Mommy Pehpot, Author at Mommy Pehpot

The Ultimate Back-to-School Guide for Moms: Tips and Tricks to Save Money and Stay Organized

Hello, fellow mommies and daddies? Back-to-school na!! And though excited tayong lahat, back-to-school season also comes with its fair share of stress and expenses. But don’t worry, as a mom of 6 kids with 2 college students, I’ve got you covered with some practical tips to help you save money, stay organized, and make this transition smooth and fun. Let’s turn the back-to-school hustle into an enjoyable experience for both you and your kids!

Stretch Your Budget with Smart Reuse and DIY

One of the best ways to save money during the back-to-school season is by reusing and recycling items from previous years. This is most effective kapag maraming kang anak na gaya ko. Here’s how you can make the most out of what you already have:

*Check for usable supplies like bag, old notebook, old pencils and the likes*

Check for Usable Supplies: Before buying new items, check what school supplies you already have. You might find notebooks with unused pages, pens that still work, or even last year’s backpack that’s still in good condition. Even used pencils can still be use so save these pencils kahit maliit na lang.

DIY Projects: Get creative and personalize old items. Use stickers, patches, or fabric paint to give old backpacks or pencil cases a fresh, new look. It’s a fun activity to do with your kids, too!

Uniform and shoes Check: Inspect school uniforms for any that still fit and are in good condition. Minor repairs like sewing a button or fixing a hem can make old uniforms look brand new. Using laundry detergents specializing in making clothes look new or whiter can also be a good trick for old uniforms. For shoes, if it still fits, no need to buy a new one. Shoe shine shops or repair shops are everywhere to help you make an old shoe look new.

Smart Shopping Tips: Maximize Savings with Maya

When it comes to shopping for school supplies, smart choices can help you stay within your budget. Here are some tips to make the most out of your shopping trips:

Use Maya for School Supplies: Maya offers an easy and convenient way to pay for school supplies, and you can even earn rewards! Whether you’re shopping in-store at SM, Robinsons, or online at Shopee or Lazada, Maya is your perfect shopping companion.

QRPh. Napakadali na ngayon magbayad gamit ang Maya! Sa QRPh enabled banks at e-wallet apps, simple lang—buksan mo lang ang Maya app at i-scan ang merchant QR Code. As easy as that!
Pay with Maya Online. Get express checkout whenever you pay with Maya online.For Recurring Payments, Link your Maya Wallet to your favorite apps and sites. It makes checking out on your next transactions or maintaining your auto-renewing subscriptions super easy. For Single Purchases, Make fast and easy one-time payments to your trusted online stores. No more hassle!
Maya Card. The Maya Card lets you pay anywhere in the world with style! Tap, swipe, withdraw anywhere in the world with your Maya card. Pwede din i personalized ang card, and it is accepted worldwide, you can pay in over 200+ countries. And you can get it for free when you open a savings account, deposit P250, and spend at least P250 in the app. Maya card is also a premium card, own your very first Black Card with Maya card

Make a Shopping List: Maglista ng bibilhin to avoid unnecessary purchases. Include everything from notebooks to stickers for labeling your kids’ items.

Budget for Older Kids: For older kids, give them a budget and let them do their own shopping. This teaches them financial responsibility and helps them understand the value of money.

Maya Easy Credit: Kung absent ang budget para sa back-to-school season, don’t worry. Makakaasa kang perfect attendance si Maya. With Maya Easy Credit, you can get up to P30,000 in seconds—no paperwork needed. Use it to pay tuition fees or shop for school essentials without the stress. Here are some information from Maya website:

What is Maya Easy Credit? Maya Easy Credit is a 30-day credit line that you can use to pay bills, buy load, shop online or in-store, or simply transfer funds to your Maya Wallet when you need an extra budget.
How to Apply For Maya Easy Credit? Just upgrade your Maya account and actively use the app to gain access to your own credit line!
How to use Maya Easy Credit? You can pay for goods and services using Maya Easy Credit at any partner merchant. To find out if Maya Easy Credit is accepted at your favorite store, just scan to pay via QR or checkout online and you should see Maya Easy Credit as a payment option. You may also view the list of stores that accept Maya Easy Credit payments at mayabank.ph/credit/

Smooth Transition Tips for Back-to-School

Getting back into the school routine can be challenging, but with these tips, you’ll have a smoother transition:

Establish a Routine: Set a consistent sleep schedule and morning routine a few weeks before school starts. This helps kids adjust and makes mornings less chaotic.

Organize a Station: Create a designated area for school items like bags, shoes, and supplies. This keeps everything in one place and makes the morning rush easier.

