Let's talk about $$$

I have to come to realise that it's time to save money. I have worked and earned before, however this time im taking the responsibility of paying my own bills and personal shopping. Furthermore, i have set a goal to go overseas at the end of the year at my own expenses. However, the big question is how do i start saving? Fortunately, i came across an article in the CLEO mag on 'Clever Tricks in the Smart Girl's Guide to money'. Sebastian Song, the writer of this article gives 2 tips:
Money tip #1: Prepare for a rainy day
He says, "Looking at the current lifestyles of the youth, I can tell that many of them are living for the present and not planning of the future." Hell yeah, i fall under that category. He continues, "The amount spent must not exceed your budgeted expenditure."
Money tip #2: Ponder, then pay.
Before you troop to the cashier to pay for your latest purchase, take at least a minute to think it through. Is it time you actually need or merely want? Excercising mindfulness helps eliminate impulse buys. Crap, i have experienced this so many times. Just recently, I bought a tub of hair mask from the Body Shop and a tube of lip gloss along with it. After that i asked myself, was the lip gloss really necessarey? I have tons at home. Yikes! If only i had read this sooner..
This tips are really helpful though! ;)

crap!

Today isn't a good day. I woke up late for school and had major hunger pangs during test even though i had breakfast. When i decided to try out something new, it didn't taste good. Math is killing the hell out of me and furthermore, the shopping trip was cancelled today coz tas is having cramps. Sigh!

It feels good:) :)

I just got my pay yesterday. WOOTS! It's time for a shopping trip, baby!

xoxo Gossip girl

This show is freakin' amazing. You wont regret it, trust me!

something to keep me on my toes..

Ok, i came across this interesting blog by Bobbi where she actually creats this list every month to keep track. I think its freakin' awesome and i will do it from now on;)Here it goes..

For the month of January 2008
I wish: there was more than 24 hours a day
I want: to shop so badly. i need a wardrobe makeover! and a skateboard.haha
I need: plenty of sleep
I miss: watching heroes
I love: my life coz i finally feel like im taking charge of it.
I like: that im back to reading books and blogging again!
I hate: waiting for the bus. seriously
I can't miss: my daily dosage of watermelon juice
I appreciate: my new job
I am reading: The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

An email that is worth sharing

Reason, Season or Lifetime
People always come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.
When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do.

When someone is in your life for a REASON,
it is usually to meet a need you have expressed outwardly or inwardly.
They have come to assist you through a difficulty,
or to provide you with guidance and support,
to aid you physically, emotionally, or even spiritually.
They may seem like a godsend to you, and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.

Then, without any wrong doing on your part or at an inconvenient time,
this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.

Sometimes they die. Sometimes they just walk away.
Sometimes they act up or out and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered and it is now time to move on.

When people come into your life for a SEASON,
it is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn.
They may bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season.
And like Spring turns to Summer and Summer to Fall,
the season eventually ends.
...
LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons;
those things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person/people (anyway);
and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas in your life.

So many things to do but so little time!

movies i want to see: Fast food nation, Kite runner
tv shows i want to see: Gossip Girls, Heroes season 2
Books im reading/ wanna read: The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton, Digital Fortress by Dan Brown and Shopoholic series by Sophie Kinsella
but theres so little time damn it! I have just started reading the Age of Innocence. Its about the conflict between the claims of tradition and those of individual freedom. Its actually a literature novel coz it was written in the 19th century. Sometimes, i have to read the content a few times because its difficult to comprehend some of the words. But so far, its awesome:)

The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II
I just finished reading this book and i have to say it was really an eye-opener of the sino-Japanese war. The author Iris Chang did a research and proved something of what the world thought was fabricated. Personally, i think the Chinese civillians were even totured more brutually than the Jews under the Nazi treatment. It was so gruesome that i had to put down the book for a moment to breathe especially at the descriptions of the rape of women. It is not an autobiography, it's non-fiction. However, the author throws in a couple of personal accounts. One inspiring account was from John Rabe, a leader of a Nazi party who even had contacts with Hitler. He was known as the "Anne Frank of Nanking". The accounts are in 3 different perspectives: Japanese, Chinese and the Westerners who helped the Chinese civillians at that period of time. However one thing still bothers me. Germany was made to pay reparations after world war I (West Germany had to pay a sum of 3 bilion marks to Israel over the next 14 years. The reparation agreement ended at 2005). On the other hand, Japan didnt have to. Why?
If you want to find out more before reading the book, try this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rape_of_Nanking_(book)

2008-new year, a new beginning!

2008 has just begun and its time to reflect on the past and look forward to the coming year. Its time to reflect on the changes we want and need to improve on ourselves! Therefore i came up with new year resolutions for this year that i would have to strictly follow.lol

1)Exercise and stay fit
exercise keeps you healthy and makes you look and feel better!
2) Earn $$$
hallelujah i just got a part-time job!
3) increase my GPA
4)grow my hair ;)
5) learn something new
By reading more books, maybe learning a new language and i was thinking of taking up yoga classes..hmmm
5) Get organized!