money, you tend to splurge. I am guilty of that. How many times have I treated myself to a movie or a Starbucks coffee three times a week? How many times have I gone to the city to enjoy the company of friends without care if I will have money to pay my dues the next month?

True, I know that I need to treat myself from time to time. But I have been indulging myself over the last 9 months that I have lost sight of my goals. I have used up my savings and amassed a six-figure debt. It’s time to take control of and regain my life back. This is the primary purpose of this blog – to remind me that I don’t have alot of money and that I need to take better care of finances. I am starting this because I have faith in myself; that I can enjoy life without getting broke. I hope there’s someone out there who’ll follow me in my journey and be my personal cheering squad.