Plan Healthy Breakfasts: Ensure your kids have a complete and balanced breakfast. A nutritious start to the day boosts their energy and concentration levels, setting them up for a successful day at school.

What is a balanced breakfast? A complete and balanced breakfast must include at least one from the 3 group categories: go, glow, grow. Carbohydrates for energy booster, protein for muscle and tissue repair, fruits/vegetables for fiber and other nutrients. Hindi pwedeng rice or pandesal lang, make sure may palaman na meat or egg and add gulay of fruits. You can check my sandwich collection for a complete and balanced breakfast meal.

Teach Financial Responsibility

Teaching kids about money management is crucial. Here’s how you can start:

Give Allowance in Full: Give older kids their allowance in full to help them learn how to budget and manage their money for a month.

How to compute your child’s allowance? Consider how many breaks they have and if they are commuting or not.
How much allowance do we give to our kids? Depending on their school level, for Grade 3, we don’t give him money, for Grades 8 and up, we give depending on how many breaks they have and we usually give every week. For college students, we give them a monthly allowance.

Encourage Savings with Maya: Open a savings account with Maya and encourage your kids to save a portion of their allowance. Maganda din sya na pang transfer ng pera between you and your kids di ba?

Easy to Start for FREE Mga mommies, napakadali mag-start mag-save sa Maya! Kailangan lang ng 1 valid ID at walang minimum deposit.

Up to 15% p.a. Everyday Pwede kang mag-boost ng interest all the way to 15% p.a.* kapag ginamit mo ang Maya para magbayad ng bills, bumili ng load, or gamitin ang Maya sa Card, QR, o Checkout at i-refer ang mga friends mo. *Base rate of 3.5% interest p.a.

Free Transfers Enjoy free Instapay* at PESONet transfers! *1x/ month InstaPay In para sa new Maya users. *5x/ month InstaPay Out para sa new Maya users.

Safe and Secure Siguradong safe and secure ang Maya, regulated ito ng BSP at insured ng PDIC up to ₱500,000 bawat depositor.

Pack Snacks and Water: Encourage your kids to bring baon, even if it’s just water and snacks. This not only saves money but also ensures they have healthy options throughout the day.

Conclusion

Back-to-school season is an exciting time for both parents and kids. With these practical tips, you can make the most of this period without the stress. So, embrace the hustle, stay organized, and enjoy the excitement of a new school year! Happy back-to-school season, everyone!

Closet Decluttering Challenge

Dress Dilemma: Navigating the Overwhelming Closet

Ever find yourself staring at a closet full of clothes and yet feeling like you have nothing to wear? You’re not alone! Many of us have an abundance of dresses but struggle to choose the perfect outfit when it’s time to step out. That’s exactly what happened to me, and I decided it was time for a change and a Closet Decluttering Challenge.

The Closet Conundrum

Despite having an overflowing wardrobe, I often found myself feeling outfit-less. It was clear something needed to be done, especially since many of these dresses hadn’t seen the light of day. The goal? To sort out what to keep and what to give away, without neglecting any hidden gems.

The Color-Coded Strategy

First, I tackled the mountain of dresses by sorting them into color categories. I ended up with 14 groups, taking into account light and dark shades, and even separating sleeveless and sleeved black dresses. This methodical approach helped me get a clearer view of what I owned.

Closet Decluttering Challenge: The 30-Day Dress Challenge

With 14 categories sorted, I picked two dresses from each category, creating a collection of almost a month’s worth of outfits. To complete the 30-day set, I added two more black dresses. These 30 dresses were placed front and center in my closet, while the rest were stored away. My mission? To wear each of these 30 dresses, take a photo, and decide their fate: keep or give away.

Marius to the Rescue

For the first round, I enlisted the help of Marius, who chose my daily outfits based on color, length, and print. This eliminated my tendency to default to favorites and encouraged me to wear dresses I might have overlooked. The rule was simple: no repeats until all 30 dresses had been worn. And during this challenge, no new dress purchases were allowed—unless I received a gift card, of course!

Closet Decluttering Challenge Dress Progress

So far, I’ve worn four dresses. Here’s the lowdown:

The Yellow Dress: Definitely a keeper! Its bright and sunny vibe is perfect.

The Black Dress: This one had been hiding in my closet for ages. Finally wearing it confirmed it’s time to give it away.

The Colorful Spaghetti Strap Dress: This was a challenge because of my insecurities about my arms. I paired it with a polo to cover up and ended up loving the look!

Join the Journey

I’m just getting started, and there’s a long way to go. If you’re curious to see my upcoming outfits and help me decide which dresses to keep or give away, follow my journey on Mommy Pehpot Facebook verified page and Mommy Pehpot instagram account. Your input will be invaluable as I navigate this dress dilemma. Stay tuned for more updates and outfit pics!

Thanks for joining me on this fashion adventure!

Run for Wellness 2024 Experience

THIS IS MY VERY VERY FIRST RUN since nag Yoli transformation ako at pumayat.. I am super duper over OA proud of myself kase yung 3k, no hingal yan! Side story: Joining Run for Wellness 2024 is actually a “work” run, yeaah workng on a SUNDAY! Ang sarap pala sa pakiramdam yung ganito kadami trabaho mo wahaha. AS part of this job, I have to invite fellow runners to join me at ang una ko talaga naisip ay si Nicquee Kay. She’s a fitness coach, zumba instructor, and tiga QC lang. As it turns out, first ever fun run pala ni Nicquee ito. Oh di ba ako ang first time nya haha????????????

Run for Wellness 2024

The SouthStar Drug and Maxicare Run for Wellness 2024 is an annual health and wellness-focused event that expanded to Metro Manila this year. Held on June 16, 2024, at the UP Diliman Academic Oval in Quezon City, this inaugural Metro Manila edition aimed to empower individuals, foster community, and inspire healthier lifestyles across the Philippines. The event offered 3K, 5K, and 10K race distances, catering to participants of all fitness levels. The atmosphere was electric, with live music, energetic warm-ups, engaging activities, and exciting giveaways from brand partners.

Run for Wellness 2024 3KM runtime

So bago umalis ng bahay inom muna ng Yoli Passion for energy

Alas singko nasa Sunken Garden na ako. There were many booths for this event. If I am not mistaken, more than 50 sponsors. After completing the run, runners can go to the booths and they will receive products. Yung registration fee mo, bawing bawi sa dami ng freebies. Parang 60 booths yata ito. Punuan ng bag! At super organized ng event ha at ang saya saya! Kaya next year, sumali kayooooo!

We signed up for the 3km race, excited yet nervous about the challenge ahead. As the race began, the energy from fellow runners and the cheering crowd was infectious. Grabe sobrang saya pala tumakbo! Grabe yung cheer sa run na ito. The route around the UP Diliman Academic Oval was beautiful, shaded by trees and surrounded by a supportive community.

Highlight: syempre yung pagbibigay pugay kay Oble!

sa mga hindi nakakaalam, galing ako UPLB, hindi man naka graduate, dugong maroon pa din. Crossing the finish line at 37 minutes felt like a major achievement. I was proud of myself for pushing through and completing the run.

The REAL reason for being active

Kapag may nagtatanong sa akin bakit ako nagpapaka wellness at kung ano pinaghahandaan ko, gusto ko sana isagot, “renewals of vow” pero eme haha matagal pa yun at pag iipunan pa yun haha. The real reason at ang naging final push para maging active ako is the Apple Watch that husband gave me last Christmas.

Ito yung regalo ko sa kanya nun, na pinayagan ko sya na bilhan ako ng watch haha. Akalain mong sobra sobra ko pala talaga magagamit. Noong time na yun, pumayag lang ako para matigil na sya kakakulit sa akin. Ayun nga nga, since stats at result oriented ako na tao, with the watch, kitang kita ko progress ko. Kita ko din kung ilan pa kulang kong iburn na calories for the day.. Kita ko din kung tama ba yung exercise na ginagawa ko to lose weight through monitoring ng heart rate. BASTA SOBRANG GANDA NG WATCH NA ITO haha kung nagdadalawang isip ka kung bibilhin mo ba, bilhin mo na! sulit na sulit! Installment mo na lang para magaan sa bulsa.

Neurometer Test

After the run, I decided to try the Neurometer test, to assess the risk of peripheral neuropathy. The Neurometer is a non-invasive, automated device that measures sensory nerve thresholds to evaluate nerve function. It can detect both painless and painful nerve impairments and subclinical nerve dysfunctions. The test included a Neuropathy Risk Assessment Questionnaire, a quick 5-question survey designed to provide a preliminary indication of nerve health risks.

Let’s run more!

Completing my first 3km run at the Run for Wellness 2024 was an inspiring and rewarding experience. Sabi ko kay Nics, running buddy na kame. And next time unahan kame para maranasan talaga namin tumakbo at ma beat ang 37 minutes record namin.

Now I am busy looking for ways to improve my run time and pace. I’m excited to train for longer distances and participate in more runs. 10KM na next! Game?